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paper notices, and intervened with public men in
Washington1 and with his old acquaintance
Conrad Robinson, to advance his claims in the competition for the statue of
Washington, to be erected by the
State of Virginia in
Richmond.
Crawford came to the country in the winter of 1849-1850, and passed some time at
Richmond and
Washington for the purpose of securing the commission.
He was fortunate in his errand; and to none was he so grateful as to
Sumner, whom he thanked for his ‘unceasing attention to everything concerning his success.’
Sumner wrote to
Crawford, Feb. 9, 1850—
I give you joy in your great success.
This engagement will advertise you to the whole country.
It will occupy your time honorably, and draw business to you. Fortune has at last perched on your head.
From this time forward there will be for you constant triumph.2
He wrote to
George Sumner, February 18:—
This order definitely fixes Crawford's position in art. He had become uneasy, fretful, discontented, irresolute, and almost Ishmaelitish.
He seemed to feel that he had been neglected, and was soured.
All will be changed now. His genius is original and prolific, more so than that of any other American sculptor. . . . Our Athenoeum is now lodged in a new building, yet unfinished, while we are let in debt, and have not the means to finish it. My desire is that it shall be made a public library, on condition that the city shall finish the building and secure to it a permanent income for the purchase of books.3
Sumner was interested in improving the fortunes of
Hawthorne, who was cultivating literature on narrow means, and in 1846 wrote to
Mr. Bancroft, then
Secretary of the Navy, urging this appointment to some federal office.
the
Salem custom house was all that was then assigned to the author of ‘The Scarlet Letter;’
4 but
Sumner, as senator, had the satisfaction, a few years later, of voting for his confirmation as consul at
Liverpool, and writing him on the spot a note of congratulation ‘that fairly shouted as with a silver trumpet, it was so cordial and strong in joy.’
5 
