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University of Michigan William L. Clements Library

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1840 August 24-27 . J[ulius] O[liver] Beardslee and Jane [Beardslee] ALS to James [Gordon?], Agnes [Gordon], and Jennette [Gordon?]; Brainerd Station, [Jamaica]

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Box 3
Abstract:
Letter from missionaries. Received newspapers "full of politics dear me what are you coming to in America?" Regarding news in America of trouble in Falmouth, they believe it "is a pack of lies & you might know it to be so coming as it did from the South." Contrary to statements about "prisons being 'full'," states that crime has reduced. References the World's Convention at Kingston, mentioning Rev. Birney and H. B. Stanton, disparaging women's rights supporters, and wishing they had better representation of American ministers. English missionaries are "fearful of encroachment" by Americans, and are advocating "Teetotalism." Brief notes on Jamaican produce and a Miss Low, a "brown woman" who formerly owned slaves and is currently a seamstress. Comments on Jennette's lack of refinement, hoping she will visit, joking that Jamaica will "improve your manners. You know the negro's just 3 years out of slavery are a very refined people." Writes of a "little disturbance" in Falmouth when apprenticed former slaves refused to return to a plantation. "...they were obliged to call out the police to carry them back. I suppose this looked like slavery to some of the blacks of the Island, & they through ignorance, interfered. A squabble ensued which resulted in the injury, perhaps death, of some of both parties." "There is no more ground for saying that Ja. is in an uproar than that all N. Am is anarchy & confusion, when some of the Irish on the Rail roads have a drunken frolick & kill one or two of their number."
Extent:
8 pages

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