262 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



The present state of things cannot last. Such disgrace- 

 ful tyranny, supported by such disgraceful corruption, false- 

 hood, and baseness, must topple down ; I am sure of it. 



There are many signs which indicate that we are on the 

 eve of great events. My earnest hope is for strength to 

 take part in the struggle. Pain and weakness are hard to 

 bear ; but harder still is the estrangement from duties 

 which I have at heart, rendered necessary by the state of 

 my health. 



Accept my thanks for your kindness, and believe me, 

 my dear sir, 



With great respect, 



Faithfully yours, 



CHARLES SUMNER. 



TO DR. EDWARD HITCHCOCK. 



NEW HAVEN, March 8, 1858. 



I AM not a little pleased that I was, as I believe, 



and as you have said, the first person who responsibly recog- 

 nized the correctness of your conclusions regarding the foot- 

 tracks in the rocks of the Connecticut River valley, as Buck- 

 land was the first in Europe You mention Sena- 

 tor Dixon's remarks. Of course they were gratifying to me 

 who have been twice on trial before that august body, the 

 Senate of the United States, and twice zealously defend- 

 ed ; in the affair of the rifles, by our Senator, Mr. Foster, and 



in that of the letter to Buchanan by Mr. Dixon We 



have godless men now at the head of our affairs. May God 

 preserve us from the results of their machinations ! The 

 President and his abettors seem to me to have no fear of 



God before their eyes, nor any proper love of man 



You often remind me of Richard Baxter, living in an age 

 when wicked men bore sway, always feeling infirmity of 

 body, but with untiring industry and fidelity accomplishing 

 more labor, and bringing out finer results, than most of your 



