The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-03-11

WA0A e4l6 l0GCeT LIZ -, =" .
eminent will be satisfied.
Then Mr.. Weed was informed that
the communication which LORD Russell
had written which was SO offensive In
tone would never be sent, but IN its
place d letter courteous IN language,
friendly in tone. although firm in its de-
nands, vet indicating tothe government
of the United States that Great Britain
did NOT saalr war. Such a letter was
sent.
when Lord Russell's letter was
shown to the queen" said Mr.. Weeds
Informant, ssshe read it In company with
the prince consort, who was then at the
beginning of what proved to be his last
illness. They were shocked at the feroc-
ity of the language used. The prince
consort advised the queen to withhold
her approval. and calling for pen and
paper the prince consort erased the Of
fensive language and substituted gentle
and courteous sentences for the belli-
cose communication of Lord Russell.
When he finished it the queen said that
it met with her entire approval. She
sent for Lord Russell and insisted that
this letter be substituted for the one
which he had submitted for her APP
| prevail"
/ Mr.. Weed at once communicated
these facts to Mr.. Seward, secretary of
state, and this knowledge satisfied Mr..
Lincoln and his administration that
whatever the sentiment of the British
aristocracy might be, the queen and
prince consort would oppose the warlike
tendency. This was the last official act
the prince consort did. With this in
formation it was easy for Secretary Sew
ard to adjust the Trent matter in a
manner entirely consistent with the dig
nifty of the United States and thus to
avert war.
Mr.. Weed was so greatly impressed
by the services the English gentleman
had rendered in this emergency that he
cultivated an intimate acquaintance
with him. He found that this man had
been defeated for reelection to parlia-
ment largely on account of his friend
ship for the United States. He had
stood with John Bright and the few
English commoners who expressed
friendship for this country during that
| emergency.
els it not possible for you to return to
| parliament" Mr. Weed asked this man
one day.
| "Alas," said he, 81 am too poor.
cannot afford to expend the money
which would be required for my cleo
tion."
"But if you had this money, is there
any opportunity for you to make con-
test at PRESENT." Mr.. Weed asked.
eyes, there is a bye election to occur
in, few weeks, and if could afford it !
should make the contest"
'sWhy, how much would such con-
test cost you? In the United. States in
many of the congress districts the per-
sonal cost to candidate is trivial, said
Mr.. Weed.
"Ah, but it would cost $4,000 to make
successful contest here" said this
man.
.sThat is $4,000" said Mr.. Weed, and
then he changed the subject.
Before an hour had passed Mr.. Weed
called upon Charles Francis Adams, the
| American minister, and said to Adams,
that here was man who had been de-
feated because of his friendship for the
| United States, who would if in parlia-
| ment be vast aid to this country, and
who could secure an election if he had
| campaign fund of $4,000. "And,"
continued Mr.. Weed, 81 think we ought
| to raise the money for him"
| Adams held up his hands in something
of holy horror. The proposition he de-
| clared was one which the American
minister could not for an instant enter
tain. That evening Mr.. Weed return
ing to his hotel met by mere chance the
American minister to Belgium, Mr..
Henry Sanford, and as soon as he saw
him he threw his long arms around
Sanford, saying that his appearance in
London at that moment was almost
providential.
Mr.. Sanford was a very rich man, who
had spent of his money freely for his
government and who was conspicuous
among the American ministers for the
zeal which he had displayed in further
ing the Union cause. No sooner had
Weed got Mr.. Sanford into his parlor
than he told the story which he had but
little while before narrated to Mr..
Adams.
s'Why, he shall have the money of
course" said Mr.. Sanford; sat once.
There is no doubt whatever about that"
And he sat down upon the spot, wrote
check for $4,000 and gave it to Mr..
Weed, and on the next day this English
man received from an anonymous source
Bank of England draft for GO 900 and
was told to use it as a candidate for par
Lament, and within six weeks Mr.. Weed
had the qualification of seeing his friend |
win the contest. In parliament his serv-
ices were of great value to the Union
cause.
Mr.. Weed never mentioned the name
of this man directly, but the circum-
stances and some Incidental facts all |
point to one individual as the person
who thus aided the United States and |
whom Mr.. Weed helped to secure a seat
in parliament. He was the Hon. Nc |
Cul1aph Torro,,e n I EDwApDc