The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-25
NAPOLEON ILL., and THE SOUTH.
How The United States Escaped War with France
During The Late UnplsasallnsS'
DUPLICTrY OF THE EMPEROR
Mr. Thurlow Weed Tells the Story OF
His Foreign Mission


1t not generally known, at the close OF tho
rebellion, how narrowly this country had escaped
a foreign Rumors of the Emperor Napo-
Icons duplicty i'll his dealings with our represen-
tatves abroad. of his eagerness to the
milton of the Southern Confederacy and OF his Will
ngness to assist in the destruction of the Republic.
it is true occasionally waited across the Allan
tic. but in such form TO obtain universal
credence; and when the ended. without any
overt act OF hostility having been committed by the
rulers of the French there was little disposition 10
convict their government of unfriendlness to the
North. It will be remembere that soon after MS
inauguration President Lincoln sent TO Europe four
Commissioners, whose exertions on behalf OF the
Union were not without considerable weight. AZ tine
same time Messrs. Mason and Slidel visited france
and England in the interests OF the South'
receiving favorable reception on both sides OF the
channel. Their official despatches-which are pre-
served with the other unpublished archives OF the
Confederate Department Of State in the United
States Treasury at Washington-formed the subject
of an article in the October number of the North
american Recie,c in which it clearly shown that
had not New Orleans fallen when it did, or had its
fall been followed by successful operations against
the Northern forces in Virginia, the Emperor would
have hesiated longer TO take aggressive
against the North. His failure to act openly ut
earlier date due only to his inability to
the cooperation of Great Britain-an end to
pass which he plotted long in secret.
The Commissioners who represented our gov
eminent abroad were Archbishop Hughes, who was
accredited to France and Italy, Bishop McIlvaine.
most OF whose time was spent in England; Thurlow
Weed. who several times crossed and recrossed the
English Channel. and General Scott whose mission
~
men Mr.. Weed alone survives. and that the story OF
his foreign mission might be had from his living
lips reporter OF the HERALD rang the bell at No. -
West Twelfth street one two days ago. The aged
politician. who bears not ungracefully the burden
of foHr score years and two stretched at length
on wide and comfortable lounge; but, rising
the reporter entered. he waved him to seat and
took mp his favorite position in high-backed,
broad-armed rocking chair.
81 glad you have come" he said. with ANNA
ton, "for consider relations with France dur
ing the civil subject of historical Importance
and think can add something of interest to tho
information contained in the North american Re-
pietc."
While Mr.. Weed mentally engaged in collect.
ing his "reminiscences the reporter glanced about
him at the study walls, hung with innumerable
licensees of eminent public men with whom the
veteran journalist has been is still terms of
intimacy. Over photograph of Secretary Evarts
was suspended engraving Of Sir Henry Holland,
for fifty years physician to the royal family of Eng
land. Not long before his death the old gentleman
spent week with Mr.. Weed, and made never-to-
be-fulled agreement visit the Yellow Stone River
region in his company. From the wall opposite his
portrait looked out the benevolent face of Edward
Ellice whose sixyone years service in the House Of
Commons marked by continual and friendly
interest in the affairs of the United States But it
would be endless task to speak of all the pictures
in the ROOM to catalogue the inscribed
beneath them for they represent the friendships of
man who has known with but two exceptions. every
Governor of the State of New York who in the year
1924 called together the Convention which nominated
John Quincy Adams for the Presidency, and who
since then has been more less familiar terms
with every President of the United States. Falling
from likeness of Lord Chancellor Thurlow which
overhangs the politicians desk the reporters eyes
rested upon the countenance of his host, who the
next moment began the narration of his story in
The following words
ARRIVAL IN PARIS
'The Confederate Commissioners. Sldell and
Mason. left for Europe simultaneously with the four
Commissioners appointed by President Lincoln. We
sailed in November, 1861. and knew nothing of the
departure of the two Confederates until after our
Commodore Wilkes had captured them aboard
the British ship Trent. Though they were
Immediately released their arrival in England
somewhat delayed. Soon after we reached
Paris Archbishop Hughes had an interview with
Louis Napoleon. and left him with the impression
that he tthe Emperor) was friendly to the Union
Mr.. Dayton our Minister. and Mr.. Bigelow, the
Consul General, entertained the opinion. Mr.
Sanford, who had been previously connected with
the American Legation at Paris and was well ac-
quainted with leading French ofici Is, also
confident that we had the Empcror's sympathies.
remained but few days in Paris. The Trent affair
had awakened such a strong feeling in England
that after consultation with Bishop Hughes. Mr..
Dayton, Mr.. Bigelow and General Scott it was
deemed advisable that 1 should go immc-
diately to London. On the oath or 25th
OF January 1 received telegraphic despatch
from Mr. Dayton requiring my immediate
presence in Paris. On the following uay /
met Bishop Hughes aud Mr.. Bigelow at the Ameri-
can Legation in that city, and informed that the
Emperor. in speech to be delivered to the French
National Legislature, would announce his intention
OF making demands upon our government OF u char
acter alike hostile and alarming. Upon learning
that had letter from the Secretary of State to
Prince Napoleon its immediate delivery was deemed
important therefore proceeded to the Paiais
Royal. and was cordially and kindly received; but
the Prince frankly informed that he was unable
10 render us an! assistance. 1t was we'll known in
Paris that he had recently returned from America
warmly in favor of the North. He was ther efore in
bad odor at the Tuilerios.
AN IMPORTANT INTERVIEW.
Remembering that the late A. j. HILL of Santa
rue. had placed letter in my hands just as / was
leaving the Aston House go on board the steamer
with the remark that had better deliver 1T soon
after my arrival in Paris IT occurred to me that the
suggestion OF my friend had better acted upon at
once. Returning to my hotel found the letter, and
drove 20 the residence of NJ. Lubat to whom IL was
addressed. That gentleman received me with great