The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-09-26
the sheets Of every newspaper.


The leaves of the roses
And tho leaves -
No-the sheets Of every newspaper.
Our Washington Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, Sept. ~, 1919.
More Diplomatic Perpisrities-the Case of How
ard Payne and the Bey of 1Eris.
Among other diplomatic perplexlties at Washing
ton, some materials for disagreeable correspon-
dence and explanation appear to have been generat-
ed by injustice the side, and official blunders
on the other, between the Bev Of Tuns and certain
agents of our government The affair, In brief, is
as we w relate.
Upon the resignation of Mr.. Hodgson. some
years ago, the place Of Consul at Tunis was spon-
taneously offered to John Howard Payne. 1t came
upon him as sort Of SURPRISE for it had been en-
trely unsolicited.
Howard Payne, it seems, on arriving at Tunis,
found the consulate In very neglected condition,
externally well as internally. Among other re-
forms, he saw that 1t was desirable to get the
splar mansion into a presentabe and habitable
shape. All the Consus at Tunis, it seems rent
their houses from the Bey, who takes care to keep
his royal finger in every profitable pie. Howard
Payne represented the fOrlornness of the American
consular mansion to the State Department at home
and was answered In a spirit OF coincidence, but
with regret that the law did not allow government mt
to expend aught for the repair, nor even for the
rent Of Consul's houses. They must pay their
rents out of their salaries; and il the houses they
the Consuls.
Meanwhile, Howard Payne found that His High
ness the Bey was rebuilding the mansion Of the
British Consul, Sir Thomas Reade, from cellar to
garret, and, at the same time, allowing the afore
SAID representative of Her Britannia Majesty a
magnificent palace by the sea side to live in, rent
free, while the town establishment was getting
ready. Upon this hint he spake lie told his
royal landlord that the United States Consul was
entitled by treaty to equal privileges with every
other foreign functionary, and that repairs in the
mansion rented by him he felt to be his DUE not
only by the law OF landlord and tenant in all coun-
tries, but by express treaty stipulation in Tunis
The Bey received the application with marked
courtesy, and promised that everything which was
wanted, should be done, and forthwith.
Thereupon, the roots were taken off, the stair
cases pulled down, and the consul reduced for
residence to a corner Of his large mansion. This
comfortable state of affairs being created, the
Howard Payne, on enquiry. discovered that this
way of dong business was very much the fashion
among the Moors. Some OF his colleagues in
formed him that similar difficulties Con-
tinually occurring to them, and that they got over
them by completing their repairs under their own
direction, and deductIng the expense from their
rent. Howard Payne demonstrated with the Bey,
who promised TO have the work Immediately re-
sumed and finished. II was recommended in
good earnest. After awhile, however, il lam
guished again and, on inquiry, he was told that
the languor caused by the irregulauty with
which the work-people got thrir pay. They are
impressed, 1t seems, into the Bey's service, and
escape TO more profitable, or more promptly paid
employ, whenever they can. IL was limited to
Howard Payne; that IT he would advance the pay
weekly, IL would be returned 10 him from time TO
time, and the work would thenceforward go on regu-
larry. lie did so aud the first advances were
funded but, after awhile, no repayment was
pear only after long intervals and buttw or three
at n time, even then.
Howard Payne now ascertained that the British
Consul had prevented similar Inconvenience by
r.
British consulate, a distinguished European ar
chitect who had resided many years among the
Moors, and was aware of all their tricks, and how
to manage them. Howard Payne apprized the
Bey's officer that he proposed following the exam
pie Of his colleague from England; and the Bey's
officer said he very clad OF u, and he received
the Europeans directions with gratitude, and the
affair went on swimmingy. The officer OF the
Bey wac even the more delighted when he
told that tor the services Of the European supervi-
sor, no charge would be made; and he thought IL
grand thing that head work should be got for
nothing, while hand work always required to
be paid for. The European supervisor luckily dis
covered that the foundations OF the building had
become defective, and the Bey's officer seemed in
perfect ecstscy. with the discovery that enabled
his mester's old house to be prevented from tum-
bling all of sudden about the workmen's ears
At last, the aforesaid officer Of the Bey, who had
never, from the beginning, been more than an oc-
casiopa visiter, snd, even then, seldom SOBER was
seen no more, though the work went on as usual
slowly, but thoroughly. II was said that the
perntending Moor in question had been Withdrawn
in consequence OF his Incorporate habits. How
ard Payne, meanwhile, 10 be on the safe side, IN
structed the European architect not permit any
thing 10 be done for which he could not bring
precedent from the British consular mansion, and
every now and then, lIst OF new requirements
was sent to the Bey, who always ordered tram
of examiners 10 report whether the catalogue ought
To be acted on. The examiners never objected to
any item. but. the contrary, frequently proposed
additions, which had not before been thought of.
For about two years this affair war dragging its
way slowly onwsrd-IIoward Payne, all the while,
living at barbarian metropolis, IN narrow corner
Of house, which, for want OF portals, was obliged
20 be guarded nj night by hired wstchmeu. Mean.
Psyne's predecessor, and some OF DIR. Heaps fami-
w, alternately appeared at Washington and at Tu-
mis-. Reports were stirred up at Tunis, that the
United States government would not uphold How
ard Payne in putting the Bey to 90 much expense
for repairs and that proof OF this would, ere long,
appear, in the removal OF Howard Payne, and the
reinstatement of DIR. Heap, TO whom the post Of
Consul belonged 81 night, and who bad held 1t, un-
Dr. Heap, il should be added, had, in the interim,
resigned his place at Constantnople, in favor Of
MIR Brewn, another of the powerful and, in some
branches, talented Porter and Bache family, TO
which he belongs; a family as much renowned,
through all Its rsmihcatons, Tor It's good fortune
among the loaves and fishes, as part Of 1t has
been, and deservedly, in loftler respects AT this
luncture, Howard Payne, finding that hrs advances
had very largely exceeded the current account for
rent pressed upon his royal landlord for settle
msnt lie now, for the first tune, discovered that
the Bey-who, ere then, VAS always exceedingly
cordial end penerous-hsd become evssive and
ceremonious, though still perfectly respectful At
length bis hehness was taken i'll, and could not be
seen without great difficulty, and then but for
moment.
Now came another change. The rumored pre-
diction was verified II was announced that DR..
Heap was on his way from America to superscdc
Howard Payne; and that Dr. Heap had openly de-
clared, in Narcotics, that Howard Payne would
he hed nc r.o. LIN Accountable for the entre ex-