The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-05-21

letter day; in fact, an epcch To-day the
Chevalier Wikoh-the hero of a hundred contests
in love and POLITICS and diplomacy day he
sets sail for the Central Flowery Kingdom, with
the Atlantic Ocean before him, the United States
behind him, the StarSpangled Banner over his
head, and the broad seal Of the State Department
in his pocket
The Chevalier WikoA carries with the compli-
ments of the President to the Son of the Sun and
Brother Of the Moon, two treaties of amity and
commerce-two conventions which are to bind
the mandarins Of Pekin and the Congressman of
Washington in fealty eternal and unalterable.
The mission of the Chevalier is, next to the
European war, the most important event of the
day.
| The political journals have been prompt
20 recognise the weight of the Chevalier's
charge. Without distinction of party, the edi-
tors have showered compliments upon his classic
head. One admires his genius, and says that to
him is TO be entrusted the real work of the
| (Chipese) mission !" that he goes "fully sup
piled with the secrets Of the Cabinet and par
| ticularly appraised Of the wishes Of the Presi-
/ dent" Another compares him TO Mrs. Behn--
one Of the cleverest and wittiest women thai
| ever lived-and thinks that he will so charm the
authorities that they will make him mandarin
OF the highest style of button; that he will
bring home his treaty much more spendidly
upholstered than the Chevalicr Cushings, and
that it will be found at last to convey to us
rights which John Chinaman will be 'bound to
respect" He is called also ga Yankee Bayard,"
ga man of fashion" &c man of w.t." "a man of
experience" and mary other things which we
have neither time nor space to quote.
To be sure, to say all these saocharine things
OF the Chevalier is like gliding refined gold,
painting the lily, or throwing perfume on the
violet but still it is very refreshing to see such
grand outburst of glorifcation from persons
who are prone rather to crush modest merit than
to water it or to dig around it, or nourish it,
or brir it forth to the cheering influences of the
sunlight Of recognition.
But as one of his laudators truly remarks, the
Chevalier Wikoff is no common man. Few of
us have seen more Of the world than be- Born
to the inheritance Of a good fortune-a cool quar-.
ter of million OF so-he received his prelimi-
nary education under the direction of his guar
dian, Mr.. Ingersell of Philadelphia prepared
for college at Princeton, and received his bacca-
laureate honors Under the outrageous shadows
Of old Yale's academic elms The Chevaler sub
sequently saw the Old World thoroughly; knew
all the present rulers when they were sowing
their wild oats, and pursued that agricultural
Wifi 4hn bact or III
the truth Of the German proverb that "experi
ence is good schoolmistress, but very dear
one" Not to put too fine point upon it,
the Chevalier lost nearly all his patrimony in
various schemes into which he went con anaon
Since then, he has been sort Of rowing diplo-
mat here, there and everywhere. One day
he may be Dreakfastiog with Louis Napoleon at
Ham; the next saying pretty things to Lord
Palmerston's Vicomtesse at Broadlands, or
drinking tea with Britain's blessed Queen, or
dining with the President, or harmonizing
the democratic party Of New York, or settling
up diniculty between q capricious prima donna
and much badgered manager. He is ubiqui-
tous.
We believe that the papers are right. That
Wikoff is going to China, charged with very
important mission. That is, we believe he in |
tends to start for China, and that he will get |
there, wind and weather permitting, if he is not
prevailed upon by Lord Palmerston to remain |
and help England out of her present embarrass- |
ing position; or by Louis Napoleon, who may |
want his aid in his Russian Negotiations or by |
the Count dc Cavour, whom the Chevalier once |
Ssua6 vCifh md yxhO ho %bo
man of the day. Some of the Chevaliers SOU
venirs of Northern Italy, say about Genoa, are |
not of the most agreeable character; but his |
recollections Of Turin are ecstatic.
Granted, then, that the mission of the Cheva- |
lier in any point Of view is important, there is |
still mystery Why should the fishy democrats,
like the Chevalier Forney, the oleaginous Pryor,
and the hungry Heiss, join with black re-
publicans, like the Hon. Massa Greeley, Dana,
of Brook Farm notoriety, Raymond, and others
Of the same political school? The truth is, that
they are all hungry, famished and fainting for |
the spoils that they have just begun to find |
out that the Chevalier Wikoffs destinations |
extend to all the powers of all the |
parties at Washington. He has even |
succeeded in magnetizing the political editors |
themselves Nothing mortal can Withstand this |
serpentine seduction of the facile Chevalier. |
The hungry politicians have ascertaned that he is |
not to remain in China, but is to return in season
for the meeting of Congress next winter. and they |
hope through his influence to manage the mag
nificent printing job-which, Zone way and |
another amounts to the quiet and comfortable |
figure Of couple Of millions. They are aware,
too, that the Chevalier will be in position to rem
der his own his native land very valuable service
in the Celestial Kingdom. His occupations will |
be various. He not only carries treaties made,
but probably has secret instructions for further
negotiations between PeLin and Washington. |
lie was formerly tea merchant on grand |
scale, ard will no doubt 60 to work in China and |
reorganize on new and extended basis the trade |