The New York herald., 1850-04-29

uctc iOIdteu rom us former renowned character;
probably because the cooks all politicians.
Lyons, il is said, has almost lost It's character for
good food, well cooked, since the revolution.
However, the new Consul, appointed by the pre-
sent cabinet at Washington, will not be likely TO
suffer in Lyons, for he has the power in his own
hands, mixed up with the sauce Of experience, to
provide admirably for his own dinners. We know
Mr. IIudebert, and all Mississippi knows him, for
an excellent cook; and we presume he will make
an excellent Consul, serving up every dish for the
cabinet in the most fashionable style. This is
probably the best appointment made by the present
cabinet. Give the seven devils their due.
Talking of cooks and consuls, word to Gene
raj Taylor on the general subject, and We have
done for the present.
Our foreign consular system has attracted the
attention of Congress for many years past 1t has
been found to be very imperfect, and very laugha-
bic; but Congress have done nothing. A very in
teresting report was made by committee of the
Hs~ee of Representatives, in 1916, and there the
matter ended, until the extraordinary cabinet of
General Taylor came into power, and Mr.. Clayton
became Secretary of State. This gentleman
found the State Department in admirable confusion
-he found that this magnificent country was repre-
sented abroad by two classes of peopc-frst, by our
ministers and charges second, by our consuls and
commercial agents-and, on looking the list of
these diplomats, Mr.. Clayton found that in most
they were sadly deficient in the requisites of
good minister or first rate consul and he de-
termined TO reform the system altogether. The
cabinet held meeting. Mr.. Clayton, with that
sagacity for which he is famous pointed out to his
colleagues the shoals in system of ministers,
and particularly of consuls. Congress would do
nothing in the matter The cabinet must do some
thing What was to be done What was the
difficulty! How could it be remedied Mr..
Clayton had prepared himself ably for the crisis,
by reading extensively from the works of foreign
travellers He stated as the result of his reading,
that he found
LIST. That good dinners and kitchen qualifica-
tions were the frst requisites of foreign repre-
sentative.
I'd. That as the English language was confined
to small portion of the globe, it was necessary
that our representatives should speak French,
Spanish, Dutch, &c, as the might require.
Sd. That as our consular system did not afford, |
but in few cases, decent living for monkey, the
consul appointed should be able to make his own
way in the world and his only outfit allowed by
government consisted of an old brass seal, pecs
of bunting, called the consular flag, gaudy tin |
sign with big bird painted on it, and an old box to
put them in, he should have cheek to increase his
stock of trade from other sources.
The cabinet coincided unit in these views |
and they determined to make the experiment with |
the low grade Of consul, and if the Senate would
concur, then to follow il up. There was vacancy !
at the great city of Lyons, in France, and Mr.
Clayton named for il Mr. James Heudebert. His |
accomplishments came up to the Clayton standard |
lie was Frenchman and cook-rea and un- |
doubted in both points. True, he didn't speak |
English but that was no matter; he was not TO be |
sent to England, and did require to do so but |
he was celebrated for such potoges and ragouts as
would astonish all Lyons The fees amounted to
nothing-a former Consul had died of starvation,
and another one had made his escape from the place
and from his anxious creditors in a state of COM
plete dcsttution But this did not daunt the brave
francoise. "Hcudebcrt, mon emi," said the Sec
rotary Of State, " can you cookl can you come tho
fricasee, and all the other arrangements -
SOU, oui, certanment-asurely. can not do
any oder ting good as sale fait all, vat YOU dit
will vous."
"Good as wheat. Your fortune is made: and.
brave mon cher, my foresight and prudence will
be justified before the country. IIeudebert, you
are a regular brick-maintenant ecoutez moi-do
you understand y
"Une leetle Mister Secrctairc d'Etat."
"Ilave you got friends in Lyons -
"Oh! Oui-beaucoup--mille thousands"
"Vcry well, when you get TO France, present
my letters. Get your =, what do you call it-that
foreign governments give consuls T.
"Ah Acknowledgements"
81 remember Excquatter-thats it-why, IIeu-
dy my boy, you are real diplomat-when you
touch that, get a good location, and start first
rate restaurant, like Shad and Walkers down Oh
the avenue. HOIST the old stars and stripes over
the place, stick up the eagle the door, and go
ia 10 win. Damn IL, man, your fortune is made
Every American traveller will have TO come and
grub and lush with You, don't you wise his pass
poIts, sign certificates 10 his silk and satin in
voices"
"Oh, I see, me sail do bien well, very"
Snow, hold on about Washington until the Sc
nate confirm you, and meanwhile, show your
commission to Owen & Son, the department tai
ors, and they will give you an outiit-coat and
rhapsau, sword, and the consular fixings, on tick
Take two suits, Ilcudy; You can wear out one in
he rcf,ctoV--iiwl draw custom. Good bye, now,
until the Senate fix the balance. and then Stand
the order Of your going, but 90 to France at
,ncc. as the Bible says-bye-bye."
Tie Senate have, at last confined Mr.. H.. and
hc goes abroad under the most favorable circum-
stances. The new consular system Is now in vogue.
The requisites Of American consul are clearly
!, fined. Under these circumstances, we feel that
se should be ncgleciing duty owe to the coun-
~ the cabinet and large class Of capital cooks,
We did not alludc TO them. IIeudcbcrt is small fry
with men who are TO be found al all our
itincpal hotels. The Astor House, the Union Place
Hotel, the Irving. the Broadway Hotel, the New
ycrk Hotel and Dclnonico's. have such accom-
,lishcd cooks ~ Mr.. Clayton never dreamed Of II
Ileudcbeit. who is a mere novice in the business,
,an tl a consulate. many of these men have claims
,or full misson--Funcc. spain. Russia. or Aus
ria. at least. III. only speaks French some Of
bcse cooks can speak every other language but
I.nelsh--French, Spanish. German. Italian, and
especially modern Greek, of all knds-for they
nave vtd in grease fer years. Aud in case Of want
e funds any Of these men would command the