Edward L. Pierce, Memoir and letters of Charles Sumner: volume 2

[182] you must find great sources of happiness. I hope they will not forget me. If I ever revisit Germany, I shall hope to see them. Present my kind compliments to your daughter, who used to converse with me most indulgently in German.

I trust you will pardon my apparent remissness in not sending you the books you desire. I have had a large packet of books prepared for you for several months, awaiting the opportunity of a ship from Boston to Hamburg. I have at last put my packet on board a ship for Rotterdam, with instructions to a commercial house in the latter place to forward it to you. The ship sailed three days ago. The packet contains a copy of Phillips on ‘Insurance,’ two volumes; of Bayley on ‘Bills,’ with notes; of the second edition of Story's ‘Conflict of Laws;’ also a large collection of brochuresthat I trust will be interesting to you; also a copy of a new work, just published by a friend of mine, on ‘Seamen,’ which the author sends to you with his compliments. I send two copies of the fourteenth and fifteenth Reports of the Prison Discipline Society; also of the Institution for the Blind. Let me call your attention to the wonderful account in the Appendix to the latter of Laura Bridgman,—a girl deaf, dumb, and blind,—who has been taught the language of signs, and whose education has already advanced to a considerable extent. I have also sent you the reports of our Massachusetts Secretary¹ of the Board of Education, which are very interesting documents. I shall continue to send you all the things that I think will interest you. There is nothing of importance in jurisprudence. Judge Story is now engaged in a work on the ‘Law of Partnership.’ I have just seen him. He desires to be remembered to you. He and all your friends here have sympathized with you in the death of your son.

I am glad to hear of Grosch's health and prosperity, and hope he enjoyed himself in England. Tell him that I have not forgotten that I am his debtor for a long and generous letter. I shall write to him very soon. With cordial salutations to all your family and to the Hepps, believe me,

Most sincerely and faithfully yours,

Charles Sumner.

To Dr. Lieber, then at Washington, D. C., he wrote, July 5, 1841:—

I agree with you entirely about Webster's massive and yet graceful letter. ² It is a chef d'oeuvre;and I do not make the criticism you do with regard to McLeod's release. I think Webster was right in that, and I regard this as one of the most important parts,—the distinct admission, formally and diplomatically, for the first time in history, of a great and important principle of the law of nations. We have long acted upon a silent or implied recognition of that; but now, for the first time, it is distinctly proclaimed and registered in the archives of two great nations.