New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-13
QUEEN AND MINISTER.
Mr. Hezcitt's "Reminiscences 4naIyzed
by Charles Francis adams.

In a recent address before the Massachusetts
Historical Society. Charles Francis Adams
whose father Minister TO Great Britain from
1861 10 1865. gave the following account OF his
Investigations regarding a statement made by
Abrarn S. Hewitt, late in his life. as to an inter
view between Minister Adams and Queen Vic
torix:
On February Z. 1901, the Chamber Of Com
merce Of the City OF New-York took occasion
st Is monthly meeting TO observe the recent
death Of Queen Victoria, Speeches were made
and resolutions offered and passed. Among the
speeches was one by Abram 5. Hewitt, then in
his segenty-nlnth year, and perhaps fairly en-
titled 10 the designation OF New-Yorks first
citizen
On the occasion referred to Mr. levitt
though as he said. grown very reluctant 10
lspeaAI upon any public OCCASION" accepted the
invitation so 10 DO, and by request seconded the
resolutions prepared ana moved by Seth Low.
then President Of Columbia University. now
Mayor OF the City OF New-York Not only did he
SPEAK, but be incorporated in what he said the
following noteworthy personal "Reminiscences and
startling historical revelation:
President Low las referred to the Trent affair.
~ Is kno~n 10 ali OF you l shall take no time IN
sion when the Queen had to remember the reception
hflcn had been given lhere III America the year
OF England. We told that with her hand
SIC Inodlhed the harsh ana uniriendly language
u IL had been published. for Mr. Seward TO extTicate
himself from the unfortunate dilemma in which We
were placed by the arrest of the Confederate
voys OF Commodore Wilkes. But other occasions
arose for the Queen 10 show her kindly feeling, and
10 Se 81 hss d suppose the only t Vps
Hitston OF your president 10 appear here and do
what have grown very reluctant TO do-nake
asntial n1sseo. 70 fsnsiss s1j Eranc on In ne
course OF my work l hao the most intimate rela-
tons with Minister Charles Francis Adams and
with Judge Dayton. who was the Minister TO
France. One afternoon l received a message from
y9age DAYTON asking me TO come to the embassy.
night / tod nm could Il the matter were i'm
come 10 his notice which he could not trust TO the
telegraph or even 10 the post; that he wished
70 him what had happened I told him ! would go.
sno ne then sag; 81 nave Just received Information
Napoleon III has proposed TO the British govern
sure that Mr.. Adams has no knowledge OF the fact.
i want you TO proceed TO London tonight see him
early possible in the morning, and communi-
cate the inforTstiOn TO him.
the next morning as soon as he was visible and
tCid him What Judge Dayton had said . found 11
some source that the recognition was impending.
Russell the Minister for Foreign affairs and ascer-
tain what proposed to be done He made the
he had seen Lord John Russell and had asked him
caxaS f9 NM Ieoif,o o 3b onFe5eracT He
received an evasive reply. 1t was evident to him
foot But Lor6 John Russell destined to eommun-
cate any definite Information on the subject He
told that he then said TO Lord John Russell:
81 desire audience with the Queen" Lord John
Russell replied that it was not usual for ministers
mpnicatons must pass through 1 the Foreign Office
II am wrong-that there is usage by which only
sovereign and that ministers-at that time we had
10 annbassa dors-that ministers had no such right,
courtesy. Mr.. Adams said he told Lord John Rus
rate he was going 10 Windsor that day in person
and would send request asking the Queen TO hear
Lord John Russell made any communication
81 Prince 6e o bee Tv he bas s
come and he said 20 her; IF there is any founda-
W1ronr which VIII resnit in ,TIniyerssI war for 7
assure your majesty that the American people
are prepared TO fight the whole world rather than
give Up the Union" Appause) He said that the
Queen, in the most gracious manner. replied: Mr.
Ad mos r sy @ no NY
Now, this may he a very inappropriate course OF
, s 10. LIS oci on put am "a us 70 nave
her OF Cormerce; think Il very likely that the
tains the Information which have given you here,
but have never seen II. and do not know that
( has ever been published
1t is almost needless to say that when I the
next morning read the abstract Of Mr.. Hewitts
remarks IN the report Of the proceedings Of the
Chanber OF Commerce. was greatly surprised.
( thought myself tolerably familiar with what
had taken place in London during the period in
question. but had never before heard even a
whisper OF any such masterful stroke OF diplo-
macy as that here described. The vagueness of
the "Reminiscences, OF course, at once attracted
my notice No details Of time place were
given The statements made bore no connection
with recognized events. Accordingly / at once
wrote TO Mr.. Hewitt. with whom / had an ac-
ouaintance of long standing-and for whom l
entertained great personal respect-asking him
TO give me approximately the date of the occur
rences he had described. / wished to verify
them by reference to Mr.. Adams's diary and
papers. Under date of February 49, 1901 l
got a reply. from which quote the following:
OF course the language quoted by is entirely
sion left upon my mind OF what said to me by
your father rather than his exact words. As 10
time my impression is that il must have been as
early as the month OF July; No doubt, your
IN fixing the time OF his audience with the Queen,
time when the Confederate cruisers were on the
stocks at Birkenhead. Your father asked me to
II1aird'sl and with considerable difficulty got ad-
rnittance; One OF the ships was the Alabama, but
time or not
After YOU have made your investigation shall
have secured the subject.
The correspondence here closed. RETAINED
from complying with Mr.. Hewitt's request that
be should be "apprised Of what information III
secured on the subject" for A very slight ex-
animation satisfied me that beyond peradven-
ture. the story in the main but the hallu-
cination of old man. Indeed far as the
historian OF the future was concerned II hardly
merited attention. 1t was so very vague and
hung together loosely il set not only estab-
ished usage but probability so utterly aside
showing an almost equal disregard OF English
CONSTITUTIONAL law and OF court etiduette-that
IL could have been accepted by no writer OF even
average care. Nevertheless coming directly and
In a way so aggressive. from Mr.. Hewitt, II ex-
residuum of fact? Presumably there must be
some. be IL more or less could / but find II out
Now. merely out Of respect for the truth of
history and IN no unkindly spirit to an old man
for whom, as j have already said. / entertained
a strong personal regard, ] take up his reni-
niscence. have already referred to its vague
ness as respects time and concurrent events.
From internal evidence. not an approx
mate Date can be fixed In his letter TO me ne