Diary of George Mifflin Dallas, December 23, 1860

The Arabia brings the news that Secretary Cobb has resigned. He goes then to join the Disunionists, who, in Georgia, object to joint, but are in favor of separate, secession. Mr. Cobb is forty-five years of age; before he becomes sixty, he will have discovered that a good cause is really only injured by violence, and best promoted by calm and steady action; he will then have become, for he has ample ability, a safe American statesman.

The news in no respect diminishes the gloom of affairs in the United States. The situation is deplorable already, and worse is in prospect. I think it at once proper and becoming to manifest sympathy with my countrymen in their present trials. I have, therefore, declined Mr. Bates's invitation to the New-Year festivities at Sheen. It is impossible to be merry when one's country is gasping for breath.

China news is highly interesting. The first Napoleon has been always condemned by the British press for despoiling the academies and temples of Italy of their treasures of art, which he collected in his gallery of the Louvre. Still, they vindicated the burning of our Capitol and White House in 1814 by Ross; they bombarded the superb private residence of Prince Woronzow at Odessa; and here they are again, this time conjointly with the French, avowedly plundering and carrying off the ornaments and comforts of an imperial summer palace! War necessarily leads to excesses, which every effort should be made to restrict as much as possible. What conceivable benefit to the cause in which they are engaged could the allies derive from purloining pictures, statuary, and articles of novelty? But such are the two heads of European civilization. The French have made a separate convention, after the Treaty of Peace, bargaining for liberty to carry off coolies (hem!), for a recognition of Catholicism throughout China, and an indemnity of twelve millions of dollars! Pretty well for Louis Napoleon, and better, considering his looting, for Marshal Montauban.

SOURCE: George Mifflin Dallas, Diary of George Mifflin Dallas, While United States Minister to Russia 1837 to 1839, and to England 1856 to 1861, Volume 3, p. 423-5

John M. Forbes to Moses H. Grinnell, July 6, 1861

Boston, July 6,1861.

Thank you for your telegram. I wrote you last Sunday in substance as follows: —

We are obliterating party lines, which is all the fashion, especially with the Outs. Why not do so with state lines? Of all the men who should go abroad, Lothrop Motley would do most credit to the administration. He was shut off by Adams and Burlingame, much to our regret, and to the loss of the country. He is a Republican from the start, a linguist, and the historian of the day. Now that Burlingame has been banished to China, why not send Motley to Vienna? It would be a delicate matter for Massachusetts to press, as she has two foreign missions, but if the suggestion came from you, upon considerations of public interest, I should think Mr. Seward would not hesitate to appoint him. We have not, outside of London and Sardinia, a very strong representation in Europe, and it does strike me this would strengthen the administration.

If you agree with me, and will push it, you can do it, and I know it will be applauded, as Mr. Irving's appointment, you remember, was universally. It would be a compliment to literature rather than to our State. . . .

I hope to see Congress organize a mercantile navy, and put you at the head of a commission to sit in New York, and see to it. Buy clipper ships, and commission the captains with good rank for the war!

SOURCE: Sarah Forbes Hughes, Letters and Recollections of John Murray Forbes, Volume 1, p. 225

Foreign News

HALIFAX, Jan. 26. – The Europa from Liverpool 11th, Queenstown 12th, arrived last night.

A Cadiz telegram says the American Consul has received orders to protest against the admission of the Sumter.

It was said Spain would protect the prisoners brought by the Sumter.

RUSSIA. – It is reported that Russia has sent an embarrassing ultimatum to Rome that if the Pope don’t condemn the conduct of the Polish Clergy Russia will recognize the Kingdom of Italy.

CHINA. – A new regency has been established at [Peam] under the 2d Empresses.

FRANCE. – The pacific termination of the Trent affair caused a rise in the Bourse of 1 per cent.

The Moniteur says the feeling of profound regret and indignation has been aroused in England and France by the vindictive act of destroying the port of Charleston.  Rentes firm – 68f 60s.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 4

The year 1861 was unlucky to the crowned heads . . .

. . . as Napoleon truly observed in his New Year’s day speech.  Prussia buried a King, the effete Sultan of Turkey sank into the grave, the Emperor of China was struck down, Portugal lost a youthful and noble sovereign.  The future historian of 1861 will not, as we hope, esteem it beneath his dignity to include a line of obituary for the dusky sovereigns of Dahomey and Madagascar.  An assassin’s had strove to take the life of the New King of Prussia and a crack brained Athenian enthusiast made an attempt of a similar nature upon the Queen of Greece.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 8, 1862, p. 2

Photography is playing a prominent part in . . .

. . . the recent French military expeditions.  In China thirty photographers went with the staff of the commanding general, besides those who were organized in each corps.  In like manner General Lorencez has taken a body of photographers to Mexico with instruments of all dimensions.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 15, 1862, p. 1

Later from Europe

PORTLAND, Me., Feb. 20. – The Bohemian from Liverpool 6^th, via Londonderry 7^th, arrived here this morning with one day latter news.

The Canada from Boston, arrived at Liverpool on the 5^th inst.

Both houses of Parliament had voted unanimously on an address to the queen in response to speech.

The Opposition approved the course of the Government in the Trent affair.

Lord Derby thought that the Federal Government had assented with a very bad grace to the demands of the British Government.

Lord Palmerston said the distress in the manufacturing districts of England, from the blockade of the Southern ports, would not justify the interference of the Government, and that they would continue in their neutral course.

The Bank of France has reduced its rate of discount to 4 per cent.

The product of the last cotton crop of India was pouring into Bombay.

The iron clad frigate Warrior, on her passage to Lisbon, labored badly.  Her decks and cabins were flooded, and in 9 cases out of 10, she would not mind her helm.

The Times’ city article says that the funds opened on the 6^th inst., at the decline of more than ½, but were firmer towards the close.

PARIS, [Feb.] 7. – The Moniteur of this morning says that Gen. Prime will not take supreme command of the allied forces in Mexico, but that each General will preserve the integrity of his own command.

The Federal gunboat Tuscarora left Cowes at 9 o’clock a. m. on the 6^th inst., and proceeded westward.  The Nashville had 40 hours start of her.  The engineer of the Nashville told the pilot who took her out, that it was agreed by all on board that she should never be captured.  That he had all the valves of the engines so arranged that she could be blown up in a moment, and that if the capture of the Nashville was ever heard of, a violent explosion would accompany it.

Private telegrams from China quote tea at Foo Choo as higher.  Silks were also higher. – Holders of manufactured goods held them at firm prices.

Singapore was in possession of the rebels.

(By Telegraph to Londonderry.)

Liverpool Cotton Market – Brokers’ circulars report sales of the week 28,000 bales, including 3,500 to speculators and exporters.  Market dull, with partial decline of ½.  Sales Friday 5,000 bales, including 5,000 to speculators and exporters, market closing quiet and unchanged.  On Saturday Orleans fair 14¼, do middling 12 7/8; Mobile fair 13½ do middling 12½.  Total stock in port 550,000 bales, including 205,000 American.

Breadstuffs market generally quiet and steady, except for corn, which has a downward tendency.

Consols closed at 92½@92 7/8 for money.

The weekly returns of the Bank of England shows a decrease in bullion of 334,000£.

American securities quiet and steady.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 22, 1862, p. 3

Later from Europe

PORTLAND, Feb. 20.

The Bohemian, from Liverpool 6th via Londonderry 7th, arrived here this morning, with one day later news.

The Canada, from Boston, arrived at Liverpool on the 5th inst.

Both houses of Parliament had voted unanimously an address to the Queen in response to her speech.  The opposition approved of the course of the Government in the Trent affair.

Lord Derby thought the Federal Government had assented with very bad grace to the demands of the British Government.

Lord Palmerston said the distress in the manufacturing districts in England from the blockade of the Southern ports, would not justify the interference of the Government, and that they would continue in their neutral course.

The Bank of France has reduced its rates of discount to 4 per cent.

The product of the cotton crop of India was pouring into Bombay.

The iron clad frigate, Warrior, on her passage to Lisbon, labored badly.  Her decks and cabins were flooded and in nine cases out of ten she would not mind her helm.

The London Times city article says, that the funds opened on the 6th, at a decline of more than one-eighth, but gained firmness toward the close.

PARIS, 7. – The Moniteur of this morning says, that Gen. Prim will not take supreme command of the allied forces in Mexico, but that each Gen. will preserve the integrity of his own command.

The Federal gunboat, Tuscarora, left Cowes about 9 o’clock on the morning of the 6th inst., and proceeded Westward.

The Nashville had forty hours start of her.  The engineer of the Nashville told the pilot who took her out that it was agreed by all on board, that she should never be captured; that she had all the valves of the engine arranged so that she could be blown up sky high in a moment, and that if the capture of the Nashville was ever heard of, a violent explosion would accompany it.

Private telegrams from China quote tea at Foochou as higher.  Silks were also higher.  Holders of manufactured goods held them at firm prices.

Singapore was in possession of the rebels.

Advices from Manila say that all tobacco there is to be sent to Spain.

LIVERPOOL, Feb. 7. – Breadstuffs generally quiet and steady, except for corn, which has a downward tendency.  Consols closed at 92 1-4 a 92 7-8.  The weekly returns of the Bank of England show a decrease in the bullion of £334,000.  American securities quiet and stead.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, February 21, 1862, p. 1

Later From Europe

NEW YORK, May 7. – The steamer Australian from Liverpool on the morning of the 26th and Queenstown 27th ult., arrived here this afternoon.

The news is quite meagre.

The steamer [Tubahlan] had left Liverpool for Nassau with a very heavy cargo of arms and ammunition, doubtless destined for the South.

The London Times gives a report that the Austrian government had demanded explanation relative to Palmerston’s late speech on Italy, so far as regards to the retention of the Vienetia.

The times has a sarcastic editorial on Lincoln’s proclamation for a day of thanksgiving, and think it quite premature, as the affairs at the time were most critical and battles were impending; it was the meaning of that part of the proclamation which refers to the deliverance from foreign invasion and intervention; it thinks it cannot be for justice in the Mason and Slidell affair.

It is proposed to consolidate the public debt of France in one uniform security of three per cents.

Bourse heavy and declining 70f 35c.

Garribaldi has renounced is intention of going to southern Italy.

It is reported that Victor Emanuel will remain some time in Naples and thence go to Rome.

The French and Italian troops had come to an arrangement for the suppression of reactionary movements on the Papal frontiers, and were acting in concert.

A Shanghai dispatch of March 15th, says it is rumored that the rebels intended to attack Foo Choo.

Liverpool, April 26. – W., N. & Co., report flour at a reduction of 6d per bbl; sales at 26 @31. Wheat, very dull, and to effect sales 1@ 2d additional to prices would have to be made; red western 10 s 6d@11s 6d; white 11s 9d@12s 6d; common inactive and 6d@9d lower; mixed 27s 9d. Beef quiet, and buyers decline to buy. Port easier – quotations nominal. Bacon, moderate to steady rates. Lard ranging 41s up to 48s for fine. Butter rather lower for secondary qualities. Brokers circulars report coffee dull.

London market. – Bange Bros. report Breadstuffs quiet to steady. Sugar inactive and barely supported. Tea, fair. Coffee, buoyant. Tallow, firmer.


{Latest – Liverpool, Saturday evening}

The Times has an editorial on the American struggle. It sees nothing for the negroes but slavery extension or expulsion.

A weekly journal is to appear in London next week, advocating the cause of the rebels.

The Literary Gazette is defunct after an existence of forty five years.

There has been a battle between the Turks and insurgents in Allzan; the Turks lost 400 men and four cannon.

Breadstuffs quiet and heavy, but without alternation in rates. Provisions dull and drooping.

London, Saturday. – Consols for money 93 [illegible fraction] @93 7/8 . [illegible] C. shares 48½ @ 48.

The Paris Patrie learns that two English frigates leave on the 26th for Bermuda with ordnance and ammunition.

The Patrie asserts that England is about to concentrate troops and war material at Bermuda.

The first Austrian iron plated frigate launched will be in commission in June. Three others are building.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 10, 1862, p. 3