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whole soul with delight, there was no forgetting of home and kindred.
The few American tourists sojourning in
London in those days were generally brought into personal relations with each other.
Sumner welcomed heartily, as a fellow-lodger at 2 Vigo Street,
Dr. Shattuck, his companion in
Paris, who had in the mean time visited
Italy and
Germany.
He met, in a friendly way,
Rev. Ezra S. Gannett and
Rev. George E. Ellis,
Unitarian divines,
Joseph Coolidge,
Mr.Cabot and
Mrs. Henry Cabot, and their daughter, afterwards
Mrs. John E. Lodge,—all from
Boston.
The
Cabots had chambers in Regent Street, near his own, and he found it pleasant to talk with them of social experiences in
London.
Thoughts of his vacant law-office disturbed him at times in the fulness of his enjoyments; and he revealed to friends his anxiety as to his future success in his profession, recurring to the prediction of
President Quincy in their parting interview, that
Europe would only
spoil him.
1
To
Mr. Daveis he wrote, Dec. 6:—
I begin to think of home and my profession.
Tell me, as my friend, what are my chances at home.
Will it be said that I have forgotten that law which some have given me the credit of knowing; that I am spoiled for practice and this work-a-day world?
True, I should be glad to be able to hold constant communion with the various gifted minds that I nightly meet; to listen daily to the arguments of Talfourd and Follett: and so, indeed, should I rejoice in more ennobling society still,—to walk with Cicero over Elysian fields, and listen to the converse of Plato and Socrates.
But I well know that I have duties to perform which will be any thing but this.
Welcome, then, labor in its appointed time!
As he left for the Continent, uncertain whether he should return to
England on his way home, many kind words were said to him. Lord Denman wrote from
Guildhall, Feb. 27, 1839:—
Allow me to express the hope that you like England well enough to pay us another visit.
No one ever conciliated more universal respect and goodwill.
Far from deserving your acknowledgments to myself, I have regretted that my varied engagements have prevented me from paying you the attentions to which you are entitled.
