The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-03

on the 9th of November, 1851, the
steamship Arago sailed from New York
for Havre, carrying among her other
passengers two distinguished Ameri-
cans--General Winfield Scott and Thur
low Weed. The master politician was
to employ his great gift in the field OF
diplomacy with credentials to the Eng
lsh court, and to the American min
lister to that court, Charles Francis
Adams, as well as to the Prince Napo-
leon and the American minister to
France, William l.. Dayton.
Just before the hour fixed for the
departure of the steamship a merchant
of New York, although a citizen Of
France, came hurriedly TO the gang
plank and asked permission to go
aboard for a few moments. The Of
ficer in charge refused to grant the re-
quest The merchant appealed to the
Custom house inspector, who was in
charge of the vessel as long as she was
at the pier, saying that he had mes
sage of the utmost Importance to de-
liver to Mr.. Weed.
Inspector James-afterward Postmas-
ter General James-insisted that the
merchant be permitted to see Mr.. Weed
and even assisted in the search for
Mr. Weed, who was found in his state
room The merchants interview with
him was very brief. Said he: MIR.
Weed, l have been asked to give you
this letter whose contents you may
read when you have good opportun-
ity."
Mr.. Weed placed the letter in his
wallet and forgot all about it until
some weeks had passed. One day when
in his lodgings at Paris he recalled
the incident, opened the letter and was
surprised to find that it contained moth
ing more than an address, the name
and street number of some one who
lived in Paris, but of whom Mr.. Weed
has never head. He tossed the letter
into a drawer and thought no more #
1t until the ominous day.
GRAVE PERILS.
When anxiety was grievously bur-
dening the administration of Lincoln
in the fall of 1861 when Chase was
deep in the problef of raising that
which was more important than rails
Ing the troops-the money to feed, eQuiu
clothe and transport troops, when the
reports from the front were gloomy
and the shadow Of Bull Run still rest
ed upon the country, it was just then
that the Secretary of state Mr.. Seward
brought dark news to the cabinet meet
ings. His dispatches from England aid
France were alarming. The represen-
tatives of the Confederate states had
been diligent in their employment and
found willing ears in Great Britain
and France among those in authority.
There was the gravest danger that the
Confederacy would be recognized by
these governments.
The moral effect of such action would
be, it was felt, of vast advantage to
the Confederacy, and the peril Of the
war between the United States and
these two nations would be imminent
Mr.. Lincoln believed that the emergen-
cy was great enough to justify the APP
pointment of a commission or embaHs;-
so composed and authorized as not ia
require the approval of the senate
Its mission was to "disabuse the public
mind in England and France. whore
numerous and active agents of the Con-
federacy had long been at work in
quarters too ready to accept versions
unfavorabe to the north"
Edward Everett, John P. Kennedy.
who had won some fame as a man of
literary achievement, as well as some
influence in public life; Archbishop
Hughes, of the Catholic diocese of New
FORK, and Bishop McIlvaine, of the
Episcopal diocese of Ohio, were invited
TO accept this mission. Mr.. Everett
declined on the ground that as he had
served as minister at the Court of St.
James, he did not feel justified in going
again to that court in a semi official
character.
Mr.. Kennedy very frankly based his
declination upon the reason that he
was not able, in Justice to his family.
to serve without any compensation.
The government did not feel authorized
to do more than pay the expenses of
the embassy. That could be done
without reference to congress by draw
ing upon the contingent fund of the
state department. Bishop McIlvaine
accepted the invitation but Archbish
op Hughes consented to do so only in
case Mr.. Weed was also a member o,
the embassy. Somewhat reluctantly
Mr.. Seward consented to name Mr.
Weed In place of both Mr.. Everett and
Mr.. Kennedy.
PATRIOTISM OF ARCHBISHOP.
AS the embassy was in some meas
ure TO be engaged in a confidential mis-
sioR it's creation was in the nature OF
an open secret Those who had earIv
information of the purpose of the mis-
sion and of the personnel of it's mem
bers, were enthusiastic in their praise
OF all the influential voices OF the
North that stood firm in support of the
administrations purpose To put down
the rebellion. none WAS more goaIous
than John Hughes, Archbishop ot New
York.
His influence with the citizens and
immigrants of his race was supreme
His patriotism was not dimmed by that
of any native-born American. He was
the conspicuous prelate Of his church
In the United States, and his relations
With the higher authorities of the Cath
olic church in Europe We're intimate.
To many OF them he could spea.. more
authoritatively than any other Amer
teen.
The qualities and patriotic zeal which
distinguished Archbishop Hughes Were
also those which brought Bishop Nc.
livaine TO the embassy as one of its
members and he had with the digna.
taries OF the Church of England the
'loso and confidential relations which
were maintained between Archbishop
Hughes and the authorities of the
Catholic church.
They were leaders in the Church Mil.
itant' and had there been need, each
OF them would have shouldered mus,
ket and kept step with the humblest
private in the ranks.
Then there was Thurlow Weed, the
most consummate Of wire-pullers, a
supreme artist at that vocation, a mar.
Velous persuader OF man, almost OF