Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-04-20
VALUATION OF A,"FoREIGN APPOINTMENT"
FROM rnr "Honr JOURNAL,

FROM THE g HOME JOURNAL"
There is phraseswhich " does many achore''
in the conveyance of meaning, and there are far
more sounding and pretentious ones that we could
better afford TO lese-the phrase lit don't pay
Born, as it was of quality that is the spinal
row of American character and success-the eobsti-
nate reduction of every thing to its real value-we
venture to propose for it an enlarged respect and
| to suggest to Mr.. BANCROFT an inquiry into its
nore particular birth and parentage as an historical
key 10 the time.
| Spite, however, Of " does it pay!" asked of al
most every thing matter OF habit, there are
shings las there are mem that, in the hurry of the
world go ovevsued for wonderfully long time and among
these is what commonly called foreign appointment"
The eagerness with which this is sought, the other hopes
that thrown up, and the tme money and dignity
pended in the pursuit Of it. make it worth while, perhaps,
that the question "does it pay y should be asked and
| answered.
eOf full missions TO England, France, Russia, and
Spen) need speak, there is generally uterior
motive in the acceptance of them, and the immediate advan
tages the least induoemen But of charge ship
try to give an idea
The diplomatic circle Of foreign capital is society Of
Of all countries picked for their and
complshment, bred diplomacy profession, ofenes
o. rank and married to ladies Of court breeding and ee
gance They the immediate circle around the
veregn and the upper class Of the society is great
degree governed in its taste and opinions by the diplomacy
To discharge the business Of the countries they repre-
SENT is small portion of the anxieeo and the smallest tax
the abilities of these funconares. The game predo
E national dignity and posonin the influence of
their country at that COURTS the which they play with
all their powers, and the ability and for which the
standards by which they respect for conner
Few things in this world require TACT nicer discrim
nation, and quicker of both natural and artificial
poeness, than conversation and in this refined
sphere. The only language spoken is French, and, to
all foreign dipIomatists, this is familiar their
tive tongue. Difficult polite conversation is, with all the
advantages of unembarassed language, it becomes proper
tonaby difficult rather udicrous, with imperfect
knowledge of the language.
Courts being places hedged round with fomalies and
Genonas the consequence of diplomatic representative de-
ends than raonal-far than in republic
the appearance he makes and the style which he lives
with appreciatve knowledge Of this batfeign Go
verents give ample salaries their mnislershe pay,
Of equal rank being three four times much that
of one OF our Mr. Lawrence, our minister in Lon
den, does not equal the display Of the Russian and Austrian
ambassadors, and yet for the rent of his house only he
pays thousand dollars than the whole amount Of
his salary. 1t all very we'll say where minister il not
rich enough 10 supply waRts from his private purse that
panness better becomes republic but knowing the wealth
Of country they do reading sounding preen
sons and used reasoning absacty such matters
the panness envelopes the American representative in
unacceptable atmosphere Of mesnness.
The reception Of American charge at foreign court
where be is neither accomplished gentleman
ter Of the French language, possessed Of sufficient
to make appearance suitable to his rank of such
contepous liberation that if i: could be fully realized by
those seeking the office, it would make most of them willing
to take much pains to avoid it. The ceemonious ho-
due his diplomatic rank carefully paid He has
grave reception by the sovereign. He is called by the
court ministers and the nobility, and by the dpomats Of
other countries with strict observance Of etiquette He
invited to the larger entertainments which his equals in
rank guests of necessity. There is inner society,
however, which he SEES but where he furnishes
of the spcest material for the yepas the way Of ricue
His bunders in reply to ceremonious speeches. furnish
gets for the wit that sparkes round him unperceved His
shifts in the way of equpages and the expensive require
of costume for his family, being observed
and stored up for the very when he
overwhelmed with bows and brilliant receptions. He has
other pursuit than diplomacy in which he show the po
itica influence or Cuisines habits" which got him his
office. II he live years capital and accept invitations
from the dplomatst, without entertaining in turn, he is the
court counterpart of gratuous ticket theatre; and
if he entertain at his lodgings, and the scale Of his
pay, he is simply ridiculous Where idleness is the
business of @ and to be agreeable is its highest ambition
ga joke about the American charge is enough to in
duce ambassador to order his equpage with two chas
behind, and drive twenty palaces for the morning
call TO which "such good thing would lend variety.
Of course the favor of ladies puts within all this
and young and handsome bachelor who spoke French per-
fecy, and Of and breeding, might do very vel
at foreign Court the pay Of American charge TO
him il would be valuable school of polite life and to such
otceseeker" the Office might be ga thing that will
pay" although leading to nothing beyond. But to
who leaves any thing respectable in the way Of vocation at
home-o Of family who wishes to retain Of
proper pride and ndependence-or especially to any
who is of courters, by his talent and
compshments, and is susceptible polite contempt Of his
country and himself foreign appointment the reader
will have SEEM honor of very little attraction in the
possessing.
A CHARGE OF KIDNAPPING SETTLED