The New York herald., 1864-12-07

as the nsports Of their respective Postmaster
Generals. ~
the Letter ar the Chevaiicr webb--Is It
Boaus or Gsnutaey
When we come to closely examine the re-
markable letter of the Chevslier Webb-pub-
iished in our issue Of yasterday-and when we
critically consider the peculiar circumstances
of its first appearance 10 print, we feel strongly
inclined to entertain the suspicion that it is
counterfeit. The arguments for aud against
this suspicion are certainly very weighty; but
when the scales are evenly held the arguments
for the suspicion appear the heavier of the two.
Let us place the facts, the theories and the
Logic of the matter before an impartial, inte
rested and inquisitive public, and endeavor TO
slit the affair to the bottom and discover the
truth.
The two papers in which this letter first ap-
peared have the unfortunate reputation Of
being conducted by Bobemians, whose fine of
business, deliberately adopted, is to manu-
facture great sensations from bogus materials.
We have not yet forgotten the Howard
hoax, called the bogus proclamation, with
which these Bohemian papers were connected.
The miscegenation pamphlet humbug has been
tacitly acknowledged as their invention. The
counterfeit report of the rebel Secretary Nal
lory, which attracted some attention in Europe,
has been traced to the doers of these Bohe-
mians of the press. Now, after all this expe-
rience In forgery, there is nothing improbable
in the theory that they have forged this letter
purporting to be from the Chevalier Webb.
The manner of its publication, no less than the
character Of the journals in which it first ap-
peared, throws doubts upon its authenticity.
In one paper it is said to have been received
by . bark which arrived at Hampton Roads
In the other it is published without the usual
preface. Why SHOULD tie bark story be given
in the one account and omitted in the other.
The Bohemians should be shrewder In their
next trick. \. E 81 ~ .,-.-.,
/ On the face of it the letter seems genuine.
1t is written in just the Chevalier Webb's pom
pous, egotistical, roundabout style. But
this style is one easily initiated, just
as President Lnooln's was; and as some
Of the Bohemians were once employed upon
the Chevaler Webb's own paper it is quite
likely that they can write just as he does. The
matter of the letter is also in the Chevslier's
vein, and it is precisely what we predicted he
would say. In the HERALD OF November 80 We
stated that "We have no doubt that the Che
valier Weob has written as long correspond
ence on the subject as any that Mr.. Seward has
yet written about the rebellion. We expect to
see Lord Palmerston cut up in mincemeat, ell
ready for Yankee Christmas pie. We have
no doubt the Emperor Napoleon will be so
thoroughly excoristed that he will wish he had
never left Ham nor Palmo's mint juleps. And
We expect to see Brazil eulogized to the skies
ss the warmest and truest friend the United
States ever had" Now the letter agrees with
these predictions In every particular, and what
is more probable than that tho Bohemians,
knowing how thoroughly We. understand th .
Chevalier Webb, should take our editorial aud
concoct letter from the hints there publisher
TIE trick was shabby one, and rather stale;
but II was just like Bohemian tricks in gen-
eral. .t1vrx naat4sEgA
In spite Of the imitation OF Webbs style and
manner, the letter, whom attentively scanned,
seems to be over done. Exaggeration Is the
popularity Of all limitations. Louis the Four
teenth declared "L'Esat c'est moi" but this
letter makes the Chevalier Webb declsre 81
am the State Department" The Chevalisr's
personal and diplomatic regard for Secretary
Seward would prevent this positive assumption
Of superiority. On the other hand, the whole
argument Of the letter is sound for the Union,
aud terribly severe against all allies OF the
rebels. This, OF itself, would prove the letter
genuine; for the Bohemians are copperheads,
and their forgeries are usually designed to
injure the Union cause. Still this Union tone
OF the letter may have been merely cunning
device to make it pass current more readily;
for anybody would have detected the deceit
had the name Of the Chevalier Webb, Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentary of
the United States, been signed to copperhead
epistle of the sort daily published in The organs
Of the hotel burners OF this city. Failing to
trace the letter to any authentic source, there
fore, and rendered suspicious by all these evil
deuces Of its bogus authorship, VIC await more
reliable advices from the Chsvalier Webb be-
fore giving credence to its genuineness, and we
recommend our readers, including President
Lincoln and Secretary Seward, to follow our
example.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN I'm Congress, on
Monday, Mr.. Pendleton, of Ohio, offered
resolution requesting the President to COM
municate the report made by Colonel Thomas
M. Key Of an interview between himself and
General Howell Cobb, On the l4th day Of June,
1852, on the banks Of the Chickahominy, by
the authority OF the War Department, ON the