Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-20
THE NEW BRITISH ENVOY.
Sir Julian Pauncefote Graphically and
Pleasantly Sketched.


Edmund Yates in The New York Tribune.
LONDON, March 18.-Sir Julian Pauncefote,
X. G. b., G. c. N. G., lives in Cromwell place.
As the clock of the neighboring church strikes
10, a sedate messenger from the foreign Office,
bearing a green calico bag filed with red
morocco dispatch-boxes of variors sizes, an
nounces his arrival at one of the most unpre-
tending houses in the street by ring loud
enough to disturb the after-breakfast medita-
| tons of Sir Charles Lopes, six doors away, if
he has not already set out for the high court
of justice. Not one of the thousands who
drive in summertime through Thurlow
Place. on the way to Nottingham. is probably
aware Of the important part which the modest
home of the permanent under-secretary of state
for foreign affairs in South Kensington has
played in contemporary history during the last
few years. 1t win not be until the <issaries
of Downing street cease their morning visits
and take the bag OF boxes elsewhere that peo-
pie will realize the fact that Sir Julian Paunce-
fote, transformed into minister plenipoten-
tiary, has really crossed the Atlantic to pour oil
upon the troubled waters at Washington. For
three hours every working day there is cease
less exchange of communications between Ar
hngton street, the foreign Office, and the per-
manent undcr-secretary's abode, and it is not
until luncheon arrives that the stalwart guar
dian Of hundred state secrets can find time to
see anybody but official visitors.
In spite of the exigencies of the ominous
pink labels which abound both on the floor and
the desk, Sir Julian contrives to find time to
tell You something about the traditions of his
ancestors and the story of his own active life
There were Pauncefotes i'm the west of England
when the "Domesday Book" was written. One
Sir Grimbald Pauncefote was knighted by Sir
Edward Bohun at the taking of Gloucester cas-
tie during the wars of the barons, and obtained
from him the iioncels which have constituted
the armorial bearings of the family ever since.
Sir Grimbald married an heiress in the church
OF Much Cowarne, in Herefordshire. There is
still to be seen an effigy of the Pauncefote who
sailed with Prince EDWARD to Tunis in 1870, and
was taken prisoner by the Saracens, and whose
wife is supposed to have obtained his release
by sending her right hand as u ransom to the
infidels. This incident gave rise to the legend
of the 'couped'' hand, which is still implicitly
believed at Much Cowarne
The Pauncefotes possessed their character
lstic motto, "Pensez Forte" six centuries at
least before Julian Pauncefote was born at
Munich, just sixty-one years ago. An educa-
ton at Paris and Geneva gave him a practical
knowledge OF foreign languages and a lucky &C
cldent led him to exchange military cadet
ship in Madras for forensic studies in the inner
temple. Sir William Molesworth first intro
duced him to the colonial Office and diplomacy.
He practiced diligently as a conveyancer at
home before he went to Hong Kong to become
the Encouragement and draft code of civil
procedure. The year 1872 brought him the
chief justiceship of the Leeward Islands and
knighthood. After successfully opening the
federal supreme court, putting the whole Judi
cial administration in working order and giving
the Leeward Islands a civil code, Sir Julian re-
turned to England to succeed Lord Knutsford
as the legal assistant to the under secretary of
state at the colonial Office.
The chief justiceship of Ceylon could not
tempt him to return to the tropics Two years
later Lord Derby offered him the newly
created legal assistant under-secretaryship at
the foreign Office. Lord Beaconstield gave
him the ribbons of the Bath and the Colonial
order. Lord Granville selected him to sue
coed Lord Tenterden as the permanent under
secretary of state for foreign affairs. His good
work on the Suez canal international commits
sion made him G. G. NJ. G. During six years
Sir Julian has watched over our relations with
the great powers and has gained reputation
for energy, Observation-Disclosures, calmness and
tact which fairly astonished those who put
their faith in the absolute necessity Of long
training in the routine of the foreign Office
The position of British minister to the United
States is one OF peculiar difficulty. but the past
achievements of Sir Julian Pauncefote, his
special aptitude for dealing satisfactorily with
burning questions, inspire a cheering conf
dence that he will soon be as much liked in
Connecticut avenue as in Cromwell Place.
There are few London drawing-rooms where
youthful members of the corps diplomatique
are more thoroughly at home than in Cromwell
place. The kindly hospitality OF Lady Paunce-
tote and her popular daug liter is always keenly
appreciated, especially by new arrivals. Sir
Julian Pauncefote is always on the best of terms
with the foreign secretaries and attaches.
There was time when he could hold his own
with the foil against all comers and in WASH
ington he may possibly find time to return to
his favorite exercise. The absence of Sir Ju-
han and Lady Pauncefote must create void
not easily filed up; but while looking forward
to their speedy return, laden with fresh laurels
we shall be consoled by the intelligence that
his bonhomie, frmness, and profound knowl-
edge Of men and things are rapidly paving the
way to a renewal of that entente cordial which
in the best interests of civilization should as
suredly exist between the two great English
speaking nations of the world.