The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-20
SIR JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE.
Edmund Yates Furnishes Cosby Sketch
of the New British Minister.

Edmund Yates Furnishes Cosby Sketch
of the New British Minister.
New YORK, March 19.-Edmund Yates
writes as follows from London to the
Tribune: .'Sir Julian Pauncefote X. c. B.,
G. c. M. G., lives in Cromwell place. AS
the clock of neighboring church strikes
10, a sedate messenger from the Foreign
Office, bearing green calico bag filled
with red morocco dispatch boxes of various
sizes, announces his arrival at one Of the
most unpretending houses in the street by
q ring loud enough to disturb the after
breakfast meditatiOns of Sir Charles
Eopes, six doors away, il he has not al
ready set out for the High Court of Justice.
Not one of the thousands who drive in
summer time through Thurlow place ON
the way to Hurlingham is probably aware
of the important part which the modest
home of the permanent Under Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs in South Kensing-
ton has played in contemporary his
tory during the last few years.
1t will not be until the emissaries of Down
ing street cease their morning visits and
take the bag of boxes elsewhere, that people
will realize the fact that Sir Julian Paunce-
fote, transformed into minister plenipO-
tentiary, has really crossed the Atlantic to
pour oil upon the troubled waters at Wash
ington. For three hours every working
day there is a ceasless exchange of COM
munications between Arlington street. the
Foreign Office. and the permanent Under
Secretary's abode, and it is not until lunch
con arrives that the stalwart guardian of
hundred state secrets can find time to see
any body but official visitors. The hall
chairs are generally occupied by grave men
with green bags across their knees, who
maintain decOrus silence and view your
approach with suspicion until Sir Julian's
CHEEKY welcome cOnvinces them that he
has determined to make an exception in
your favor. Standing up in the midst of
crimson dispatch boxes. from which pro-
signifying, extreme urgency 'impor-
lively, the newly appointed British
minister does the honors of his den. Sir
something about the traditions of his
ancestors and the story of his own active
life. There were Pauncefotes in the west
of England when the 'Domesday book was
was knighted by Sir Edward Bohun at the
taking of Gloucester Castle, during the
wars of the barons. Sir Grimbald mar
ried an heiress in the Church of Much
Cowarne. in Herefordshire; There is still
to be seen an etfigy of the Pauneefote who
sailed with Prince Edward to Tunis 1870,
and was taken prisoner by the Saracens,
and whose wife is supposed to have OBJ
tanned his release by sending her right
'couped hand, which, is still inn
Plicitly believed at Much Cowarne. The
paqnssfotss moS Ssnsez their
Pauncefote was born at Munich.
just sixty-one years ago. An education at
Paris and Geneva gave. him practical
knowledge of foreign languages, and
military cadetship in Madras for forensic
studies in the inner temple. Sir William
Molesworth first introduced him to the
Colonial Office and diplomacy. Hepracticed
he went to Hong Kong to become the At.
torney- general and draft a code of civil
procedure. The year 1872 brought him the
chief f-justiceship of the Leeward islands
ing the federal Supreme Court, putting the
whole judicial administration in working
order and giving the Leeward islands a
civil code, Sir Julian returned to England
to succeed Lord Knutsford as the legal as
sistant to the Under Secretary of State at
the Colonial Office. The chief -justiceship
of CeylOn could not tempt him to re-
turn 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
ceed Lord Tenterden as the permanent
Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
His good work on the Suez canal interna-
tional commission made him a G. c. Nj. G.
During six years Sir Julian has watched
over our relations with the great powers,
and has gained a 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 diff
fculty, but the past achievements of
Sir Julian Pauncefote, his special
aptitude for dealing satisfactorily
with burning questions, inspire q
cheering confidence 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