The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-10-24
The Senator Sumner Baron IIolstein Affair.

Correspondence OF the New York Express
a public man sometimes becomes SO pnblic
that his private affairs command n publicity
which il wouid be an aGectation OF the press
aot 10 notice. Hence / send you the follow
ing
Not two years ago. the long known bache-
or, Charles Summer, became 4 Benedict, A
highly educated, and, In many respects, an
accomplished man, of good manner, and bet
ter appearance, naturally enough he stood
hrsh among the ladies Of Boston. And he had
no difficulty in winning the hand of widow
from one Of the r. +. VS. Of BOSTON,, who
sacrificed no incon.iderable lointure in mar
rying him. The honeymoon had all the appa-
rent charm that honeymoon usually has
When Mrs. Sumner went with her husband
10 Washington, new scenes ensued.
Among the accomplished men composing
the diDiDnniic cor5,s in Washington was Baron
Holstcn, of Prussia, whom the Prussian King
had uttnctsd to the Prussian Legation there
ito spy out the land" Naturally enough he
courted the acquaintance OF Charles Sumner,
the chairman of the Committee OF Foreign
A fairs in the Senate, who, 1T n dinner party,
introduced his wife TO the Baron, and who
was placed beside her ut dinner. An ac-
quainlance ensu"d, and friendship followed,
such rs naturally and honorably spring up
between the sexes, with kindred tastes and
aspirations. The Baron attended to the lady
III uutinCes and SOirees, and in other public
places, and occasionally escorted her from the
Senate, where both had been 10 hear the Sena-
tor speak. Mr.. Sumner, becoming displeased
with this acuuain tanceship-it cannot be pro-
perly called intimacy-wrote letter 10 Baron
Holstcn, in which, while complaining of it,,
report says he insinuated something not
honorable 10 the wife. The Baron wrote back
II letter, in which, in substance, he said there
."as no cause of offence whatcver-he had
teen polite to madame, rs he was TO other
ladies of similar accomplishments, and moth
ing had ever happened which propriety or
GOOD taste forbade. But if the Senator was
-. ~ yix "a
him any such satisfaction us Il man OF honor
demanded.
The correspondence was the beginning and
end Of part first; but Mr.. Sumner, report
says, then became cool to his wife, ana the
lady and the Baron became more reserved IN
their intercourse Then Mr. Summer, as chair
man of 0,r Committee of Foreign Affairs,
wrote to the PruSsian Minister OF Foreign
Affairs, the distinguished Bismarck, that II
he (Blsmarck) would recall the Baron he
Sumner) would he obliged The adroit Bis
marck yielded 10 the potential! positions of the
American Chairman of Foreign Affairs, and
the Baron was recalled to Berlin.
Mrs Sumner next became acquainted with
ths correspondence, and naturally enough
was Indignant beyond all power Of dcScrIp-
ton. Her Indignation naturally rested upon
thai part of the correspondence which IL was
alleged touched her honor. The end of all this
j. that Mrs. Sumner has gone her way TO Eu-
rope-their common establishment in Wash
lngtou being given up, and another Is taken
oy the Senator for the winter.
There is some scandal alloat beyond all this,
relating both To the Senator and the lady, such
rs may be expected from early deHOuemeldS IN
such Il marriage affair but the d"StS OF the
report i'm Boston is such as / send yuu. What
have written is in everybody's mouth, and IL
may possibly be erroneous Ill some OF the de
tails, bat in substance probably correct. /
send il 10 you for publication, because what, II
anything is wrong here had better nj once
be set right, To stop the tongues oil the thou-
sands that are making more out of Il few