[568]
has been accomplished, I do not presume to know.
But just so soon as my wounds heal enough for locomotion, I hope to leave Paris, and after wandering about France, to run through Switzerland and Germany.
Pray, pardon these details about myself.
I am tempted to them by the friendship which you have shown me, and which I feel so sincerely for you and your family.
I notice that to-morrow the slave-trade will be discussed in Parliament.
I tremble; for I fear that the pro-slavery sentiment is to find some new expression in England.
The early battle must be fought anew; and the slave-Masters must be told that in England at least their plans will find neither sympathy nor tolerance.
Everything tends to make the Cuban question the pivot of the antislavery cause.
If Cuba falls into the hands of American slave-masters, the whole system of slavery will acquire a new lease of life and power.
Their predominance in American politics will be fixed indefinitely, and I know not what they will next attempt.
All this can be arrested at once, and the slave trade also, if Spain can in any way be induced to follow British example and to decree emancipation in this island.
That would be the greatest blow ever dealt at slavery.
Indeed, that blow would be mortal.
I do not think slavery could long survive in the United States.
If it continued to exist, it would be in a feeble condition, without offensive force.
I sometimes think that at this moment the neck of slavery is in Cuba, just ready to be severed.
I know not to what extent England might influence Spain but if I were Prime Minister I would spare no pains to bring abut this result, which would be the grand historic act of the age,—putting a final end to the slave-trade; an end also to American filibusterism, leaving your cruisers at liberty, no longer vexed by questions of visit, and setting an example of emancipation which must be followed in the United States, while the slave-power there will lose all chance of aggrandizement and can only die.
I suppose the Duchess of Argyll is still at Carlsbad.
Remember me affectionately to all your family, who have been so kind to me.
To
Longfellow, July 19:—
Just so soon as my wounds heal enough for locomotion, I hope to get away, perhaps to Aix en Savoie, and try the douche. The doctor does not wish to burn me for two months. Meanwhile the fire or my medicines (I cram daily with terebenthine pills) have driven my pain into one of my legs, which is at times sadly disabled.
For this I am to have galvanism.
You will see that I have powerful weapons against the enemy.
At the middle of August he tried his strength by an excursion to
Brittany.
On his return
Dr. Brown-
Sequard thought of applying fire again, but desisted, fearing that another application would interfere with the baths which were to follow.
Shortly after,
Sumner left
Paris for Aix-les-Bains, taking on the way
Orleans and
Bourges with their cathedrals, and
Grenoble and the
Grande Chartreuse.
From
Chambery he visited the house and burial-place of
Madame de Warens,
Rousseau's