“There are two recent events in Philadelphia which furnish a commentary upon your letter. The first is a resolution adopted at a public meeting, with the Mayor in the chair, openly proclaiming that free speech must not be permitted at the North; and the other is a practical illustration of this tyranny in the refusal to hear the accomplished Mr. Curtis, when announced to lecture before your Institute on ‘The Policy of Honesty.’ All this is done for the sake of Slavery, and in the hope of soothing traitors. You can know little of me, if you suppose that I can take part in any such work. Of course my place in your list is now vacant. “I observe that your letter, although signed officially as President of the People’s Institute, is marked ‘_Confidential_.’ I have no desire to draw your name into any public discussion; but it is obvious that my refusal to take part in your course cannot be frankly stated without reference to what you have written. “I have the honor to be, dear Sir, “Your obedient servant, “CHARLES SUMNER. “---- ----, “President of the People’s Literary Institute, Philadelphia.” December 22, Mr. Sumner received from the President of the Institute the following telegram:-- “Permit me to withdraw my letter. Come and speak freely. Do not decline. I have written you to-day.” This was followed by a letter from the President, repeating his request, and saying, among other things,-- “That the public are very desirous to hear you, and will be greatly disappointed, if you cancel the engagement. “That, in common with the Managers and patrons of the Institute, I earnestly hope that you will reconsider your determination not to speak on the 27th instant, and that you will consent to deliver the lecture on ‘Lafayette,’ which has been advertised, and which the people expect, without any feeling of constraint as to the treatment of the subject.” Accordingly, December 27, Mr. Sumner spoke for the first time in Philadelphia. A few sentences from the _Press_ show how he was received. “The announcement that Hon. Charles Sumner would lecture at Concert Hall, before the People’s Literary Institute, last evening, attracted an immense audience. At an early hour the hall was filled to its utmost sitting and standing capacity, and there must have been enough turned away, after the sale of tickets was discontinued at the door, to have filled another hall of equal size. The audience was also of the most respectable character.…