Handwritten copy of letter; not William Lloyd Garrison's handwriting. The whereabouts of the original manuscript is unknown.

The end of the letter is missing.

William Lloyd Garrison is sick with a fever and his head is much confused. Garrison writes to Jacob Merrill Manning: "Your request shall be sacredly complied with. Neither Mr. Heywood, nor any other member of our Anti-Slavery Society, would for one moment either urge or desire you to speak at our approaching anniversary, in view of the very delicate and embarrassing circumstances detailed in your letter." No question of principle is involved, merely one of expediency. Garrison Pays tribute to Jacob Merrill Manning's moral courage. (The reason for Manning's withdrawal from the meeting was possible danger to his brother-in-law in South Carolina.)