Edward L. Pierce, Memoir and letters of Charles Sumner: volume 1

[172] some extracts from which I shall launch in the Boston ‘Atlas.’ Your introduction is admirable; the spirit is capital, the style and language of a high order, the thought instructive, and, above all, the view of Niebuhr lifelike. The character is very clearly displayed; it stands out like a king's head on a piece of coin. Your own observations, which introduce and explain a remark of the historian, and your conversation, which served to draw out his, are very fine; but I must confess that my impression of Niebuhr, from this table-talk, is not of a very high character. I love him and feel his amiability, not his power. There is little or no point or depth of remark; nothing epigrammatic or sententious; very little of a higher order than philological or antiquarian criticism; really little or nothing of general remark or philosophical deduction, which is brought up like a priceless pearl from the deep ocean of events,—particulars which always show themselves in your writings, and which give you the foremost place in the present brochure. To tell the truth, you appear better than Niebuhr. I know Niebuhr was great; I have full faith in him: but I opine he was not a great talker; that he did not speak for the press, and that his thoughts needed the ordeal and alchemy of his own study and inkstand to be in proper order for the world. You have done good by your publication; for it is well, in these days of dwarfish studies, to have some man presented to our eyes whose character and labors may shame our moderated steps, and whose example may teach us how necessary and how sweet labor is. Besides, your book will lead many to read his history, and will thus contribute to shut up one large book of fable, and substitute in its stead the wonderful deductions which have been wrought out from such various materials as those of Niebuhr, and which go to establish truth.

The ‘North American,’ you know, has passed from Alexander H. Everett to Dr. Palfrey, who is pushing it pretty hard, and, I think, may revive it. His first number will be the January one. . . .

Believe me, most faithfully yours,

Chas. Sumner.

To Dr. Francis Lieber.

Jan. 1, 1836.

my dear friend,—‘A Happy New Year’ to you and yours; and many thanks for your kind letter of Dec. 13. Judge Story sends his regards. I doubt the truth, somewhat, with all humility however, of your views in your letter with regard to brilliant conversation. You have made me love Niebuhr, and that's a great end gained; and your book must be regarded with great interest as giving an insight into the character of a truly great man.

Judge Story told me to write you that he was delighted with it, and particularly with your account of yourself in the introduction. John Pickering spoke of it to me in the highest terms. He thinks every thing of you, and longs to have you back among us; as does also my dear judge, who says that you must be with us soon; that Harvard College must have your aid.

Write me how you live, or rather how you keep from dying, in the literary