the unknown future, little did he imagine that so long a time would elapse before he should recross the Atlantic. A young man, he stood with the countries he proposed to visit all around him like so many sealed books. How could he expect that for him the seals would be broken? It will be remembered that before he left America he visited Mount Vernon, and that while there he gathered some acorns from the oak that shades the tomb of Washington. One of those acorns he had with him; and on Friday morning, June 22d, the thought came to him while yet in St. Petersburg, "Perhaps this acorn, from its association with the memory of Washington, might be acceptable to the Emperor." The deed with George Sumner generally followed very closely upon the thought. He at once carried out the idea. The acorn was enclosed in a simple envelope, with this inscription: "For His Imperial Majesty Nicholas I., Within was written: "The enclosed acorn, from the oak-tree which shades the grave of the immortal Washington, is presented to the Emperor of the Russias, as a tribute of respect, from "AN AMERICAN." In an accompanying letter to the Czar, he said: "Will your Majesty permit an American citizen, proud of the name, to congratulate himself on being in an empire which has always pursued a high and honorable course towards his own country? Russia has always been the friend of the United States. It was one of the first to acknowledge the independence of my country, and it has ever since stood forward as her friend and mediator. This happy union of unbroken friendship commenced with Washington, whose feelings and opinions were friendly to Russia; and it has been preserved by his successors in the American Government. "Will your Majesty permit an American, travelling to see the wonders of this vast empire, to offer for your acceptance, as a slight tribute of respect and admiration, a souvenir of the immortal Washington? The acorn which accompanies this was plucked by me from over his grave. Although of no intrinsic value, yet the association may perhaps render it acceptable from "A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." This letter, with the package, having been duly sent to the palace, was promptly forwarded, by officers in attendance, to Peterhof, the summer palace of the Czar. It would not be unnatural if we should desire to know the result. Some persons might doubtless conjecture that a gift so insignificant would be looked upon both as an intrusion and impertinence. Not so was it received by the Emperor Nicholas. The orig inality of the act pleased him. Royal favors of princely value were often received. Here was a gift, simple and natural, accompanied by no courtly parade, whose whole worth consisted in its association with the memory of Washington. This touched the right chord in his nature. evident that nothing could have gratified him more. It was Mr. Sumner immediately received a note requesting his presence at the War Department. On presenting himself, at the appointed hour, he was escorted to the council-room, when, after formal recognition, the Minister of War stated that he was charged to express the gratification Mr. Sumner's letter and gift had given the Emperor. The acorn had been carefully planted near the summer palace, while, as a mark of special consideration, a position had been selected for it on the grounds where still stands the cottage once occupied. by Peter the Great, and where it would be watched over with constant care. The Emperor, he added, had ever cherished sincere respect for the American people, and held in highest honor the memory of Washington. It was further said that during Mr. Sumner's stay in St. Petersburg, and in his travels through Russia, every facility would be furnished him; all institutions he might wish to visit would be open to him, and any information desired should be furnished; that as Minister of War he had been charged with the execution of this order; and that on Mr. Sumner's departure from St. Petersburg he would be furnished with letters of introduction to the Governors-General of Moscow, Odessa, and other parts of the empire, to which places official intelligence to this effect would at once be forwarded. It was also stated that, by the imperial order, an officer would be placed at Mr. Sumner's disposal, who, whenever he should desire it, would accompany him to such institutions and places as he might wish to visit; who would make beforehand any needed arrangements, acting as interpreter, and gaining any information required.* The acorn which has been here mentioned as having been presented by Mr. Sumner to the Emperor in 1838, we are told, was planted by order of the Emperor at Peterhof. The question may be asked: Do we know whether the acorn became an oak? and if so, had it any special value as associated with Washington and America? Mr. Sumner, having expressed his obligation at this unexpected honor, and at the very flattering manner in which the message of the Emperor had been conveyed, withdrew. Under such advantages, during Mr. Sumner's residence at St. Petersburg, he visited galleries of art, museums and palaces, military academies and schools, prisons and hospitals; in fact, all philanthropic and educational institutions of every description, gathering information, documents, statistics, and making record of every thing which he thought might be of value. Among other invitations, he received official notice that the Emperor would receive him at the Anitschkow Palace on Sunday after mass, and that an officer of the household had been appointed to wait upon him to the palace. Here he was met by the Emperor with great cordiality. The conversation was at first in French; but English words being introduced, the Emperor said, "Ah, you prefer English? I do not speak it well; I will call an interpreter"; and leaving the room, he Three years after Mr. Sumner's death, 1866, there was an attempt to assassinate Alexander, the successor of Nicholas. His life was saved; and the Amer ican Government, through the National Congress, passed resolutions of congratulation, as an expression of sympathy and good will; and more than this, they voted that these resolutions should be carried to Russia, and presented to the Emperor by Mr. Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and three national vessels were ordered to go with this mission to St. Petersburg. On arrival of these vessels, Mr. Fox and the American officers were received with every honor, and were invited by the Emperor to Peterhof, the summer palace. There they were taken through the grounds, and Mr. Fox speaks of the many objects of interest; but that which interested them the most was an oak-tree which grew from an acorn brought from the grave of Washington, and presented to the Emperor by an American. The words of Mr. Fox, in his official account, are as follows: "Our officers surrounded the young tree with a feeling akin to religious sentiment. Each reverently plucked a leaf from its branches to carry home with him, to testify how profound is the homage paid in Russia to the memory of the great founder of our Republic." - See Narrative of the Mission to Russia in 1866, p. 96. This occurred twenty-eight years after the acorn was given and planted. The first telegraphic message ever sent from Russia to America by the Atlantic cable brought this account of Mr. Fox's reception by the Emperor to the American Congress. It was dated Aug. 8, 1866. In 1871 (five years later) the Grand Duke Alexis, son of the Emperor Alexander, visited the United States, and was received in our cities with due honor. He visited Boston, and, among other places, came to the rooms of the Massachusetts Historical Society, where he was received by the Hon. R. C. Winthrop, the President, and other members. In company with the Grand Duke were the Russian Minister to the United States, Mr. Catacazy, and Admiral Possiet, of the Russian Navy. The latter gentleman presented the Society several oakleaves which he had brought from Peterhof. The leaves were taken from an oak which grew from an acorn gathered at the grave of Washington, and presented to his Imperial Majesty by an American. This statement, in Russian, accompanied the leaves, and, with the translation, they are now framed in the rooms of the Society. "It is understood (says the record of the Society), that this acorn was presented to the Emperor of Russia by our late Associate, George Sumner." See Proceedings of Mass. Hist. Soc., 1871-73, pp. 174, 219. soon returned with the Empress and their two daughters, Marie and Olga. The ladies spoke English fluently, and a pleasant conversation followed, first respecting Russia, after which inquiries were made upon the appearance and character of the American aborigines, and the peculiarities of American scenery and society. During the conversation, the writings of several of our authors were alluded to, as if familiarly known. The interview was friendly, with the intentional absence of court formality; and, on taking leave, the Emperor and his family extended the most earnest good wishes. It is easy to understand that to persons of their rank (usually hedged in by ceremonies) this young man's visit, fresh from a different world, must have been an agreeable incident; while to him such an event could not be otherwise than gratifying. A few evenings after this reception, Mr. Sumner attended a ball at which the imperial family were present. The scene was supremely brilliant. The Emperor and his family mixed easily with the company. They pleasantly recognized their young American visitor, meeting him with marked courtesy. On the 5th February, 1839, he left St. Petersburg. The railroad had not yet been introduced, and he was obliged to travel often in the roughest manner, and in the old Russian style. He describes Novgorod and other quaint old towns, with their peculiar costumes and ancient customs. In many particulars these places were three or four centuries behind the rest of the world. In about three days he was at Moscow, with its gilded spires and domes, oriental as Bagdad, Asiatic in its aspect, the Jerusalem of Russia. Mr. Summer found that his official letters from St. Petersburg opened to him all institutions, and secured for him every privilege. If space would allow, interesting statements could be introduced; but all that can be here said is, that he improved every opportunity, keeping a full record from day to day of his varied experience. The same may be said of his travels throughout Russia. Nothing seemed to escape his observation. Churches, convents, asylums, schools, colleges, prisons, hospitals, observatories, libraries, museums, galleries, trades, manufactories, agriculture, all were with him matters of study and comment, the people, their ignorance and their cultivation; their privations and their advantages; methods of punishment and means of reform. Here he watched convicts leaving for Siberia; and again, he compared the traits of different classes and tribes. Now he searched into ruins and antiquities, and now drew inferences from singular types of public and private structures, with their peculiar ornamentation and styles of architecture. At Odessa, he examined minutely the Russian manner of shipbuilding, and made note of many interesting facts respecting the Russian navy. By special invitation, he was taken in a government ship to the Crimea. Bearing letters from the Governor-General to Admiral Lazareo, then commanding the fleet at Sevastopol, and also to the civil governor of Kirch and Simperopol, the chief engineer having charge of the government works took him over the dry docks, five in number, - two for frigates, and three for ships, explaining the various arrangements. Every hospitality was extended to him. In speaking of Sevastopol, and the strength of its fortifications, "It may," he says, "almost be compared to Gibraltar. At the entrance of the harbor are the Constantine and Alexander batteries, one with. two and the other with three rows of guns, in bomb-proof chambers, the ports opening through finely hammered white stone." He speaks of Balaclava, with its hills of rock and its curious harbor, the rocks completely crested with ruined walls and towers, and higher than any masts: "The water is excessively deep, and so encircled that it is perfectly still here, however stormy the sea may be without." "Balaclava itself is a small town with narrow streets, the population half Greek and half Tartar. Many old coins with Greek inscriptions are found here." "We passed," he adds, "a marriage procession of Tartars, in their holiday suit of silk, and mounted on horseback, going to the house of the father to bring the daughter to her intended husband. This was the commencement of the Tartar experiences that awaited me in the Crimea." It seems strange to read in these days of scenes, then so peaceful, since familiar with the most appalling horrors of war; of battlements and bulwarks, then apparently impregnable, now utterly demolished. More than forty years have passed since Mr. Sumner bade farewell to Russia. Great changes have taken place in that empire. But the description of society as it then was, of the government and institutions as they were at that time conducted, has in some respects even an added value. We will only remark that no courtesy he received, however great, ever blinded him to existing imperfections, or deterred him from expressing an honest criticism. He met everywhere with hospitality and kindness, but with these he was always left in the enjoyment of a manly freedom. After leaving Russia, he visited Circassia, Constantinople, |
