Horton Howard Letter to Thomas Rotch

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[Letter from Horton Howard to Thomas Rotch October 30, 1818]
               
Beloved Friend      St Clairsville  10 mo 30th 1818

Thomas Rotch

      I am desired by a number

of Friends of the first respectability amongst

us, who are members of the Meeting for suffer-

ings, to request Thee to attend that meeting, at its

next siting, The day previous to our next Lt Meeting

of Ministers and Elders; as matters of much

importance are to be deliberated on, and as it is

concluded, agreeably to the recommendation of

of the Yearly Meeting, to present a Memorial

to Congress, on behalf of Africans imported

into the United States, and liable to be sold for

the benefit of the States, when captured under

the Law of Congress, abolishing the slave trade;

a number having been recently sold under that

act; and also an account of kidnapping, which

is increasing to an alarming degree,and pro

bably if not arrested in its progress,will sweep

of abundance, if not all of those poor Creatures

who have had their freedom secured.  And as it

appears to be clearly and decidedly the opinion

of the friends aforesaid, that thou art capable of ren-

dering those unhappy people more essential ser-

vice than any of us; They do unanimously de-

sire thee to attend with it; and if Possible to

come prepared to proceed to Washington, as three

or four weeks of the Session will then have