New-York tribune., 1875-07-13
THE QUEEN AND AMERICA.
LETTER FROM THURLOw WEED.

FORTS TO PRESERVE PEACE BETWEEN ENGLAND
AND NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. FROM THH FRENCH
GOVERNMENT TWICE DIsCOUNTENANCLD-IHE
DISPATCH DEMANDING THE SURRENDER OF MA
son AND sIIDELL MODIFIED BY HER.
To the EdftOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: The celebration of tho nnety-ninth annl-
versary Of American independence, in London, pos
sesses more than ordinary interest, indicating, as IL
does, gratifying promise that event which occa-
stoned n seven years war between England and
America will at the close of the century in which II
occurred find both countries cordially united emu
Ions only to rival each other in the elevation ana
prosperity of their respective governments ana
peoples.
The toasts given and the speeches elected at the
London Fourth of July celebration recall incidents
connected with our late Rebellion which ought to
become part of the history of our country. During
the darkest days of that Rebellion the danger OF war
with France and England was most imminent. An
tecedents and traditions led to hope for sympathy
in France and to apprehend hostility in England.
So far rs the French Government was concerned
that hope utterly disappointed. Nor did the
friendly feeling which we looked for among the
French people exist. With one exception the En-
pcror and those associated with him in the Govern
ment were against That exception was the
Prince Napoleon. He was our firm friend, ana fOr
that reason out of favor. In England the COM
mercial cities the capitalists and, as rule, the ans
tocracy were against In the manufacturing
districts we had friends whose representa-
tives in Parliament stood by us faithfully
on all questions. But the Trent affair occurring at
most critical moment united all England Iii
cry for war; Our frmost friends in and out of Par
Lament were dismaycd. All felt and said that I'M
less the Confederate Commissioners. Mason and
IL.
that question was pending, Messrs. Golden, Bright.
Forster Kinnard, and other members of Parliament
were poweIless and speecliless Our Ministerial
friends, the Duke Of Argyll and Miner Gibson were
paralyzcd.
SERVICES OF MR.. MCULLAGH TORRENs.
AT that most critical moment Mr.. McCullagh Tor
rens rendered us services which entitc him to the
affection and gratitude of the American people
was introduced TO him the morning after my arrival
in London, early in December, 1861. by Mr.. Pea
body, at whose bank large number of panc-strlck
Americans had assembled Mr. Torrens when L
retired, met me at the door of the banking-house.
remaIkng that my arrival in London was Oppor-
tune and that must see Earl Russell Immediately.
replied that our Minister, Mr.. Adams then the
right man in the right place. would present me to
the Minister soon practicable. " That Will not
do" rcoined Mr. Torrcns. Time presses; you must
range an audience and informing me of the time
and place that evening. | was surprised at the
warm interest manifested by an EngliShman and a
stranger and doubtful Of the proprcty of antici-
patng the kind intentions of Mr. Adams; but that
gentleman relieved my doubts this point by adj
vising me to avail myself of Mr.. Torrens's timely
offer.
dined that day with the late Sir J. Emerson Ten
nent. meeting a large and what proved to be a war
party of gentlemen among whom was the Colonel
of a regiment which was to leave London the next
morning TO embark at Liverpool for Canada. he
Colonel was toasted, and in response made brief
but exciting war speech, dwelling with much effect
upon the duty of Englishmen to resent the insults to
their flag. | was seated at the table next to Lord
Clarence Pagct of the Admiralty, who informed me
that their preparations for war were active and
Formidable and that for the first time since 1919
they were working doublchanded night and day in
the dock yards. Returning from dinner to my hotel
in Ianover-square. found Mr. Torrens, who directed
me to leave London the next morning at ii o'clock
and drive TO Pembroke Lodge, Richmond Hill, Earl
Russels country-seat.
MIR. WEED AND Earl RUSSELL.
| found the Minister quite alone aud was cOur-
tcoIsly received. Conversation for the first 10 or
- minutes was embarrassed by an evident deter
other questions until the honor of England should
be satisfied by the surrender of Mason and Sliiell
Gradually. however, the restraint passed away and
His Lordship explained the circumstances which
led TO the Queens Proclamation giving bel
lircrent rights to the Rebel States Ii was
evident that even if his sympathes werc not
with the South, he had come to the cOnclu-
sion that we were the aggrcssOrs. endeavOred to
correct that impression by calling his attention to
two or three undenable facts upon which the whole
merit, of the question turned. After an hour and a
naf lunch was announced, and the conversation be-
came general.
In the drawing-ro after the Earl had conyersed
aside with Lady Russell for few minutes, thanking
him for the time he had spared me, was taking
leave when Lady Russell mterposed, saying, 4" You
must not 90 without seeing the lodge grounds in
walking through which her lad yship pointed out the
various objects and localities with which history had
made me familiar. la tho course of our walk she re-
marked that ladies of course knew nothing of State
secrets but that they had and sometimes heard
things which might not Lave been intended for
them; adding. that it would probably relieve my
anxiety to know that in our difficulties the sympa-
thies of the Queen were with our Government; that
Her Majesty remembered the attentions extended to
her son, the Prince of Wales and would do every
thing in her power to prevent rupture with America.
With this CLEAN of hope, returned well satisfied
with my visit to Pembroke Lodge, and grateful to
Mr.. Iorrens for the prompt and thoughtful service
he had rendered. But that gentleman was not con-
tent with one good turn. lie was constantly at work
in our cause The Daily Ners, next to The Times, was
the most influential journal in England. The Ners
espoused our cause boldly and warmly. Many of
its best and ablest American articles were written
by Mr.. Torrens.
Some weeks after Parliament met, there was va
cancy for Finsbury Mr.. Torrens, "A member of the