AUTOGRAPHS FOR FREEDOM. BY MRS. HARRIET BEECHER STOWE, AND Thirty-five other Eminent Writers. LONDON: SAMPSON LOW, SON & CO.; AND JOHN CASSELL, LUDGATE HILL: AND ALL BOOKSELLERS. 1853. PREFACE TO THE American Edition. There is, perhaps, little need of detaining the kind reader, even for one moment, in this the vestibule of our Temple of Liberty, to state the motives and reasons for the publication of this collection of Anti-slavery testimonies. The good cause to which the volume is devoted;—the influence which must ever be exerted by persons of exalted character, and high mental endowments;—the fact that society is slow to accept any cause that has not the baptism of the acknowledged noble and good;—the happiness arising from making any exertion to ameliorate the condition of the injured race amongst us, will at once suggest reasons and motives for sending forth this offering, which, while it shall prove acceptable as a GIFT BOOK, may help to swell the tide of that sentiment that, by the Divine blessing, will sweep away from this otherwise happy land the great sin of SLAVERY. Should this publication be instrumental in casting _one_ ray of hope on the heart of one poor slave, or should it draw the attention of one person, hitherto uninterested, to the deep wrongs of the bondman, or cause one sincere and earnest effort to promote emancipation, we believe that the kind contributors, who have generously responded to our call, not less than the members of our Society, will feel themselves gratified and compensated. The proceeds of the sale of the “AUTOGRAPHS FOR FREEDOM” will be devoted to the dissemination of light and truth on the subject of slavery throughout the country. On behalf of “_The Rochester Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society_,” JULIA GRIFFITHS, _Secretary_. Preface to the English Edition.