New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-25
JUDAH p. BENJAMIN.
INCIDENTS OF HIS EUROPEAN CAREER.

l
the United States going through the terrible
storm the bursting of which he fastened Powers
and Prncipaties on this side of the ocean were ali
literally az that period tine side Of the soHth.
The diplomacy Of ThuTl0w Weed was much more
mpotent 10 affect them than he in his recently
published correspondence complacently seemed 20
believe. The friends Of the Union were few and far
between IN Europe. In the French press there were
some good men and true In the English press ono
might count them ones fingers. The Tines,
which was then far more powerful than il is now,
The Stqadvd and The POST with the greater part
Of the English weeklies, were for secession. T. r.
Ben amin was writing tor h. JeieTGph. Ne had
the different exchanges on his side as vel rs the
London clubs the aristocracy, and what ~ now
called society '; the mill owners OF Manchester.
ROucn and Asace the whole shipping interest Of
France and England the Imperial Court and c0ur-
tiers. with the exception Of Dr. Evans. whose
Quaker breeding kept him the right side aud
the correspondents of the whole English press n
France with the exception OF Mr. O. ~ Crawford,
of The Hoi'g Aer3. and the young lady who wrote
for he Morning star and IS now Mr.. Craw lords
wife.
Not many weeks ago met j. p. Benjamin as he
was paying an afternoon visit. We converted about
the great diplomatic struggle which was wagcd
more than two decade, ago. lie tod me thar b. and
Davis calculated well all their chances. and that
they were beaten by small and secret mfueaces
which reminded him OF the mouse gnawng through
the net ii which the lion was canght One Of
them was that which was brought 10 bear on Lord
Russell BY Mr.. Crawford through Sir John Hard
ing then Queens Advocate. If England had r.iIs.d
TO recognize thc blockade be said, France would
have gone with Ter and the North mu3t have
yielded. Mr.. r. b. Potter was worse opponent
than Mr.. Golden. because he had then health and
yvpa1th aud yvou1l .ron ar nothing H., Uaytv
when lie was beaten, and If he met with a rebuff e
only stimulated him to renewed efforts. Mr. Bena-
min was also well aware OF the damage nhicte.T in
England on the Southern canse by Mr. Walker at
that time the Editor Of The Ldiiy Nacs aud now Ot
The London Gazette and by Edward Pigott. tho
foreign editor of the former paper He told ne that
his London agent and later he himself did their best
to yet around both those gentlemen. They next
gained a millionaire who had an interest in that
paper which he has long since disposed OF. Mr..
Benjamin wrote article which the financier
copied and sent as his own to Nr. Walker for IL
sertion. The latter who was man OF a high and
independent spirit, returned it to him with thanks
and refused to publish 1t, on the ground shat il was
not in harmony with the line the journal had taken
up.
Mr.. Benjamin was greatly amused at the credit
Thurow Weed gave himself for having Influenced
Morny by appeals to national feeling and other such
sentiments. MOrny only understood BOnr>e con-
sderations. He was cold-headed and cold blooded,
and fond of luxury as a King Charles dog. Slelr5
daughters would have been invaluable at tho
Tuleres had England refused to recogn ~ ths
blockade and the Emperor followed suit. Louis
Napoleon was completely with the South. Tie used
10 20 70 the meetings Of The Confederate Committee
which were held at the T6te Nore tavern nc Sc.
Cloud twice a week, when the Court was in tho
To art inn iall NOR
sons used TO be invited whose business il ~
deal in a sort OF cOuyersat on which is euphenstic-
ally termed here g4al0ise.
Mr. Benjamin WIS fond OF the society Of English
barriSters. | knew him. when his doctors ordered
HIM not 10 make the slightest ply steal eSerion lest
he should rupture q blood vessel in the heart, ID
climb tive flights Of stairs to visit an old member Of
Liucon's Inn who IS the correspondent here Of
great journal There / saw him shortly after tho
newspaper controversy took place 10 NCwYorb
about his alleged offer 10 make "a of Queen VIC
torla King OF Emperor of tie Southern States II
America. ~ he spoke with great difficulty Les.-
tated T. question him on the subject But my dc
sire 20 obtain Information Oh point of great lis
torical interest got the better OF He and as.. =, hum
what was the real truth
The letter. he said IS fiction. but o. some
extent founded on fact. have always gone On the
principle OF speaking 10 fool, according 10 their
folly. There was twenty years ago. among tbs
upper classes u England general desire 70 5.icye
that tie republican form OF government 1885 an
impossible one. They Went IN Tor MaX.IIl-.A IA
Mexico. and when Otuo was turned ont OF Greece
began to look around for another Prince to rlse %
the throne from which ne had fallen IL Nas nj
az ned that all the British colonies wer tIturc
king IONS for children of the Queen. and w5s
stanrly asked by letter and verbally by Eng >hmen
NOT only of high position bui more than average IL
tel,rcr whether II would be- better for he South
to have a monarch than q President. | hu.orei
this idea or fancy, and said on many occasions %
persons who I thought would adyantageousJ eehO
NY words that the best th.ug that could happen tho
Soutlerus would be- for Queen Victoria to mako
them present OF ner second ald place hef riId
son over Canada This produced an effect ia Ger
tain clubs as had intended. The Duke Of Argyll
was strongly of opinion thar there would be non
lrch.cal governments all over America before the
end of the century,
! asked whether the Queen bit" az this Mr..
Benjamin thought she was gratiied at what he had
said. But she never gave hn any direct other
to that effect.
ON this occasion asked M Benjamin what lis
relations with the British Minister at Washington.
Lord Lyons were. He said thar his Ordship resided
few doors OFF and that he often entertained um &C
dinner az his house when member of the senate.
Eut owing 10 he did not know what reason % cool
ness was suddenly shown by Lord Lyons and be-
fore the storm burst il was quite marked. Lord
lyons since Mr.. Benjamin came 70 reside I'D Paris
stood aoof from him. and when he was pract.s NJ at
lie English bar did not take the slightest notice II
Mrs benjamin. who. not speaking English. lived m
Paris Mr Benjamin. when he heard that . bail
vas 10 be given in honor Of the Prince aud Princess
If Wales at the British Embassy, gOt Il common
riend to ask Lord Lyons 10 invite that lady. hut
through his secretary his lOrdshp refused, GA the
ground t,lt she had not been presented 90 tho
queen OF England. This said the eX-Qucens
counsel, thought poor excuse, and ! have