The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-04-21
Br,,,sh Diplomacy In America.

been. generally speaking, fortunate in its REPRE-
'sentatives With the exception OF the estimable
nobleman who has just quilted the post Of
Minister at Washington, we do not rccollect ono
who has managed to leave favorable Impression
behind him. Sir Henry Bulwer was fussy,
pompous parsonage, who tried to make up for
bis diplomatic deficiencies by his energy in small
matters. He was fond of running about from
hotel to hotel and, in occupying himself with the
gossip Of such places, fancied that lac was
achieving political successes. Mr.. Champion was
good natured, easy sort Of man, 1T enough for
the position Of country squire, but not at all
adapted to the atmosphere Of Washington. As
long as his duties required only plain sailing he
got on well enough, but the moment difficulty
occurred he exhibited lamentable want Of
Judgment His diplomatic blunders nearly en-
broiled the two countries, aud had he been suf.
fered to remain here . little longer, he would
have left US legacy Of open questions
that would have proved as fruitful Of
trouble as an Irish Inheritance. Lord
Napier seems TO have been sent hero to re-
deem the mistakes Of his predecessors He was
the first British diplomatist whose selection ap-
pears to have been dictated by sense Of the
social as we'll as political necessities of the posi-
ton. He proved fully equal to the expectations
that were formed ofhim. No other foreign minis
ter that has resided here has succeeded in concili
ating to the same extent the interests of his own
government and of ours, or the good will aud es-
TEEN Of our people. He seemed to comprehend
at once the spirit and working Of our institu-
lions, and to accommodate himself without diff
Guilty to the democratic ideas and prejudices
which naturally flow FROM them.
In other parts of our continent the British
government have not been as fortunate in
finding capable representatives to replace
the blunderers who have been bring
ing Its diplomacy into discredit. In Mica
ragua Sir Gore Ouseley, who was sent out
to effect certain treaty arrangements in concert
with our government, and whose marriage with
an American lady should have rendered the task
an agreeable one, is said to have pursued
course which is neither warranted by his instruc-
tions nor his understanding with the President
| There are some antecedents of this gentle
man at the La Plata which would help to ac-
count for this singular conduct Of his in the
Nicaragua negotiations, supposing 1t not to have
been misrepresented. As the facts are not be-
fore us, however, we will abstain from further
comment, in the hope that such may prove to be
the case.
In Chile the British have had Minister
who, instead of minding his official duties,
did nothing but occupy himself with other
| peoples private affairs A street fight with
the American Consul, whose family he had
grossly insulted, and violent death at the
hand Of assassius, sufficiently attested the charac
ter Of the relations which he had succeeded In
establishing there. The recent acts Of the
British Minister in Mexico, and their re-
pudiation by his own c0untrymen there,
prove that gentleman to he utterly unfit for his
post. MIR. Otwsy has shown himself TO be o
mere passive tool in the hands of the Comte de
Gabriac, the French Minister; and were it not
for the Independent instructions given to the
English admiral at Vera Cruz, there is reason TO
believe that the latter might have been induced
to hamper seriously the cause of the coustitu-
ionalists in that city. We are glad to perceive,
by recent announcement in the English papers,
that Mr.. Otway il no longer to be left to the uu-
controlled influence of the French Minister. Mr..
George B. Mathew, formerly Governor of the
Bahamas, and recently British Consul at Phila-
6elpbia has been appointed his Secretary Of Lee
CATION, and in the present circumstances no bet
ter choice could be made. Mr.. Mathew is man
of eminent political ability, an excellent dplo-
matist and possesses great 6rmness and energy.
Having resided for some time in this country, he
IS acquainted with all the points of dfd,ulty
| which have turned up in our relations with Mex
leo, and can correctly appreciate our policy ia re-
gard to that republic. Unlike Count Gabriac
and Mr.. Otway, he is not to be frightened by the
bugbear of American filbusterism, aud will not
lend himself to intrigues to combat that faacied
danger. We augur the best results from the ap
pointment of Mr.. Mathew and we congratulate
the British government on the improved jufg.
ment which it evinces in the choice Of such d.
plomats as this gentleman AID Lord Lyons, of
whom concurrent testimony speaks almost as
favorably as Of Lord Napier. The selection of
men Of sense and capacity like these cannot fail
10 place the relations of England with the Ameri,
can governments on a more satisfactory footing
than they have hitherto occupied.
WORKS OF PUBLIC UTILITY IN New YORK AND
IRIS NErGHBoRHooD.-E Elsewhere will be found
brief sketches of the various works Of utility,
and Improvement which are now in progress, or
about to be undertaken 10 this city and vciaity.
1t will be seen that they involve an amount Of
expenditure which, including the five mil
lions for stores and dwellings now in course
of erection, and Of which we gave state
ment yesterday, cannot fall far short of
fifteen or twenty millions The following
are the works to which we allude:-The Cen
tral Park, the new Croton reservoir, the Pas
sale dam, the East Pennsylvania Railroad, the
Staten Island ditto, the removal Of the obstruc-
lions to the navigation of the Harlem river, the
| new terminus of the Long Island Railroad tho