Mr. Sumner has just learned the recommendation of Governor Gardner that the Commonwealth should assume the expense of his illness. He desires me to telegraph at once his hope that the recommendation will not be pressed. In no event can he accept the allowance proposed, and Mr. Sumner adds, “Whatever Massachusetts can give, let it all go to suffering Kansas.” ANSON BURLINGAME. REFUSAL TO RECEIVE TESTIMONIAL IN APPROBATION OF KANSAS SPEECH. LETTER TO A COMMITTEE IN BOSTON, JUNE 13, 1856. Immediately after the assault on Mr. Sumner a subscription was started for a testimonial to him. The terms of the paper were as follows. “Being desirous of expressing to the Hon. Charles Sumner, in some permanent and appropriate form, our admiration of his spotless public and private character, of our lively gratitude for his dauntless courage in the defence of Freedom on the floor of Congress, and especially our unqualified approbation of his speech in behalf of Free Kansas, delivered in the Senate on the 20th of May last,--a speech characterized by comprehensive knowledge of the subject, by logical acuteness, and by Spartan intrepidity in the chastisement of iniquity, for which he has wellnigh lost his life at the brutal and cowardly hands of the creature for which (thanks to the rarity of its appearance) the English tongue has as yet no appropriate name,--we deem it alike a privilege and an honor to participate in offering him some suitable token of our sentiments. For this purpose we subscribe the sums set opposite our names.” Among the early signers were the venerable Josiah Quincy, Henry W. Longfellow, Jared Sparks, F. D. Huntington, R. H. Dana, Jr., Edward Everett, Edwin P. Whipple, Alexander H. Rice, Charles Hudson, Charles Francis Adams, Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Charles A. Phelps, Amasa Walker, William Claflin, Eli Thayer, and George Bliss. Mr. Sumner was on his bed when he heard of this purpose. He at once dictated the following letter. WASHINGTON, June 13, 1856. MY DEAR SIR,--The papers speak of a token planned by you, in approbation of my recent speech exposing the _Crime against Kansas_. Pardon me, if, in advance of any direct information, I say to you frankly that I cannot allow this flattering project to proceed further.