Concord, Mass. Thoreau writes in his journal:
A sultry night the last; bear no covering; all windows open.
8 A.M.—To Framingham.
Great orange-yellow lily, some clays, wild yellow, lily, drooping, well out . . . (Journal, 6:384).
Framingham, Mass. Thoreau lectures on “Slavery in Massachusetts” at Harmony Grove for the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society (“Slavery in Massachusetts”).
The Liberator mentions in its 7 July issue, with a summary of the events of the meeting: “Henry Thoreau, of Concord, read portions of a racy and ably written address, the whole of which will be published in the Liberator.”
Moncure Daniel Conway later recalls the events of the meeting:
Thoreau had come all the way from Concord for this meeting. It was a rare thing for him to attend any meeting outside of Concord, and though he sometimes lectured in the Lyceum there, he had probably never spoken on a platform. He was now clamoured for and made a brief and quaint speech. He began with the simple words, “You have my sympathy; it is all I have to give you, but you may find it important to you.” It was impossible to associate egotism with Thoreau; we all felt that the time and trouble he had taken at that crisis to proclaim his sympathy with the “Disunionists” was indeed important. He was there a representative of Concord, of science and letters, which could not quietly pursue their tasks while slavery was trampling down the rights of mankind. Alluding to the Boston commissioner who had surrendered Anthony Burns, Edward G. Loring, Thoreau said, “The fugitive’s case was already decided by God,—not Edward G. God, but simple God.” This was said with such serene unconsciousness of anything shocking in it that we were but mildly started.
(Autobiography, Memories, and Experiences of Moncure Daniel Conway, 1:184-185)
