Daily national Democrat., 1861-10-12
An Epistle to the London Times.
New York, August 10th, 1861,

A'EW Ohhb august 1Jlil, lOOl.
10 the London Times Il am no statesman
and never NEEDLE with politics. But hav,
read your articles on American affairs, and a
you want to know what we Americans are
! growing about, and what we would have
| permit me to explain
| We thought you might have seen that ne
are deciding the universal question OF gov
ernment against treason and that other ma
ton, have something at stake in the matter
Hasn't your country any interest in it? Did
you ever hear Of India. or possibly of Ire
land ? We thought, too-we see how foolish
we were, but we did think so--that Freedom
has the same reverence everywhere, and that
some lesser things might be given up for lis
sake. 1t is the Nineteenth Century over
here-what is it with you? We'ddn't want
your help, for we can fight our own battles 4;
but we wanted your generous sympathy, and
to see your blood quicken in your veins with
ours as we went TO our trial. Where should
we have looked but to English hearts for
this?
There is an adage that the truth is not to
be spoken at all times, There are some per-
sons, great newspaper, so uncharitatle as to
think that you have cut off the last word of
this saying, and are practising the rest.
W Z ICIHctnOcl EATleT IlHll anu lIlt duchess
ef Sutherland, and Mrs Stowe Your coun-
trymen nave been very faithful to us; you
have discussed us everyour tea, and preached
us in your pulpts How many texts we have
furnished you! We will not look at your
skirts to see if they are spotess; we are sin
ners and you have earned our gratitude for
showing us up to ourselves. We have seen
the lectures and the societies, the tracts and
tho p,issippa,ia. hou, bnG,rn al
lence, but fear some people who don't un-
derstand generalzing will say that when you
cried out for Christianity you meant Cons
merce.
There was an Atlantic Cable once, and
you laughed at'us because we all went crazy
with glee. 1t was very childish in us to do
so, but we thought we saw new star in the
East, and that this link was going to bring
our hearts closer to English hearts, and make
us all brothers When the Prince came to US
we really saw a mediocre youth who wouldn't
make much stir in any of our colleges, so in
ferior to yours but he was the Prince for all
that. and we all loved him, and purred over
him for his mothers sake. But what have
you said of us all along? Would it be bar
barous if we should cry, 0 Tcmpora?
| don't want to say anything against your
Prince-he is very nice Prince. But war,
you know, O Times, hrinls out harsh udg-
mcnts and people begin to inquire who are
their friends. Criticism gets to be daring
and nothing is august enough to escape dis
paragement Ill-natured persons have begun
to speak dsrespectiully of even you. They
say can't help it-that you have had in
iiuence because you were not understood, and
that you have led public opinion by the nose
because public opinion knew no better than
to let you. They hint that you are misty in
stead of profound; that your brlliancy is
heavy and dun that your sublimity takes
one step too far; and that when you try to
be wise you are only silly. In brief, they
don't call you "A philosopher, bat they say
YOU are shining example Of learned ignor-
ance.
What have been doing? A dreadful sus
picion comes over me that you have been
joking. 1t is really very funny, and | was
stupid not TO see it before But let me ad-
wise you seriously to give up sailing your ar
ticles-they will keep without--in our mem
ories. Leave that to Punch and to me, who
have no other ability than iesling You may
be a willing possibly, but not wit
Forgive my boldness, and let me lool; up to
you. VANITY FAIR.