Edward L. Pierce, Memoir and letters of Charles Sumner: volume 3, Chapter 30: addresses before colleges and lyceums.—active interest in reforms.—friendships.—personal life.

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I mourned the death of Mr. Colden,³ who was an amiable and most excellent gentleman. For several years I never failed to enjoy his very agreeable hospitality whenever I was in New York. I know no house that was more attractive; his wife was a fascinating lady. And Lord Jeffrey is gone too, and Mrs. Jeffrey! I hope the Empsons are well. Are they still at Haylebury, and does he conduct the Review? Remember me kindly to your father and sisters. I recall with inexpressible interest the long avenue and the groves of Lanfire.

To Lieber, June 25:—

I have just read your paper on Pardons, which seems to me admirably done. It is a piece of pure science. Your criticism on the existing state of things is perfect. I am not so confident as to your scheme of remedy. The first volume of the new work on “The science of politics,” ⁴ where you are noticed, will be published at once in Boston. It seems to me calculated to influence many minds. No previous English work on the same topics will compare with it, nor do I know any Continental work equally profound, careful, and revolutionary. It is curious that British authors should take such a sudden start. Since this work there has appeared “Social Statics,” by Herbert Spencer (who can he be? Is it not a nom de plume,—two great families grouped on one page?), which is not inferior in talent to the other book, and which is equally original and penetrating, but not calculated to reach so many readers, though it is most artistic in its style and arrangement. Two such works published within two months of each other,—one in Scotland, and the other in England,—without any apparent concert or knowledge of each other, form an era in political science.

To George Sumner, August 5:—

I have just finished the diary of old John Adams, which is to me deeply interesting. He shows little faith in Franklin or in Vergennes. Bancroft works hard upon his History, and will put two volumes to press this winter, beginning with 1767, the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle. It will be a very

1 Sumner, writing to Longfellow from Montpellier, France, Jan. 24, 1859, said that M. Moudot, the lecturer on Spanish literature at the University, had changed his purpose to translate Ticknor's work into French, being discouraged by its ‘dryness and dictionary character.’

2 Ante, vol. i. p. 156.

3 David C. Colden. He married Miss Wilkes, whose sister married Lord Jeffrey. Ante, Memoir, vol. i. p. 359, note.

4 By P. E. Dove, published anonymously in the first edition.

Cambridge, MA. Press of John Wilson and Son. 1877.

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Edward L. Pierce, Memoir and letters of Charles Sumner: volume 3

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