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

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Mr. Ingersoll spent about a week here, during which I was with him good portions of each day. We talked of you, and he thought that seeing you was seeing a large part of Maine.

Yours as ever,

Chas. S.

To Professor Mittermaier.

Boston (United States of America), Nov. 20, 1837.

my dear Sir,—I feel grateful for your kind letter of 14th June last, and for the interest which you have expressed in the jurisprudence of my country. Your promise to furnish an article for the ‘American Jurist’ has given me and my collaborateurs the greatest pleasure. We hope to receive it very soon. The subject of codification is deeply interesting to us at this moment. Commissioners in Massachusetts are now engaged in reducing to a code our criminal law. I think it will take them upwards of two years to accomplish this; and then the Legislature may reject their labors, as that of Louisiana did the code of Livingston.¹ While the attention of the bar and the public is directed to this subject, an article from a person so competent and distinguished as you are would be read with the greatest interest. Let me ask you to persevere in your promise. My associates and myself will be glad to send in return some contribution to your very valuable journal, on such subject as you would be pleased to have discussed. The exchange would, indeed, be unequal; like Diomed, we should give iron for gold.

I have directed my bookseller to send to you, through Perthes & Besser, Hamburg, my ‘Reports of the Decisions of Mr. Justice Story,’ in two volumes; also a work on ‘Admiralty Practice,’ which was edited and partly prepared by me. Allow me to refer you to the preface of the latter work as indicating my agency in it. The forms of proceedings, consisting of libels and answers, which I prepared, have been adopted in the practice of the admiralty courts of the United States, so far as my knowledge extends. I ask you to receive the foregoing works as a mark of my high regard. I have also directed to be sent, through the same channel, the last three numbers of the ‘American Jurist,’ which I fear you have not received.

I am now about to embark for Europe, partly with a view of acquainting myself with the jurisprudence of its different countries, and promise myself the pleasure of making your personal acquaintance at Heidelberg, where I hope to pass some time. I shall probably be in Paris during the months of January, February, and March, and shall then pass over to England; after which I shall visit Germany. My associate, L. S. Cushing, will have the chief management of the ‘American Jurist’ during my absence; and he joins me in expressing an earnest desire that you would furnish your promised article.

I have the honor to be, with great regard,

Your most obedient, faithful servant,

Charles Sumner.