Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-29
MONCURE n. CONWAY.
A Northern Correspondence story
About Him.
philadelphia Press.)


events happening in the course of tn,
civil war the following is at least O
interest My informant is the occupan
of the Chair of History in one of tn,
great universities, and was in Londor
much OF the time during the Civil war
When the lines Of party and partisan
feeling were distinctly drawn in thu
struggle. the Anti-Siavery leaders Of the
North saw that English sentiment was
In favor Of the South, and IT was sug-
| gested that one of the Anti-Slavery party
be sent to England, aid endeavor t
| detach the English abolitionists from
| the growing and strong party of Con.
federate sympathizers The man chosen
for this work was Moncure ID. Conway
who accordingly. sailed for England
and held series of meetings with some
success. AT that time Mr.. Mason, the
Confederate representative. had arrived
In England. Mr.. Conway thought it would
be good thing to open the subject with
him. His aim does not clearly appear
but 1t was probably chiefly due to a de-
sire to make his mission talked of. and
possibly to elicit some utterance from
Mr.. Mason which could be advantageous
ly used in the northern interest
Accordingly, he wrote TO Mr.. Mason
that he had been commissioned by the
great Anti-Slavery party of the North TO
represent TO the Confederate leaders the
hopelessness of their cause as IL at pre-
sent stood. Without help and help from
the North, their efforts were vain. and
he could offer II. The price of that aid
was the complete abolition of slavery
In the new government, which would
then take It's place with the nations OF
the world. Let that assurance be given,
ana the Antl-Slavery party Of the North.
ana that or England as well would throw
their weight OH the southern side. OF
course, Mr.. Mason was too old q bird
10 be taken by any such chaff as this.
and he wrote in reply that the issues
presented were of real Importance and
mat before entering into their discus
sion with Mr.. Conway ne should like To
see that gentlemans credentials. and
know In what degree he might be able
70 carry out his offer, If it were enter
tanned.
This was pinning Mr.. Conway TO the
wall. he replied that as to credentials
In the sense Mr.. Mason used the word.
he, OF course. had none. He was the
friend OF the leaders of the Anti-slaverv
party; was In a modest way one OF them
himself, and. at least sufficiently init
timents; that he had come to do a spe-
cial work in England, and shat. holding
successful meetings there, he could not
be unknown to Mr.. Mason, and that I'M
der the conditions Mr. Mason could
scarcely look for a certificate. IL was q
moving question, and they must deal
with II sub ofiicio, ETC., etc. The next
morning the London Times newspaper
published the whole correspondence with
a characteristic letter from Mr.. Mason.
In which he pointed out that the North
was being driven to dire expedients. Poor
Conway, whose loyalty no one has ever
doubted, but who had been led most in
dlscreetly TO commit an act Of treason
was horror-stricken. A wave of indiena-
ton swept over the United States. and
had the unfortunate man returned IN
America at this time he could not have
escaped trial on a capital charge. He pc
came an exile for over ten years. Pre-
vious to going to London he had bought
httle place IN Concord, Mass. and in
the companionship Of Emerson and the
others OF that great Boston literary cir
Gle had arranged TO follow his vocation
OF letters under the most pleasant condf-
tons. This was all broken I'm. In Mrs
Conway her husband has always had a
right bower Of common sense and prac-
tical wisdom. The unfortunate cores
pondence was duly published in the
American papers. and the day that she
saw 1t she had ordered their house and
furniture in Concord Sold and In TWEEN
ty-four hours was on a ship bound TO |
England. She knew that the States was
no longer a home for them.
Casting about for something to do Mr..
Conway was at last offered the pulpit or |
the Finsbury chapel.
IL is pretty hard 10 say what this con-
gregation believed or thought. but IL |
just suited Conway. He could talk to it |
about the things that interested him. and
when he said. Il can believe any religion
mat hasn't Christ in It" they were by no
means shocked zone day." to quote the
words OF my informant exactly ..he SAID
to me In London. Look, -, you must
go down and talk 10 those people OF mine
next Sunday. l can't be there But 4
can't preach to them. ] can't ralk about
the subjects you would care TO have
them interested in Yes, you can. Any
thing does for them that has brains in
u. what could you talk aboutr Wen,
could talk about old ballads. for In
stance Capital: nothing could be bet
Ter And so l went into his pulpit ana /
talked about the ballads"
AS matter OF fact. Mr.. Conway would
probably prefer to remain I'm England ra-
her than In the States. but his recent re-
turn TO America has been due TO MS
aife's health. who feels that she must a.
east die in America. For him London is
more satisfactory. As a man OF letters
he Is not only bigger man than when at
home, but being there is OF more impor-
ance at home than when he is in New
York Mr.. Conway's father was a bank
n in Virginia, and one Of the few who
ayed his fortune. For years alienated
rom his father. he had TO support him
elf and family under difficulties OF no
mall pressure. Now. however, he has az
ast succeeded TO his fathers property,
md Is able TO live how and where ha
'le9ses. Even in the days of struggle IN
4ondon he was always the kind and help
III friend OF Americans. and the sums or
money he has loaned TO his couatrymen
would amount TO incredible figures, IL
ven he could or would give account OF
hem. His real contribution to literature
8. Of coarse. the Life OF Thomas
'aine." AS a historian his infirmity Ia
hat Of Froude's-absolute irresponsibni-
y, physical incapability 10 transcrioe
! document without Interpretations or
hanges. But his writing Is strong. his
lyle nervous and effective On his de-
arturo from London. the last time he
ED a farewell service in Ffnsbury, n
Ias very sad. The congregation. which
He'd the large auditorium, were In tears
nd even Conway himself broke down
No wept with them.
-------- IL