witnessed what he justly deemed one of the most important events that had occurred in the history of the intercourse of nations —the settlement of the long-pending and constantly menacing difficulties between
began his political life, as we have mentioned in an early part of this volume, in 1844, when he pronounced the oration on the true grandeur of nations; the burden of which was Peace, and which
, had pronounced the noblest contribution ever made by any modern writer to the cause of peace.
In that oration the memorable words were uttered which resounded through the world; which were quoted at every subsequent Peace Convention on the globe, and which were received with cheers when his health was drank at
He was now to see the two foremost nations of the earth practically adopt that sentiment, and come forward, setting an example for the first time, on so broad a scale, of yielding up all their claims and disputes to the awards of a peaceful arbitration.
How far his repeated and noble efforts in behalf of this cause, had been influential in bringing about this grand result, can, of course, never be known.
But in conversation with some of the ablest men who assisted in that arbitration, I was left without a doubt that not one of them had escaped the influence of the mind of
during the last quarter of a century.
Nor could he consider that he had led his life in vain, had he had no other reward than the consciousness of having contributed so largely to so great an event.
It was the first triumph the
of the world had ever won. It rendered subsequent victories easier; it inspired the lovers of Peace and Humanity everywhere with new hope.
The dawn of a better day was approaching; its first gray lines were fretting the east; the lark was singing at
[
of Peace was on its flight, with the olive-branch in her mouth, to all the nations.
Mr. Francis V. Balch, the executor of
Senator Sumner's will, entered it for probate in
Boston.
It is written by the
Senator's own hand:
1. I bequeath to
Henry W. Longfellow,
Francis V. Balch and
Edward L. Pierce, as trustees, all my papers, manuscripts and letter-books, to do with them what they think best, with power to destroy them, to distribute them in some public library, or to make extracts from them for publication.
2. I bequeath to the trustees above mentioned $3,000, or so much as may be needed to complete the edition of my speeches and papers, should the same be unfinished at my death.
It is hoped that no part of this sum will be needed.
3. I bequeath to the library of Harvard College my books and autographs, whether in
Washington or
Boston, with the understanding that duplicates of works already belonging to the college library may be sold or exchanged for its benefit.
4. I bequeath to the
City of Boston, for the Art Museum, my pictures and engravings, except the picture known as the ‘Miracle of the Slave,’ with the injunction that the trustees shall do with them what they think best, disposing of all for the benefit of the museum.
5. I bequeath to my friends of many years,
Henry W. Longfellow and
Samuel G. Howe, my bronzes, to be divided between them; also to
Henry W. Longfellow the Psyche and that bust of the young
Augustus, in marble; to my friend
Joshua B. Smith, the picture known as the ‘Miracle of the Slave,’ and to the
City of Boston, for the Art Museum, the bust of myself, by
Crawford, taken during my visit to
Rome in 1839.
6. I bequeath to the daughters of
Henry W. Longfellow $2,000, also to the daughters of
Samuel G. Howe $2,000, and to the daughters of
James T. Furniss of
Philadelphia $2,000, which I ask them to accept in token of my gratitude for the friendship their parents have shown me.
7. I bequeath to
Hannah Richmond Jacobs, only surviving sister of my mother, an annuity of $500, to be paid by my executor for the remainder of her life.
8. I direct my executor to make all provision for perpetual care of my mother's lot at
Mount Auburn.
9. I bequeath to the
President and Fellows of Harvard College $1,000, in trust for an annual prize for the best dissertation by any student of the
College or any of its schools, undergraduate or graduate, on universal peace and the methods by which war may be permanently suspended.
I do this in the hope of drawing the attention of students to the practicability of organizing peace among nations, which I sincerely believe may be done.
I cannot doubt that the same modes of decision which now prevail between individuals, between towns and between smaller communities, may be extended to nations.
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10. All the residue of my estate, real and personal, I bequeath and devise to my executor in trust, to be sold at such time and in such way as he shall think best, the proceeds to be distributed in two equal moieties, as follows: One moiety to be paid my sister,
Julia Hastings, wife of
John Hastings of
San Francisco, Cal., for her sole and exclusive use; or, should she die before me, then in equal portions to her three daughters or the survivor, each portion to be for the sole and exclusive use of such daughter.
The other moiety to be paid to the
President and Fellows of Harvard College, in trust, for the benefit of the
College library, my desire being that the income should be applied to the purchasing of books relating to politics and fine arts.
This bequest is made in filial regard for the
College.
In selecting especially the library, I am governed by the consideration that all my life I have been a user of books, and having few of my own, I have relied on the libraries of friends and on public libraries; so that what I now do is only a return for what I have freely received.
11. I appoint
Francis V. Balch executor of this will, and desire that the trustees of my papers may be exempt from giving bonds.
In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand this second day of September, 1873, at
Boston.
