New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-03
NETWORK, TUESDAY. AUGUST 3, 1869.

TO anticipate the progress OF anahe, anu
dispatch one of his staff Of correspondents 10 the
spot, wherever o significant movement or
disclosure may bel expected. His knowledge OF
American politics is of course, highly valuable 10
our friends among the public men of England, who
amid the camor of parties and the collision OF opin-
IONS often find it difficult to obtain comprehensive
view of the situation, and are thankfulAto receive
moro light from an authority which they hayeleaned
to rely on with greater confidence than either the
dispatches of the Atlantic telegraph or the anony-
nous American correspondence of the London press.
Mr. Smalley is on intimate terms with several OF the
British statesmen and journalists, who have been
most prominent in theirl support Of American
interests, and they make his Office
place of frequent land familiar resort. You may
often meet there some of the eminent men, whose
names are regarded with special honor in the United
States for the wisdom and courage with which they
defended our cause, when it had become only pro-
verb and byword in the leading social and political
circles of Great Britain and for the faith and con-
stancy with which they have since sustained our
claims to justice and the reparaton of wrong before
the civilized world. Without ascrbng too much to
the personal influence of single individual on men
of intelligence and character. feel how deeply we
are indebted to Mr.. Smaley for his patient eucida
ton of the American question: and for the sagacity
and force with which he has uHfolded its true nature
to the comprehension of liberal and independent
minds in England.
arrived in London while thefpOlitical fever occa
stoned by Mr. Summers speech was at its hight
Such an example'of popular frenzy have rarely wit
messed. The good sense of John Bull seems 10 have
been placed in temporary allegiance, while he yielded
to the vainest illusions. He experienced the same
effect from the speech of eminent Senator that Is
produced on his namesake in the animal world by
the sight of q piece of scarlet cloth. Even men
of babitually temperate and candid minds were
moved from their prOpriety, and insisted on
placing the widest constructions on the ex-
haustive scholastic statements of the American
dOctrinaire In this crisis, Mr. Smaey was as prompt
and efficient in presenting the subject in its true
light to the distinguished circles with which he is
cOnveTsant, las he was in explaining the state OF
British opinion to the readers of The TRIBUNE at
home. ! am sure that am not mistaken in regard
ing his influence as of the most powerful agents
of pacifcaton previous to the arrival of Mr.. Motley,
that helped to calm the perturbed spirits of our
friends in England. He accomplished not little to
prepare the way for the cordial reception OF our
admirable Minister, whose genial temper and en-
ticing manners have impaired the edge Of his
bold aud ardent advocacy OF the American cause.
letter Of introduction from an intimate personal
friend of Mr.. Bright in New York procured mo
cordial invitation to visit him at his private London
lodgings His family remain at their country resi-
dence, during the greater part of the season, and
with his simple habits, lac does not indulge in the
luxury of house in town. Accompanied by a gentle
man. who has the cHfte TO his rooms at all times.
selected an early hour for On interview and found
the llustrious statesman at his quiet aud solitary
breakfast. though several visitors dropped in be-
fore the completion Of tho Tepast Nothing
81. lt,,s, laetrF ~ -
establishment unless il was the frank dignity
Of his manners 1t was an impressive scene to be-
hold man who had welded such a vast power over
the politics of Great Britain IN an environment
winch reminded me of the historical sketches Of the
Spartan simplicity in the domestic life Of Samuel
Adams In the days Of the Revolution. Tho personal
appearance Of Mr. Bright is pretty faithfully repre-
seuted in the familiar photographs. His cOunte-
nance bears the impress OF beneyolence and sincerity
Ii is entirely free from pretensOn. With the reposc
of expression which Is comparatively rare in Ameri-
can features his face indicates intellectual aertness
ms well as a certain depth Of sentiment. which is
not always preserved amid the wenr and tear
Of q long political career No one who sees
MI Bright, and who understands the art Of reading
the character in the features doubt his integrity
and goodness of heart. He shows no traces Of the
willy shrewdness which is often deemed essential TO
lack Of sagacity or ready resource ms transparent
candor is no less remarkable than his brilliant elo
qucnce Judging from his counenance and his bear
ing should set him down as n man who would nat
urally love flowers and little children, and good
women / should not wonder even if his Quaker
education had still left place in his soul for the
entertainments Of music. Certainly never heard
more sweet aud harmonious tones from flute or
organ than from his finely mOdulated voice
/ will not pretend TO give you a report Of his con-
versaton, even if / could do so without violating
the decorum Of the familiar interview with which
was hOnorcd. / will only say that il was singuariy
unaffected facile and impressive. His words flowed
like a river Of OIL sparkling with golden sands, and
often tempered by vein Of spicy humor showing a
rich and generous nature. was struck with some
of his remarks the natural tendency 10 order and
quiet. as age advances, and may make this slight
allusion TO them, as the expression Of practiced
statesman somewhat in contrast with his public ca
reer. "The longer live" said he, II am more and
more disposed TO seek some point where progress Is
not necessary" He illustrated this idea at length,
showing that it was not the within of a statesman
weary with the claims of reform, but the utterance
of q sage who had wisely decided on the value Of
different purposes in life.
At my visit TO Mr. Bright, / met Professor Thorold
Rogers of Oxford University the editor of the re-
cent edition of Mr.. Brights Speeches" and his
warm personal friend. The Professor had the dress
and manner of New-EnGland farmer, rather than
Of a college dignitary. He impressed me as sngu-
larly free-hearted and free. spoken gentleman, be-
traying great earnestness and conviction under
markablo planness Of speech, and uttering senti-
pents as revolutionary as Mirabeaus, with the
quietness of Quaker preacher II he represents, in
any degree, the state Of opinion in Oxford shall
longer regard her venerable walls the grim prison
Of the spirit of medievalism. r.