I trust that this little sketch, suggested by what I saw at Althorp during a brief visit last autumn, will not seem irrelevant. Besides my own personal impressions and the volumes quoted, I have relied upon Dibdin’s “Ædes Althorpianæ,” so interesting to all bibliographical students, and especially upon Baker’s “History and Antiquities of the County of Northampton,”—one of those magnificent local works which illustrate English history,—to which you refer in your Appendix.
The Memorial Stones, which I have received from Lord Spencer, are of historic value; and I think that I shall best carry out the generous idea of the giver by taking care that they are permanently placed where they can be seen by the public,—perhaps in the State-House, near Chantrey’s beautiful statue of Washington, if this should be agreeable to the Commonwealth.
Pray pardon this call upon your attention, and believe me, my dear Sir, with much regard,
Ever sincerely yours,
Charles Sumner.
Jared Sparks, Esq.
The following official documents show how these Memorial Stones found their way to the State-House of Massachusetts.
“Executive Department, Council Chamber,
Boston, March 15, 1861.
“To the Honorable the House of Representatives:—
“I have the honor to present to the General Court, as a gift to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from one of its citizens, certain memorials of great historic interest.