The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-28
How Two Women
Rverted a War


I that were occasoned by the death OF Queen
u Victoria reference is made to the peace'ln-
spring and friendly tempcring touch which
she gave to the dispatch agreed upon by the
British ministers containing demand upon
the United States for the surrender Of the Con-
federate commissioners. Mason and Slidell. There
were extremely romantic and sensational Incl
dents connected with the queens change of the
temper Of the dispatch framed by Lord John
RUSSELL Everybody familiar with history
knows that the English government, at the head
OF which was Lord Palmerston, and with Laord
John Russell foreign secretary, prepared
dispatch which was to be submitted to our
secretary of state, Mr.. Seward, by the British
minister at Washington, Lord Lyons. This dis.
patch was undoubtedly deliberately 50 phrdscd
TO compel the United States government to
refuse to heed it with the probable inevitable re-
suit that We should have been compelled to con
template war with Great Britain at the very
time we were engaged in our struggle with the
Confederate states, So. too, il is well known
that a copy of this dispatch having been laid
before the queen, and at time when she was
in utmost distress because Of the dangerous i'll
ness OF the Prince Consort with typhoid fever,
she and the prince, her husband, went over the
dispatch, the queen disappearing Of the harsh
language and the Prince Consort fully agreeing
with her in that opinion. lie took a pencil,
made certain intcrlineations that changed the
whole temper OF the dispatch so that il became
a friendly though rcgretiul message, and never.
tclcss one which the United States could ac'
ccpt and act upon without any humiliation.
This was the last time that the Prince Consort
ever held pencil between his fingers and it
was the last act OF counsel and aid which he
gave to his wife, the queen, In the interest OF
her administration \ few days after he and
she, man and woman, monarch and consort al
ways favorng peace, always of friendly dispo
sition to the United States, had thus changed
the temper of war.inNiting dispatch, the Prince
Cousort was dead. Mr.. Seward, with what
seemed to he remarkable haste. accepted the
amended note; consented TO give mp Mason and
Sldell; the incident was closed, and there never
was real danger again, during the Civil war,
that we should become embrolcd with Great
Britain.
II is now possible to narratc little unwrit
ten history which lumnates the action OF Sec.
retary Seward in so speedily accepting the mildly
and kindly tempered note as it had been amend
ed by the queen. This information comes al
first hand although the anecdotc was told some
twenty years ago by Jhurlow Weed, whose part
in the incident was in the highest degree drI-
matte. Mr.. Weed was then in London aS
Of special personal embassy OF which Bishop
McIlylinc, of Ohio and Archbishop John Hughes
of New York, were the other members. They
were tiC personal representatives. OF freSl'W
Lincoln, a special embassy appointed him with
some high powers whose chict purpose was to
counteract the influence, and mtrigucs tnat
lad ior their object III" recognition of the
southern Confcdcracy by France and Great
Britain. Mr.. Weed was dwelling temporarily
with his daughter in lodgings In London and was
kept informed through confidential sources Of the
temper of tho British cabinet toward me United
States. lie had also learned Who his friends as
Ill q 4 t1p Ff.ita Statna
court. Gladstone was net one OF them, but
John Bright in the house of commons was.
With one exception, the British cabinet was un.
friendly to the United States, unquestionabiy
rejecting the vicv cf the English srstocracy
and Of the cotton manufacturers. But there
were some women Of influence who were warm
ficnds OF the United states, and among them
was The sistcr.in'law OF Lord Palmerston.
MI. Weed knew that the note which the
British cabinet was preparing for Mr. Seward
would be unfriondly, and he, in fact, had in a
general way some information as TO its con.
| tent. lie was very gloomy. There was no At
lantic cable, excepting the dead that had
recorded only one or two messages in 1859. lie
had written 10 Mr.. Seward advising him TO be
prepared FOR an miricndly communication. He
was sitting in his paror one day at noon chat
ting with his daughter, when card was
brought TO him. lie read upon il the name ot
the sistcr.in'law Of Lord PalnclstOn, whom he
knew TO he with other women in the court cir
Clc OF most friendly disposition toward tine
United States Mr.. Weed went Immediately TO
| receive his friend, She was evidently greatly cN.
cited, and as nearly as can he recalled from
Mr. Weeds version OF the interview, she spoke
| TO him Immediately in these words:
"Mr. Weed. a mail leaves within an hour for
| the United States; do not lose moment in
writing to Mr.. Seward your secretary OF state,
| saying TO him that YOU know that the note that
| will be forwarded to him. through Lord Ly ons,
| will be OF friendly character that the queen
| il friendly though the cabinet is not, and urge
| upon him to accept, in generous spirit, the sug
gcsctions that are contained in the note, for it
| gives ample opportunity for a friendly under
standing and closing oi the Trent affair."
Mr.. Weed did not wait for further explanation.
! He trusted this woman implicitly. He imme.
! datcly wrote letter in accord with the mint
! given, took cab and posted ii in time to catch
| the outgoing mail, although he said atteward,
| with a smv, that II waS 4 very close shave, He
! knew that Mr. Seward would get this letter, al
| least a halt week before the Official note could
| reach him. That was exactly what happened
When Lord Lyons delivered the official note TO
| the secretary OF state Mr. Sew ard was already
| prepared for it, and had in a tentative way,
| made up his mind as tu the answer he would
make. It was because he was thus iorwarned
and courseled by Mr. Weed, by reason OF the
friendly aid given by LADY OF the court, that
MIR, Seward was able to make 4 reply and to take
such action as was entirely satisfactory to Great
Britain,
--O-r
Mr.. Weed then went on To say that not the
| least interesting feature OF this incident was the
manner in which this lady came in possession
| OF what was state secret She told him her
self day or two afterwards, Mr., Weed, with
his daughter, Miss Harriet Weed, had been in
Nted TO Luncheon at Lord Russells. After The
luncheon Lord Rlssell proposed walk in the
gardens and he took Miss Weed upon his arm,
leaving Mr.. Weed to escort Lady Russell. The
other guests followed, Mr.. Weed noticed that
| Lady RrSScll WAS OF GLOW sion and snrmeh 10 De