Page:Familiar letters of Henry David Thoreau.djvu/439

 2ET. 42.] TO HARRISON BLAKE. 413

I have been confined at home all this year, but I am not aware that I have grown any rus tier than was to be expected. One while I ex plored the bottom of the river pretty extensively. I have engaged to read a lecture to Parker s society on the 9th of October next.

I am off a barberrying.

TO HARBISON BLAKE (AT WORCESTER).

CONCORD, October 31, 1859.

MK. BLAKE, I spoke to my townsmen last evening on &quot; The Character of Captain Brown, now in the clutches of the slaveholder.&quot; I should like to speak to any company at Worces ter who may wish to hear me ; and will come if only my expenses are paid. I think we should express ourselves at once, while Brown is alive. The sooner the better. Perhaps Higginson may like to have a meeting. Wednesday evening would be a good time. The people here are deeply interested in the matter. Let me have an answer as soon as may be.

P. S. I may be engaged toward the end of the week.

HENRY D. THOREAU.

This address on John Brown was one of the first public utterances in favor of that hero ; it was made up mainly from the entries in Tho-