New-York tribune., 1884-02-17

certainly. with her very peculiar position 10 nisey
afford to take sides with her on this question.
"Ah,' said the Duke. You were sayyng H. a..
al was saying, continued Mr, Weeu the noIate ons
only needed n scientific jerk TO Oe sehl hone,-i
| was saving that. from the historical position OF
France on this question, and from the noble PRIDE ot
| yonr Nation which keeny dislikes TO he placed
in self c0ndennatOry or III the least Illuminating
attitude that we of the United states eNpec, tne
cordial support of your Government IN our right to
bIocknde or destroy any ports our own seacOast
Ah-ah-indced" The Minister was evidently
troubled-evidently at as to what could be the
meaning of the farmer-lke parsonage. with shaggy
gray eyebrows and long forefngcr, from the work
ing of which some mysterious power OF electricity
seemed TO Tadate.
"At length DE Morny frightened. He had. he
thought, caught the meaning, and it was not so
serious as he had supposed. =, All, yes. You doubt
less allude to Napoleon the Frss blockade of the
Scheldt with piles-but that was an entirely differ
No, no, no. was the slow but impressive re-
joinder made impressive by three shakes OF the
long foTefnger,-a smile as if in half synpah ny for
unfortunate France, and half at the Minister'S error
passed quickly oyer Mr.. Weeds face allIde- e.
highest Frenchman. do not wish to give you pam.
Let me take my leave. The interest awakened by
your conversation led me further than ! intended.
If my daughter be well enough, we shall certainly
have much pleasure etc, etc.
"Oh! subtle angler of men Your hook Ok was I well
Cabinet could now be played as easily as a drum
fish in Port Royal harbor;
- Stay, stay, MI. w ecu, Ssilu lne MlllsItT. IL
anv prccedents have escaped me, which could have
the effect you imply, it might possibly DO OF I'M
portance that my attention should be drawn to
Them
Mr.. Weed shook his head. The chief and con
trolling precedent, to his Wow, could not possibly
have escaped the Dnc de Morny Perhaps he had
overestmated the punctlio of honor-the sensitive,
ness Of the French people. For hls part, he cOuld
not imagine that the Duke could by any stress OF
affairs or other occupations have overlooked that
painful paragraph III one of Frances most import
ant treaties which bore upon this subject. AS 1t
had been one of England's greatest and most
durable triumphS-indeed her most durable, and,
therefore the most affective TO French pride, lie
was not able to do than TINS remotely refer to
it. Even for this distant reference he apologized
sincerely; aud would now beg TO be allowed 10 take
his leave
No more coldness in the Duc de Momy now-no
more disnclnatiOn to discuss the topic Of the stone
fleet. He paced the room with fingers locked behind
his back and twtching nery0usy. lie was ran
sackng his memory vany for the treaty IN when
this disastrous p4Tagraph was lncaSed At lchgn t,
Weed, who had risen if to take his leave, to be
again seated.
1t is important my good friend-that is to say
correcting HIMSELF. it not important to my Gov
ernment, but il would give me personal pleasure TO
know the treaty To which you refer, and the char
acter of the. paragraph therein to which You but
now alluded.
=. The Treaty of Utrecht
- All. Wen. what of thatF
:" lis second paragraph
"'The principal advantage therein taken by
ness But pardon me! This reference, made aS
delicatcly possible, Will recall the facts to your
remembrance' -
Ory for its default by telling me all our humiliation
for to this, see, though you would avoid 1t, you
must come
Since Won compel me- then thus briefly: TIE
second paragraph of that treaty provides for the
destruction by the French OF the second best harbor
in their Empire for the permanent sealing mp ana
total destruction of Dunkirk, the Hoandalsc and
British averring openly that the continuance OF hls
harbor injurious to their maritime interests
and constant menace against their coasts.
80 And France submitted
"'Two years after that treaty you will find a
formal complaint from the Government of Holland
to the Court of ST. James that France had not fully
carried ont the destruction of the works> and
harbor that ships of light draft could still p9s III
and ont
And after this. whatp .,
~ England represented the alleged breach Of faith
and that of Holland, that instant measures should
be taken by France for the total scaling up, by
stone barriers, of the harbor'
g. And il was done
"'The harbor is scaled up to this day for all but
smacks vessels of the gltcst draft. You see no
large river empied into the harbor of DuEkirk and
there TO current to cut new channels for the
imprisoned waters. With MS. at Charleston, Mobile
and the mouths of the Mississippi the thing ls
different. Our stone fleets are farce-a scheme OF
folly. One week of the Tver-lOw will, beyond any
doubt cut deeper because narrower, channels than
those we are attempting TO blockade Our action, |
therefore, will have no practical Ill erect upon the
commerce of the world But any discussion of it |
at this time could not fail to embarraSs France by
directing the attention of her proud and gallant |
pcnpe TO the desolate memorial IN the haTbor of !
Dunkirk OF British asccndancy at one time, and the
brutal manner in which that ascendancy was |
exercised. The Emperor still continues on terms OF
friendship does he not, with the British Court
"'Ihc best tcIms-the best. said De Morny, |
suddenly arOusng himself ont OF profound reverlc,
which had not been pleasant one to Judge by his |
cOuntenanCc during its continuance i confess |
with something OF shame that the Utrecht treaty, OF
rather the second paragraph of it, had escaped me.
\
by recalling il. Adicu my very good friend have !
an engagement with the Emperor, and already the |
interest of Your conversation has detained me past |
Mr. Weed retired, bowling to the door, well
satisfied with his interview. Never III state or
National convention did he feel more certain OF the
success Of his arts Leviathan was hooked and
might struggle. But the hook was tangled round
and round backwards, and forwards, IN aud ont
through all the tissues of National pride and the
hook would hold.
"Driving home, our farmer-like diplomatist called
upon the Prince Napoleon, and briefly gave an ont
line of the interview here rOuhy but faithfully
sketchcd.
a. You have him.. said the Prince rubbing his
hands and laughing heartily. You have him, my
dear sir, and may 20 to yOur hotel and enjoy
yourself. Think no more of the matter. IL Is all
settled The speech will be silent about the stone
fleet / rejoice that Won have succeeded You
know that my heart with yOu in American
affairs; but am regarded as a Northern PARTISAN
and can do nothing with the Emperor"
4 few words conclude this curious story. When
the address delivered, it was shOrn of the pas
sage relating to our blockade. Inc paragraph !
referring to America short and nOn-committa
Something had plainly been suppressed. Fhe civil
war which dcSOates the United states" declared
the Emperor " has greatly compromised our com
mercial interests So long the rights OF neutrals
are respected, however must conne ourselves
to expressing wishes for an early termination of
these dissensions" Commenting upon the message,
The London Times in its editorial and financial col
umns, took sharp notice of the sober second
thought" which had Modified this important
official utterance.
This was Mr.. Weeds most important service in
Europe and perhaps the most useful act of his
political career. At that time strong party in the
English Parliament eager to join Napoleon in
declaring the blockade at an end and the omission