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

‘ [59] Foreign Quarterly,’ for January. My friend, Henry Reeve,¹ the editor of this Review during the absence of John Kemble (now in Germany for his health), wished me to call Mr. Prescott's attention to the latter article. The note at page sixty or seventy about Prescott's book is written by Reeve. I have been pressing Reeve to review the work at length in his journal, and he would like to do so very much if he could find a competent critic. He has read the work with the greatest pleasure. I dined last evening with Edward Romilly² (the son of Sir Samuel): there were only Lord Lansdowne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Hallam, Mr. Wickham, Mrs. Marcet, and myself; and the conversation turned upon this book. To-night I dined with Mr. Ord,³ an old stager in Parliament, who fought under the leadership of Fox.

To-morrow Parliament meets. Through the kind interference of Lord Morpeth, I am to have a place to hear the Queen's speech; and the Speaker has given me the entree of the House of Commons at all times.

Lord Brougham has given me his full-bottom Lord-Chancellor's wig,⁴ in which he made his great speech on the Reform Bill. Such a wig costs twelve guineas; and then, the associations of it! In America it will be like Rabelais' gown.

Ever yours,

C. S.

To George S. Hillard.

travellers', Feb. 16, 1839.

dear Hillard,—Perhaps this is my last greeting from London; and yet it is hard to tear myself away, so connected by friendship and by social ties have I become with this great circle; and I will — not venture to write down the day when I shall leave. My last was a volume rather than a letter; and I have again such stores to communicate as to call for another volume. Parliament is now open, and I have been a constant attendant; but I will first tell you of its opening and of the speech of the Queen.⁵ I was accommodated through the kindness of Lord Morpeth with a place at the bar,—perhaps it was the best place occupied by any person not in court dress. Behind me was the Prince Louis Bonaparte.⁶ It was a splendid sight, as at the coronation, to watch the peeresses as they took their seats in full dress, resplendent with jewels and costly ornaments; and from the smallness of the room all were within a short distance. The room of the House of Lords is a little longer but not so wide as our College Chapel, at Cambridge.