The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-04-03

The art of diplomacy seems of late to have
entirely changed its character. Secrecy is no
longer looked upon as one of it's indispensable
conditions. There was time when nothing
short Of ministerial permission would have un-
loosed government officials tongue. Now
we find members Of the same Cabinet, diplo-
matists of the same legation, and generals of the
same army rushing into the tribune or into print
to assert their Individual independence of OPT
MON and action. We have recently had some
curious illustrations Of this fact in the deser-
ton Of his colleagues by Lord John Russell,
the denunciation Of the late head of the English
Board of Admiralty by Sir Charles Napier, the
exposure Of Lord Raglan's blunders by his own
generals, and the bitter castigation of Louis
Napoleon's grand political mistake--the Cri-
mean expedition-by, if report speaks true, his
own cousin and heir.
After these notable examples we are not sur
prised to learn that Mr.. Soule is preparing
history of his mission to the Court of Spain,
with full exposure of all the secret wire-pull-
iDgs at Washington, by which his efforts for a
satisfactory adjustment of the Cuban question
were crossed and thwarted, together with
the various interesting and spicy cpl
s0des, in the shape Of court intrigues,
court amusements, court INVESTIGATIONS and
affairs of honor, by which this most remarkable
of modern diplomatic missions was diversified
Judging by the ability, iveliness Of imagine
ton and elasticity displayed in Mr.. Soule's
official correspondence, we anticipate prodi-
gious success for his book. 1t will be read by
every one in the two hemispheres who takes
the slightest interest in European politics. No
man-not even excepting Louis Napoleon or
the late Emperor Nicholas-has been more
talked about, more written about, more villifed,
or perhaps more misunderstood, than Mr.. Soule
Such, at oil events, is his own impression, and
he is justified in endeavoring to set himself
right with the world, the more particularly as
the executive at Washington does not seem
over. anxious to aid him in the effort.
AS business speculation, we do not know
anything more profitable to which Mr.. Soale
could at present turn his hand. His book will
prove perfect mine Of gold to him. With
such card to play, he could well afford to
despise the salary of Ambassador to Spain, even
with its prospective increase, accompanied as
1t was, and would still continue to be, with so
much opprobrium, vexation, personal annoy
ance and danger. This is the age Of great po-
litical and personal revelations. State.craft
has no longer any secrets from the multitude,
and even aggrieved lovers cannot help coniding
their sorrows to the public. Pamphlets, auto
biographies and political memoirs crowd fast
and thick upon us, taking away our breath by
the novelty, the Importance, the pquancy or
the scandal OF their disclosures The richest,
raciest, most instructive and amusing Of all
these valuable contributions to the literature
Of the day, will, however, be this forthcoming
narrative Of Mr.. Soule. He has so much to tell
that we want TO know, and that we can't get at,
owing to the care that has been taken by the
administration to withhold IL from us, that all
the world will be in perfect fever Of curiosity
until his book makes its appearance. A
rifdeimento Of all the political and personal
gossip of the European courts--an exposure of
all the secret springs Of action and motives of
the. leading political parties Of the Old World,
and vindicaton Of the authors conduct
throughout the most critical and trying cir
cumstances aggravated, as 1t was, by treachery
in the quarter from which he had most reason
to expect support-this work will be read with
avid;ty on both sides Of the Atlantic. The |
Wikofr had better hurry up With hfs
b'story Of his political relations with the Eng
ish government, or II win be eclpsed In in
crest by the diplomatic memoirs Of the Cheva-
iey Soul6,