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Charles Sumner to Thomas Crawford, 1 April 1844
Manuscript letter
Suggests following Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s idea of sending drawings to John Jay for fountain to be erected in New York City; more praise for Thomas Crawford's sculpture "Orpheus.”
[pencil, upper left corner:] “omit but refer”
Boston April 1st 1844
My dear Crawford,
I must write you one line. I have received a letter from a friend in New York, ^ Mr John Jay which contains the following sentences.
“When Prof. Longfellow was in New York we had some conversation upon the subject of the Fountain to be made in Washington Square, near our residence, & Longfellow suggested that Crawford should be employed to design & execute it. A meeting of citizens had just been called in reference to the matter, & having been specially invited to attend, as I was unable to be present, I wrote a letter to the Committee strongly recommending the appointment of Crawford, & the next week I sent to the New [p. 2] World a short article to the same effect, which I enclose. If you are in the habit of corresponding with Crawford, would it not be well to mention the matter, as I think if he were to send out two or three designs for the fountain with an estimate of the cost, it would greatly assist his friends in getting the order for him. Nothing has been done towards the employt [sic] of an artist, & when the designs arrive it will not be difficult to interest some of our more influential & liberal citizens, & get up a sufficient quantity of public enthusiasm to effect the accomplishment of our wishes.”
[two words scribbled out]
Enclosed is the little article from the New World, to which reference is made. Now, if you choose to act on this hint, [p. 3] make the drawings & send them to John Jay Esq. You will find him a powerful friend.
The Orpheus is still closed against the public. With gentler weather it will be exhibited to the public. All who have seen it express the warmest admiration, & our friend Dr Lieber, who is now in Europe, came to Boston, that he “might offer his prayers for the U.S. at the foot of the Orpheus.” He was touched by its beauties.
I have not yet transmitted any money to yr [Mother], according to yr instructions; for the account with the Athenaeum is still open; & I thought it had better be closed after the Exhibition, when I hope there will be much more to yr credit. I forward from Mrs Longfellow, & from Felton letters to Greene. Give him my love, & believe me
Ever Yrs,
Charles Sumner
[page 4, addressed to]:
À Monsieur,
Monsieur Thomas Crawford
Sculpteur,
(Café Greco)
à Rome
[In a different hand]: “Charles Sumner Boston. / April 1st 1844.”
[various red ink stamps]
[pencil, upper left corner:] “omit but refer”
Boston April 1st 1844
My dear Crawford,
I must write you one line. I have received a letter from a friend in New York, ^ Mr John Jay which contains the following sentences.
“When Prof. Longfellow was in New York we had some conversation upon the subject of the Fountain to be made in Washington Square, near our residence, & Longfellow suggested that Crawford should be employed to design & execute it. A meeting of citizens had just been called in reference to the matter, & having been specially invited to attend, as I was unable to be present, I wrote a letter to the Committee strongly recommending the appointment of Crawford, & the next week I sent to the New [p. 2] World a short article to the same effect, which I enclose. If you are in the habit of corresponding with Crawford, would it not be well to mention the matter, as I think if he were to send out two or three designs for the fountain with an estimate of the cost, it would greatly assist his friends in getting the order for him. Nothing has been done towards the employt [sic] of an artist, & when the designs arrive it will not be difficult to interest some of our more influential & liberal citizens, & get up a sufficient quantity of public enthusiasm to effect the accomplishment of our wishes.”
[two words scribbled out]
Enclosed is the little article from the New World, to which reference is made. Now, if you choose to act on this hint, [p. 3] make the drawings & send them to John Jay Esq. You will find him a powerful friend.
The Orpheus is still closed against the public. With gentler weather it will be exhibited to the public. All who have seen it express the warmest admiration, & our friend Dr Lieber, who is now in Europe, came to Boston, that he “might offer his prayers for the U.S. at the foot of the Orpheus.” He was touched by its beauties.
I have not yet transmitted any money to yr [Mother], according to yr instructions; for the account with the Athenaeum is still open; & I thought it had better be closed after the Exhibition, when I hope there will be much more to yr credit. I forward from Mrs Longfellow, & from Felton letters to Greene. Give him my love, & believe me
Ever Yrs,
Charles Sumner
[page 4, addressed to]:
À Monsieur,
Monsieur Thomas Crawford
Sculpteur,
(Café Greco)
à Rome
[In a different hand]: “Charles Sumner Boston. / April 1st 1844.”
[various red ink stamps]
Archives Number: 1002/9.3-157#011
U. S. National Park Service
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Courtesy of National Park Service, Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site; Archives Number 1002/9.3-157#011
Public domain
Collected Materials (1002/009), (LONG-SeriesName)
, Miscellaneous Famous People (1002/009.003), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, Sumner, Charles (1811-1874) to Thomas Crawford (1814-1857), 1839-1850 (1002/009.003-157), (LONG-FileUnitName)
, Miscellaneous Famous People (1002/009.003), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, Sumner, Charles (1811-1874) to Thomas Crawford (1814-1857), 1839-1850 (1002/009.003-157), (LONG-FileUnitName)
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Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, Code: LONG
Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Latitude: 42.3769989013672, Longitude: -71.1264038085938
Latitude: 42.3769989013672, Longitude: -71.1264038085938
Title: Finding Aid to the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Dana (1881-1950) Papers, 1744-1972 (bulk dated: 1850-1950)
URL: https://www.nps.gov/long/learn/historyculture/archives.htm#HWLD
URL: https://www.nps.gov/long/learn/historyculture/archives.htm#HWLD
2023/01/06
04/01/1844
Manuscript letter in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Dana Papers, Series IX. Collected Materials, C. Miscellaneous Famous People. (1002/9.3-157#011)
Public Can View
Organization: Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
Address: 105 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Email: LONG_archives@nps.gov
Address: 105 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Email: LONG_archives@nps.gov
Tuesday, February 20, 2024 11:31:08 PM
Tuesday, July 9, 2024 6:59:37 PM
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