each person who handled these articles given this sum, a
handsome amount would already have been realized.

"The colored people are moving in this matter. They intend to take up
collections in their churches for the benefit of Mrs. Lincoln. They are
enthusiastic, and a trifle from every African in this city would, in the
aggregate, swell into an immense sum, which would be doubly acceptable
to Mrs. Lincoln. It would satisfy her that the black people still have
the memory of her deceased husband fresh in their minds.

"The goods still remain exposed to sale, but it is now announced that
they will be sold at public auction on the 30th of this month, unless
they be disposed of before that at private sale."

It is stated in the article that the "colored people are moving in this
matter." The colored people were surprised to hear of Mrs. Lincoln's
poverty, and the news of her distress called forth strong sympathy from
their warm, generous hearts. Rev. H. H. Garnet, of New York City, and
Mr. Frederick Douglass, of Rochester, N.Y., proposed to lecture in
behalf of the widow of the lamented President, and schemes were on foot
to raise a large sum of money by contribution. The colored people
recognized Abraham Lincoln as their great friend, and they were anxious
to show their kind interest in the welfare of his family in some way
more earnest and substantial than simple words. I wrote Mrs. Lincoln
what we proposed to do, and she promptly replied, declining to receive
aid from the colored people. I showed her letter to Mr. Garnet and Mr.
Douglass, and the whole project was at once abandoned. She afterwards
consented to receive contributions from my people, but as the services
of Messrs. Douglass, Garnet, and others had been refused when first
offered, they declined to take an active part in the scheme; so nothing
was ever done. The following letters were written before Mrs. Lincoln
declined to receive aid from the colored people:

"183 BLEECKER ST., NEW YORK, October 16th, 1867.
"J. H. BRADY, ESQ.:--

"I have just received your favor, together with the
circulars. I will do all that lies in my power, but I fear
that will not be as much as you anticipate. I think, however,
that a contribution from the colored people of New York will
be worth something in a moral point of view, and likely that
will be the most that will be accomplished in the
undertaking. I am thoroughly with you in the wor