The New York herald., 1868-03-28
Diplomatic Breeches.


Diplomatic Breeches.
The people of the United States and ths
Queen of England have been brought to a
point of variance on a subject of the most deli
cate and perplexing nature in consequence Of
the difficulty, almost impossibility, of recon-
Cling the careful republican legislation of Con-.
gress with the infexible rules which control
court etiquette at Buckingham Palace Con-
gress has forbidden, by special enactment, our
Ministers serving at the courts of Europe te
present themselves to royalty in any other
garb than the full dress of an American citizen
gentleman, while the kings, queens and em-
perOrs will not receive the diplomatic ser!
wants of the Union, on ''court occaJ
sions," unless they are habited in what
is termed ''court Dress" q makeup which
in England includes wig, a great shad-bell
lied, gilt-lapelled vest and coat, knee-breeches,
buckled shoes and a sword. Queen Victoria,
emerging from her long continued seclusion, to
the great joy of her subjects held q Drawing
Room at Buckingham Palace on the 18th in
stant, the Prince Of Wales having presided in
the name of and by order of his mother over .
like assemblage few days previously. Mr..
Charles Francis Adams, United States Minis
ter at the Court of st. James, was peremp-
torily absent on both occasions, although he
would no doubt have congratulated the royal
lady on her restoration to the head of English
society in the most felcitous words of courtesy
had she consented to listen to him in citizen
costume, or if Congress permitted him to-
shorten his pantaloons and lengthen and ex-
pand and ornament his coat tail.
Mr.. Adams, gentleman Of imposing pres
ence and a faultless American in the matters Of
attire and linen, was missed from the brilliant
crowd, and the Lord High Chamberlain of Eng
land explained his absence to the people dur
ing the evening in the columns of the Court
Journal by stating ''the United States Envoy
was absent from unavoidable circumstances.
The Lord Chamberlain is, by virtue of his
Office, very pink of politeness, and the elegant
words in which the nobleman who now holds
that post informs our democracy and Secretary
Seward that Minister Adams would not put on
court breeches prove very plainly that the
dignity of the throne is not likely to be lowered
at his hands. Unavoidable circumstances
is new name for breeches, and will
no doubt be at once adopted by some
enterprising Broadway tailor-if the Paris
fashioners have not anticipated him-tO
describe the garment hitherto known so
variably as ''pantaloons, ''pants, ''trousers,"
''unmentionables," and 80 forth. This arrival
at a fixed nomenclature will be very agreeable
to our great designers and cutters in writing
out their spring advertisements for the
HERALD, but does not by any means re-
lieve Minister Adams from the perplexing
condition in which he has been placed by his
loyal obedience of the law. Aware Of the
coming difficulty, Mr.. Adams sought to tenn,
porize, and in this lies his fault. He should
have presented himself at Buckingham Palace
clothed as an American gentleman and adj
vanced until he was rejected ''for cause" by,
the Lord Chamberlain. The people would
then have comprehended the matter at once,
but through his gentle timidity he has only
more completely embarrassed himself and
greatly bewildered the people who read the
Court Journal with respect to the exact
meaning Of the unavoidable circumstances.
What can Mr.. Adams do previous to his
departure from London? He cannot discuss
the subject with the Queen without incurring,
II may be, charge of collusion with monarchy
against Congress, nor can he well stake leave,
without referring to the unavoidable circum-
stances" This explanation will require much
nicely in the choice of words as well as their
fho
little more confidence than what he appeared
to possess on the Drawing Room days he might
gently enlarge on the subject and thus render
it International and interesting We could re-
mind her Majesty that we have had ''breeches
question" at different eras in the history Of
both countries George Washington wore
breeches and coat and hat which would have
passed Mr.. Adams to court, and the like
Of which would even now be unexceptionable IL
the retiring diplomat would only join one Of
the companies of "Continentals" in this city
and get elected as commissioned officer.
The most renowned Of American soldiers
the only man who ever personally hauled
down o British flag in battle and routed
British troops with the bayonet-the late
Lieutenant General Scott, confessed himself
at one time surprised with respect to his
breeches; and departed American states
man, whose memory is cherished by the de-
mocracy of the United States-who dismissed
the British Minister from Washington with all
the Queens officials in the country-was most
economically careful Of his neither garment-a
fact well known to the people Of the State Of
New York. JEFF Davis abnegated breeches for
a few moments, and just then fell Queen
Victoria herself pays some attention to the
subject--with what Interior object we cannot
say-if the loyal journals Of the Irish metro.
polls are 10 be credited; for within few years
mast fhau haua advertised tailor residing in