National Republican., 1878-09-02
4 NEGRO DIPLOMATIST.
The LibcrIan Minister to the Court Of Sc.
James.

Her Majesty Edward Wilmot Blyden, esq, Minis.
ter Pcnipotentiary from the Republic Of Liberia, to
introduced by the Marquis of Salisbury, K G., Her
MaJestys principal Secretary Of State for Foreign
affairs.
: The above Is taken from the London Official
Gdsette for August 9. DR.. Blyden has the
honor Of being the first negro plenipotentiary
of the first Christian negro state in Africa ever
received at court in Europe. DIR. Blyden
was educated in Liberia at the Alexander
High School, of which he became principal
He resigned his position IN 1861 TO accept the
professorship Of languages in the new Liberia
College. He held the post Of Secretary Of
State during the administration of President
Warner.
In 1865 he visited Palestine and Egypt, and
afterward published an account of his travels
in volume, entitled From West Africa to
Palestine" In 1871 he resigned his professor
ship in the college and travelled In England
On his return to Africa he accepted the ap-
pointmcnt from Governor Kennedy of Sierra
Leone, of Envoy to the Pagan King of the
Soolima country. His report on that expedi-
tion was printed by the Government and pub
lished In the proceedings Of the Royal Geo.
graphical Society. In 1873 he was sent by
Governor J. Pope Hennessy on another mis-
sion to Mohammedan chief. three hundred
miles northeast Of Sierra Leone. In 1874 he
was authorized to reopen the Alexander High
School, on the st. Paul river, which Is now In
charge Of an assistant. In 1877 he was ap-
pointed by President Payne Minister to Eng.
land, and President. Gardner has continued the
appointment.
DIR. Blydcn has contributed several articles
to the Methodist Quarterly Rerier, in New York,
and Frdse's MdgdEine, In England. His local
paper on Africa and the Africans" has ap-
peared In Fraser for August, 1878.
The 26th of July, the Liberian National
anniversary, was most pleasantly spent, we
are Informed by DIR. Byden, at luncheon with
Dean Stanley, at dinner at the Albion Hotel,
given by the London school committee, at
which the Lord Mayor presided, and in the
evening at large reception given by Mr..
| Samuel Gurney, where q brilliant company
was assembled. He was also invited and at
tended the receptions held by Hon. John
Welsh, American Minister, July and 1S,
meeting at the former Bishop Holly, of Hayt,
and ut the latter Hon. John II. Smythe, the
American Minister to Liberia.
Dean Stanley, on the evening of July "a, en-
tertained at his house large company, to which
| King George, of Bonny, Hon. John II Smythc,
Bishop Holly, and DIR. Blyden were invited
For the first time, 1t is believed, in the history
OF English society, have four persons Of purely
African descent 50 freely mingled with the
elite. Pere Hyacinth was present, having
come over to England specially to meet Bishop
Holly.
DIR. Blydcn has been chosen an honorary
member OF the Atheneum Club, one Of the most
aristocratic and exclusive clubs in London. On
the committee who elected him are such mel
as Sir John Lubbock, Lord Carnervon, Herbert
Spencer, Viscount Caldwell, and Dean Church
The Marquis of Salisbury the Foreign Secre
tary, is a member of the club. DIR. Blydeu
is probably the first negro who has been SC
honOred.