Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-03-18

uCpdi tinChtns ilN NAbiOoSu thNo~
About this time he was sp-
piled to to accept al important professor.
ship in Harvard College but declined to
do SO. Subsequently the application was
renewed, and it was proposed to give him
at the same time q chair in the faculty Of
law but he resolutely put it aside, not that
he did appreciate the dignity and ssefal-
ness of the position. but at this time be
had determined on another course Of ac-
ton. During the years 1896 he ed.
tied Andrew Dunlsp's Treatise Of Adml-
ral,y Practice He had heen employed
to assist Mr. Dunlap, who died before the
work was com pleted, whereupou it was
finished by Mr., Sumner, who enlarged 1t,
and added cepious and valuable notes and
appendices. Dunlap was United States
District Attorney at the time of bis de.
cease, and desired that Mr.. Sumner should
succeed him, but circumstances prevented
the appointment. This summary of his
work during the three years after his ad-
mission TO the bar, and before he sailed
for Europe in 1887, is an extraordinary
record for a young man who had not at
tanned his 9th year.
In Europe he spent three years, that
were years Of as earnest work and as ear
nest enjoyment as any that had preceded
them. He spent several months in Paris,
pursuing his legal studies, attending the
highest courts, and winning on every hand
the respect and friendship of the great
In England he spent nearly year, and
was received with distinguished coasldera-
ton in the most Intellectual and exclusive
circles. Probably no young American
ever so easily and triumphautly y overcame
the exclusiveness of the higher circles OF
English and continental society. His
brilliant talents were happily joined with
noblcncss of character and elegant courtesy
Often by invitation he sat with the judges
in Westmpster-hall. Scientific associations
gladly weIcsmened him to their circle
Upon the debates of Parliament he was
very constant attendant, and in the
titled and fashionable as well as sf the
learned and great he was u welcomed
guest. Many of the friendships made il
England then were not broken off unit
death. In Italy he studied especially ar
and literature, making thorough acquaint
ance with the great works of Italian poets
historians and politicians and cultivatirs
that taste for the fine arts which in latel
years became the great solace OF his life
In Germany, where his stay was shorter
he was kindly received by Prince Meter
Mich, became acquainted with Humboldt
Ranke and Ritter, snd the eminent jurist
Savigny, Thibout asd Mittermater.
His first political essay was written il
Paris in 1889, upon the subject OF til,
Northeastern Bosnd.ry, then in dispute
between England and the United States
Our side Of the case could get no adequate
statement in the perioslcals of England
Or the csntinent, and the tide Of publi
sentiment set strongly against u.s. Gov
ernor Cass, then in Paris, requested Mr.
Sumner to make statement of our case
and procure its Insertion in Galigaani
Messenger. 1t was signed "a Citizen o
the Usites States and attracted grea
attention ut home as well as abroad, Judg
Story pronouncing it the ablest state pa
per written on the subject. During hi
stay in Paris he suggested to Wheaton t
write the great work on the History o
the Law Of Nations, that will long pre-
serve his name in honor.
Upon his retarn to this country MI
Sumner was received with nattering re
spec. by the socisl and Intellectual circle
Of his native city Hc did net return t
the practice Of his profession in the courts
or it would be more accurate to say b
did not encourage the idea that he desire
such employment. To literature, hlstor
and science he gave his time, but kept u
his interest in the study Of the law by cd
iting an American edition Of Vesey's II
ports, in twenty volumes, which was pub
lished during the years lS44-46. Ia n
work Of bis life does the afluence Of hi
learning and its broad range more cor
spicuOusly appear than in the notes col
tributsd by him to these reports. Upo
the death Of his intimate friend, judy
Story, there was much canvassing of Ii
probability that Mr.. Summer would SUI
ceed to his chair at Cambridge, as it wa
i well known that it was the desire of th
distinguished teacher that he should do 8,
ard Chancellor Kent declared that M
Sumner was the only person in the countr
competent to succeed him. He discourage
any attempt by his friends to secure tn
place for him, and it was given to al
other.
j Hitherto Mr.. Sumner had taken no pa
In nalitics excant To vote the whin tick q