Commonplace book by a young Abolitionist named Sara Danby, of Wawarsing in Ulster County, New York, secretary of the Friends of Human Progress, a Quaker group dedicated to Abolition of Slavery and Women’s Suffrage. She makes detailed notes passionate discussions and presentations by Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, Parker Pillsbury, and others. There is much critique of Lincoln for his prioritizing maintaining the Union above freeing the enslaved, praise for John Fremont, discussion of the connection between theology and abolitionism; the notes, thrillingly, put us right there in the conversation with, for example, Frederick Douglass: “ ...a spirited discussion commenced... Mr Douglass said the practical evils of the present day were no less the theological evils and a reform of theology could produce a reform in practice, for the practice of the generality of Christians was superior in love to God and humanity to their theology; therefore a reform of practice would be nowhere so proper as in a theological reform convention. The speaker took his seat amid deep feeling.” Apart from notes on meetings, Miss Danby writes articulate and sometimes quite personal meditations on places she has lived, (“Peekskill”, “Scenery of New Jersey”, “England”,) fears about the future, and books she is reading, including Jane Eyre and Les Miserables, transcriptions of poetry , including “The Runaway Slave at Pilgrim’s Point” (Elizabeth Barrett Browning) and the (then) brand new song, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”. Interestingly, an entry on October 18, 1863 has the heading “Smith Plantation”, presumably the plantation of that name turned US Army post at Port Royal Island, South Carolina, where Emancipation of all enslaved people on the island was announced on January 1, 1863, and which quickly became a destination for Abolitionist volunteers. Approx. 195 pages with various content, approx. 15 pages with abolitionist content. The journal is offered together with a first edition of Emerson’s, "English Traits" Published by Phillips, Sampson and Company, Boston (1856) and presented to Sara Danby by C. Hawks. "English Traits" has brown cloth blind stamped boards, gilt lettered spine, loss of lower portion of spine, significant wear to exterior. The diary has a gold stamped leather spine and marbled boards, front cover completely detatched, back cover on its way. Some writing clear and legible, elsewhere small and quite faded, requiring work to read but well worth the trouble.