The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-02-18

thority, that the appointment of Lord Napier,
the new British Minister to Washington,
was made by Lord Palmsrston on his own solicit
tation. This fact implies that the new Minis
ter's political sympathies are to some degree
with US, and that he feels that the talents he
possesses will find here broader and more USE
full field than in any of the European missions.
A good deal Of misconeeption seems to prevail
with regard to the character and qualifications of
Lord Napier. This is attributable solely 10 the
desire Of the opposition press in England to throw
difficulties in the way Of the government, for as
suredly there is nothing in Napier's antece-
dents which can be alleged in justification Of it.
The whole of his career u.s. on the contrary
calculated to inspire the belief that his mission
here will be eminently useful TO both countries
The family to which he belongs is distinguished
for the patriotism and talent which its different
members have manifested in the various i'm
portant posts in which they have served 1t is q
family whose honors have been fairly won On the
battle field, on the ocean and in the Senate, and
which cannot be said to rank amongst the
"tenth transmittors" of titled imbecility. The
course of Lord Napier himself has been in perfect
keeping with this honorable hereditary reputa-
ton. A Scotchman by birth, he early qualified
himself for his high position by q severe training
in the severest and most thorough of all educa
tional probations-that of the Edinburg schools
1t is those schools which produced most of the
leading intellects Of the last half century, and
which, through the Ednburg Repieac, brought
about in England the greatest social revolu-
ton ever effected without blood in any
country. Entering political life under
snch circumstances, Lord Napier could not
fail to create for himself position distinct from
that with which his rank and his family connec-
tons invested him. Choosing the diplomatic
profession, he soon won for himself reputation
for political capacity and judgment, which
Charge d'Affaies at Naples, in the absence of
Sir William Temple, during the events of 1889,
fully justified the high opinion entertained of
him by his superors, and obtained for him
special recognition Of his services by his govern
ment Unlike other young diplomats who dis
spate the leisure left them by their duties the
frivolous amusements of the capitals in which
tDty ItSlUc, W uls ClCulb NC ~ Suiu tuhb Lulu
Napier devoted bis spare hours to literary pur
suits, and il is through the medium of his works
rather than of his political services that he is
best known in this country
1t has been objected to the new Minister by
his political opponents that he is of an irritable
temper, and therefore i'll qualified for a post Of
so much Importance as the American mission
The only foundation for this assumption is the
fact that when attached to the Engligh legation
at Constantinople he had quarrel with that
pompous ard querulous old fool Lord Stratford
de Radcliffe. No one was ever known to come
in contact with that dplomatist without being
disaersea impressed by his naughty and frac.
tious temperament; and the fact of mans serv-
ing quietly under him for any length Of time,
would, we think be regarded as an evidence Of
the absence Of all character and selfrespect.
Those who know Lord Napier personally bear
testimony to his amiable and conciliatory man.
ners; and certainly his conduct in the Naples
mission may be taken as full corrobo-
ration of their opinion. Another objection
made to Lord Napier's appointment, and which
has found re-echo amongst ssne Of our own
journals is that he has been brought up in too
technical and conventional school Of diplomacy
to be acceptable to a republican people like us
Were Lord Napier's opinions not already known
to us through the medium of bis works. we could
understand the force of this objections; and we
have only to repeat that, Judging from that evi.
dence. as well as the testimony Of his own coun-
tIymen as to the liberal aud progressive character
of his ideas, there is reason TO believe that no
selection could have been made more likely TO
prove satisfactory TO the people of the United
States. We have the more reason to be salts
fed with the appointment of such man from
the course pursued by which many Of the
Senate in defeating the Central American treaty.
create difficulties in advance, for the new admins
tration The Central American business is left IN
a rry dangerous position for Tie peace Of tie tco
countries, and may lead TO embarrassmen's
which will demand the exercise Of the great
est patience, ability and tact on the part Of
the new Minister No diplomatist who was not
certain of his qualifications to grapple difficult
ties of this nature, would have sought the ap-
pointment; and when we consider that all parties
in England, conservatives as well as radicals,
now recognize the American mission as one Of
first class importance, we must arrive at the
conclusion that Lord Palmerston must have been
very sure Of his man before he gave IL to Lord
Napier.
The new Minister, besides his political and
literary recommendations brings with him an
additional claim to cordial reception amongst
us in the person of his accomplished and amiable
wife. This lady. the daughter of an English
commoner. is said to I've woman Of remarkable
intellectual gifts and is likely to prove the great
centre of attraction in Washington society under
the new administration There can be no greater
guarantee for the preservation Of peace than
female influence. and Lord Palmerston, than
whom no man is said TO be more susceptible 10