New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-06-18
RREECHES.

Before Mr.. Reverdy Johnson the new Pieni-
potcntiary, takes his departure for the Court OF
st. James, he will, if his wisdom is worthy OF
his years, have a full and complete understand
ing with the Secretary of State upon the i'm
portant point of his official vestments 1t seems
to he proper that upon proper occasions tho
American Minister should perform forward
and back figure before the Queen but Dir'
Adams's brilliant and useful career In LONDON
has waned n little toward its conclusion, ny
reason of his repugnance to going to court Ill
trowsers, while Congress has forbidden MN 10
wear the regulation small-clothes III INC
House of her Majesty. 1t is equally true
and fortunate that the peace of the world
can hardly, in any emergency. depend upon
tho observance or neglect OF these ancient
ceremonies Whether Mr.. Adams or his sue
ceSsOr goes to court or not is really oil very
little consequence; but it must be c0nslucrcd
that there il always in London great assem-
bage Of Americans-mcn, wives, and maldenS
who hunger and thirst to bask and battle
themselves in the smilcs of Royalty and who
can only be guided into the awful presence of
the throne by the tender hand of the Amer-
can Minister. These people would have
right TO complain if, in the adjustment or non
adjustment of this sartOral controversy, their
own heart sickness the result of deferred hope,
should not be respectfully taken into account.
These victims in whose piteOus faces
the portals Of the palace are slammed, have
found a champion in The PaA-MdH Gd-ette-a
newspaper which expatiates with much sym
pathy upon their undcscrycd disappointments.
When we consider how necessary it Is to go to
Court, or at least for traveller to be able to
say upon his return to his republican home
that he has paid that visit we feel that the
time for compromise has come. There are III
Washington several tailOrs of acknowledged
merit IN the fine art which they profess. Now,
if Mr.. Seward, and Mr.. Revcrdy Johnson, and
two or three of the most knowing OF these
tailors, could but hold kind of conference,
and devise some kind of robe or toga, or doub-
let, or tunic, or jacket, or blouse, or sack, or
frock of perfectly republican cut ana
color for Mr. Johnson to be presented III
something neat but not gaudy, and neither too
grave nor too glittering, fit for an old gentle
mans wear and yet not too sombcr for n draw
ing room-if these preliminary arrangements
could be made aud the new ambassador cross
the briny sea with the magic garment in his
trunk, we do not believe that any gold-stick,
or lord waiting, or high chamberlain, would
have the heart to prevent the display of this
triumph of American manufacture to wonder
ing crowds of dukes and duchesses. We do
not speak with certainty, because, although we
have given this subject Il good deal of atten-
ton. we do not rs yet pretend fully to under
stand it. We only know that there is hitch
somewhere and that our poor Americans in Lon
don cannot be introduced to Royaty-a mis-
fortune the profundity of which no man, how
ever sympathetic by nature, can pretend to
fathom. Unless there is a good deal OF misln-
formation current, the sensible Queen has
consented to receive Mr. Adams in the ordinary
attire of a civilized human being. 1t is Mr..
Adams himself whose sensitive nature viii not
allow him TO approach the throne in panta-
looms. But if Mr.. Il. Johnson goes over with
rcgalia ready made, which has received the
sober approval of the Department mt Washing
ton, he may boldly don it when the mOmeDtOus
occasion shall require him 20 do so in London,
and coumgcousy brave the social criticism
which seems to have daunted Mr.. Adamss
more fastdous nature.