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

[58] law bar, though he practises chiefly before Parliamentary committees. He has just sprung into an income of fifteen thousand pounds. He is about forty-two years old, and is a bachelor. He is the brother of John Austin. I think Charles Austin the only jurist at the English bar. It is only recently that he has arrived at his present position, and he has employed his time in liberal studies as well as upon the law. He was one of the editors of the ‘Retrospective Review.’ He is a fine speaker,—clear, distinct, intelligent. In conversation he is very interesting, full of knowledge, information, literature, and power of argument. In politics he is a decided, but rational, liberal. In the event of Lord Durham coming to power, or any more liberal government, he will be Attorney-General or Lord Chancellor. If he has health, there is a great future before him. He is admirably informed about America, and will probably visit us next summer. He will be glad to see you. I have heard him say that he thought you the first judge and jurist of the day. Take him all in all, and I cannot hesitate to place him before Follett. In my next I shall continue my sketch of the common law barristers, and then shall carry you before the Lord Chancellor.

Ever affectionately yours,

Charles Sumner.

To George S. Hillard.

London, Feb. 4, 1839.

dear Hillard,—I wish you to do me the favor to send Brownson's tracts, and his Review for the first year,—in short all the publications that contain any thing of his philosophy,—to Rev. Professor Whewell, Athenaeum Club, London. The latter is a friend of mine, and is now engaged on an extensive philosophical work.

In my last I wrote you that Prescott's book had been reviewed in the ‘Edinburgh.’ The author is Mr. Gayangos, a Spaniard and great friend of Lord Holland. He also wrote the article on the Moors in the ‘London and ’