William Gladstone Re: Sumner's Death and His "contributions to the anti-slavery movement." To Cyrus Field

A letter written from 11 Carlton-House-Terrace, signed "WE Gladstone" and addressed to American businessman, Cyrus Field. 3pp of a bifolium, measuring 4.5" x 7", London, dated March 31, 1874.  With flattened mail folds, light toning and soiling. Boldly signed. The letter has a typed description adhered to the blank fourth page. From a recently discovered collection that has not seen the light of day for over 70 years!

Gladstone expresses his sadness at the death of Charles Sumner and ruminates on his contributions to the anti-slavery movement.

In part:
"...I received that of the 17th announcing to me the funeral of Mr. C. Sumner and the great manifestation of feeling which it called forth. His loss must be heavily felt and his name will long be remembered in conversation with the abolition of slavery which was wrought out in the United States by methods as wonderful and so [illegible] from the general expectation… "

William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898) was a British statesman and Liberal politician, known affectionately by his supporters as "The People's William" or the "G.O.M." ("Grand Old Man"). He served as both Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Cyrus West Field (1819-1892) was an American businessman and financier who, along with other entrepreneurs, created the Atlantic Telegraph Company and laid the first telegraph cable across the Atlantic Ocean in 1858.

Charles Sumner (1811-1874) was an American statesman and United States Senator from Massachusetts. As an academic lawyer and a powerful orator, Sumner was the leader of the anti-slavery forces in the state and a leader of the Radical Republicans in the U.S. Senate during the American Civil War. Sumner may be best known as the victim of a brutal attack, following a speech given on May 22, 1856. South Carolina congressman Preston Brooks beat Sumner nearly to death with a cane on the Senate floor after Sumner delivered an anti-slavery speech, "The Crime Against Kansas." Sumner was gravely injured, and it was several years before he could return to the Senate. The episode contributed significantly to the polarization of the country leading up to the Civil War, with the event symbolizing the increasingly violent socio-political atmosphere of the time.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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