Evening star., 1945-07-28
Letters to The Star
Tells of American Associations
With 10 DOWNING Street

To the Editor Of The Star:
The eyes of the world are focused
today on No. 10 Downing Street.
A well-known English journalist,
lunching recently at the White House,
asked his hostess why it was called
white" Being informed that 1t had
been whitened after its burning by the
English In 1912, he not only admitted
that he was unaware of that burning
but confessed he had not SO much as
heard of the War of 1912.
England and the United States know
all too little of each others history. 1t
is probable that there are equally emf
nent American journalists who do not
know that Downing street Is named for
one who may be regarded as an Amer
ican that remarkable personality,
George Downing, son Of Emanuel Down.
ing and his wife, Lucy, sister of John
Winthrop, first Governor of Massachu-
sets.
George Downing was educated at
Harvard, where he was graduated in
1642, and for time was one of the
college teachers.
On going to England, he became a
stout supporter of Oliver Cromwell, but
at the restoration made his peace with
Charles II. His action in turning over
from republicanism to monarchy made
his name a byword throughout New
England where it became proverbial
to say of one who betrayed his trust
that he was IAN arrant George Down.
ing"-the equivalent of the modern
"Quisling."
The present 10 Downing street is part
of the two houses built by George
Downing in 1884. 1t has been the
official residence of successive Prime
Ministers since Lord North. No. H.,
the house since 1735 of the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, built few years
earlier than No. 10, was designed by
Sir Christopher Wren. 1t has also an
American association through its occu-
pancy from 1889 to 1924 by Daniel
Dulany, Sd, of Maryland.
Two other American residents of
Downing street were DR.. Edward Ban
croft and the Rev. John Vardill, who
were living there in ITS and TIT, re-
spectiyely. Bancroft, native of Massa-
chusetts, was one Of the most versatile
men Of his day, both in character and
capacity: Fellow of the Royal Society,
doctor of medicine, chemist, naturalist,
author, political essayist and spy.
The War of Independence produced
many spies. In London there were sup
porters of the Colonies who were will
ing to provide information against the
mother country and supporters of the
English who came over from America to
act against the Colonies. There were
also men and women who were even
prepared to sell their services to both
sides One of these was Bancroft. He
was employed for a time by Benjamin
Franklin, who regarded him as capable
of giving the best intelligence of any
man in Britain through his close asso-
citation with members Of both houses of
Parliament. In his house on Downing
street he. no doubt, entertained his
sometimes unwilling guests. Later, 20
escape arrest on a charge of completely
in an attempt to burn royal dockyars,
he fed to Paris, where he turned kings
evidence. and whence he sent to the
British government information he had
received from fellow American spy.
Vardill was native-born American
who was engaged in counterespionage
for the British.
1t was at No 10 Downing street that
the peace treaty between Britain and
the United States was signed. Newport,
r. l.. has a Downing street named for
the same man. ERIC UNDERWOOD.