Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-10-08


public is but half served and this Of necessity In the
examination before referred to Lord Palmerston said
81 think the public interest would suffer very much if
our Representative at Washington compelled live
in the way in which the American Representative lives
here = and in reply to the direct question: "Do you APP
prehend that the intercourse Of Che American Minister
with the leading politicians and statesmen in London
diminished in consequence Of the smaller allowance which
he receives IN comparison with those of other foreign
Ministers? OF course speak with great reserve upon
the position in England of Minister Of another country
but have doubt that the Minister of the United
States would be better able to his Government II
his allowances were upon larger scale" Now may
be unwilling to believe this, but there be better or
impartial judge than the Secretary OF State
Or course, IN grave negotiation concerning extensive
national interests the real merits Of the question would
finally determine the decision but those questions oru-
naey for nations do not rise every day. and in the
discharge of the ordinary diplomatic duties obtaining
and impartng nformation receiving and creating impress
sons Of national character establishing that personal
confidence which is TO be Of future use and above all
representing in his daily life the refinement education
and manners of the people whose exponent he is that
our ambassadors must fail if every generous impulse,
every seemy and natural elegance of life checked
in its display by the humiatng necessity of parsmoni
expenditure. In the late examinations" SAYS the
United States Charge at Stockholm in his letter to the
Secretary OF State, /" ordered by the British House Of
Commons concerning diplomatic salaries, it was stouy,
though somewhat ludcrousy urged by several of the
witnesses who had served the conaentof Europe that
the giving of dinners highly important branch of
their duties The diplomatic corps at this place would
certainly have given similar testimony and viewing the
matter seriously my observation and experience
that no address management could perhaps readily
Obtain information procure rare copy Of statistical re-
cord, perhaps achieve other and diplomatic ends
as that part of the diplomatic duty to the Importance Of
which the English witnesses testified"
As to the of life afforded by the United States
Government to its diplomatic agents abroad there is the
unanimous testimony Of the whole body.
In England according to Mr.. Lawrence, five thousand
dollars more than half the salary is taken, the most
economical scale, for house rent and horses.
In France, Mr. Rives says
The four items above mentioned of house rent carriage
hire fuel and ordinary subsistence form alone aggregate
exceeding the annual salary allowed Minister Of the Uni
ted States"
In Prussia, Mr.. Barnard says:
may state further that, with small family with per-
fecty simple and unostentaous style of living; with
pensve habits and WITH most very meagre show
pitaty instead Of that liberal hospitality which would
be fitting and desirable whether in my per-
sonal relations to the society in which my Official character
places me- for the advantage of the public interests with
which entruted with all this enough has already
transpred to satisfy that all the Government viii pay
IN OUTFIT salary, and homeft will not be found sufficient
pay my way and convey home at the end Of even short
service of two and half three years. expect to be
obliged to draw to considerable extent my private
means
And SO on with every embassy from our highest mis-
sion to our smallest legation The i'll consequences Of
this penurious scale of living may perhaps be best de-
monstrated by illustration The amount allowed by the
Government for the office Of the legation cannot procure
suitable room that the contingent for that purpose
is generally appropriated by the Minister the Secreta
ry and the office established at the residence of
the other The Secretary, in most cases, can barely
afford respectable lodgings and the Minister'S home is
therefore generally the legation The Office Of the En-
bassy containing the CIPHER correspondence records
and library of the legation, is thus part Of the private
residence of the Minister attended by md free to the
servants of the house When Office hours have closed,
the rooms of course under the guardianship of his
servants, and State occasions have sometimes be
pressed into the service of society Now the Govern
men has most judciousy forbid TIE employment Of for
egn clerks lest the papers the legation should be thus
opened TO the inspection of others hans commissioned
officers, ought not those archives to be placed i'll
responsible custody? II it should be matter Of impor
lance TO any body to obtain pomatc document where
would be the difficulty in such as we state Again.
IN London, where the Legation has always believe,
been in the Minister'S home there have been since 64S
no less than four changes Mr. Bancroft gave way to
Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Lawrence TO Mr. Ingersoll, and Mr.
lngerssl to Mr. Buchananfour appointments let it be
remarked in passing where the service Of the country
absolutely required but These gentlemen have
OF them occupied the same house. aud at each remove
the archives furniture and books of the Legation have
been cared backwards and forwards with very natural
and serious loss ! remember one occasion a note
came to the Embassy from Of the Boards of the Br
ush Government requesting certain information contained
in some of the Congressional reports 1t only after
great deal Of trouble that from broken set Of docu
ments, some fragmentary information sent. Again.
petition had been the Government to establish
Vice Consulate at some of the American seaport
towns The Legation asked for information to its
trade &C. With even more trouble the date of its being
made port Of entry discovered, but could only
bring the of its trade within years Of the
date of application And how else could it be with
constant changes Of Minister'S Secretaries and residences
and the very uncertain accommodation afforded for the
business of the Legation
1t is unnecessary 10 compare scale of salaries with
the diplomatic salaries of other nations Contrast IL
simply with fair statement Of the ordinary expenses Of
society," or with the average expenditure of any other de-
partmeE Of public service, and the comparison will at
glance demonstrate its inefciency. Now, in Europe di
pomatc services esteemed Of great Importance and
the pay of this service is indicative Of its consequence
You cannot therefore prevent public opinion from
soning that salary maniestly and scandalousy insult
cen indicates that the diplomatic service is not only i'm
efficiently filed but that the Government Of the United
States is careless to its character that is retained
more form Of national courtesy, to be cheaply
tained than as useful and important branch Of the
public service Such opinion Of course diminshes
both the usefulness and character OF the diplomatic body
and thus while the inadequacy Of s pay renders it to
great extent inefficient abroad this rcputel inefciency
is retorted upon at home By those who would destroy
il altogether.
Now, advocate neither wastefu extravaganza nor os-
tenatious display, but there is propriety in all things
and there is why the spirit that reared
the dome of the Capitol in commanding beauty above the
waters Of the Potomac that illustrated the wealth and
taste of great people in its national homestead in the
columns of the Treasury Department and the portcos Of
the Patent Office, should not clohe itself in equal Dig
nifty when it appears in foreign lands. will for
get the impression made upon by visit TO Prussia
House, the residence of the Prussan Ambassador in Lon
don. II not the magnificent upholstery the
ogla walls which excited my admiration but in the
tire of the hall stood the colossal head Of Frederick the
founder of the monarchy and every decoration OF the
superb mansion illustrated Prussian history As you
tered its portals you felt that il the home Of the
preventative Of great nation And could not but think
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