New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-11
LIrER1RY DIPLONATLSrs

Mr. Bayard Taylor sails to-day for Europe,
there to enter upon his duties as American
Minister to Germany. His appointment has
naturally caused some discussion of the fitness
of literary men for diplomatic positions, but
it does not appear to have been generally
understood that their capacity for such public
work was long ago discovered, in other coun-
tries as we'll as our own, and i'll ancient
as well as modern times In English
history there are several names which will
readily be recalled and among them those or
Sir Henry WOttOn, who III 1859 was English
Ambassador to the United Provinces, and
afterward to Venice, and of Sir John Denham,
who was the diplomatic agent OF Charles L. In
France To come nearer our own day we
find Nicbuhr greatly distinguished in other
and different ways, doing good service to his
country as Prussian Ambassador to the Court
of Rome. Among modern English diplomatlsts
also literary men, may be mentioned Sir STRAIT
ford Canning who wrote a tragedy about
Alfred the Great, and Sir Henry Bulwer, who
was once at Washington, as British Minister
If we turn to American history we shall
find that more than one " literary fellow "
WAS early sent abroad in the service of his
country. Joel Barlow, celebrated as the author
of Hasty Pudding and forgotten as the
author of "The COlumbiad,n was rather a dis
tinguishcd diplomatic character in his day.
He was sent by Madison TO France, and APP
pears to have been considered a character OF
some importance, for he was summoned, ut
critical period, by Napoleon, to Wilma. Moth
ing came of the visit except the death of Bar
low. who was taken fatally sick on his way
back to France. David Humphreys, small
Connecticut poet, went to France, as secretary
of legation, with jefferson in 1884 He was
Minister to Portugal from 1871 to 1897, and
then held the same Office in Spain until lSo2.
Franklin, we suppose, may be regarded as
literary as well as scientific character. His
diplomatic successes are known to all the
world. In modern times the writer's have by
no means been overlooked in the selection OF
ministers. Mr.. Wheaton, for so many years our
Minister at the Court of Prussia, not only dis
tinguished himself as an author of works on
international law, and as writer of biOg-
raphy, but also as the author of The His
"tory of the NOrthmen.n Mr. Irving, our Min
lister to Spain, stands in the front rank of
American letters. Mr. Bancroft, Minister to
England and to Prussia, and Mr.. Motley, who
represented us in Austria and England,
were authors of the highest repute. Mr..
Bigelow, our Minister to France in 1866,
is distinguished as a journalist, and as
the compiler of an excellent life of Frank
lin. Equally well known as journal
ist was Mr.. James 5. Pike, who was our
Minister to the Netherlands from 1861 to 1868.
Mr. George II. Boxer, a writer of ability,
has represented us both at the Turkish
and the Russian courts. General James
Watson Webb, so well known in New
York as a journalist, has been the Minister of
the United States both in Austria and Brazil.
Mr.. Lowell, the poet, Is now our Minister to
Spain, and great results are anticipated from his
studies in that interesting country. Mr.. George
p. Marsh, eminent rs a studious and success
full phOogst, has been the United States
Minister in Turkey and in Italy. Mr.. TheO-
dOre $. Fay, well-remembered as a New-1Ork
journalist, as associate editor Of the old
Mirror. and as novelist, was our Minister
resident in Switzerland from 1858 to 1861;
and Colonel John Hay, who has won distinc-
ton both as a poet and journalist was our
Charge d'Afiaires al interim at Vienna in
1868, and has ably discharged other
diplomatic appointments also. Mr.. Horace
missioned Minister to Austria In 1867,
but declined the appointment. Several emil
nent literary persons have held consular posi-
tions, but of these we do not propose to speak
more particularly.
Such are some of the men of letters who
have figured III the diplomatic service of the
United States. The result of our experience in
sending them abroad has been fortunate and
encouraging one. Really, our best ministers
have been writers of books, or gentlemen III
other ways distinguished for literary culture.
The fact shows that qualifications for this
service are not entirely dlsregarded. We may
not be able to keep shallowness and igno-
rance, cupidity and pretensOn out of our
public affairs; but every appointment OF a
frst-rate man to first-rate place is a gain in
the right direction. This will reconcile his
numerous friends to the absence of Mr..
Taylor nor is it ngracious to anticipate his
return after he has well accomplished the
duties to which he has been or may be
assigned.
AS some of the readers of TIg TRIBUNE have posi-