Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-02-23

The law of nations is very strict, now
ever. SO that England could be accused
! of doing an unfriendly act II II per-
mitted these vessels to depart after
such evidence Mr.. Adams believed
that the ministry would find some tech
nical way to avoid responsibility, and
he had reason for such belief
| A day or two after he had made his
protest. with proof, he received word
from the British authorities that
if he would deposit s5000,OO0 in
gold Immediately, to protect the British
government against suit for damages,
the vessels would not be allowed 10 de-
part
Mr. Adams was in despair. He be-
heyed this to be a trick. of course
he had not s., 600, 900 at his instant
command. and as there was no ocean
cable in those days he could not get it
from his government in much less than
three weeks time. Before he could
hear from Washington city these cruis-
ers would be out upon the high seas.
As he sat in his office grieving great
ly over this peril gentleman walked
in who asked that absolute privacy be
secured for few moments When
these two men were alone, secure from
eaves-dropping, this visitor said to Mr..
Adams: Il have just learned of the de-
mand made upon you for five million
dollars in gold as a guarantee to the
British government to protect them in
case they prevent the sailing OF these
cruisers. ! know that you can not com
mand such sum of money as that until
you hear from Washington. ] believe
this has been done to enable the yes
sells TO sail away. Therefore | have
come to offer you, Mr.. Adams, that five
million dollars in gold, and have only
one condition to impose, and that is
that my name be never known in this
Mr. Adams was amazed. 1t seemed
to him as though this was a direct in
of Providence After thank
ing most earnestly this benefactor Mr.
Adams said: 81 have no security to Of
fer you except my pledge that | will
send to Washington Immediately and
ask that the government forward to
you its bond as security for this loan,
but for three weeks at least you will
be without other security than my
promise"
With this agreement the benefactor
departed and before nightfall Mr.. Adj
inns had deposited the five million dol
airs in gold TO the intense surprise of
he British officials They were obliged
o keep their word and the cruisers
we're retained, and thus the great peril
vas removed.
As soon as it was possible to hear
rom Washington Mr.. Adams received
ONE ten million dollars in government
'onds, which were turned over TO the
enefactor as security. OF course he
eceived his gold back afterward, and
he bonds were returned.
Only one man living knows who this
enefactor was President Lincoln
new, Secretary Chase and Mr.. Adams
lso, and they died without revealing
ne secret Mr.. Chittenden, who was
sgister of the treasury, and who took
he bonds to England, knows, and he
as inclosed the name in an envelope,
eposited it with the secretary of the
and after his death it may be
wen to the world.
Yet fnanciers are satisfied that this
enefactor of the United States who
slSed five million dollars to save it I
ON peril was either George Peabody,
lie banker and philanthropist, who had
ing lived in London, or else one of the
airing Brothers These were the only I
en- capable of commanding on the in 4
ant so great an amount of money as :
lat in gold, who were also so [
iendly to the United States as to in
ice them to make this amazing offer
+. Adams used to say that had it not :
zen for this timely aid perhaps the
story of the civil war would have I
zen differently written.-St Paul Pr
leer Press
SCRAPS FOB OF n Sol nIERC =