The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26
John Lothrop Motley.

Wendell Holmes. This is one of the rare
instances in which literary review de-
serves the prominence of editorial refer
ence. The reviewer, as well as the memoir
writer. threads on burning embers which
have not yet gathered cinders to cover
them" As mere record of Mr. Motley's life,
of the gradual development Of his talents
for literature, Of the sudden rise OF his fame
when he found his true vocation as an his
torian after abortive attempts as novelist,
the narrative and the critical estimates Of
DR.. Holmes, valuable as they are, interest
only the republic of letters. The review
which we publish does justice to this part
of DR.. Holmes ''labor Of love-" but what
entities it to wider attention is the light it
throws on the unfortunate differences
which arose between Mr.. Motley and his
government in his discharge of diplomatic
functions. 1t is here that Dr. Holmes and
his reviewer tread upon the embers Of
controversy which is not yet extinct. and
which touches the regulations Of Mr.. Mot
ley, Mr. Seward and Mr. Sumner dead, and
Of General Grant and Mr.. Fish living.
Our reviewer, writing from his personal
knowledge, contributes some new facts to
the history of Mr. Motley's diplomatic ca
reer He states that after the accession Of
President Lincoln, in 1861, Mr.. Sumner
made an urgent application for the appoint
ment Of Nh. Motley to the English mission.
He was told that the only condition which
Mr. Seward made in accepting the first
place in the Cabinet was President Lin
coins assent to the appointment OF Charles
Francis Adams to the Court ofSt James. This
statement was accepted by Mr.. Sumner
as decisive, and he was content that his
friend should receive the mission to Aus
tria Mr.. Motley's sense of insult at the
interrogatories sent to him by Secretary
Seward on the occasion Of the McCracken
letter led to prompt and indignant resig-
nation. Mr.. Motley returned home, took
an active part in the political canvass which
resulted in General Grants first election,
and at the instance Of Senator Sumner was
appointed to the high diplomatic post for
which he had eight years before been rec
commended to President Lincoln. i his
seemed not only vindication against Mr..
OF Mr.. Motley's political ambition. But his
relations with Secretary Fish proved even
more exasperating than his former relations
with Secretary Seward. He soon found
himself again. in diplomatic hot water, and
was forced out Of the position to which he
had SO long aspired. On which side the
blame ought to rest is still q subject of
bitter controversy. There may have been
faults Of conduct on the part Of Secretaries
Seward and Fish, but it is not easy to resist
the conclusion that there were faults Of tenn
per on the other side. Even the friendly
and defensive memoir of DR.. Holmes
makes it evident that Mr.. Motley
had more than the usual sensitiveness Of
the literary character. AS n boy at the
Northampton school he is described as re-
markable for temper which was 'wilfully
impetuous, sometimes supercilious, always
fastidious;' and at Harvard College, al
though jovial companion of his own set,
he was 'haughty in manner and cynical in
word" to the mass Of his fellow students.
If it be true that ''the child is the
father of the man. it should not
seem very surprising that in mature
life Mr.. Motley, though inspiring til Q
enthusiastic friendship of the literary guild,
was not very well fitted for the abrasions of
public life. The fact that he quarrelled
with two successive administrations may
perhaps justify the impression that with all
his genial qualities Mr.. Motley never over
came the sensitiveness, fastidiousness and
haughtiness which marked his boyhood and
youth DIR. Holmes thinks that he died the
victim of his i'll treatment by the govern
ment, and this tends to confirm the inn
preston that Mr.. Motleys mind was NOR
bidly proud and sensitive.
DR.. Holmes thinks that the letter of Sec
rotary Fish, in which the ludicrous and
satirical comparison was drawn from "Mas-
ter Humphreys Clock" was only signed by
Mr. Fish but written by Mr.. Bancroft Davis.
But the writer Of the memoir is Of opinion
that the reported conversations of General
Grant and Mr.. Fish in the HERALD bear
internal marks of genuineness DIR. Holmes
temperance Of statement and apparent fair
ness Of argument are calculated to secure
belief, and the other side can hardly afford
to leave his memoir as the last word OF this
singular controversy, which is destined to
become historic.
Nearly . Calamity.
The Pavonia ferryboats must be either
very unfortunate or very incapably man