Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-10
WHAT QUEEN VICTORIA NEVER TOLD.
Edited from Secretary Wards
Papers by Fred h. Perkins.
NOTE BY The EDITOR

i.
The record below gives the history OF a trans
action OF which some hint might possibly be
found In the secret archives OF the State depart
ment at Washington; but certainly only the re.
hottest illusions, II any at ALL to anything OF
the sort can be discovered in the public docu-
mentS OF the year 1861 or in any OF the histories
or collections about the rebellion. And yet It
critical periods OF that struggle.
At this present writing, Mr.. Martins Life Of
Prince Albert" as far as published, comes down
II the occurrence narrated by Secretary Ward Is
referred to in the remaining volume. Probably
not. II at all, 1t will be only In the most yelled
manner; 1t may be that Queen Victoria thought
II right never to reveal this one thing, even to
her husband, so very deeply loved, so absolute
ly trusted
papers of my old friend. Suchet Ward, so well
remembered by his affectionate intimate5 as
"Sue;" and whose name, thus shortened, used
TO mislead as to his SEX those who for the first
time heard the praises OF his singularly loving
and steadfast nature. 1t was his first name too,
that amused me when first heard 1t, more than
course, after NapOleon'S wise and noble mar
Shal, Suchet, due d'Albufera; but those neigh
bors of his who first mentioned him to me- men
not versed in the French tongue, caller him,
not ScOshay, but Suckit, a pronunciation for
which something might be said during an early
period of life, but, on the whole, not TO be de-
tended.
Agreeable personal qualities are at least as in
fiuential as professional ability, for gaining and
holding confidential positions; and the re mark
ably sweet and sunny nature OF Ward, perhaps
almost as much as his many accomplishments
and his extraordinary executive and business
ability, was the reason OF his long service as
private secretary, as well as OF his intimate per-
SOnal friendship, with Old Admiral Morgan, who
loved him as men love favorite sons. But no.
body could deal with Ward without becoming
his personal friend.
document among his other papers, and the
terms of the appointment, need hardly say,
justify me in any use of 1t that may think
proper. 1t may be that some OF Wards other
sketches of his experience are worth printing.
He saw many lands and many people, and his
records contain some stories strange enough.
i wonder what he and his stout old chtef-he
usually called him the chief-are doing now.
They are both dead. 1 shall know, very likely,
before long, My faith in the goodness although,
as this account shows, the admiral was SuIfi-
GENTLY queers-is so complete that would gladly
take the risk of being this moment established
along with them.
9 SECRETARY WARDS ACCOUNT.
u. s. FLAG SHIP TENNESSEE
ENGLISH CHANNEL Dec. l, 1851
/ shall now set down altogether the most ex-
traordinary occurrence that l have ever wit
neSSed-and have seen many strange things.
This one, however, will perhaps never be known
beyond the five human beings who are now cog
infant oft II 1t ever IS, it will be most likely
by the publication OF this record That cannot
happen If we founder at sea- or are cast away
some day; and hardly, in any event, until am
dead. But it ought to go into history some
time. 1t belongs to humanity to know how
magnanimouS a Christian queen can be, and
what are the narrow chances that determine
the fates OF nations.
went over to Portsmouth in the steam launch
yesterday. from this ship, then lying off OS-
borne, Isle of Wight, with orders to bring aboard
a passenger who would communicate with me.
i asked no QueStionS-I learned good While
ago not to do that; and, besides, facts always
have their resurrection if one can wait; and
flag officers private secretary has to know
pretty much all that his chief does; and as
know nv the CHIEFS r0rrpSn0n1pncP what n
critical state Of things prevails at present be-
tween the English and American governments,
Trent had come home to England, having had
Mason and Slidell picked out OF her by Wilkes,
and the fat of all England was In the fire, with
Palmerston to stir the combustion. The Eng
liSh dockyardS were In fury OF QUILTING and
the wrath and threats OF the newspapers were
rAtra-Homerc. l really don't wonder at it,
either.
And shall not very soon forget the delfghto OF
the chief when that news came He was tn,
youngest of all the BainbrldgeS midShipmen in
the old Constitution. and child as he was, the
born fighter and sea king had made a splendid
record In the victories OF Old IronSideS; and he
was just as eager for lighting now, a white
haired old man. He could not sit still, as he
read the news: he slept about his cabin as live
ly as fighting cOck-I never saw so handsome
and well preserved man, to be 50 years DID,
flushed and Nightingale always did laugh, he
and could see the old-fashioned oaths now and
again barely bitten off close behind his lips-for
he Is now really sincere and humble Christian
mana member of the Episcopal church. like
so many OF our land and sea ofIicers, and VIII
not utter an oath; and dreadful times he has In
struggling to forbear, never knew so impetu-
GUS a temper, nor stronger viii ofsclf-re-
straint
"Oh Charles Wilkes he said; s.you have all
the luck-eyery dreadful bt,-LOrd forgive
me.-But perhaps Wen get our chance yet. I'd
give all I've got in this world, and a mortgage
in the neXt-ho, not that,-if it's wrOn5-fOr
one good chance at a British man-o'war.'
Iecited very quietly, But say unto you,
sm1te thee on thy right cheek turn to him the
other also" Ward" said the old fellow, stop
ping short. 81 sw-or affirm-that a fair stand
such thorough means of settling difference OF
opinion in the world. when both sides know
they're right. When one OF em is beaten
thoroughly faxed out-he can't assert his views.
And that's what friend of mine says Shak-
speare really meant when he said Retaliation
at the lannon's mouth"
He may be right" l answered. 1.-THE emen-
dalton is not the most violent that has been
made on ShakeSpeareS text, and 1t would be
exactly according to your theory for soldier in
search of refutation to look up an effectual
one"
The Chief had been living, as it were, in a
kind OF lower heaven OF hope OF coming row,
ever since that news reached US; His orders
kept him here, well over toward the Isle OF
Wight, just opposite the queens c0untry-Seat,
Osborne, where he was to hold himself wholly
at the disposition OF our minister to England;
then banked, her boats all hoiSted in AMI every
thing made snug and ready for sea before left,
/ knew something was coming; and. indeed
when the Chief sent me off, he remarked: You
must naturally know all about IL shortly, Ward;
but just now there are very precise orders
about naming anybody Or communicating any
thing"
..An right admiral, Il said and away went.
We had a number Of small commissions TO eX-
eeute at Portsmouth, and We're not to expect
our passenger until evening. About O'Clock, a
carriage drove rapidly down to the dock; small
man got out, shook hands with somebody inside
and stepped briSkly down TO the edge OF the
landing. where We We're fast.
'Mr. Ward?" he asked. Yes, SIR said:
and without another word lie jumped aboard as
briskly as the admiral himself could have done;
we let go our fastS and were off. Not one single
word did the small man utter all the way over
TO the ship. and did not interrupt his thoughts.
j knew who 1t was well enough; and that 1t
must be something OF the highest importance
that would bring him Just now from his post at
London-then far the most important position
In our diplomatic SeryiCe--to go TO sea In this
very quiet manner In the fastest war-Stcamer OF
the United states navy. AS We neared the ship,
there was light enough In the sky for me to see
that she was riding at single anchor, and swing
ing to the westward running tide so that her
bow pointed toward the Atlantic; AMI a deep
booming hum like IN Organ-baSS, from far
within her vast bulk. announced that steam
was up. The landing-stage was gone and after
the regulation challenging and answering, we
came aboard up the ladder just like mere human
beings AS We came over the SIDE salutes and
fOrmalitieS were omitted except couple of side