Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-30

nal statement that the queen demanded
the uniform, SO he had no warrant for an
abandonment of his orders. and therefore
he went into Coventry" as he expressed
it.
During the first few months after he had
abandoned his uniform there were fortu-
rAtely no court CT remonieS recurring his
attendance. But the crisis came when mar
lament assembled in February, 1854 and
the American minister, of all the diplo-
matte corps in London, failed to attend the
opening because he could not secure adj
mission without court dress. The Lon
den newspapers howled in anger and de-
rison, and with difficulty was the matter
prevented from forming the basis of an at
tack in parliament upon the unfortunate
minister The latter was in great distress,
but reported the facts to the State Depart
Tent and stood firm. His account of the
pressure brought to bear upon him semi
officially by the notableS of the court who
We're DESTROYS of avoiding a scandal, and
of their arguments. is very entertaining.
Among other suggestions that he refused
was one that he wear the civil dress worn
by George Washington, which, he said,
from its antique style, would make him
ridiculous for life. The British master of
ceremonies classed him with the bishops.
and SAID that the queen would invite him
to concerts. but could not receive him at
the court balls or Court dinners. She
would receive him in court in any dress
he chose to wear and, in fact, she did en-
terrain Mr.. Buchanan privately at dinner
lin frock dress" as he says.
The Last Uniform.
Finally, happy solution of this difficulty
that might have grown into national is
sue was found in a suggestion from Il high
court functionary, which was accepted by
Mr.. Buchanan, VINO thereupOn created
new uniform, the last to be officially worn
by our minister at the court of s.. James.
He tells of it in letter to Miss Lane
dated February, 1854, as follows:
The dress question. after muc1 difficulty,
has been finally and satisfactorily settled.
] appeared at the levee on Wednesday last
in just such dress as | have worn at the
PRESIDENTS one hundred times black
coat. white waistcoat and cravat, and
black pantaloors and dress boots, with the
addition of a very plain, black-nan1lsd and
black-hiited dress sword. This 20 crafty
those who have yielded SO much and to
distinguish me from the upper court ser
wants. Having yield ID, they did
did not do things by halves. AS | ap-
preached the queen, an arch but benevolent
smile lit up her countenance, as much as
to say: You are the first man who ever
appeared before at court in sucn a
dress l confess that | never felt more
proud of being an American than when |
stood in that brilliant circle in the SIMPLE
dress Of an American citizen"
Thirteen years later, at the insstance of
mas sumner, Congress prohibited, by res
o:uuon, all officers of our diplomatic ser
vice from wearing any uniform or official
costume not previously authorized 10y Con-
sress, though eX-vounteer officers who had
served during the war in the army were
permitted to wear their highest-Gra lie uni
forms. This exception led to the appea ar
afce OF enc or two Of our diplomatic off
GERS. who mad been soldiers in gorgeous
volunteer uniforms in some E,uropean
courts, but in general the congressional
r. sGiutlon caused The abandonment Of uni
forms by our ministers abroad up to this
t!ine, when tn" question of their eXpe iiancy
mas been raised by the experience of our
minister to Russia.