New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-13


1S6S-was officially at Windsor, except as e.
member OF the diplomatic corps on the occasion
OF the marriage Of the Prince OF wales. Inc
Queen was not then visible from the place as
signed TO him; and after the death OF Frlhce
Albert he did not again lay eyes on her majesty
until her temperance on occasions OF STATE at a
court" held at Buckingham Palace on April u,
iS64-the time OF Grants advance upon hlch-
mond. o., ,--
This function took place in April, 1S64-nearly
twenty-eight months after the death OF Prince
Albert. All thought of a European interVeh-
ton in the American war had then peeiI
dismissed In the interim since the dealn OF
Prince Albert Mr.. Adams had not been
under the same roof with the Queen, save
at the wedding Of the Prince OF Wales. MI.
Hewitt's alleged Windsor interview, II 1t took
place at all must therefore have taken place,
not in 1862, but in 1861. Moreover, II 1t TOOK
place in 1851. it must have been prior 10 NO
Vember % OF that year, as on that day MT
Adams left London to pay visit 10 Lord
Houghton at Frystone; nor did he return to Lon
don until after the arrival Of the news OF the
Trent affair." and the first development (Decem-
her ID of the fatal Illness Of the Prince But
unfortunately, Mr. Hewitt says he himself was
not sent 10 Europe until 1862. Even supposing
he was mistaken In this. and was in London
in the summer of 1861. the royal family were at
Balmoral from August 81 TO October % Of that
year, at which date they started to come UP 10
Windsor The interview could. therefore. by
any possibility have occurred only between DC
tober "A, 1861, when they reached Windsor, ana
December l. when the prince sickened; but dur
ing that brief space Of time every day is fully
accounted for in Mr.. Adams's diary. and no such
incident is mentioned.
It is always difficult to prove a negative TO
demonstration. Especially is this so when the
facts alleged, or something resembling them,
may have taken place anywhere during a pc
riod Of years. In the present instance, however.
n complete negative is proved, not only by the
facts above set forth. but by the additional and
decisive fact that no mention whatever OF, nor
even an allusion TO, any such extraordinary per-
formance as that described by Mr.. Hewitt Is
anywhere TO be found in Mr. Adamss diary
correspondence or papers, much less in any pub
lie private dispatch OF his to the Secretary Of
State No accredited minister TO any foreign
country could, OF course, have Ventured on such
an unprecedented and wholly irregular step
without reporting it at once TO his government
Mr.. Adams. moreover, was OF all men that one
least likely to have had recourse to such SUI
preme effort at what could only be characterized
as shirt-seeVe diplomacy.
How then account for Mr.. Hewitt's extraordi-
nary statement? on what basis of fact was It
built up?-for some basis it would seem there
needs must have been. And here it is that
confess myself completely at fault That Mr.
Hewitt was in Europe during the Civil War IS
unquestionahle. 1 know also that he was in
England and more or less Of Mr.. Adams
That he interested himself greatly. and after
his own energetic fashion, in the efforts TO de-
tain the Confederate cruisers and to circumvent
the plans of the agents of the Confederacy.
goes almost without saying. He also, I
make no question. at time sent over by Mr.
Dayton to advise Mr.. Adams OF diplomatic
moves then on foot, but which subsequently
failed 70 materialize; though. curiously enough.
have not been able to find any alluson to him
in such a capacity in Mr.. Adams's papers. All
this, though not important, either knew before,
or think highly proba BILE. But admitting all
this, and If need be, much more. 1 yet in the
result find myself. as ] have already said forced
TO conclude that the whole account of that dra-
matte Windsor morning call with its royal
though strangely autocrstic If informal assur-
ances or peace and good will. was pure Pigment
OF the imagination-"such stuff as dreams are
mace on In this case the analysis yields posi-
lively no residuum whatever of historical fact
1T is needless TO say that we reproduce the
essential part OF Mr.. Adams's address in the
same spirit Of respect for Mr.. Hewitt's memory
in which ii was made, and out of regard for the
truth Of history. If Mr.. Hewitt were living and
in possession of his mature controversial powers
he might be able to give Mr.. Adams a rather I'M
comfortable quarter of hour by pointing out.
with Enthusiastically incisive comments some
discrepancies in his narrative and TO show a
'residuum Of truth" which Mr.. Adams has failed
to discover. But the citation Of historical facts
which are indisputable and Of highly valuable
evidence from his fathers private papers ap-
pears to justify Mr.. Adams's belief that he has
demolished Mr. Hewitt's reminiscence.-Ed.l.