Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-30
From the Memphis Appeal.

MEMPHIS, april IL, lOtI.-ln an eul-
torial in the Ledger of this date, it says:
"There is statement in the papers that
Vice President Colfax recently published
in the Independent a statement to the
effect that Russian influence alone pre-
vented the recognition of the Southern
Confederacy, which Lord Granville sub.
sequently denied in the House of Lords
in the following language: 'As member
of the Palmerston and Russell Cabinet,
he could say that proposition to recog-
nize the South was not even enter
tanned.
As a mere matter of history, viii re-
count an incident with which was con-
nected in London just at the time of the
battle of Gettysburg. 20 E
On Saturday preceding the Sunday
that news of the result of that battle was
received in London, had an interview
with Mr.. Roebuck, then q member of
Parliament, and the leading friend of the
Confederate recognition in the House of
Commons.
This inter view was upon his invitation.
He expressed desire to speak with me
concerning the state of affairs in the
South, preparatory to making his speech
on resolution introduced by himself
looking to our recognition. My recollec-
ton is that his speech was to have been
made a few nights previous, but had
been deferred, or that he contemplated
making it on that night, but had that day
deferred it. remembered well the fol-
lowing statement of his (Which / sup
pose is no longer confidential, IL 1t
ever was). He said to me: "The
Government is pressed hard to recogni-
ton by the Emperor of the French, and
l would like to have urged my resolution,
aided by this pressure. But we expect
to hear daily of the definitive battle in
Pennsylvania. Everything depends on
that. have conversed with Palmerston,
who requested me to postpone my reso-
luton and speech, and he has assured me
that if the Confederates gain the victory
in the battle now about to be fought, the
Government will be forced to recogni.
tion.n
was eIated with the information, for
none of US who knew Gen. Lee and the
army of Northern Virginia doubted the
result. l mentioned the conversation
freely among the Confederates that eve
ming.
On the next day, Sunday, about noon,
a number of Confederates were at my
room, in eager expectation of the arrival
of the steamer of Queenstown, when a
person who professed Southern sympa-
thies, but who was distrusted, appeared at
the door and summoned me. did not
invite him in, but answered his summons.
He informed that news had been received
of Q disastrous defeat of Gen. Lee. re-
piled it was impossible, for | had news
from the Confederate Legation, and the
steamers had not been sighted from
Queenstown. He said that is true, but
nevertheless the fact is so; the news had
been received. | communicated the in
formation as I had received it, which
produced a general gloom, although no
one thought it possible that it could be
authenticated.
About two hours after the steamer was
sighted and the telegram brought the in
telligence of the untoward and disastrous
event. IneVer afterwaTd saw the person
have alluded to, and the matter remains
mystery how the news obtained circu-
lation in London before the steamer could
communicate with Queenstown.
Whatever Lord Granville may think of
it, Mr.. Roebuck was sanguine in the as
surance which he thought he had from
Lord PalmeIs,on.
give you the above merely as an item
of history. Mr.. Roebrck said yet more
to me. He said Lord Palmerson, pal
merston, as he styled him. sympathized
wholly with the South, and but for other
restraints would have already expressed
them; and remember he gave me the
energetic language of Lord Palmerston as
to what they would do in theevent of our
success in Pennsylvania.
England oughtnot to try TO escape from
the only part of her policy toward the
Confederacy which is creditable to her, l
mean the inclination to recognize us if
she had dared. When l say if she had
dared, do not mean to imply that she
was afraid of the universal Yankee ma
lion." But inasmuch as she had fought
against the Declaration of independence
and the right of self-government in 1776,
she was timid about consistency. But she
need not have been, for Massachusetts
makes no point on that score, from the
base of Bunker Hill.
Very respectfully yours,
D. K. MCRAE.