New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-16
QUEEN AND THE UNION.
Dir. adams arrays the Eridence for
an accepted Tradition.

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New-YorS Chamber Of Commerce by the late
Abram :. Hewitt. and announced his conclusion
that it did not contain even residUum Of his
tUrical fact Mr.. Hewitt's statement. which he
wished the Chamber OF Commerce to preserve
IN its archives and the truth OF which he
guaranteed OF his own personal knowledge. was
that Mr.. Adams. American Minister to England
during the Civil War having been privately in
formed early in the year 1862 that the
French government was on the verge Of
inducing the English government to rec
osnize the Independence OF the Confederate
States. demanded an audience with Queen Vie
toria, went to Windsor and was received by the
Queen. who IN response to his remonstrances,
said TO him: Mr. Adams give yourself con-
Germ; my government will not recognize the
Confederacy." The intrinsic improbability Of
such an occurrence. the evidence Of indsputable
facts and citations from his fathers private
papers, seemed. as said last January In re-
printing the address Of Mr.. Charles Francis
Adams. to Justify his belief that Mr.. Hewitt's
"reminiscences was purely fanciful-a mere trick
Of the memory.
At the close OF that destructive argument Mr..
Adams promised at a future time to take up
"the accepted tradition. become almost an
article OF American faith--that somehow and in
some way the cause OF the Union was IN rs
hour Of trial dear to Queen Victoria, and that
Of the North were then under deep and
peculiar obligation TO her This Mr.. Adams
has since done in another paper read to the
Massachusetts, Historical Society," and now
printed. If. Il was at least natural to infer,
Mr.. Adams did not expect to find decisive sup
port for the prevalent belief in the Queens
specific and personal service to the Union. he
seems to have been led to a different conclusion
by an examination Of the evidence, some OF
which is new, newly presented. HIS opinion
now IS that the queen, intervening at a critical
moment. did thwart the inclination and probable
intention OF her ministers to recognize the Con-
federacy. and that she took that momentous ac-
ton at Gotha IN the early autumn of 1862. 1Ir.
Adams doubts il his conclusion will ever be IN
contestabIy demonstrated, but we agree with
him that the facts which he arrays make its re-
lection difficult and almost. II not quite, compel
its acceptance.
In beginning his narrative. Mr.. Adams speci-
hes two explicit assertions in support Of the
tradition that Queen Victoria interviewed in be-
half OF the Union. one was made by Mr. Joseph
II. Choats years ago. Whether he then pos
sessed or has since obtained valuable evidences
on the subject Mr.. Adams intends to ascertain
The other made March O. 1902. IN this
form by President Eliot OF Harvard IN con-
ferring N honorary degree on Prince Henry OF
Prussia: Universities have long memories
deadly PERIL and thousands OF its young men
were bleeding and dying for It. 1t is crediby
reported that at a very critical moment the
Queen Of England said to her Prime Minister
Ny lord, you must understand that I shall
sign no paper which means war with the United
States The grandson Of that illustrious wom-
is sitting with here" II appeared TO
Mr. Adams that the Eliot version Of a tradi-
tional incident wes. humanity speaking. at
least possible. which could hardly be said OF
the Hewitt version. and he accordingly asked
President Eliot for his authority. He received
this highly interesting and valuabls reply:
In 1874 I was at Oxford for week. Dr.
Acland, TO whom had letter, procured for
me an invitation TO lunch with Prince Leopold.
who was then living with tutor in a small
house at oxford and going 10 soma lectures
Or. ACland went with me. and we were four
az the table. In the course Of the luncheon the
prince told the story OF the Queens interview
with Lord Russell. DR.. Acland prompting him
20 do 50. He gave no authorities. and said
nothing about the source OF his information He
must have been a small boy at the time OF this
Interview with the Queen DR.. Acland spoke OF
the story as II he believed H. Naturally, I re-
membered the princes statement, but do not
know that ever have talked about IT, Quite
lately-that Is. since last March, heard some
body else attribute this statement 70 Prince
Leopold, but 1 have now forgotten who that
somebody Else was. I have never seen any
real authority for 70, and that IS the reason
used TIE expression "credibly stated"
As Mr.. Adams observes. here f. authority,
such as II IS" Sir Henry Acland had been IN
the suite of the Prince OF Wales OIing Edward
during bis tour Of this country IN 1850. In 1874
he was a professor at Oxford and honorary
physician TO Prince Leopold He was, therefore.
a man competent 70 form opinion. he was so
situated as TO have special sources OF infOrna-
ton. and he apparently believed the story. The
evidence Indicates clearly and indIsputably
that an accepted tradition prevailed IN the
royal family and about Windsor Castle that,
at some period OF crisis IN the course OF our
Civil War. Queen Victoria did take a decided
stand with the ministry in opposition to any
thing calculated to provoke hostilities with the
United States. Accepted traditions are rarely
without some foundation OF fact
In the first months OF the Civil War Amert-
cans in England who wers required or permitted
TO discuss international relations with her maj
esty's ministers found the attitude Of Lords
Palmerstou and Russell. Prime Minister and
Foreign Secretary. to be officially correct and
rather Unexpectedly amiable. Thus. Mr.. Motley
on his way 20 his legation in Vienna. visiting
Lord Russell at Abergeldie. near Balmoral. was
gratifed by the sentiments which his lordship
Informally expressed. and attached considerable |
significance TO the cordiality with which the |
Queen and Prince Albert received him The !
Trent affair however. produced a change OF feel
ing. or, rather perhaps. furnished excuse for |
inclinations which had been repressed- |
II was amicably settled. largely through the In |
nuence OF Prince Albert, but undoubtedly some |
consequent bitterness survived. Moreover, the |
blockade by cutting off the supply OF cotton. had
caused great losses and much distress abroad, |
the South was gaining rather than losing pres |
tige. and the prospects Of the Union were dark /