Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-06-11

with having, from the outset consulted rather for
the interests of the insurgent paramentarians than
for the rights of the Grown. He says:
while the King staid at Newcastle, Bslevre, the
French Embassador who was sent from Paris after the
Prince the of Charles arrived there, and by whom
the Cardinal Mazarn had promised to press the Para
ment mperiousy, aud to denounce against them
if they refused to yield to what reasonable towards
agreement with the King to his Majesty after he
had spent time at London in all the low application
to the Parliament that be imagined without any men
ton of the King with any tenderness, as if Lis interest
all considered by the King his MASTER aud without
any consultation with those of his Msjestys party who
then in London and would have been very ready to
have advised with him But he chose rather to
with the principal leaders Of the Presbyterian party in the
Parliament and with the Scotch Commissioners, from
whose information he took all bis they assured
him that nothing could be done for the King except no
would give up the churchthat is extrpate Episcopacy
and grant all the lands belonging TO cathedral churches to
such the Parliament should advise; that when
he to the King he him very earnestly to that
c0ndescensOn"
So much for Clarendon, with the justice Of whose
animadversions we do not propose to deal, as our
purpose in referring to this episode is simply to
suggest to the readers notice parallel between
the reception given by the Parliament to the offer
Of mediation rendered by France to the parties at
issue in England in the year 1916, and that given
by our Government to similar proposition coming
from the same Power at the present day, in the
midst of domestic conflict that has arisen between
the descendants of the British race in the United
States. 1t will be seen that in gracefully de-
cining to entertain any propositions on this score,
our Government has merely followed, under cir
oumstances which make the parallel singuary COM
plete, the precedents of the year 1916
AS has been already intimated, it was in this year
that NJ Bellievre reached the city of London.
Arriving there he officially announced his quality
and his mission to the House Of Peers, to whom
he presented his letters of credence, and at whose
hands he asked, in personal address, the favor of
a pass from the Parliament, for himself and his
train, to 60 to the King to Newcastle and then to
the Estates Of Scotland, and to return again.
1t appears from the journal of the House of
Commons at this time that on the 18th of July,
1646, message from the Lords was received by
that body announcing that /" their lordships think
fit to grant him Believed such pass and desire
the concurrence of this House." Whereupon it was
"ordered that the answer to this message shall be
that this House will send answers by messengers
of their own"
1t further appears from the journal of the House
of Commons, that on the 22d of July, 1916, Sir
Henry Vane, Mr.. HOLES, Sir Arthur Hesilridge,
Sir Henry Vane, Jr., Mr.. Selden, Sir Benjam
Rudyard, Mr. Pierpont, and Sir Philip Stapilton
were appointed a committee to prepare an answer
to the papers of the French ambassador, wherein
they were enjoined to declare that the Houses
will admit of no interpositon in these matters Of
difference between the King and the Parliament.
They are likewise to consider of the pass given by
the Lords to the Ambassador"
This committee on the same day reported, through
Mr. Pierpont, their answer, pass, and letter." to
be delivered to the Lords, at conference, for their
concurrence. The proposed draft of the answer
to the Minister was as follows:
"MY LORD: We do thankfully acknowledge the
preston which have received from the French King OF
his Msjestys good affections to this kingdom, and shall
heartily endeavor parts the continuance of it, But
to his Maestys desires of mediatng peace, and in
erposng betwxt the King and and to what was said
by your ExceleDcy that particular and OF your being
to invite take PROFOUND conditions that
might effect the We do declare that we ourselves
have been careful improve all occasions to compose these
unhappy troubles yet have not neither admit OF
any mediation interpreting bewixt the King and us by
any foreign Prince State And detire that his Ma
jety the French King will rest satisfied with this our re-
solution and answer"
Then follows in the committees report the form
of pass, addressed to "all commanders, soldiers,
courts of guard, and all Others" certifying that
the "Sieur de Bellievre" is authorized " to pass
quietly and unmoested to any place within this
kingdom, and into the kingdom of Scotland if he
think fit" To this was added letter addressed
to the Ambassador, covering the answer Of the
House and the pass.
The two houses then Immediately met through
their respective committees in conference in the
"Painted Chamber" and concurred in the foregoing
declaration" with few verbal amendments
1t appears from collection of "original papers"
used by Lord Clarendon in the compilation of his
history, that NJ Bellievre started on his errand to
the King at Newcastle without the answer or
pass from the Houses, and that the same were sent
post after him by Sir Peter Killigrew"
The reader who recalls the visit Of M. MERCER
to the authorities at Richmond the proposition
made by M. Drouyn de L'huJs for conference be-
tween the bellgerent parties to our civil war the
reply of Mr.. Seward, and the terms of the resolu-
tions drawn by Mr.. Sumner, and adopted by the
Senate, in exclusion Of any proffered mediation
coming from any foreign Power, will easily detect
many points of analogy between the incidents
attending the nterposition Of France in the civil
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