he simple reason that I never dreamed of
opposition. What seemed to me to be right I thought must be equally
plain to all other rational beings. Hence I had no dread of
denunciation. I was only surprised when I encountered it, and no number
of experiences have, as yet, taught me to fear public opinion. What I
said on divorce thirty-seven years ago seems quite in line with what
many say now. The trouble was not in what I said, but that I said it too
soon, and before the people were ready to hear it. It may be, however,
that I helped them to get ready; who knows?

As we were holding a woman suffrage convention in Albany, at the time
appointed for the hearing, Ernestine L. Rose and Lucretia Mott briefly
added their views on the question. Although Mrs. Mott had urged Mrs.
Rose and myself to be as moderate as possible in our demands, she quite
unconsciously made the most radical utterance of all, in saying that
marriage was a question beyond the realm of legislation, that must be
left to the parties themselves. We rallied Lucretia on her radicalism,
and some of the journals criticised us severely; but the following
letter shows that she had no thought of receding from her position:

"Roadside, near Philadelphia,

"4th Mo., 30th, '61.

"My Dear Lydia Mott:

"I have wished, ever since parting with thee and our other dear
friends in Albany, to send thee a line, and have only waited in the
hope of contributing a little 'substantial aid' toward your neat
and valuable 'depository.' The twenty dollars inclosed is from our
Female Anti-slavery Society.

"I see the annual meeting, in New York, is not to be held this
spring. Sister Martha is here, and was expecting to attend both
anniversaries. But we now think the woman's rights meeting had
better not be attempted, and she has written Elizabeth C. Stanton
to this effect.

"I was well satisfied with being at the Albany meeting. I have
since met with the following, from a speech of Lord Brougham's,
which pleased me, as being as radical as mine in your stately Hall
of Representatives:

"'Before women can have any justice by the laws of England, there
must be a total reconstruction of the whole marriage system; for
any attempt to amend it would prove useless. The great charter, in
establishing the supremacy of law over prerogative, provides only
for justice between man a