The New York herald., 1871-03-03
SIR STAFFORD NORTHC0TE.
Arrival Of the Last Named
High Commissioners.
He is Interviewed by Horald Reporter and Goes
Into tho interviewing Business Himself
What He Thinks OF the Alabama Claims
and What He Wants to Know About
Nelson, Sumner and Butler
An Interesting Conversation
in Railroad Car.

COCK at Jersey ClIy yesterday morning, brought /
Sir Stafford Henry Northcote Bart, late Chancellor
Of the Exchequer in the Derbv-Dsraei Ministry.
This distinguished statesman Is the last OF the Eng
lish members OF the Joint High Dining Commission
who lett England, and Is, perhaps, the most saga
cous and the best informed on the points or differ
ence between America and Great Britain OF the
entire delegation. He Is a man OF figures and loves
TO drag his weaker political brothers down into the
awful depths OF prepared statistics. The b6te NOR
OF the eloquent Gladstone. the hope OF
the tories, he Is undoubtedly tho best
man that England could send to audit
our little account and strike balance. He
should pride himself on being cockney; TOR Lon
don first his inrantc face, and that educa-
tona adjunct OF the British metropolis. oxford Col
lege, held MIN within her folded arms until he had
begun to see tnat an Intimate acquaintance with
the philosophy OF Plato and the r0mances of
Herodotus would do him but little service In the
battle OF life Sir stafford is undoubtedly OF the
great men OF England; learned in
THE SCHOOL or sTATECRAFT,
not unacquainted with politics and cherish
ing views OF sufficient elasticity to suit the party
70 which. for The time beng, he avows
allegiance, he is the darling OF his con-
stituents. Mere defamation he despises;
| OF political intrigue he knows nothing;
bus If any rash American legislator wishes to wreck
himself the hard rock or statistics and figures,
Sir Stafford Northcote Is the 10 pilot him his
doom. But his awful ondness Tor figures Is not APP
parent in his manner or department. To an innocent
interiocutor he will not hurriedy propose financial
conundrum and, remembering that he Is IN a coun-
try where titles lightly considered, he will pro-
bly, declare In defiance Of all diplomatic usage, his
! entire Ignorance on all matters or importance, and
his ardent desire to he considered automatically
regular oyster.
THE Ex-cHANcEnLoR
Is negatively communicative; he is more deslrous OF
Intervening newspaper men than OF being inter-
viewed; ne knows he Is o BIG gun, but he does not
care to fire OIL heavy shot without first ascertain
ing the range.
This VIII be enough OF Sir Staford's antecedenrs
and manner. something of his personal appearance
VIII DC Interesting; his disposition may be inferred
lie Is a harry salesnan-auburn on the chm mildly
light On the other Up and decidedly sandy under the
fur cap he aggressvely wears. Were 1t not the
fact that ms small inquirng eyes have the
peculiar faculty OF drawing down over their
pleas ant lightning lthc woeui thunder OF
pair or portentous eyebrows, Sir Stafford might
pect to attract 10 irghtiul discontinue vast horde
OF the yearning iDaldens OF WashingtOn-and he |
wears speclacles: he has the French habit OF hoist.
ing his shoulders the hign roof OF his arlsto-
cratic head aud OF smiling when nobody Is prepared
to take the hint aud laugh. For the beneht or the
that
sir STAFFORD
anects rough dress, - careless OF his personal ap
ped1ance. and Tor an Engllshnan has wonderful
respect Tor the tastes ana prejudces OF
were not orn within the sound OF Bow
Bells. rhe right honorable baronet Is OF that
peculiar compile @lon whicn dees crticism; he may
be forty years OF age or ne may DC nifty; the most
accomplished physiognomist would scarcely dare 10
Say that he nifty. But then he one OF those
men, but seldom met with in a lifetime, are AT
their ease ~ every position In which tney are placed
| 4 POLITICAL TRIMMER
through necessity, and an asprant for nigh govern
mental honors In the little Island when ne nails
| he challenges admiration a. Il statesman Iii, spe-
calty is ngures give hiin any plausible excuse, and
with his peculiar gifts he Will Dewiider more British
| taxpayers IN shorter time than any other man on
the tory or liberal benches OF tine English House OF
Commons Let US hope that it was not for the pur-
pose oil muddllng our representatives. the High
Commisson that he was sent here by his financial
Antagonist w. Ewart Gladstone.
Of course when the Russ u arrived at the dock at
Jersey City HERALD reporter was there ready to
hold u conversation with the ex-Chanceller. But
tnere was good deal o coniusion as usual IN the
dsembarkatlon of tne passengers and reporter
deferred his contemplated attack on the Sir stat
DIPLOMATIC STRONGHOLD OF SECRECY.
Contrary to all expectation Sir Stafford, as soon
as he lett the steamer, wended his way for the mid
day train then pulling ana blowing at the station,
anu got ON board compartment car. HIS son, Mr..
tin9ulshed baronet, Mr.. Riggs, two ladies ana a
number Of servants, seven persons IN ali. speedily
followed. After brief stay on board the cars Sir
STANFORD sailed alone for a short walk but find
ing the sidewalks unav0rable TO the assertion Of
| and treacherous, he gave TO "a few
| strong expressions. as Engiisnmen are won't
to DO ana re. returned II, ed TO the car ia
! trous baronet had his arIstooratIc eyebrows ele
waited 10 an attitude Of iortylve degrees and tnau
! his god specaces trenlblcd on the extreme point
! OF his High Commission nose, that The HERALD re-
porter knocked at the door and entered the com.
and Was fast In the account OF the spread oi the
smallpox. His sou, slender but good looking
youth. sat opposite 10 him. Whenever
THE OLD MAN wlNKED THE YOUNG MAN SMILED.
Having introduced himself aud accepted the va
the HERALD with a sigh and confronted
| its representative. lie was anable, pleas.
Sir Richard MaJne's people about TO obey
| mis- orders no British excuslveness surrounded
the first few complimentary observations OF
porter he said that he was greatly pleased with his
voyage, but that, though greatly impressed with
beauties OF New York harbor, he was not prepared
to express his sense OF the magni6ceace OF the
coun,ry from $50 80 cursory glance as had been al
stanford never advenured an aluson TO the jersey
side atks.
1he reporter being seated, ana the English states
man DayIng prepared himself Tor the Interview by |
laying back In ms seat aDd assatlng his walstcoat
sleeves with his nervous lngers, the following con-
yersaJion occurred
REroKTEE--i sent. Sir Stafford. 10 congratu.
lale you ON behalf OF the HERALD and the country
which 1t represents, your SAFE arrival on our |
sgores hope you nal
PLEASANT VOYAGE?
Sir SrAFFoRD-iLe voyage was very pleasant In. !
deed Please thank the eator OF the HERALD Tor me
England. II Is great paper and has inmense IN |
nuence, being recognized as The leading American !
journal. F" "hen was III the indian Olcc-t was /
ouring the Abyssinan war-wc were often
INDEBfED TO THE HERALD
for early news. You beat cur SPECIAL messengers |
ON several occasions; ana. indeed YOU seemed - /
have monopoly OF telegraph ana courier iacii ues. (
II is a great loufGat and must weld an immense
lnhueuce.
REPoRfER-Tne HERALD Is modest Sir Stafford, |
aud It's attaches take Their cue from It's edt0r. But
permit ine 10 express on the part oil the Journal the
pleasure | itei from your frank aroHa. II your
government spoke as kindly OF our peop.o you DO
OF their reading paper do not think inter-
national dllicultles WOUld remain long unsettled.
Sis sTAtFonD-A want o iraakness perhaps, Is the
worst fault wita which either OF nations can
charged. Probably that is tie Whole trouble We
are hedged around with diplomatic nicetles and
forms oi state which prevent the interchange Or
friendly opinion and International converse. Les
more open iutinate way be adopted and the clouds
that Goat up ia the pouca SKY wilisoo drlit away
For myself, speaking Gs an individual member uf
THE JOINT HIGH COMMISSION,
] must say that cannot see why tins should not
lx,l l.,...,