The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-03-11
A LITTLE HISTORY.
How the United States Narrowly
Escaped War With England.
A Story That Has Been Handed Down
from Thurlow Weed-When America
Needed Friend in Parliament the
Election of One Was Assured.


Needed a Friend in Parliament the
Election of One Was Assured.
Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, March 10.-At dinner
party given by one of the most distin-
guished merchants of New York city re-
Gently the conversation over the coffee
and cigars turned upon the question
whether it was exactly proper act for
a citizen of the United States to con-
tribute money to assist political party
in Great Britain, as has been done by
the friends of the Irish parliamentary
party in this country.
One or two of the gentlemen present
were disposed to doubt the propriety of
such action, although expressing entire
sympathy for the Irish people.
SIT has been done before" said one of
the guests, gentleman who is president
of one of the largest banks in New York,
"and was done in the time of our great
national peril, l think the story has
never been told. | heard it myself from
Mr. Thurlow Weed, who in his old age
was full of most delightful reminis-
cences."
Being urged, the bank president con-
sented to tell this story, which has in it
the suggestion Of the narrow escape
which the United States had from a war
with England within year of the time
that the war of the rebellion broke out.
The story is as follows: In the sum
mer of 1861 President Lincoln sent
Thurlow Weed, Archbishop Hughes and
Bishop McIlvane as special ambassadors
to represent this government in Great
Britain and France. The mission Of
this embassy was to prevent, if possible,
the recognition Of the Confederate states
by Great Britain and France, for it was
known that both these governments
contemplated such an act. The feeling
among the upper classes in Great Brit
ain was one of sympathy with the Con-
federacy, while in France Louis Ma
poleon, then emperor, was known to be
DESTROYS of the success of the Confeder.
ate cause.
After the arrival of the embassy they
found Great Britain infame9 by the
capture of Mason and Slidell, the Con-
federate ambassadors who were passen-
gers on the British steamship Trent. The
feeling was most warlike, and it was
shared by the British ministry. Earl
Russell had prepared a note addressed
through the British minister at Wash
ington to the state department., which
was in effect nothing less than decla-
ration of war. Its language was so Of
fensive that Secretary Seward would
have been compelled in behalf of the
honor of the United States either to have
in kind. In either event Great Britain
would have declared war.
Thurlow Weed was informed by
George Peabody, the American banker
living in London, that the situation was
very critical, that troops were under or
ders to embark for Canada, and that
war was imminent. Mr.. Weeds duties
at this time made it necessary for him
to go to Paris, as he thought. On the
eve of his intended departure an Eng
lshman called upon him., saying that it
was vital for the interests of the United
States that he should remain. He would
be invited to a lunch given by Lord Rus
sell, and he would receive at that din
ner party a hint of utmost consequence.
which he could convey privately to his
government.
This Englishman had been member
of parliament, but had been defeated for
re-electiO !. He was an enthusiastic ad-
mirer of the United States and in thor
ough sympathy with the Union side of
the controversy then raging. He had
given Mr.. Weed and the other embassa-
doris aid Of the greatest Importance, and
he was therefore to be trusted.
Mr.. Weed postponed his trip to
France, accepted the invitation of Lord
and Lady Russell, and went on the next
day with his daughter, Miss Harriet
Weed, to the lunch given by Lord and
Lady Russell. When lunch was an
nounced, Lord Russell escorted Miss
Weed, and Lady Russell, taking Mr..
Weeds arm, said to him, with manner
of gentle courtesy: 'Mr. Weed, do you
know that you are on historic ground?
There is no great hurry, and you may
not have another opportunity to have
the points of interest shown to you. For
instance, yonder is the place where
Henry VIII stood when his wife, Anne
Boleyn, was being executed" Thus
speaking, Lady Russell led Mr.. Weed a
little to one side. She pointed out other
places of interest in that historic vicin-
ity. She told him some traditional an
ecdotes of Henry Will Yet there was
that in her manner which indicated to
Mr.. Weed that she had something of
more immediate importance to commu-
nicate than historical anecdotes, no mat
ter how interesting.
At last, when they were beyond the
hearing of any of the company. Lady
Russell said: "Mr. Weed, you know
sometimes it ia said that women cannot
keep a secret. | do not believe this al
ways to be true; but am going to i'm