The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-17
OUR EMBASSY IN PARIS

COLONEL HoFFMAN's DIPLOMATIC PROMOTION.
PARIS, Dec. 81, 1874.
The promotion Of Colonel Hoffman to the Secrv.
taryship Of the United States Legation in London
will deprive the Americans in Paris Of an able adj.
wiser and o hospitable fellow countryman Colonel
Hoffman Is, indeed. diplomatist OF the best tyne
cool, self-possessed upright and conciliatory HIS
knowledge Of French affairs Is accurate and ex.
tensive, and he has extreme tact and good sense
N the conduct OF business. 1t is DOS.
sible that, after having iamillarized him.
self so completely with the French people
and their concerns, and after having made
SO many friends among them, he himself may feel
some regret at leaving Paris. which is really tne
most charming city in the world But hts trans.
fer to London Is certainly professional promotion
in the diplomatic service, ana a man of reasona-
ole ambition in the prime of life could hardly re-
fuse it.
The relations between Great Britain and the
United States, both commercial and political, ara
OF immense interest to both countries. The fish.
cries question, the questions OF boundaries, re.
ciprocities and others are so numerous and
important that the English mission musu
always take rank before that OF Paris.
Colonel Holman has had the GOOD fortune
to witness the most striking events in modern
French history. He was in Paris during the great
exhibition and saw the apogee OF imperial power
and splendOr. He was also here during the siege
and during the Commune. But at present there
Is a lul IN French politics. and nothing beyond q
squabble in the Assembly can be anticipated for
some time TO come. Upon the whole, therefore,
Colonel Hoffman's friends can honestly congratu-
late him on his transfer to London, where his
honorable antecedents WILL amply justify hls
Colonel Hoffman Is of Dutch descent and was
born In New York, where mis- family have been
settled since 1866 He was educated at HAIRY ard
a ma In 1au
some time IN New York. He volunteer ed for mill
tary service when the war broke out In 1861, and
gan. In February, 1862, he was appointed by the
President assistant adjutant general, with the
eral Thomas Williams whom he accompanied to
New Orleans He was at all the subse-
in ns s attach se on oa
the hrst attempt TO cut a ditch to isolate
vlcksburg. He renamed with Williams tIli toaI
general was Killed at the Dattle Of Baton Rouge.
In October, 1862, he was ordered to the stan Of
Brlgadler General ". I. Sherman tn command.
Ing division. He remained with Sherman during
MS command at New Orleans and aiterward at
Port Hudson till he was wounded in the assaulr,
and was present at the siege and capture. In July,
1868. he was transferred to the star OF Major Gem
eral w. b. Franklin, with the rank OF major. lie
was with Franklin through the campaigns on the
coast OF Texas and afterward on the Red River
campaign and until he was wounded at the bat
tie OF Mansfield, when he was transferred
general commanding the Department. OF Louis-
Srmered d TO Vrrn ' and npont Cd ne was
Jufant general OF the Eastern district. In the
spring OF 1865, on the application OF General Sher.
man, he was ordered back TO New Orleans and
transferred to the stan OF Major General Candy
In June, 1866, he resigned, anu subsequently, at
General Canby's request, was appointed assistant
secretary oil legation to Paris. In 1867, at General
Dix's request, ne was made secretary to the nus
sion.
These are distinguished services, and. 1t must
be added, that Colonel Hoffman has fairly won
Whatever good fortune may hereafter be IN store
Tor him His selection for any OF the higher posts
OF diplomacy in Europe would always be wise
one, Tor military men enjoy consideration aud adj
vantagcs ut European courts which are altogether
denied to civilians.