This meeting was at the City Assembly Rooms, and was addressed by Rev. Joseph P. Thompson, Hon. Charles King, Rev. H. W. Bellows, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, Hon. Joseph Hoxie, and Professor O. M. Mitchel. According to the _New York Tribune_, the letter of Mr. Sumner “was received with much enthusiasm.” SENATE CHAMBER, February 16, 1860. GENTLEMEN,--You do me no more than justice, when you suppose that my sympathies are with Italy in her present noble struggle. If I do not attend the meeting at New York, according to the invitation with which I am honored, it is because other duties here keep me away. To the cause of Human Freedom everywhere I am bound by all ties, whether of feeling or principle. To Italy also--venerable, yet ever young, with that fatal gift of beauty which from all time she has worn--I confess a sentiment of love and reverence; I am sorrowful in her sorrow, and happy in her happiness. Surely, by her past history, and all that she has done for human improvement, we are her debtors. Without Italian genius what now were modern civilization? There is no art, or science, or activity, or grace, in which she has not excelled or led the way. If I went into detail, I must mention not only sculpture, painting, engraving, and music, but also astronomy, navigation, bookkeeping, and jurisprudence; and I must present an array of great names, such as no other country can boast. And to all these I must add the practical discoveries of the mariner’s compass, the barometer, the telescope applied to astronomy, and the pendulum as a measure of time. To the political skeptics and infidels who affect to doubt the capacity for freedom of this illustrious people I would say, that Italy, in modern times, was the earliest home of political science, and the earliest author of some of those political truths which have since passed into principles. Besides, divided into separate, sovereign States, with separate systems of legislation, her condition is coincident with our own, to the extent of possessing those local facilities for self-government which are our boast. And then there is the spirit of her sons, as shown in recent efforts, giving assurance of courage, and of that rarer wisdom which knows how to guide and temper courage, both of which shone so conspicuous in the Venetian Manin, worthy compeer of our own Washington. Allow me to add, that I confidently look to the day when we may welcome into the fellowship of nations a community new in external form, but old in constituent parts,--separate in local governments, but bound in perfect union, with one national flag, one national coin, and one national principle, giving to all the strength of unity,--_E Pluribus Unum_,--and constituting the United States of Italy. And may God speed this good time!