State Journal

The following interesting letter from an Agent of the Am. Anti-Slavery Society, will serve to show something of the industry, efficiency and spirit with which the operations of that society are conducted:

From the Emancipator.

LETTER FROM MR STANTON.

Ipswich, Mass. Aug. 25, 1836.

My Dear Brother Wright: -My "special instructions" make it my duty to write to you once a month. It is four weeks to-day since I commenced operations as Financial Agent of the American Anti-Slavery Society. During that time, I have delivered 27 public lectures and addresses, and collected about $800 in hand, and obtained pledges, and responsible promises besides, I have spoken twice in Lynn, six times in Fall River, four in New Bedford, three in Fairhaven, once in East Bradford, five times in Andover, four in Lowell once in Haverhill, and once (to-night) in Ipswich,-all in Massachusetts.

At Lynn, four weeks ago to-night, and the succeeding evening, Mr C. C. Burleigh and myself, addressed good audiences. Lynn, you are aware, is the largest shoe manufacturing town in New England. Its industrious and independent citizens have no sympathy with the doctrines, that the laborer is not worthy of his hire, and that the working classes are not fit to own their own hands. Hence, Lynn is one of the strongest abolition towns in New England They contributed more than $200 to the funds of the Society. while I was there.

Fall River. From Lynn, I went in company with Mr Burleigh, to Fall River. This, you know, is one of the largest cotton manufacturing towns in the country. Its enterprising citizens had resolved to celebrate the anniversary of West India Emancipation. In the afternoon of Sunday, the 31st of July, I addressed a large audience for nearly two hours, in Rev. Mr Bronson's meeting house, vindicating the New Testament from the charge of sanctioning American Slavery. In the evening Mr Burleigh, in the same place, vindicated the Old Testament from the like charge. Monday, August first, was the Jubilee. "A large concourse was present from the neighboring towns. The Hon. Nathaniel B. Borden, the worthy Representative in Congress from the Bristol District, took the chair. Rev. J. O. Choules. of New Bedford, occupied the forenoon by a most interesting detail of his recent visit to England,--the state of public feeling there on the Abolition question, &c. &c." Depend upon it, when public sentiment in the North, is as pure as it now is in England, it will be too rare for the lungs of a slave holder. I will relate a single fact of the many told by Mr Choules. At a town in England, it was announced that a clergyman from America was to officiate in one of the chapels on the Sabbath. As Mr Choules was walking down the aisle to the vestry, an accomplished lady, supposing him to be the gentleman who was to occupy the desk, (as was the fact) politely accosted him thus:-" Pray, sir,' are you the gentleman from America, who is to preach for us to-day?" " Yes, madam." "Pardon my seeming boldness, but, sir, permit me to ask, are you a slaveholder?" "No, madam."'" Are you opposed to slavery ?" "Certainly." "Excuse me. sir,-are you an Abolitionist?""Yes, madam."--"And a member of an Anti-Slavery Society?" "I am." These facts were soon known to the congregation, and they heard him gladly. Mr C. said, had he been a slave-holder, or an apologist for slavery, three-fourths of his congregation would have withdrawn. No wonder the New York Observer, and Boston Recorder, [and Vermont Chronicle] writhe under the scorching rays of such a public sentiment.

In the afternoon and evening of Monday. Mr Burleigh and myself occupied the time. The house was crowded and the deepest interest manifested. The Rev. Dr Chan.ning was present from Newport, by special invitation, during the forenoon and afternoon, and expressed himself highly gratified with the proceedings. Tuesday afternoon, I addressed the ladies of Fall River, and in the evening spoke about two hours to an overflowing audience. There was no disturbance during our meetings, except that on Monday evening, a drunken man, mistaking the assemblage for a temperance meeting, anathematized us a little, and on Tuesday evening, some boys (how old I know not) threw a little gravel on to the platform, after the congregation was dismissed, indicating that they would have done more, had not the tide set so strongly against them. A mighty impulse was given to the cause by these meetings. The "working men" attended in great numbers, and were convinced that our cause was identical with theirs. The friends in Fall River gave between $400 and $500 to the cause, while I was there. The ladies contributed very liberally. We have some precious co-adjutors among the females of Fall River.

New Bedford and Fairhaven. From Fall River, I went Wednesday, the 3d inst.to New Bedford, the residence of our worthy and efficient friend, Rev. John O. Choules. At first, we could not obtain a meeting house, and my first two lectures were in Mechanics' Hall. The last two were in the Rev. Mr Morgridge's meeting house, one of the largest in New England. It was offered for my use as long as I wished to occupy it. I mention this, as one of those signs of the times which indicate a change of public sentiment. Last October. just previous to brother Choules going to England, the Abolitionists of New Bedford, attempted to hold a meeting in this same house, to explain their principles. An immense mob gathered and crowded every part of the great edifice. When Mr Choules rose to address the Chairman, Andrew Robinson, Esq., he was greeted with the harsh gratings of some 50 or 100 fiddles, played by unskilled hands, without regard to tune or time, melody or cadence ;-the sole object being to drown the speaker's voice, by pouring a cataract of noise into his ears. They succeeded. For more than an hour, the speaker made frequent but unsuccessful attempts to gain a hearing, and he, and the Chairman, at length retired, under a shower of serenading. The whole town was filled with wrath, and law was prostrate. Our friends had had no lectures in New Bedford, from that time till those delivered by me. While I was there, the attendance was good, many converts were made, mobocracy had died away with the echo of the viols, and our friends gave a liberal demonstration of their attachment to the cause, by contributing $600 to its funds, Of this sum, the people of color gave more than $60. Have you ever been in this "little fishing town?" It is the handsomest village of its size in New England, does an immense whaling business, and in amount of tonnage is the third port in the Union! While there, I lectured three times in Fairhaven, a pleasant village connected with New Bedford by a bridge a mile in length. Disturbance was threatened, but it cowered before the weather-beaten frowns of the staunch sea captains of Fairhaven, many of whom have embarked in the glorious ship of immediate emancipation. They heard attentively and gave liberally.

From New Bedford, I returned to Boston, where, two weeks ago. I met brother Weld, who was on his special agency.

East Bradford. Monday evening, Aug. 15th, I lectured about two hours to a large audience in the meeting house of the Rev. G. B. Perry, in East Bradford. They were the elite of a New England farming population. Solemn, attentive, staid, intelligent conscientious and determined." They will give us a large donation. The venerable Mr Perry is one of the pioneers in the cause.

Andover. Tuesday evening, I commenced lecturing in Andover. I lectured three times to promiscuous assemblies, and twice to the ladies ;--many students of the Theological Seminary were present,-and I understand that several of them who have stood aloof from us heretofore, now unite with us. I assisted in organizing a large Female Anti-Slavery Society while in Andover. The friends gave me more than $200.to sustain our operations, and the ladies intend to make an additional donation. The cause takes strong hold here, though the leading influences of the seminary, i. e. its Professors and Trustees, sit upon it like the incubus of death ;--because, Abraham had trained servants, and Paul said, servants obey your masters,-and- but-if-Garrison, &c. &c. Nevertheless. there is a strong abolition influence in the Seminary. Many of its noblest hearts " remember those in bonds as bound with them." But, the best scripture may be spoiled by exegesis. They have much of that at Andover. you know.

Lowell. Sunday last, I commenced a short course at Lowell,--" the Manchester of America." The cause takes deep hold in that busy town. It was here, that the beloved Thompson, came near being killed by a brick bat.* Now, mobs are below par. The audiences were large, attentive and undisturbed. Lowell will manufacture a large donation to the cause. She has put into my hands a liberal sample already.

Haverhill. On Thursday evening, I addressed a large and respectable audience in the Unitarian meeting house at Haverhill. Hitherto. of late, we have been unable to procure a house to hold our meetings in. But, through the well-directed importunity of a committee, consisting of two young ladies, the Unitarian house was obtained, a good impression made, difficulties removed, objections answered, a liberal subscription opened, and nobody injured. Would that our committees were always thus successful,--and that all the young ladies of fair and happy New England, would imitate the noble example of their sisters in Haverhill.

Ipswich. To-night, I have lectured at Ipswich, to a small audience, convened at two hours' notice. I am at the house of our liberal friend, Wm. Oakley, Esq., who has no sympathy with puritanic pharisees, ancient or modern, northern or southern. To-morrow, I go to Boston, and next week shall be at Amesbury, Newburyport, Exeter N. H. and Haverhill, Mass. In very many, nearly all of my meetings, slaveholders and southerners have been present. Last year, they stirred up mobs and pro-slavery meetings, against us. This year, they come and listen to us. Next year, they will debate with us. ' Why don't you go to the South?' say our opponents. Answer: Because the South comes to the North. Most truly, yours,

H. B. STANTON.

*When last in Boston, a friend at the Anti Slavery Office pointed out to us this same brick bat. It had been carefully laid on the shelf and labelled as follows : " This mortal missile was hurled at the head of George Thompson. of England, while lecturing on American Slavery to the people of Lowell.:

ED. JOUR.