The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-04-20
Autograph Letter OF the Queen TO
Mr. Renhodv

Autograph Letter Of the Queen TO
Mr.. Peabody.
The following graceful letter has been
written by the Queen TO Mr.. Peabody.
WINDSOR CASTLE, March %, '66.
The Queen hears that Mr.. Peabody
intends shortly to return 10 America,
and she would be sorry that he should
leave England without being assured
by herself how deeply she appreciates
the noble act of more than princely
munifeence by which he has sought
70 relieve the wants Of the poorer classes
of her subjects residing in London. II
IS an act as the Queen believes wholly
without a parallel and which will carry
its best reward in the consciousness Of
having contributed go largely to the
assistance Of those who can little help
themselves. The Queen would not
however, hare been satisfied without
giving Mr.. Peabody some public mark
Of her sense of his munifcence, and she
would gladly have conferred upon him
either Bsronetcy or the Grand Gross
Of the Order Of the Bath, but that she
understands Mr. Peabody 10 feel him
self declared from accepting such dis
tinctiOns. 1t only remains, therefore,
Tor the Queen to give Mr.. Peabody this
assurance of her personal feelings, which
she would further wish 10 mark by ask
ing him to accept miniature portrait
OF herself, which she will desire to
have painted for him, and which, when
finished, can either be sent 10 him TO
America, or given 10 him on the return
which, she rejOices to hear, he medi-
tates to the country that owes him go
much
The London Times says: at is 10 an
American that we are indebted for the
greatest boon ever given to the poor
Of London, and it IS TO a citizen of the
United States that the Queen has
thought Il right 10 address this per
sonal expression Of gratitude. We can
not but believe that such an occurrence
will have no little influence in aug
menting the good feeling which should
prevail between the two countries.
Mr. Peabody has done more to foster
among as kindly feeling for his coun-
trymen than could have been effected
by a generation of statesmen, and the
Queens letter will, we hope, be re-
ceived by the Americans as a cOnspic-
uous evidence of the friendly regard
toward them which such acts have
called forth on our part Between no
two countries are friendly relations
more natural than between England
and America, and we trust that this
story of munifcence and of gratitude
may long be remembered in both ma
tions as a pledge of peace and friend
ship"
The Star has the following notice Of
the Queens letter
We feel sure that it will be regarded
in America as touching ard a trusty
evidence of the feeling of brotherhood
which, after all the hard words that
foolish or designing people have said on
either side of the ocean, does still sub
sist between Great Britain and the
United States. In America, as we
know, the feeling toward our Royal
family has long been of the most genial
nature. 1t is not forgotten there how
one of the latest instances of Prince
Alberts wise influence was an interven-
ton at most critical moment to pre-
vent the utterance of any unmeasured
words which might tend to complicate
the grave dispute then pending be-
tween the two great countries. The
letter of the Queen to Mr. Pesbody will
renew, If il needed reneWing-strength-
ening, if it requires fresh strength
that kindly and cordial feeling. He is
no ststesman-nay, no true politician
who fails to appreciate the direct in
huence even of mere sentiment upon
politics. The relations between coun-
tries do not wholly depend upon trade
interests or treaties, or diplomatic or
dynastic operations. The very worst
and most dangerous influence at work
on the other side of the ocean against
England is one founded upon nothing
stronger than sentiment and a mem
OTy-the sentiment and the memory
which are fostering in the unreasoning
breast of the descendant OF the Irish
emigrant. So, too, the very worst in
tluence that ever worked on this side Of
the water against America was founded
upon a mere sentiment-the sentiment
absurd and shameful, but none the less
real and strong, which impelled the
English aristocrat to believe the cause
of his order identified with that of the
of the Southern States.
Mr. Peabody will return
TO his own country an ambassador of
goodwill, bearing his kindly creden-
tiais from the Sovereign of the nation
be has benefited SO much. lie will
tell his people that in all the ranks of
society, from the English throne to the !
English cottage, there are now few in
deed-tEere never we're numerically |
mRny-who entertain aught but genial, /
iraternal feeling toward the great /
American nation. This gift he has |
given Is, indeed, Of great material value /
10 us-perhaps we cannot remember |
how great its value is without a sense |
of humiliation that England, with all |
her wealth and power, should need the |
hand Of a stranger TO help her in pro
vlding for her poor But we say in all /
that we think far less of its |
worth than of IFS value as a /
timely token Of brotherhood, appealing |
10 all that is in us of generosity and /
aud calling forth from US a
Of sentiment to the nation /
which Mr.. Peabody represents. So. /
too, we prize the letter of the Queen, |
not as an act Of regal condescension to |
an untitled stranger, but as the happi- |
est and most impressive assurance
which could be given on behalf of Eng |
land to our kinsmen across the Allan |