Holograph.

Joseph Ricketson regrets the delay in answering Deborah Weston's letter. He explains: "Most of my leisure time has been spent in reading and talking about the 'Sainted Hero.'" He praises Wendell Phillips's address at the funeral obsequies of John Brown. He quotes William Lloyd Garrison's famous declaration: "I am in earnest, I will not equivocate, I will not excuse, I will not retreat a single inch, and I will be heard." Joseph Ricketson says he has two new subscribers for the National Anti-Slavery Standard.

The end of this letter is missing. On the accompanying envelope there is a note in pencil, written by an unknown person, with this explanation: "1859 Part of letter the rest burned being simply personal."

The envelope has the delivery address: Miss Deborah Weston, Weymouth, Mass.