The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-06 00:00:00

THE NEW BBITISII MINISTER AT

TVA SY _LNG TUN.

(Prom the Times.)

Lord Napier has been appointed British Minister at
Washington. The direct diplomatic communications
which had been interrupted in so untoward a man-
ner are thus to be resumed again, and again ,we
are to have a British Minister to the United States.
The result of our former experiments has not been very
encouraging. The great subjects of difference which
have arisen between this country and the North Ame-
rican Confederation, from the Boundary Question to the
more recent entanglements concerning Central America,
have been settled either at home or by special mission.
Our regular negotiators would seem rather to have em-
broiled us—rather to have given occasion for offence—
than to have smoothed the passage from irritated feel-
ings to the kindlier emotions of friendship and goodwill.
Why should this be ? Why, when we are so closely
united by every bond of interest that the prosperity of
the cotton districts in the States means the prosperity f
the manufacturing districts of England,--that a plentiful
crop in the Western States of the Union means plenty
at a cheap rate thr,iughout the British islands,—that
the commercial transactions of the Northern States are
so inextricably bound up with those of our own mer-
chaats that they may almost be considered as identical,
although carried out by different hands ? Why, we say,
when these things are considered, should it be a difficult
task to keep the peace between the States of the North
American Union and the British Crown? The Londoner
who lands at New York cannot convince himself that
he is among "foreigners," nor could we readily believe
that the traveller from New York would walk the streets
of London with no other feelings than those which would
affect him in the Linden-street of Berlin or the Boulevards
of Paris. It can only be by the grossest blunders of
our respective Governments if we are ever dragged into
an unwilling. coeflict with each other. The British
Minister at Washington should have the easiest task of
any member of the diplomatic body, save the United
States' Minister in London. How is it, then, that more
than once a directly opposite result has followed from
that which might have been anticipated under the cir-
cumstances ?
The answer, we fear, is, that'the choice of the British
representative in the States has too often been unfortu-
nate. The mission to Washington should be regarded
as a most important one, a post which requires the
presence of a very considerable man, or it should he
altogether suppressed. We have hitherto dealt with
it, practically, as one of the second order, or as even
lower in the scale of diplomatic dignitie3. But
surely permanent friendship and alliance between
Great Britain and the United States of North America
are, to say the least, as important as similar relations
between this country and any continental power. The
existence of that great Confederation of Republican
States which is spreading so rapidly over the North
American Continent adds, enormously to the authority
with which England can intervene in favour of liberty in
Europe. Although the States should never man a ship
of war or fire a gun in anger, there they are, an enor-
mous counterpoise to the despotism which sullenly lords
it over the eastern and southern portions of the Old
World. iN'o Englishman who respects humanity and
efories in the achievements of his race can ever be in-
different to the progress and development of liberty in
the North American Union. The peculiar constitution
of these countries, however, would seem to point to the
necessity of a peculiar principle of selection when we
despatch to them a Minister who is to be the repre-
seniative of England. We would rather see him selected
from among the men who have risen to Parliameutaiy
eminence—who have won a high place in the estimation
ef their fellow-countrymen, and who have habitually
breathed the free air of the British islands. We would
know him versed in the doctrines of economic science,
and wet; acquainted with the laws of commerce. (if
what great avail to the English Minister at Washington
can be the hatiit4 acquired and the faculties cultivated
by familiar intercourse with despetic Courts ? What
can an English Envoy hove learnt at Vienna or St.
Petersburg that he would not be compelled to unlearn
before he mould serve his country with effect at Wash-
ington ? There i- little need there of the insincere smile
and the reverential whisper. Diplomacy in the States
is diplomacy in a glass house.- The value of secret
information in that quarter would not be worth the
Paper on which it should he inscribed. The public
journals inform us of all we care to know, and of more
that is perfectly useless, save to gratify curiosity. On
the other band, with regard to any imp.irtant negotia-
tions, communications are now so frequent and so
rapid between the States and the old country that they
would necessarily be carried on in obedience to instruc-
tions received from home. What we really require at
Washingt m is the presence of a public man of sufficient
weight to influence the opinions of public men by _daily
intercourse with them—'4 one who has fhe ability to
stand forth as the exponent of English views, and to
hold his own among the most distinguished statesmen
of -the American Union. Nor should we lay much
stress on the time-honoured objection that a public man
in this country is of necessity a party man, and that a
party man could not be trusted in a diplomatic po-t.
Party men make excellent Chancellors and Judges ;
why not Ambassadors and Envoys ?
This is the only ground on which we see any reason
gait
the appointment of Lent Napier as British
against the appointment of Lrd Napier as British
Minister at Waihiegten: By his previous career he
would appear to be admirably fitted for any diplomatic
appointment in the gift of the Crown, save only the
mis-ion to Washington. He has been well taught. He
has practised the craft of diplomacy in Vienna, Teheran,
St. Petersburg, and again at
Ueietantinople, Naples,
Cans'ar.tinoph,.. He is therefore well adapted to repre-
sent his c unary in the Ea't, or at any of tl%- die,potiC
and military CPitirt3 of continental Europe. Toe very
ass dusty, However, with which he has 1-iboured in his

v. cation at mieh p Sete proVes that he hag never had time
wiin an insight into the working of free institutions.
He. basnow to complete his education at Washington.
A uetter choice might have been made, but certainly

many a worse one, as diplomatists go. It is not our
wish to cavil at the man, for he enjoys a very high re-
, potation for capacity ; but we abject to the system.
The choice (f cur Minister at Washington should be an
ex(!eptinnal one, as the case is exceptional. A straight-
fir ward puhlic man, accustomed to popular forms, with
an English tongue in his head—he needs no other—
would he the best representative we could send across
the Atlantic. Let us hope that a wiser system may in
time be adopted with regard to these diplomatic posts,
and, men,o7ohile, wish L,yrd Napier j,)y of his appoint-
ment. It be forgets well nigh all he has ever learnt,
and takes warning by the example of his predecessors,
he may do hiA c iuntry good service, even at Washing-
ton.

CRYSTAL PALACE.—One Shillidg Day.—Monday,
Jan. s.—Adinissions on payment, 923 ; do. by season
ticketi. 189- total visitors, 1,112.
ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL, GRAT'S-INN-ROAD,—The
nnrutier of pa'iyrit. relievrd at this hospital ,:uring the
week ending Jan. 3, was 2,6134, of which 821 were new
cases.