Watford Field House
Dec 10th

My dear Mrs. Rawson,
 

It was most fully my
intention to reply to your last letter
by return of post. The difficulty,
however, which I felt in returning
any thing like a satisfactory answer,
induced delay in the first instance;
and in the interim, my thoughts and
feelings have been much absorbed;
our youngest boy having been confined
with measles, from which he has
most mercifully recovered; and the last
few days having been unexpectedly
passed away from home. Still the
uneasy thought has continually recurred,
that your letter remained unacknowledged.
I found that Mr. Conder considered it
no easier task than I myself did, to
decide on a title, and although I felt
certain
certain that Montgomery's West Indies
would supply more than one suitable
motto[?], I was yet unable to select two
lines, which might be so detached.
It would not have seemed kind to say
in reply to such a letter as yours: who[?] could
counsel and decide half so well as
Montgomery himself? although I [?]
much that you should think of
consulting any one else. Thus have I
vainly cogitated, under the painful sense
of keeping you in daily expectation
and the perpetually recurring[?] fear of not
being, at last, able to resolve that
expectation. Having just had another
conversation with Mr Conder, I am
not without hope that he may
be able to suggest something on which
you may decide. I shall therefore leave
the remaining page for him to fill more
worthily, after entreating your pardon for
this long delay, and answering you that
it has caused me much regret.
I beg to be remembered[?] with affectionate respect[?]
to Mr & Mrs Read, and love to your Sister.
May I be allowed also, to [?] a kiss for your
dear little Daughter.

Believe me, dear Madam
Yours sincerely and affectionately

Eliza Conder.

My dear Madam
 

I really feel, as Mrs Conder
has stated, quite at a loss what title to
suggest; but incline to think that "Eleutheria,
or the Negro's Memorial" would be the best of
those you have mentioned. I wish that my inven[-]
tion would supply a better. Those who would not
understand the Greek word (which is one that
occurs in the Greek Test^t. repeatedly) would at
least understand the second title; & the two
together would imply both a retrospective & a
prospective view of the subject. I regret that
the volume was not brought out last spring, when
the public feeling was all alive to the subject;
but under existing circumstances, I hope that
the notes of hope & joy will be found pleasingly
blended with the sadder straws, so as to give
to the publication a chain & interest which
it could not have had before the legislative abo-
lition of Slavery. I hope that Montgomery has sounded
the trump of jubilee. I seem myself to have almost lost
the power of writing poetry, except at rare intervals, &
feel ashamed of my meagre contribution.
I suppose that you have seen a certain pamphlet
called Wages or the Whip. Could I send you a copy
free of expense, if you have it not? I beg to join
with Mrs Conder in kindest respects to Mr & Mrs Read
& the rest of your circle. I am, my dear Madam,

Yours very sincerely
Josiah Conder