Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-05-13
WAR HISTORY.
Enaletsa uaa the saafsaerafe sielps-
EAe Question as Ao WhesAef Eaa-
land Krer zntealaa ID RrnaEnine
saataera Independence


From the Memphis Appeal
MEMhHIs, April III lS7l.-In an edi-
torial in the Ledger Of the this date, It
sayss wfhefe Is q statement In the
papers that Vice President C0llax re-
Gently published 10 the Independent
q statement to the effect that Russian
influence alone prevented the reoogni-
ton of he Southern ConledeFaey,
which Lord Granville subsequently
denied IN the House Of Lords In the fol-
lowing language: AS q member OF the
PalmerstOn and Russell Cabinet, he
could say that o proposition to recog-
nige the South was not even enter-
tained.ih
As q mere matter Of history, / will
recount an incident with which / was
connected In Bond0n just at the time
of the battle of Gettysburg,
On Saturday preceding the Sunday
the news Of the result of that battle
was received IN London, l had an inter-
view with Mr.. Roebuck, then i menu
Der Of Parliament, and the leading
friend Of the Confederate recognition
In the House 0f Commons.
This interview was upon bis invita-
ton. He expressed a desire to speak
with me concerning the state Of affairs
in the S0utlS preparatory to making
his speech on Il resolution introduced
by himself looking to our recogni-
ton. My recollection 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 following statement Of his (which
| suppose is no longer confidential, 1t
1t ever wasl. He said to me: 1.-THE
Government Is pressed hard to recog-
milton by the Emperor of the French,
and | would like to have urged my
resolution, aided by this pressure. But
we expect to hear daily Of the defini-
tive battle in Pennsylvania. Every
thing depends on that. / have con-
vefsed with Palmerston, who request
Ped me to postpone my resolution and
speech, and he has assured me that il
the Confederates gain the victory in
the battle now about to be fought, the
Government will be forced TO recogni-
tion."
| was elated with the information,
for none of us who knew Gen. Lee and
the army of Northern Virginia doubted
the result. | mentioned the CONVERSE
ton freely among the Confederates
that evening.
On the next day, Sunday, about noon
a number OF Confederates were at my
room, in eager expection of the arrival
OF the steamer Of Queenstown, when q
person who professed Southern sympa-
thies, but who was distrusted, appear,
q at the door and summoned me. /
did not invite him In, hut answered his
summons. He informed that news
had been received ola disastrous defeat
Of Gen. Lee. / replied it was impossi-
ble, for ] had news from the COnfede-
rate Legation, and the steamers had
not been sighted from Queenstown.
lie said that is true, but nevertheless
the fact is SO; the news had been re.
celved. communicated the informal
ton as had received it, which pro-
dueed a general gloom, although no
one thought il possible that it could be
authenticated.
About two hours after the steamer
was sighted aud the telegram brought
the intelligence of the uatoward and
disastrous event, / never afterward
saw the person / have alluded to, and
the matter remains a mystery how the
news obtained circulation in London
before the steamer could communicate
with Questown.
Whatever Lord Granville may think
oft, Mr.. Roebuck was sanguine in the
assurance which he thought he had
from Lord Palmerston.
| give you the above merely as an
lem Of history. MI. Roebuck said vel
s'ore to me. He said Lord Palmer
sympi Palmerston, as he styled him,
and but lied wholly with the South,
already OF other restraints would have
Der he gave ressed them; and | reulem.
of Lord Palnme the energetic language
would doin 4erss0ReHafF r. shas they
MasElSGUagus ~. j I" success III
from lhe only part Of her nolio,. ps
ward me ponfedeFacy which Il orr, =
Die tonert mean the ~inclinssan
recognlz9 Us ~ she had dared. Wha -
! say hsAe had dared, / do NOT maen
~ lMIlsle naR she was afraid Of the
"universd Yatkee nation.1 Rnt ,,, ae
m0ch az Ae had thought against tSr
DeGiatatleh Of Independence ami sho
J right 81 setSgo srnment In lie sne
was uned aDOul c~Onsistenev ~. sue
need II have | en-, for Massacbnsasne
base OF eunker HIl.N NUN the
}ety respe tfully yours.
: p K. McRAE.