The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-01
MOVEMENTS OF MR.. PEABODY.


A correspondent OF the Newark Journal
gives the following in connection with an inter-
view with Mr.. George Peabody, the banker and
philanthropst:-
consider this allusion to my name in connec-
ton with the Presidency as dlsrespecttul; on
the contrary, it is most kind and compliment
tary. We're / but forty, and could be elected
to the position, not as partisan, but by
united people, should like it. Bnt l am
seventy-two years OF age, and my chief desire,
so far as am personally concerned is to preserve
my health. The climate of England admirably
agrees with me, and on Wednesday next l sail
for England in the Scotia. for q three years.
absence. There can pass my days in the open
air, without suffering from the exposure. The
rays of the sun do not PROSTATE me there as
here. If cold weather comes j can reach q
milder atmosphere in twenty-four hours.
shall pass much of my time in salmon, fishing.
The exercise is just what / require, and enjoy
it, 1t gives expansion to the lungs and freedom
to the circulation. On Wednesday just one year
will have elapsed since arrived in this country.
All the plans connected with the object Of my
visit here were arranged in England before
my departure, and have been accomplished
with slight modification. The gut of $4,000
to the Essex Society was not contemplated, but
will / am satisfied, be productive of much
good. In all my charities have been favored
with the valuable advice and cooperation of
Mr.. Robert G. Winthrop, OF Massachusetts,
whom 1 highly honor and respect. If the
choice of President of the United States were
left TO me, that office would fall on Mr.. Win.
thrOp. A gentlemen by education and instinct,
ripe scholar. possessing every statesmanltke
attribute, with an unblemished reputation, he
would honor the position, and my
countrymen would elevate themselves by
the selection. Tell Mr. Fuller that the
mention OF my name In connection with
the Presidency was not original with him. Ten
years ago bright little lad, son of Mr.. Samuel
Wetmore, pinned my name upon an American
flag and marched around, announcing me as his
onH Ia Ia llnW al VT n nno nj In
noblest youths have ever seen. The other day
| introduced him to President johnson. and
ask ed that he be appointed to cadetship at
West Point. My request was instantly granted
and the Joy of the little fellow was complete.
Speaking of his recent visit to Washington,
the financial condition of the Government was
incidentally alluded to. He expressed the con-
vict1on that our large national debt would prove
no barrier to our progress If the country could
but be once more united. But with separation,
disunion practically continued, with latent
spirit of rebellion still existing, the heavy bur-
den of taxation would be lily borne, and civil
warfare might be again renewed. His dearest
wish was that his country might, go forward
| in the career of progress. which every ele-
ment, save that of internal discord, would be
| powerless to prevent, and that the Government
| and nation should become, as would be the case
if wise counsels prevailed, the most powerful
under the SUD, He expressed the most un-
| bounded confidence in the wisdom and ability
of Secretary McCulloch, whom he had learned
to esteem as noble man and far-seeing
|
body, 'that Secretary will take no backward
| step. The resumption of specie payments, and
the diminution of the public debt are the OBJ
jects OF his profoundest solicitude. He ade-
quately comprehends the injury and confusion
| which would result from sudden contraction,
or an abrupt return to the specie basis; but he
| will recommend no measure which tends in the
| other direction, and will lose no opportunity TO
| make point in favor OF resumption"
On my making some allusion to his vast
London charities, Mr.. Peabody informed me OF
gratifying letter Just received from one OF the
house OF Barring Brothers, OF London, and after
wards favored me with its perusal. 1t stated
that meeting had been called by the Lord
| Mayor of London to take into consideration
the subject of erecting memorial in honor OF
Mr.. Peabody, at which meeting the writer was
appointed a committee to solicit subscriptions
limited to ten guineas each, for the erection of
a statue of the distinguished American, and
that he had secured one hundred names in a
single day. A copy of the subscription list was
enclosed, headed by his Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales in whose behalf the ten
guineas rule had been waved the sum affixed to
his name being twenty-five guineas. The writer
further remarked that Mr.. Story, the American
sculptor, had been suggested as the artist to
whom the work should be entrusted, but that q
decision upon this and all other details would
be postponed until Mr.. Peabody's arrival in
London. A beautiful and touching letter from
the Empress Eugenie under date OF the Attn ult.,
was also gladly shown me, the body OF the
| document as well as the signature being in the
handwriting of the Empress. In 1t she ex-
pressed her qualification at his noble deeds OF
| charity, and the hope that his benevolenee would
be initiated by others possessing the power to
relieve the poor and suffering. The letter closed
with the warmest expressions of regard for Mr..
Peabody, both as an American and as one whose
benevolent acts and purposes were not limited
by national or sectional boundaries. As | arose
after our prolonged, and TO me very instructive
and memorable interview, Mr.. Peabody detained
me Tor moment while he wrote his name upon
! some photographs of himself and begged my
acceptance OF them, desiring at the same time
that j should forward one to you. While
writing he remarked that his hand trembled
! sGmsWh hat, usually during the day, and that he
accomplished all his correspondence at a late
| hour of the night, finding that he could handle
} the pen with greater facility towards midnight
MR.. PEABODY's PORTRAIT OF THE QUEEN.
! There was given yesterday, at the house of a
! gentleman In this city, a private view of the
| portrait of Queen Victoria, which Mr.. Peabody
. received In Washington few days ago. What
ever may be thought concerning the congruty
| representing an expensive portrait-it IS SAID L
/ have cost S75,0O0-to benelactor of the poor
the picture itself Is interesting and curious, bOtl
as work of art and as to showing to what
high pitch miniatuTe painting can be carried
| 1t is hardly appropriate to speak of 1t as
: "miniature,p nor does that word give a correc
) | impression as regards the size of the likeness
/ for though only halflength the painting Is four
teen inches long by nearly ten inches wide. At tn
i taking of the likeness for the first time for the
v presentation Of her portrait to private indi
3 vidual the Queen sat IN the only robes of stat
Il she has worn since the death of the Prince Con
e sort-the costume in which she opened Parlia
I, ment. II is black silk dress trimmed wit