New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-28
THREE ADMINISTRATIONS.
,opn u1uFsPuRy,s "REMINISCENCES.

smibncr & Wexford.
Lord Malmesbury statcs. in his introduction 10
This entertaining volume. that his prnclpai o'!o0'
in writing it was to sketch the three Ao'ii'iiis"
tions of the late Earl Derby lin all Oh "hi0n N0
was an important member. ana 10 pFesonO oVu
incidents respecting the Emperor Napoioon L.
,,;,h whom his porsonal relations for many years
were very close. He has not attempted Gun
tinuous or minute political history, but he mas
tIrovyn strong light upon the events of long ana
exeitiug period. extending from the accession Vi
oueen Victoria 70 the fall of the French Empne'
and the fact that lie has printed extracts from us
DIARIES inst as they were written adds somethhg "
the interest of the "reminiscences Ills "cooun0 "
historical occurrences is not always accurate N1
,ross-vas Soma curious bits of INSTRUMENTATION ana
nathan corrects them nor hints that later KNOW
edge has modified his first impressions; put IL 10
well worth while TO learn what was oeheNeu III
London society, especially by the men WHO n"u "
great part to perform in the European drama-"n''
was believed in this high official society even 0n
belief rested upon nothing better than reports Oh
bearsay witnesses and the gossip Oh hlnlsVori"i
dinuertables. Lord Malmesbury became Foreign
Secretary IN 1852; he held the same o'ice IN tue
Derbv Ministry of lS5S and ho had the Prlvy Seai
in 1867 when his health was longer equal 10 the
severe labor of his former position lie was
warm friend and admirer of LORD Derby; an"
although his management OF foreign ahars "a'
often severely criticised by his political opponents
he seems to have made himself thoroughly accept
able both to his Official chief and to the court. II"
was always in high favor with the queen
Naturally it is less with domestic than WIN con-
tnental politics that his "reminiscences aro
concerned. His taste and training kept his mind
pretty equally divided between diplomacy ana nei"
sports: and whether In Office or in opposition, ne
al mai
national intrigues and the records OF shooting
partes. The story of an extraordinary deer
hnnt in the Highlands disputes precedence Win tie
news of the disastrous assault upon the kedan
before Sebastopol, and the question OF recognlzihs
the third Napoleon balances the capture OF Dig
sal,ao 6eror Perhaps the last trait III this portrait
of n rather old-fashiOned Tory Minister Is MS
remarkable blindness to the Affairs OF one loreisn
country which nevertheless assumed IN MS Time All
importance for the whole civilized world, ana an
esnecial Importance for England. With the
American news Lord Malmesbury was an
fncorrigible fumbler. In the year 1856 he writes
In his diary, September 9Th "Civil war has broken
ont in the United States between the Abolitonists
and the Pro-Slavery party, and a great deal OF
blood has been already shed. The Government
refused to take part with either side, upon when
the Slave party in Congress would not vote the
supplies for the Army, which accordingly must be
disbanded" This curiuosly distorted piece OF
intelligence refers no doubt to the struggle III
Kansas Of the course of the great heOeIlloh he
saws very little. except that society sympathized
strongly with the South, and that he was alarmed
at the state of America" because II the war
continued that country would gain altogether too
.much experience; " the Northern provinces VIII DC
left with q fine army which they may use i'll
attempting the conquest of Canada, country
H. a
lively enough to lead him to Inform himself OF the
nrcs-ress OF the war or the very rudlments of the
American system OF the battle of Leesburg
Rails Bluff he reports that &" the disgrace OF II
rests between Generals Macmillan and Scott
After the fighting around Richmond, Grant ana
Sheridan "drove Lee INTO Pittsourg' when
would sappear to show that it was all over Win
the Confederates"; and in fact about seven weeks
after the surrender at Appomattox this alarmed
statesman discovers that tue Confederate party III
America has been completely overcome in spite Of
an heroic resistance" Well, Lord Malmesoury
cannot be accused of prtcipitate opinions.
Lord Ma!mesbury first met Louis Napoleon at
Rome in 1929. @He wild. harum-scarum
vouth. or what the French call az crane, riding
at full paop down the streets to the peril OF the
public fencing, and pisto-shOoting, and apparently
without serious thoughts of any kind, although
even then be was possessed with tue conviction
that he would some day rule over France. we
became friends, but at that time he evlnced no
remarkable talent or any fixed idea bat tho one
mention. 1t grew upon him with his growth ana
increased daily until 1t ripened into certainty. lie
was very good horseman and proficient at athletic
games, being short but very active and muscular.
His face was grave and dark, but redeemed
nv a singularly bright smile he used to have
several old officers of his uncle, the Emperor about
him, men who seemed to me to be ready for any adj
venture The friendship formed when Malmesbury
was TWENTY-FIVE and the Prince year younger,
was kept up in London IN 1s45 the Prince, then
prisoner in the fortress of Ham, sent a messenger
to beg MaImesbury TO visit him. With some DIM
Guilty and after three months delay, the necessary
permission was obtained FROM the French Govern
ment:
found him little changed, although he had been
imprisoned five years, and very mach pleased 70 SCI
an old friend fresh from thu outer world and That
world London. AS had only half day allowed
noe for the interview, he confessed that, although
his confidence and courage remained undated. he
was weary of his prison. from which ne saw no
chance Of escaping, as he knew that the french
Govelnmentgave him opportunities OF doing so that
they might shoot him IN the act lie stated that
adsputatior had arrived from Ecuador offering HIN
the Presidency of that Republic If Louis Phlnppe
would release him. and III that case ne would give
the King his parole never to return to EuroDe lie
had therefore. sent for me as supporter and friend
OF Sir X. Peel at that time our Prime Minister, to
urge SIT NODert 10 iDtcICpuo i<Vuo hi''PPS
co1lply with his wishes, promising every possible
guarantee for his good faith. The Prince was full
OF A plan for - new canal in Nicaragua. that prom
ised every kind of advantage to British commerce:
AS precedent for English official interference !
was to quote Earl Greys in favor Of Prince Pong;
macs release In 1880. | assured the Prince that
wonld do my best; but added that Lord Aberdeen
was our Foreign Secretary, and that there was
nothing of romance in his character At this time
Prince Louis was deeply engaged in writing the
history of Artillery and he took an hour in making
me explain the meaning of several technical words
me fIl account of his failure at Boulogne, which
he declared WAS entirely owing TO the sudden II /
ness of the officer Of the day whom he had secured.
and who was to have gwen mp the barracks at once
The soldiers had mostly been gained. and the
prestige OF his name in the French army was
universal. To prove this he assured me that the
81 In nrnr1n Ia