Holograph.

The beginning of this letter is missing.

In this letter, Mary Anne Estlin discusses the shortcomings of "clerical abolitionism." She defends Edward Mathews as one doing important work and not lacking in integrity. Estlin believes that "his absorbing desire seems to be to purify the Baptist Church from slavery." The minister, Mr. Davis, has been "undermining E. Mathews by all sorts of false reports ...was an antagonist of Miss Weston for a whole evening here." British abolitionists "must have a practical channel in which to direct any sympathy we may enlist." She mentions the need of a paper. They are doing what they can to keep people on their guard against John Scoble, whose ally is Lewis Tappan. British abolitionists cannot reject all who have not renounced political action. Estlin emphasizes that "our machinery consists mainly of religious organization" and consequently "we must not wait till Mr. Garrison has convinced us all that these things are delusions & obsolete forms." Mary A. Estlin fears that Anne Warren Weston overrates George Thompson's influence in England.

Includes an envelope, with a note on the inner flap.