Letter from Charles Sumner to William Henry Seward, September 25, 1867

  • Posted on: 8 June 2018
  • By: admin
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Letter from Charles Sumner to William Henry Seward, September 25, 1867
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transcriber

Transcriber:spp:msr

student editor

Transcriber:spp:mec

Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive

Institution:University of Rochester

Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections

Date:1867-09-25

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Letter from Charles Sumner to William Henry Seward, September 25, 1867

action: sent

sender: Charles Sumner
Birth: 1811-01-06  Death: 1874-03-11

location: Boston, MA

receiver: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16  Death: 1872-10-10

location: Unknown
Unknown

transcription: msr 

revision: tap 2017-05-05

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Page 1

Boston 25th Sept. ‘67
My dear Seward,
I think that you would
have been satisfied with what
was done in honor of our
honored Sir Frederick Bruce
Birth: 1814-04-14 Death: 1867-09-19
.
The funeral was simple, but
calculated to produce a pro-
found impression;—while every
where in the city the flags
were at half-mast & all
the bells were tolling.
The Governor
Birth: 1816-03-02 Death: 1882-01-17
, the Mayor
Birth: 1811-11-02 Death: 1882-09-05
&
the Commander of the Navy Yard
Birth: 1812-08-08 Death: 1882-05-05

Page 2

offered every honor. But Mr
Barrington
Birth: 1842-01-28 Death: 1922-02-23
& Mr Howard
Birth: 1843-08-11 Death: 1921-05-04
, as
considenti, concluded that
it would be better to keep
the funeral within the bounds
of a ^certain^ simplicity, as if it
had been at home and in
the care of the family. They,
therefore, declined these demon-
strations. They first declined
an escort or a guard of
honor from the State, & after-
ward from the navy yard, where
there were three companies &
a band. They also declined
Page 3

the offer of Mr Hooper
Birth: 1813-12-25 Death: 1882-12-30
to receive
the remains at his house.
I ought to say to you how much
I have been impressed by the dis-
cretion, care & tenderness of the
two young gentlemen of the British
Legation. They were constant in
their activity & failed in noth-
ing. Naturally much affected,
they were always ready. As
they stood near the coffin, as
principal mourners, I was touched
to the heart.
As I write now, the image
of Sir Frederick is before me,
as he lay on his bed during
his last hours. I think I did
Page 4

not remark to you on the extreme
beauty of his countenance, until
the change came. His complex-
ion had more than its usual
richness, almost a purpureum
lumer. His eyes were more
beautiful than ever. They were
wide-open, larger, luminous,
lambent, with the colors of
unusual depth & splendor, as if
life retreating from the extremities
had gathered her last forces
there. At last they began to grow
dim & I then knew that his last
moments were near. I was sitting
on the bed, holding his hand, &
looking into his face.
Ever yours,
Charles Sumner