The Express.
London, England, 1865-12-28 00:00:00

INCIDENT IN THE PRIEM TREATY.

(From the Glasgow Herald.)
We met daily in the curious old apartments in
the Rue de Universite about 10 a.m. These were sneered
at at the time for their meanness and obecurily, but it
mattered not to Mr. Cobden where he wrought if he were
allowed to work iu the great mission of his life. He, unless
engaged with the gentlemen of the French commisaioe, was
generally there before us. For some days we bad remarked
that he seemed troubled and annoyed. At last he told us
that all his trouble,' came from his own government, that
his present annoyance was in connexion with the duties
to be charged on the articles to be admitted on ad referent
duties. He and the French commissioners had agreed that
when articles were found to be invoiced 10 per cent. below
their actual value, for the purpose of effecting a fraud
on the revenue, they should be liable to confiscation.
This agreement bad been communicated to oar govern-
ment, and of course in the order of circumlocution was re-
ferred to some men.ber or members of the Board of Customs
or Board of Trade. The result was Mr. Cobden was in-
structed to insist that 15 per oent. of under valuation
instead of 10 per cent, should be the point to warrant confis-
cation. Mr. Cobden told us that the French Commissioners,
with that honourable and conciliatory spirit which had
characterised all their dealings in this important matter,
had agreed to give way, but one of their number, M.
Rouher, of whom Mr. Cobden always spoke in the highest
terms, took him aside and said, "We give in on this point
on your account, but 1 cannot help.maying your government
are• committing a grave commercial blunder." Poor Mr.
Cobden felt humbled and asked what our opinion wee on the
matter. We, one and all, stated our convictions that the
lstitude of 10 per cent. was moat liberal, and to stipulate
for 15 per cant. was to insist oo a premium for dishonesty.
Strengthened with this opinion from the deputations, Mr.
Cobden resolved to make another trial with our govern-
ment, when a flippant answer was returned that " no doubt
when gentlemen from Manchester end Weeper got under
the influence of French wine and French cookery, they
would agree to anything." The "gentlemen from Man-
chester and Glasgow" were, of course, not very well pleased
at this unmerited aspersion, but it fairly exhausted the
patient spirit of Mr. Cobden, and he immediately wrote
"that if this was the way in which the convictions of him-
self and the two gentlemen whom the government had asso-
ciated with him were to be treated, it would be better to
recall them, and send over three clerks, who would no
doubt carry out the wishes of the government or
those whom they consulted." Two days after the
pleasant cordial smile of Mr. Cobden had returned,
and be informed us that an answer bad been
received to his last communication prompt and decisive,
"Let the limit be as Mr. Cobden recommends." Dear
good man, his own convictions were all so honest, and has
efforts all so fall of ardent desire for the good of hie
country, and the brotherhood and well-being of the whole
human race, it was no wonder that his honest spirit chafed
at the annoyance of circumlocution and indifference.
Working morning till evening in the inner of the three
little apartments, the only respite was when, abiut midday,
his dear, affectionate wife, quietly walking up-stairs sod
entering hie private door, umed to him his sandwich and
a little bottle of light French wine. The two enjoyed ashort
chat together,whwe he immediately turned again to his work.
It was a glorious sight to look upon him working earnestly
and willingly, without fee or reward, at what he believed
to be his peculiar mission, supported by earnest honourable
Frenchmen, and enjoying the confidence of the French
Emperor, of whose honourable conduct and sincere desire
for the welfare and friendly progress of the two countries he
always spoke in the warmest terms. A truer more un-
selfish, earnest philanthropist never lived thL Richard
Cobden.