New-York daily tribune., 1864-04-16
Rciccfed Books.
To 2s Editor of The n. J. Tuibun,.

SIR Having tried in vain, as this statement
VIII show, to get my proifered donation to the Metro
poltan FOir accepted wish to make the facts known.
hoping to find authority somewhere In the management
Of this great Fair which will correct the wrongs com
planned of and know that the generous heart " our
reethnking people will condemn the exercise or secta
rian prejudiccs by any Committee and all attempts to
dictate 10 the people what books they shall or shall not
buy and read.
quote tho following from the printed circular sent
TO me and Others soliciting donations:
ave apply 10 you in the interest Of porty-to al shades
Of fopiron aIe 'ranso' Tie miner the naiuras, the
of science the traveller each eud omehing that can
az the very least be- converted into banke, that vii warm
ard may nom death soldier Evy one who
produce anything that has money value Is invited TO
in response TO this solicitation. 1 called on Mr
Fletoher Harper. Chairman of the Publishers and
booksellers Committee and proposed 70 donate 10 the
Fair $50 worth Oi books and $500 worth 0f matches
lie referred rc TO tue Ladies Committee No2 treat
Jones rect. whore called and mede known my wish
to donate books and matches 10 the Fair The ladies'
referred me to Grs. Ogden Hoffman. NO. II west
Thriy-eigLth street called on Mrs. VI. On March ~
anti informed her that called by direction OF the Com
miltee. No. ? Great Jones street-ihat j wished to
donate 20 the Fair several hundred volumes Of bound
books. BY different authors. valued at ESQ, and also
$500 worth Of matches Mrs II. made several inquiries
about the matches which / replied that they were
not the ordinary offensive birthstone matches; on the
contrary. they were very SUPERIOR and Tree rom deie
terious gEd offensive fumes and were waterproof paror
matches without sulphur put up In round wood boxes,
and then in paper packages OF one dozen each con
venicnt for Purchasers to carry away in their pockete
price l5 cents per dozen.
she inquired the character Of the books, to which
roped they were bound yolunes by different authors
and that many 81 them related TO Spirtuallsln MI.
II. at exclaimed that she did not believe In spirit
ualiSin and would not receive them, nor the nhtchca
either 10 this replied. that she and Der as'ociaes
the Committee the only authority that was IN
frned II who could receive books and thorPht II ho
compatible with their position AS committee, to IT,
ieci any books which were lawful merchandise ana or
dnGry scd and es cly for the rea9oa thu! they did
not believe In the fact and theories ncucatcd. Final
tsI IN cshp mr.
the Committee and inform me by letter the next day
but addcd that she did not think any one OF The Com
mttee believed in Sprituasm. would consent 10 re
ceive the books / aid not hear from the Committee
and the 25th March sent TO Mrs III. the following
note: -, ,,,
Titan Fair have received promise ed answer whether
upon reflection your objections to the spruaie character
o boOis ohed donate to the Fair have been modhd
receive em neither your consent, 20 receive the
rosee. also offered Please inform and obse yours
'p'''ON'' "So Nv ae Ws1: s-1tS.; fisssasS Street
In the evening OF tho nth March, received the
following brief note: .
The book Committee decline receiving the spiri,nsst
boob, and uaehe. offered by Nh Partde March 20 l6L
then offered the matches to the Committee on Drugs
and Perfqmercs who cheerfully accepted them, and
sent the following communication TO the tominttee:
y, ocpry Hoyrxls and anoeiato Psb,Iae,. and Book.
.eiier' Cos'Hifiee for NE NelyoTolimn Far;
did -apeci such letter from you withon sisnature
the one before me. under date OF March a ia reply TO mine
date declining TO receive ny poheted doraon'
Your circular sent 10 'olci.s contributions of en!
thing which will furnish the ot sGccoriuE our VA
ous camps and hospitals" and you appointed to cary
this purpose How then, Il be your province :" .irc
by Mrs Hoffman viz "ha, shr did not believe in Spiritual
he subject treated by most o! ne bookf nreI Gd she
hnl any lady tie Committee believed In ~ or would con
..n 10 RECEIVE books that subject" shall be- sorry 20 ear
that the Committee for this great public demon,ifon o. love
and oyay just aud to patriotic soders have Dee
selected with reference 70 their rlsl.us snn,eu'r OF a
h. oycrOearns self righteous dclAtoa ,Pr pfeF IN
their councils that which caused the wtT II seems 10 me
to be quite out OF order Tor any COMMITTEE or tnn M 70 "
tempt exercise iHqutorial pfedecsions or seaTan bg
otry or dea,ion what books the people uy or may not
buy and read IL may not be pToiess 70 inform 'ul .e
peoples s TO this noble enterprise do not need ne sacth
cation Of any Conmse. snee II 10 not 500 of iIrI 4ol
cation, but or the aneoIton OF SICK ana suf rns
Since you hav. eznT,sssd your plejudies a4-t u"i
strongly, by word and by at may be Justified sayn 70
you that only erposes your ignorance V Naht ~ eahuJ
md support oi this ask you to rcconcie your aNh III h
comparative historical account OF sr'ne,n IN P'
ags. and your Ant Of faith Ia the ~ M de9nsIl'9ls %
the testimony Of 3@oco of people WHO are subject, oil SPIN,
m experiences in ownase Can s,ciII4n Prudces sto'p
10 greater folly than 10 preach and rray that PEOPLE may
believe in future life and the time deny tnrse irng
br evidences that there is any evidence OF u
We say TO you as was said to skep,a' oi ooen
times come aud see" | have succeeded IN getting
10y proH,Ied dOnAtiOn to yoq Of S worth Of %
nitiee ApothecaIies md Pcffumers' and u
viii relieve yGe from farther eonsde.aiionh 81 them;
Ru you are the proper tomm,tieo 70. b9oss, shd
must ash ven reverse your decision IN deehnhs TO rr
e.yo a donation to The Fan Of nom 70. to -'OO
worth Of books. and ty 20 have them sold or yo nav con
.c ntioas seupes about selling them but vii Hssish them
pace and allow one may APRON. to .el tsn
,yl De satisfactory and hc proceed. sha be iahioJ paid
over the 1r,.snrer Of tie fsir
in conclusion will eDbarrass the Commit &c by attach
IN. any condition to my g bus will merely ggesi that
h hooEs an. not n sold m the regular tnot by lottery
auetion, should like them distributed 10 noble
,olliefs OF nturusl to me for such distribution.
HOPING the obs Of the Fair viii be fully realized and that
eyer sek wounded aud detyondns soldier viii be aided,
comiord and Inspired Thereby, am very fespecuy yonrs'
CHAs PARTRIDoE
To this letter have received no reply. Am unwil.
ling that the great body OF Splru9hts Shabe subjected
IA the ndignity OF hagmg their books excluded from
Ills Fnir snd trust this statement may meet the eve
f some managers OF this great enterprise who are
nul orlod there b. any such. 70 correct this wrong
CHAs. PAETEpoE-