MEMOIR

OF

GEORGE SUMNER.

BY ROBERT C. WATERSTON.

GEORGE SUMNER, the son of Charles Pinckney Sumner, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, Feb. 5, 1817.

The father was a native of Milton, and graduated from Harvard College in 1796. After leaving college he entered the law office of Josiah Quincy, whose friendship and confidence he retained through life. In 1825 he was appointed sheriff of Suffolk County. He was a scholarly and honorable man, sustaining, both in public and private life, an unblemished reputation. Of his large family of children, Charles, the distinguished senator, was the eldest. George, six years younger, from his earliest childhood was of a cheerful and earnest nature; quick alike to observe and apprehend. The mother, intelligent and active, in the management of her children was firm yet gentle; while the father, serious and judicious in commanding obedience, retained alike their affection and respect. The influence of the parents did much to mould the character of the sons.

At the age of twelve, George entered the English High School, and graduated Aug. 4, 1832, with honor. As a scholar he held throughout good rank, and in character was unexceptionable. The few yet living who remember him after half a century speak of him with strong affection. One classmate writes: "The impression of George Sumner, as he appeared in boyhood, still lingers vividly in my mind, and I hope it may always continue to linger, with all the freshness of reality. He was a bright, intelligent fellow, eager for information. Quick in his motions, he was a great walker, and was constantly looking about as if anxious for something to learn. He was one of those diligent and inquiring minds, always ready to make the most of opportunities." Another classmate writes: "There was nothing about him of ostentation. His manner and conversation were always genial,

while in a remarkable degree he possessed that magnetic power which attracts. I will venture to say that if those early companions who survive him were asked to express an opinion of him, the exclamation would be: George Sumner, how we loved him!' Even at that time the world for him appeared not large enough; he seemed always in search of something he had not found." *

Such were the characteristics of his early days. In him feminine and manly traits were blended: a delicacy and refinement of taste, with firmness, perseverance, and courage; a determination that nothing could shake, a desire for knowledge which seemed to know no bounds, and an expansiveness of grasp which it was difficult to limit. Through all his investigations he sought a solid basis, and was never satisfied until he arrived at fundamental principles. Thus, with a memory which never yielded what it had once acquired, and a power of adaptation by which all its knowledge was promptly at command, there were constant incitements to effort. A collegiate education would have been greatly prized; but, as this privilege had been granted to the elder brother, George by effort and self-sacrifice must gain such advantages as he desired through other channels.

In pursuance of this end, at the age of fifteen he entered the counting-room of Mr. T. B. Curtis. On the 20th September, 1832, the father writes to Mr. Curtis: "My son George wishes for a place in your store. If you see fit to receive him, you shall not suffer for any want of ability, integrity, or inclination to do his duty." Here he was received, and gave by punctu ality, industry, and intelligent application, entire satisfaction. The business in which he was engaged was especially connected with commerce. But, with him, a knowledge of the mere technical details of business was not enough. While making himself familiar with the character of cargoes received and shipped, he determined to make himself familiar also with the methods and laws of trade prevailing in different nations; and not only to know the various growths and fabrics of countries, but their manners and customs, their history, literature, and institutions.

Added to the knowledge acquired, there occurred opportunities, in a business way, of ventures in vessels to and from different sections of the globe; which opportunities were so

The first statement is from a communication by his classmate, Stephen G. Deblois of this city; the second from a communication by his fellow-student, Andrew J. Loud, late cashier of the Second National Bank, who died soon after these words were written.

judiciously improved that, by the close of his apprenticeship, he had acquired what might be modestly considered, for a young man, a considerable property in his own right.

During this period of his apprenticeship, in 1835, at the age of eighteen, he made a journey to the White Mountains, walking much of the way. In an absence of sixteen days he travelled 468 miles,-153 miles by stage, steamboat, and railroad, and 315 miles on foot. He often walked thirty and forty miles a day. He kept a journal, making note of all he saw, the persons he met, and the facts he gathered; the beauty and grandeur of the scenery greatly impressed him.

In the autumn of 1837 he took a more extended circuit, going to New York, up the Hudson, and thence to Niagara, then proceeding to Erie and Pittsburg, and by the Cumberland road to Washington. Crossing the Alleghany Mountains, he visited Harper's Ferry, wandered on the banks of the Shenandoah and the Potomac, attended an Indian council, at which the Secretary of War and a delegation of twenty-six Indian chiefs and braves held debate, and smoked the calumet, passing the pipe, according to the custom, from hand to hand. He visited the various public buildings, and saw all that was to be seen, gathering information wherever he went. Having been introduced to various officials, and had a conversation with the President at the White House, he went to Alexandria, and thence on foot to Mount Vernon; where, from the oak shading the grave of Washington, he gathered some acorns, which he prized as precious memorials of his pilgrimage to that sacred place.

In the autumn of this year (1837) his brother Charles went to Europe. The last thing he did, even after he had embarked, was to write a parting word to George. This letter, dated, "On board ship Albany,' Friday, December 8th," is expressive not only of his attachment to his brother, but of the high estimate he put upon his brother's ability: "You have talents and acquirements," he writes, "which are remarkable, and which, with well-directed application, will carry you to any reasonable point of human distinction."

Soon after the departure of Charles, early in the year 1838, arrangements were completed by which George was to go as supercargo of a brig, owned by Messrs. Samuel C. & F. A. Gray, sailing first to Charleston, where the vessel was to take in a cargo of rice and cotton, and then proceed to St. Petersburg. George, as supercargo, was to arrange the purchase and shipment of the cargo at Charleston, the sale of the same at Copenhagen or St. Petersburg, together with the

purchase and shipment of a return freight, after which he was to be at liberty to go where he pleased.

A letter from Colonel Greene to the Hon. G. M. Dallas, Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States to St. Petersburg, shows that Mr. Sumner went with other than business purposes. It was well understood that Mr. Sumner was to travel; and the letters readily furnished him, show that, young as he was, he was even then held in high esteem, and that there was no hesitation, among men of the highest position, to recommend him to eminent persons abroad.

On Saturday morning, Feb. 24, 1838, George Sumner bade farewell to the old family home, and left Boston; and, after one severe storm encountered on the passage, they arrived, on the seventh day, at Charleston, South Carolina, in safety. The vessel was soon loaded, five thousand dollars having been expended for cotton on his own account. They were now ready to depart for Russia.

Before they left, however, letters were received from the Secretary of State at Washington, requesting Mr. Sumner to act as the bearer of despatches to the American Legation at St. Petersburg, with a cordial personal letter from Mr. Forsyth, expressing special consideration, and requesting that all civilities should be extended usual to messengers of state. Letters were also received from Judge Story, then on the Bench of the Supreme Court, expressing strong regard, and commending Mr. Sumner to the good will and generous courtesy of Mr. Dallas and others.

On Sunday morning, March 18th, the vessel hauled out, and was soon on her way to Copenhagen and St. Petersburg. A pleasant account is given by Mr. Sumner of this voyage. They went to the north of Ireland and Scotland, passing within sight of the Hebrides; running between the desolate shores of the Shetland and Orkney Islands over a rough sea. On the 15th April, with the coast of Sweden and Denmark on either side, they entered the narrow pass of the Skager Rack, soon after which Elsinore came in sight. The day following, April 16th (exactly twenty-six days after leaving Charleston), Mr. Sumner set foot upon the shores of the Old World.

At Elsinore he examined the scenes associated with Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Here, being detained by ice, which blocked up the Baltic, their vessel was delayed, giving them time at Copenhagen to see all the objects of interest in that remarkable city, and to become acquainted with many of the leading men, among whom were several literary and scientific

professors, who extended to him the most cordial welcome, and offered every courtesy. Museums, courts of law, libraries, collections of art, were all thrown open to him.

After remaining in Denmark four weeks, on the 10th of May the vessel was able to proceed. On the 19th they reached the Fortress of Cronstadt, and on the 20th they arrived at St. Petersburg.

As his cargo was the first from America to arrive in port, he was fortunately able to dispose of it to excellent advantage, and to secure desirable return freight. Early in June, he writes: "Thus far I have devoted myself strictly to business, postponing every thing else until I have sent back the vessel in which I came out. How successful I have been may be inferred from the fact that mine is the only vessel, out of four Americans, which has a return cargo, and that she will be away from Russia before any other vessel this year." In connection with what Mr. Sumner now proposed to himself in the way of extensive foreign travel, it should be remembered that he was not yet twenty-two years of age; that he was alone, and had no special advantages or superabundance of means. Economical habits, simple tastes, and a readiness to face hardships wherever necessary, were among his qualifications. Books of voyages and travels had long been a delight, exciting into a passion his curiosity. History had stimulated inquiry, and a general thirst for knowledge added to his zeal. To travel through the various countries of which he had read, Russia, Circassia, Turkey, Greece, Hungary, Spain; to become personally familiar with Syria and Palestine; to wander on foot through Germany, France, and Italy; to climb the mountains of the Tyrol and of Switzerland, these were among the dreams that haunted him. He longed to know the languages and the literatures of nations; to examine libraries, museums, schools, prisons, hospitals; to look into educational systems and methods of reform, institutions, customs, and laws; to observe man, as represented by various races, and nature, as it is developed in different climes; to trace civilization through its progress, and watch it in its different stages. These were, in part, the purposes he cherished. Not for mere amusement or idle recreation did he desire to travel, but to gain such knowledge, by large experience, as would expand his powers, and enable him to be of wider usefulness, and to return home at last with information which might be of value to others.

Fifteen years would thus pass before he would see again his native land. Standing, as he now did, on the threshold of

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