New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-30
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.
GREAT BRITAIN.

COLo,IAL oUEsTIoNs-ENGLIsH DErElsiN S,A- |
TION TO DO THEM USTICE-RECONSIkUOAlNS
LONDON.
IoxnoN, Dec 17.-In an appeal which ventured
lately TO make to your readers, to recognize the Ict
that we too have our sentimental grievance III Vne
matter of the unsettled claims arising out OF your
GREAT war had occasion to mention the names OF
several men in our very highest ranks VINO hau
steadily and LOYALTY supported your Government
throughout the struggle At the head OF theSe VI
course placed that of the Duke OF Argyll name
which 80 far as your people regard the old country
ought 10 be as familiar and respected among you as
omono us At any rate under the deusiOn, II IT be
one that this is still the case to considerable
extent I cannot but think that many Amer
leans will sincerely sympathize with the 1earini
blow which has fallen on the most mGhIy
born and one of the ablest and most sincere OF their
friends in this country, during the past week. On
Saturday last the Duke, who up in London alone
to attend the Cabinet Councils was engaged to dine
with your Minister, to meet Gen. Burnside In tho
afternoon of that day he was summoned to lnverary
by a telegram informing him of the dangerous ill
mesa of his wife, IL seems from the accounts or her
illness which are current, that the Duchess was
overtaken in snow storm while driving in an open
carriage and caught chill which resulted In paral-
ysis During the week she has been lying In very
precarious state but perfectly sensible and patient
and gentle as ever. Lord Lorn, her eldest son. has
been summoned from Italy, and her other children
are all gathered round her, waiting the end, which
there is too much to fear will not he long III
coming If so it will be one of the saddest social
events which has happened among us these many
years The Duchess of Argyll was afrend of America
from her infancy as the house of her father the late
Duke of Sutherland, was always open TO your citi-
zens. The friendship of her mother with Mr. sum
ner and Mrs. Beecher Stowe IS notorious ana inc
famous address from the English ladies' to their
American sisters, of which she was the chet pro.
mOter was open to much of the criticism TO which 1t
gave rise on both sides of the Atlantic; III ~ east
proved clearly enough the deep sympathy oil those
who were responsible for it with your dlihcutlcs
and their desire to draw closer the ties which should
bind the two nations together. The Duke ana
Duchess Of Argyll were married very Young some -
years ago. happened to be IN scotland at the tllne
when they returned TO lnyeTary Castle irom tnelr
wedding trip. and, with all the rest OF the touring
world made my way across to the little town AT inc
head of Loeb Fyne to be present at the great gamer
ing of the Campbell clan which was TO welcome home
the young couple. One must have seen such gath
ering to realize the power and tenacty OF the OLD
feeling Of clanship in the highlands. Inc hlhg can
make q Duke, but the MaCallummoTe Is as much
The Castle grounds are just outside the town, the
house itself being little than quarter of mile
from the outskirts of lnverarya grim square castel-
lated building the greater part OF 1T modern com
paratively) but well suited to its surroundings, OF
lake. fishing town, and pine clad mountains All the
morning the Campbells were cOming" up the lake,
in all kinds Of bOatS-One steamer brought Campbel
of lsay and some 400 men III full tartan-aAd down
from every gen along high roads and bye roads and
tracks till all the round the castle was hed
with hardy hgh-cheek-bOned men, waiting grayely
and silently for the coming OF their young clne1.
We spectators we're IN the pest places we eoua get
enough, through chance college acquaintance win
clansman, TO get within hearing distance OF the
hall-dOOr. Presently we heard the pibrock IN the
town and distant cheers and the sound of wheels,
and an open carriage and four came rapidly up the
drive, young Lord Lorn standing with his head
bare. and bright hair which he wore rather long
then waving in the wind and the beautiful girl
sitting by his side futtered little by the frenzy or
cheers and the scream of the bagpipes probably,
also. by the feeling that she was for the mo-
ment the one woman IN that vast crowd.
They disappeared for few seconds into
the house, and then came out again, and
he spoke to the Campbells, and the great brawny
men with high cheek bones wept, and shouted for
tho Macallummore and then for the bride Then
her husband led her forward, and she made great
effort, and spoke a few sentences IN clear, sweet
tones which were heard perfectly well even where
of love for their chief, trust in all who bore his
name, and thanks for their welcome to her new
home. No words of mine touch the electric
state of the clansmen's gathering. / was among
Quiet steady men, who had long left the highlands
If indeed, they had ever lived theTel and were
wearing coats and trOwseTs, and earning unTOmantlc
bread, more or less, in commerce and professions;
but they were swayed and possessed by the storm
of enthusiasm which swept over u.s. and the state of
mind was so catching, that can scarcely conceive
the folly which even l. o stranger and Saxon born,
sLonld not have been ready TO commit nj the time if
hand in hand on the top step before the hadoor Of
Inverary Castle. The clan went home as they had
como, aud we 70 our inn in the town, 10 eat fresh
behring's and wonder what it was that had bereft
n, Of our usual senses and sef-contTol. This point
remains something Of mystery TO the present day,
but no one who that sight at lnveTaTy can have
failed to watch with deep interest the subsequent
career of the yOUng couple who began their
pubIio life on that day. And it has been all
that the stanchest Campbell could wish.
bravo and high toned and pure he setting
an example Of outspoken 9nd, far-seeing
nObcmen Of his day. though at one time Lord de
Grey pressed him very hard. She moving in the
very highest circles of society with perfect womaniY
truthfulnesS, grace, and simplicity, and setting
beautiful example ofthe higher life regions wherelt
is to say no more, at least much wanted in any
other rank. The Duke though an ardent politician,
was too thoughtful and TOO ouspOken to be popular
with liberal chiefs till quite lately. Tho Palmer
stOniaD and prePalmeTStOnan policy of rest and be
let things alone" was never TO his taste,
so he was longer without high Office than
any other man Of his standing and rank and his
capacity This was well for the country IN more
ways than one for he never fell into the official
groove. and retains all his native strength now that
he is at last az the head of % great department. and
can work should say, in far more hearty sympathy
with Gladstone and Bright than any other peer
above So On the other hand the comparative leisure
of so many Of his best years left him free for other
work. and his books especially THE Reign of Law"
with which no dOubt you all as familiar as we
are have placed him high among our literary
men by their own Intrinsic power and merit. II
he had been a perfectly unknown man. that
book would certainly have gained for him
the English literary blue nbbon-Our only and very
poor equivalent for neghbors membership Of the
Academy-admlssiOn to the Athengum BY the Com
mittee without the usual ordeal of election The
Duke and Duchess have twelve children all living
and have never $50 far the outside world can judge
real trouble in their household till now. 1t has
come when his career was just opening out and at
time when there was never more need of such men
in the highest places am sure Americans will sym
pathize with the whole of liberal England in this
case for it will be long before they find more faith
full friend OF one who appreciates their country and
her work in the world more highly.