The morning times., 1896-10-04
BOOKS AND bOOKMAKERs
Wide Range in the Recent
Publications.
POLITICS AND FICTION
New Biography of Seward
in the Statesmen Series
Novels and Travel.
POLITICS AND FICTION
EcRETARY WILLIAM II. SEWARD is

ECRETARY WILLIAM Ii. SEWARD is
the subject of the latest biography
which has been ADDED To the American
- Statesmen Series which John T. Morse
jr., is editing for Houghton, Milf
flu * Co. But this gentleman is not the
compiler of the present work. That was
intrusteu TO Thornton Kirkland Lothrop.
There have been a number OF biographies
OF Mr.. Seward, each of which has Ind
points Of excellence which commend them
10 the students OF accurate history and
Ia those interested in the Intimate work
iuGs of the great American statesman
In praising Mr.. Lothrop'S work il is not
necessary 10 compare 1t with the Others
Ii contains inuch from other lives of Mr.
Seward, and he has unearthed much that
Is new and interesting. He has concen-
lratea with happy skill, SO that the siuews
OF the incidents are reserved and surplus
Hesh does not hinder Il spirited narrative
On one or two incidents OF Mr.. Seward s
ale lie has brought more insistence and
more testimony, where hitherto there has
been an Inclination To quibble or assert
ieebly. No one hns up to this time asserted
Mr. Stewards position in the Trent affair
With The pusitiycness Of Mr.. LothrOp. II
viii be recalled that Mr. Seward was Secre-
taryot Staten Lincoln Ca binet at the time
that Jefferson Davis sent SldeIl and Mason
as Special commissioners to England to
open negotiations for the recognition of the
Cunfcderacy. On q dark October night
these ENJOYS, with their families and secre-
tafies, ran the blockade at Charleston in the
little steamer Theodora, and arrived safely
at Havana, where they embarked OH the
British mali steamer Trent for England.
The United States frigate San Jacinto
comma nded by Capt. Charles wilkes, over
took the Trent shortly out OF Havana; but
instead OF putting un prize crew and send
Ing the steamer to port OF the United
States, that the question of a liability to
condemnation, as neutral carrying contra
hands Of war, might be settled in u prize
court, Capt. Wilkes, out OF copsidera ton
Tor the Convenience OF the ot Ler passengers,
contcntcd himself with taxing on board lis
own ship the commissioners and their sec
retarlcs, leaving the Trent to continue her
voyage with her passengers and the mails
When the news of this reached England,
lne excitement was intense. pubic opinion
was unanimous, an plhlicpaS sna n 4 fever
heat Troops Were at once ordered to
Canada, and slips Were made ready for sea
Although Wilkes had acted entirely on his
own Judgment, his action was confirmed by
Federal sentiment. He was feted as IL he
had won naval victory. The public pas
sion of the citizens of the Northern States
Were as much aroused as those of the
BritiShcrs.
lnthcmidstnfallt the excitement however,
Secretary seward WAS iuIpurtaruable aud
especially retioent. He said nothing even to
hi> secretary oc to lis family. But he studied
tile law Of the case and advised wi tn proyi-
dcntlal wisdom. England demanded tie
return or the prisoners and an apology
he apology was never made H.d ne
prisoners not been returned the Uni on would
NAY" been FiunEea lao ii war VITA Great
Britain and The defeat OF secession would
never have been accomplished. Mr.. Seward
lad The double justification in being right
aud being wise
u va suinea hat per.lous advice 10 give
IT the ne, but, since the wisdom of the