The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-18
A STORY ABOUT THURLow WEED.

Why Four Would-be Confederate
Cruisers Did Not SaN From French
Ports.
1t will be remembered that early in the
war, says a writer in the Boston Irdrei-
Ter, Thurlow Weed was dispatched to
Europe on special diplomatic mission con-
nected with the capture of Shdell and
Mason, the fitting out in foreign waters of
confederate cruisers, the blockade of south
ern ports etc. His first objective point was
the French court, and he landed at Havre.
He remained in Paris some time in conSulta-
ton with our minister and others, Then
he crossed the channel, and While i'll Lon
don was the special guest of the great
American banking firm of Peabody, Nor
gan a Co.
One morning while sitting in the private
Office Of the firm, Mr.. Morgan showed him
a copy of what purported to be circular
letter, when was obtained by Mr.. Morgan
at the Foreign Office Thi, letter, which
had been surreptitiously sent from P4rlS,
forshadowed the position which Louis Ma
poleou was to assume in his message to TIE
chamber upon American affairs. Mr..
Weed quietly pocketed the copy, packed MS
bag and Immediately left for Paris. He
was we'll acquainted with one of the proml-
nent bankers in Paris, whom he had known
while the latter was merchant III New
| York The banker was favOrlte at court,
and on his arrival Mr.. Weed proceeded to
the bankers chamber. He showed him tho
cDpy, which included this passage in the
forthcoming message 1.-The filling up of the
harbor of Charleston s. c., is an unparal-
leled inStanc. of clvilizel barbarity, and 1t
is time the European powers shOud inter
fere, etc.
The banker read 1t carefully, then
paused All at once he exclaimed;
81 have 1t. You know that the emperor
prides hms If upon following directly il
the steps of his lIlastrio IS uncle. Now in
the great Napoleon's reign precisely the
same thing occurred by order of the EN-
peror.n
But have you proof of thisF. asked
Weed
Here it is, replied the banker, as he
took down book and opening to the page
where the order was given by Napoleon to
fill up the harbor of Cherbourg in order
TO prevent the approach of an Elglsn
fleet.
Now continued the banker, 81 will
arrange for a meeting between you and
| the emperor tomorrow at 10 o'clock.
| You taxi this book with YOU and keep
your finger on the page, but look out for
| Morny."
win you not accompany me" asked
Weed
No, that would destroy the effect"
! TheA4ext morhing Mr.. Weed presented
himself before the emperor, who was sur
rounded with officials, whom he dismissed,
saying: 81 have special business with
foreign Minister" All retired but
! Mornv.
Louis Napoleon could talk English as well
as French and Weed at once plunged into
the matter by showing the emperor, the
copy he had brought from l. ndon. Turn
ing to Morny, the emperor said:
I'VE have been betrayed
1t proved so, as an under secretary had
been paid the sum Of 10000 francs to fur
nlsh a copy to the English.
Napoleon then proceeded to justify his
proposed measure by saying that sinking
! stone ba-ges in the harbor of Charleston,
thus shutting ont the port from the com
merce of the world, was unprecedented IL
| the history of civilization.
mo, sire. ~ remarked Mr. Weed. "Your
illustrious uncle did the same thing"
"When and where2" demanded Napo-
leon.
Weed then opened the book and pointed
out the paragraph.
The emperor was silenced. Weed saw hi;
advantage and pursued it.
Sire he said, there are four cruisers
fitting out in French waters to carry tn,
confederate flag"
Napoleon paused for a few moments
then, turning to Mr. Weed, he remarked
Not one of them shall leave a French
port"
Mr. Weed retired from the presence o.
his majesty well satisfied with the result o.
his visit, and returned Immediately TO Lon
don. The obnoxious clause in the en-
peror's speech was stricken out, and the
! would he confederate cruisers never left {