Edmund Quincy writes William Lloyd Garrison signaling his receipt of Garrison's letter announcing to him the passing of their "dear & valuable friend" Richard D. Webb. Quincy asserts that he was well-prepared for this event owing to the letter received from Samuel May, Jr., in which May described Webb's condition as quite poor. Quincy states that he "cannot think" that he is "so proper a person as" Garrison to write the notice of Webb's death for the Independent.