, 1885-03-24
rAE "rRgNrp ArFAa.


One Of the Anctdcnta Connected with the
Late UnpIeasantaess.
Is. s cox's Three Decades."l
Being upon the foreign affairs committee
Of tho house Of Representatives when the
Trent affair occurred, the writer attended a
Inner given by tho secretary at his then
happy homo. This vas at a time when men
held their breaths In trepidation, lest Great
Britain and tho powers OF Europe might
make the Trent matter the pretext
10 consummats thor recognition Of
southern Independence. Some feared that a
dispartod republic would have to give way
before the Jealous encroachments Of those
who sought 10 divide our country a. they
endeavored 70 imperial Mexico. On the
right Of Mr.. Seward was seated burly Eng
lish h~eartiness incarnatsd in Mr.. Anthony
TrolIope, the novelist. His presence WINS al
most q surprise. IL not a satire on the occa-
sion, as % concluded AT the other end Of
the table sat john J. C~rittenden. He was
then chairman OF foreign Affairs In the
house. The author was on HIS right, as he
was nearer by sympathy TO him than others
( on tho committees. The dinner progressed.
One incident led to another, until Mr.. Sew
ard, with a brusqueness entirely prepense
upon his part but surprising to US, drew tho
attention Of all by saying;
"Gentlemen. there Is only one man In this
country TO whom ! allowed unrestricted
Communication with jefferson Davis since
tho war. never asked him what no wrote
10 Mr.. Davis l trusted his honor and 10y
atty. He Is here. / drink the health Of Mr..
CrittendeniT
Mr.. Crittenden throwing back his shout
ders, as was his custom when pleased or ex-
cited, said:
NJ Secretary, / never told you what |
-. - - ~ I'M Ill
sir. y have two sons In the war-one is a
Union and the other n Confederate general
They are both, OF course, dear to my heart.
1 wrote Mr.. Davis: For Gods sake. sir,
dnce you have the gallantry OF ono OF my
boys on your side, don't send him TO or
against old Kentucky"
This little by-play sent out a gleam OF
pleasure that sparkled around the board. 1t
was Intended by Mr.. Seward to placate Mr..
Crittenden for what was 10 follow, and IL
did. Then Mr.. Seward, with his exquisite
diplomatic savoirfaire, said, looking around
the board.
Il think l must now trust my guests, as ]
trusted Mr.. Crittenden. l will divulge to
you a secret. Today the order was issued
TO release Mason and SlideIl.H
A dead pause ensuedi All awaited the re-
sponse of the venerable and patriotic chair
man Of foreign Affairs He was known not
to be partial to England He was not en-
tirely cordial with the Confederate embassa-
doris. With a puzzled look of anger and
chagrln, the great Kentuckian hesitated for
q moment He seemed held back by the
hand Of courtesy. He then brought down
bis dainty glass of sherry with a sudden
crash upon tho table. Tho little fragments
Dew about his plate. The golden contents
bejewcled the writer's Investments. Their
pausing another moment, half ironically
and half jocosely, he exclaimed
"A good radiance, siri You sent them
away mono too soon, sirl They were doing
much mischief hero;n and regardless OF the
occasion, a little murky cloud Of profanity
dimmed the atmosphere about the table.
Never, since the days of Uncle Toby, was
emphasis more excusable.