Anna Dickinson General Correspondence Higginson Thomas Wentworth 1863-70 and undated No. 1210 Chestnut Street, Office of Supervisory Committee for Recruiting Colored Regiments, Philadelphia, October 27, 1863 Dear Sir, Enclosed please find my accounts of Miss Dickinson true and the balance $30.00 Of this balance $6.00 is due Someone for printing here, besides $2.50 for Expenses [E]incurred by Mr. Webster for Chester. Nothing could exceed the success which crowned Miss D's efforts. I am Sir very Respecty [Thomas?] [Higginson?] Returns $30. Printing 6. Webster 2.50 8.50 Balance $21.50Newport, R.I. Sept. 11, 1870 Dear Miss Dickinson The enclosed article on Pigeon Shooting from the Saturday Review was brought me by Mrs. Powel a friend of ours & a lady of a good deal of social influence, who wished it to be sent to you, as she, had heard of your remonstrating with some pigeon shooters here., & agreed with you entirely. I had not heard of the circumstance. My wife desires to be remembered & says she still expects you here because you promised. Every truly yours T. W. Higginson] Newport, R.I. Nov. 17, 1866 Dear Miss Dickinson When I saw you in the spring, you promised to come here this winter & lecture. I hope it is not entirely too late to claim the promise. We get few lectures here, & are undertaking a very short course. Isn't there any day? We can pay $100, or more if necessary. Yrs. cordially T.W. Higginson My friend Mr. Foles wrote to you long since but got no answer.Newport, R.I. Nov. 17, 1886 Dear Miss Dickinson, When I saw you in the spring, you promised to lecture here this winter. Is it too late? We get few lectures here, & are undertaking a short course. Isn’t there any evening? We can pay $100, or more if necessary. Yrs. cordially, T. W. Higginson[*Higginson*] Newport, R.I. Oct. 6, 1868 Dear Miss Dickinson, I was yesterday at the Exec. Com. meetings of the [?] convention whose call is enclosed, I was deputed to urge [upon] you the importance of attending it. It is aimed to make it the strongest convention ever held on this matter. The call will be signed by Rev. Drs Clarke & Manning, Prof. Child of Harvard, [Indp?] Chapin & Hon G.F. Hoar of Worcester & others who are not counted radicals. It is of great importance to have ability & eloquence on the platform. I Earnestly hope you will come, even if at some sacrifice. I know how much you do for woman in all ways, but here seems to be a special opportunity for a well-considered & united & powerful demonstration. Please write me. Cordially your friend, T.W. Higginson (over)Boston, August 3, 1868 Mr. DEAR At a meeting held in Boston, May 28, 1868, a Committee was appointed to arrange for a public meeting in behalf of Woman's Suffrage. The Committee thinks the best mode of executing their trust will be to publish a CALL for a meeting, signed by well-known names from each of the New-England States. On the opposite page you will find the CALL we propose. If you approve it, will you be kind enough to sign it, and return it, directed to the Secretary, 3 Bulfinch Place, Boston? If any names occur to you which you think will add weight to the CALL, will you be kind enough to suggest them to the Secretary? Secretary. COMMITTEE: MRS. C. M. SEVERANCE. (President)............W. Newton. MRS. ABBY KELLEY FOSTER.........................Worcester. HON. SAMUEL E. SEWALL...........................Boston. REV. OLYMPIA BROWN.................................Weymouth. MISS SARAH L. SOUTHWICK.......................Grantville. MR. E. D. DRAPER, (Treasurer).....................Hopedale. MRS. S. J. NOWELL.......................................Cambridgeport. REV. W. S. HEYWOOD...................................Hudson, Mass. MR. RICHARD P. HALLOWELL......................Boston. MR. CHARLES K. WHIPPLE, (Secretary)......." MR. T. W. HIGGINSON...................................Newport, R.I. REV. B. F. BOWLES........................................Worcester. REV. MR. STRATTON......................................" MRS. NATHANIEL WHITE..............................Concord, N.H. MRS. ELIZABETH B. CHASE..........................Valley Falls, R.I. MS. G. H. VIBBERT.........................................Rockport. MISS SARA CLARK.........................................Northampton. MRS. PAULINA W. DAVIS................................Providence, R.I. MR. BENJAMIN SNOW, JR..............................Fitchburg. MR. STEPHEN S. FOSTER...............................Worcester CALL. We, the undersigned, recognizing the so-called "Woman Question" as fundamental in its relations to society and to government, --a question, therefore, demanding honest investigation and wise treatment,--unite in calling a Convention for the discussion of the principles involved in it, and for the formation of a Society to secure their application. We propose, as the basis of our discussion and subsequent action, the equality of the sexes before God,--as written in the nature and duties and destinies of both, and as announced in the Old and the New Testaments, in the significant words, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion. So God created man in his own image; in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them;" and, "In Christ Jesus there is neither male nor female;" --and the rights of the individual, as set forth in the following ever-memorable words of the Declaration of Independence: "we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; " and, "that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed." We hold it a self-evident truth, also, that these principles, applied to the women as to the men of any nation or race, must produce the best results; and that such application is necessary to the normal development of human society. We therefore invite the thoughtful men and women of New England, who are willing to join us in such deliberation and action, to meet in Convention, at Boston, on Wednesday and Thursday, the 18th and 19th days of November next, to organize a permanent Association, for the wide, systematic, and efficient advocacy of Woman Suffrage, and its kindred civil and political rights.P.S. You have seen the scrap in the Indpt perhaps — that the children in the [Mass?] Scholarship being asked for what Philadelphia was famous answered "As the birthplace of Anna Dickinson". I can vouch for the truth of that — it was while the [ship?] lay here and some friends of mine were present: so I sent it to the Indpt. I delight in telling it to reputable Philadelphians! Newport, R.I. April [4?], 1870 Dear Miss Dickinson It gives me pleasure to do anything toward the summer rest of one who works so hard. To prove it I will waive the question whether you were very naughty to have failed me at the Boston Woman Suffrage meeting a year ago last spring, & proceed as if I had forgiven you — the best way to secure my doing that Christian act in reality. There is no hotel here which is within sight of either the sea or bay or within half a mile of either (The town is on a point between the two, & slopes from the sea & towards the bay) However PS Since writing this, I have been at the Cliff House. Most of their rooms are let — the remainder are from $2 to $4 per day acc. to location & length of stay, which always makes a difference at these places. Boardinghouse probably $9 per week — at the "Point" it wd. be $6 or $7. The supply of good saddle horses here is very uncertain.2 there is one boarding house, such as you describe — near the bathing beach (1/4 mile) and overlooking it, & the sea & the cliffs. It is the "Cliff House" & is beautifully kept — nicer than anything here & higher in price — the same price with the best hotels — probably $4 per day. Wendell Phillips & his wife were there last yr. & he said no hotel in N.Y. was so good. It is quiet too & not "just" a fashionable: rather out of the way from the "[?]"; it is next the Peterson's fine place (of Peterson's Magazine, whom very likely you know — very pleasant & sensible people, considering their income.) If you demur at the price, I [?] you to cross the town boldly & try that of the houses on the bay or "point" — e.g. Aunt Mary Williams, a delightful old [?]: There are other boardinghouses along there — one in the old house described in my "Welcome", but not very well kept, though [?] [Lucy Gibbons?], Friend Hopper'sgrand-daughter is to be there with her bridegroom this summer. The "point" is just unfashionable enough to be pleasant, with delicious sunsets across the water; - yr. boat & bathing house at the backdoor; -or you can ride in an omnibus to the beach daily — 1 1/4 mile. It is the region for literary & artistic people, the Society of Friend & others who are [?] judicious & economical. You would pay there from $15 to $20 per week; & Kate Field will swim, row, & ride with you or let you rigorously alone as you prefer. Your horse (which you had better bring) can be kept there for far less than at the Cliff House, & otherwise it's a choice between sunrises & sunsets between the open sea & the pretty harbor with yachts & [the] boating & the Red Rose Light to look at o' evenings. Do you want to know more? Ever truly yours, T.W. Higginson (not Rev. for 10 yrs, plain T.W.H.) Newport Tuesday Dear Miss Dickinson, Two of the finest & most pleasing girls in Newport — Miss Oakey & Miss Ward of New York — have asked me to take them to see you tomorrow noon. I can't help hoping you'll be at home. They are of a conservative family but very sensible & independent themselves& are both art students with Dr. Rimaner in New York. The stately mamma of one of these demurred, fancying you an ogre, but when I told her that you were nothing but a pretty young girl [on a pony ?] in a blue riding habit on a pony, she at once relented. Thus short sighted are parents as to the aspect of real tempters. Yrs ever truly T. W. HigginsonDear Miss D. we are much disappointed at losing you today. Can't you come in directly after yr. lecture & just show yourself? It is a grand convention & you shld be here. Come through the lower Horticultural Hall & up stairs to the ante-room Otherwise you can hardly get through it will be so crowded. You were advertised on strength of yr. letter to me Yrs truly T. W. Higginson Vice Prest 5 1/2 P.M.LIBERTY LEAGUE. We, the undersigned voters and citizens of Massachusetts, hereby enter into League and Covenant with each other to make the ENFRANCHISEMENT OF WOMEN the cardinal basis of our future political action in all elections for State, County and Town officers--as follows: 1. WE will make the establishment of a Republican form of Government in this state paramount to any and all other political issues. 2. WE will not vote for any Candidate for any State, County or Town office who has not given a public pledge to use his utmost endeavor, if elected, in favor of extending Suffrage to WOMEN in Massachusetts, on the same terms and qualifications as are prescribed for MEN. 3. WE will vote for any Candidate who has given such public pledge in preference to any or all who have not done so. 4. PREVIOUS to each elected in our respective voting precincts we will address to each Candidate a letter of inquiry as to his views and purposes in reference to the extension of Suffrage to Women, and in case of refusal to give an AFFIRMATIVE ANSWER, we will use every honorable effort to defeat him. 5. WHEN no candidate is found willing to pledge himself to favor Suffrage for Women, we will put in nomination a Candidate committee in its favor. 6. WE will note for any Candidate who is a member of this League in preference to any other, and will work together as a political unit in order to obtain and use the balance of power to effect the ENFRANCHISEMENT OF WOMEN in the State of Massachusetts.Dear Miss Dickinson - Will you & your sister take a sail with me this afternoon, coming to this house at 4 1/2? Five or six others will THOMAS WENTWORTH HIGGINSON. be of the party. Please answer. We may be out a couple of hours. Yrs. ser T. W. Higginson Saturday