Chapter IV (1)

1853-1856.

ARRIVAL IN LONDON—PRESENTATION TO THE QUEEN AT OSBORNE—THE MINISTRY
OF LORD ABERDEEN—MR. MARCY’S CIRCULAR ABOUT COURT COSTUMES, AND
THE DRESS QUESTION AT THE ENGLISH COURT—LETTERS TO MISS LANE.

The reader has seen with what reluctance and for what special purpose Mr. Buchanan accepted the mission to England. He left New York on the 1st of August, 1853, and landed at Liverpool on the 17th, whence he wrote immediately to his niece; and I follow his first letter to her with four others, extending to the middle of October.

[TO MISS LANE.]

ADELPHI HOTEL, LIVERPOOL, August 17, 1853.

MY DEAR HARRIET:—

I arrived in Liverpool this morning, after a passage of about ten
days and sixteen hours. I was sea-sick the whole voyage, but not
nearly so badly as I had anticipated, or as I was in going to and
returning from Russia. Captain James West, of Philadelphia, the
commander of the Atlantic, is one of the most accomplished and
vigilant officers and one of the most kind and amiable men I have
ever known. I never wish to cross the Atlantic in any but a vessel
commanded by him. We did not see the sun rise or set during the
whole voyage. The weather was either rainy or cloudy throughout,
but many of the passengers were agreeable. Upon arriving here I
found Mr. Lawrence, who came from London to receive me. It is my
purpose to accompany him to London to-morrow, where I shall at
first stay at the Clarendon Hotel. I do not yet know whether I
shall take, or rather whether I can obtain, Mr. Ingersoll’s house
or not. I thought I would have to remain here some days to
recruit; but I had scarcely got upon land before I felt perfectly
well, and have enjoyed my dinner very much—the first meal for
which I felt any appetite since I left New York. I shall write to
you again as soon as I am settled at London, or probably sooner.

Although I left Wheatland with regret and a heavy heart, yet I am
resigned to my destiny, and shall enter upon the performance of my
duties, with God’s blessing, in a determined and cheerful spirit.

I received your letter in New York. I had not supposed there was
any thing serious in Lily’s apprehensions.

In the midst of calls and engagements, I have not time to write
you a longer letter. Please to keep an eye on Eskridge and James
Reynolds, as you promised.

Give my affectionate regard to Miss Hetty and Eskridge, and
remember me to all my friends. In haste, I remain your
affectionate uncle, etc.

LONDON, August 26th, 1853.

I have received your letter written a few days after my departure
from New York, which is mislaid for the moment, and it afforded me
great pleasure. It is the only letter which I have yet received
from the United States.

I was presented to the queen at Osborne, in the Isle of Wight, on
Tuesday last, by the Earl of Clarendon, and delivered her my
letter of credence. She has not many personal charms, but is
gracious and dignified in her manners, and her character is
without blemish. The interview was brief. Mr. Ingersoll,[9] who
accompanied me to take his leave, and myself lunched at the palace
with Lord Clarendon and several of the attachés of royalty. His
conduct towards me is all I could have desired; and Miss Wilcox is
a very nice girl.[10] They will pay a short visit to France and
the continent, and return to the United States in October.

Footnote 9:

His predecessor.

Footnote 10:

Niece of Mr. Ingersoll.

You have lost nothing by not coming to England with me. Parliament
adjourned on last Saturday, and this was the signal for the
nobility and gentry to go to their estates in the country. There
they will remain until next February, and in the mean time London
will be very dull. All gaiety in town is at an end, and has been
transferred to the estates and country seats throughout the
kingdom.

I have not yet procured a house, but hope to do so next week. I
have just paid my bill for the first week at this hotel. I have
two rooms and a chamber, have had no company to dine and have
dined at home but three days, and the amount is £14 7s. 6d., equal
to nearly $75.00.

It is my desire to see you happily married, because, should I be
called away, your situation would not be agreeable. Still you
would have plenty. Whilst these are my sentiments, however, I
desire that you shall exercise your own deliberate judgment in the
choice of a husband. View steadily all the consequences, ask the
guidance of Heaven, and make up your own mind, and I shall be
satisfied. A competent independence is a good thing, if it can be
obtained with proper affection; though I should not care for
fortune provided the man of your choice was in a thriving and
profitable business and possessed a high and fair character. I had
not supposed there was any thing serious in the conversation;
certainly none of your relatives can interpose any just objection.
Be, however, fully persuaded in your own mind, and act after due
reflection; and may God guide you!

It will require some time to reconcile me to this climate. We have
none of the bright and glorious sun and the clear blue sky of the
United States; but neither have we the scorching heat, nor the
mosquitos. I have slept comfortably under a blanket ever since I
have been here, and almost every man you meet carries an umbrella.
The winters, however, are not cold.

Society is in a most artificial position. It is almost impossible
for an untitled individual who does not occupy an official
position to enter the charmed circle. The richest and most
influential merchants and bankers are carefully excluded. It is
true, as we learned, that the niece of a minister at the head of
his establishment does not enjoy his rank. At a dinner party, for
example, whilst he goes to the head of the table, she must remain
at or near the foot. Still, Miss Wilcox has made her way to much
consideration, admiration and respect.

The rage which seems to pervade the people of the United States
for visiting Europe is wonderful. It takes up much time at the
legation to issue passports. London, however, is but a stopping
place. They generally rush to Paris and the continent; and this,
too, wisely, I have no doubt. I would not myself tarry at London
longer than to see the sights. My promise to you shall be kept
inviolate; and yet I have no doubt a visit to Europe with an
agreeable party would be far more instructive and satisfactory to
you than to remain for any considerable length of time with me in
London. I thank my stars that you did not come with me, for you
would have had a dreary time of it for the next six months.

But the despatches are to be prepared and the despatch bag must
close at five o’clock for the steamer of to-morrow. I have time to
write no more, but to assure you that I am always your
affectionate uncle, etc.

September 15, 1853.

On the day before yesterday I received your kind letter of the
28th August, with a letter from Mary, which I have already
answered. How rejoiced I am that she is contented and happy in San
Francisco! I also received your favor of the 18th August in due
time. I write to you this evening because I have important
despatches to prepare for the Department to-morrow, to be sent by
Saturday’s steamer.

How rejoiced I am that you did not come with me! Perceiving your
anxiety, I was several times on the point of saying to you, come
along; but you would see nearly as much fashionable society at
Wheatland as you would see here until February or March next. You
cannot conceive how dull it is, though personally I am content.
The _beau monde_ are all at their country-seats or on the
continent, there to remain until the meeting of Parliament. But
what is worse than all, I have not yet been able to procure a
house in which I would consent to live. I have looked at a great
many,—the houses of the nobility and gentry; but the furniture in
all of them is old, decayed and wretched, and with very few
exceptions, they are _very, very dirty_. I can account for this in
no other manner than that they are not willing to rent them until
the furniture is worn out, and that London is for them like a
great watering place from about the first of March until the first
of August. This hotel, which is the most fashionable in London, is
not nearly equal to the first hotels in Philadelphia and New York,
and yet the cost of living in it, with two rooms and a chamber, is
about $90 per week. The enormous expense [here] and the superior
attractions [there] drive all the American travellers to Paris and
the continent. The _London Times_ has taken up the subject, and is
now daily comparing the superior cheapness and superior
accommodations of the hotels in the United States with those of
London. Here there are no _table-d’hôtes_, and the house may be
full without your knowing who is in it.

I think I have a treasure in the servant (Jackson) I brought with
me from New York. If he should only hold out, he is all I could
desire.

Mr. Welsh surpasses my expectations as a man of business. Colonel
Lawrence, the attaché without pay, is industrious, gentlemanly,
and has been highly useful. He knows everybody, and works as
though he received $10,000 per annum. I venture to say I have as
able and useful a legation as any in London. Lawrence has gone to
Scotland, in company with Miss Chapman and her father, and I think
he is much pleased with her. In truth, she is a nice girl and very
handsome. The Chapmans will return immediately to the United
States.

The Marchioness of Wellesley is suffering from the dropsy, and
she, with her sister, Lady Stafford, remained a few days at this
house. I saw a good deal of them whilst they were here, and they
have been very kind to me. They love to talk about America, and
they yet appear to have genuine American hearts. Lady Wellesley
lives at Hampton Court,—the old historic palace, about fifteen
miles from London, erected by Cardinal Wolsey, and I am going
there to dine with them and see the palace on Saturday...... The
Duchess of Leeds is in Scotland. These three American girls have
had a strange fate. Many of their sex have envied them, but I
think without cause. They are all childless, and would, I verily
believe, have been more happy had they been united to independent
gentlemen in their own country.

It is impossible to conceive of a more elegant and accomplished
lady than Lady Wellesley, and although bowed down by disease, she
still retains the relics of her former beauty. Her younger sister,
Betsy Caton (Lady Stafford), the belle of belles in her day in
America, has become gross and does not retain a trace of her good
looks, except a cheerful and animated countenance. She is
evidently a fine woman, and very much a Catholic devotee. They are
all widows, except the Duchess of Leeds.

Rank, rank is everything in this country. My old friend of twenty
years ago, Mrs. ——, the wife of the partner of the great House of
——, and then a nice little Yankee woman, who had never been at
court, continually talks to me now about the duchess of this and
the countess of that, and the queen, lords and ladies afford her a
constant theme. Her daughter, and only child, who will be
immensely rich, is the wife of ——, and this has given her a lift.
She is still, however, the same good kind-hearted woman she was in
the ancient time; but has grown very large. They are now at their
country-seat at ——, her husband’s business preventing her from
going far away. I have now nearly finished my sheet. I have not
yet had time to see any of the lions. God bless you! Remember me
kindly to Mrs. Hunter. I have written to Clemmie since I have been
here.

From your affectionate uncle, etc.

September 30, 1853.

I have a few minutes to spare before the despatch bag closes and I
devote them to writing a line to you. I have received your very
kind and acceptable letter of the 14th September from Charleston,
and cordially thank you for the agreeable and interesting
information which it contains.

I have not yet obtained a house. It seems impossible to procure
one, in every respect suitable for myself and the legation, for
less than $3500 to $4500. The expense of living in this country
exceeds even what I had anticipated...... I shall preserve my
hotel bills as curiosities.

I did not suppose that your name had reached thus far. I dined the
other day at Hampton Court with Ladies Wellesley and Stafford. Mr.
and Mrs. Woodville of Baltimore were present. Mrs. Woodville said
she did not know you herself, but her youngest son was well
acquainted with you and spoke of you in the highest terms. I found
she had previously been saying pretty things of you to the two
ladies......

I shrewdly suspect that Miss Chapman has made a conquest of
Colonel Lawrence. He went off with her and her father on a visit
to Scotland, and I shall not be much surprised if it should be a
match, though I know nothing. The colonel is quite deaf which is
very much against him.

She is delighted with her travels, is very handsome, and has a
great deal of vivacity...... Upon the whole I was much pleased
with her.

I am sorry I have not time to write you a longer letter. Remember
me very kindly to our friends in Virginia. May God bless you!

Yours very affectionately, etc.

October 14, 1853.

I have received yours of the 28th ultimo. I did not think I would
write to you by to-morrow’s steamer, but have a few minutes left
before the closing of the bag. I am sorry, truly sorry, that you
look upon your trip to England as “the future realization of a
beautiful dream.” Like all other dreams you will be disappointed
in the reality. I have never yet met an American gentleman or lady
who, whatever they may profess, was pleased with London. They
hurry off to Paris, as speedily as possible, unless they have
business to detain them here. A proud American, who feels himself
equal at home to the best, does not like to be shut out by an
impassable barrier from the best or rather the highest society in
this country. My official position will enable me to surmount this
barrier, but I feel that it will only be officially. Neither my
political antecedents nor the public business entrusted to my
charge will make me a favorite with these people, and I shall
never play toady to them.[11] It is true I know very few of them
as yet. They are all in the country, or on the continent, where
they will continue until the opening of the spring. They pass the
spring and part of the summer in London, just reversing the order
in our country.

I do not think well of your going to Philadelphia to learn
French...... Clementina Pleasanton writes me that they will do all
they can to instruct you in speaking that language. You will be
far better with them than at a French boarding house in
Philadelphia.

I saw Mr. and Mrs. Haines, Lily’s friends, last evening. They left
Paris about a week ago. She gave a glowing description of the
delights of that city; but said she would be almost tempted to
commit suicide, should she be compelled to remain long in London.
When you write to Lily please to give her my love. Remember me
very kindly to Mr. Davenport and your relatives, and believe me
ever to be,

Yours affectionately,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

Footnote 11:

This anticipation was not realized. He became a great “favorite”
in English society, without any effort beyond the exercise of his
social gifts, in a natural way.

It was just twenty years since, on his return from St. Petersburg, Mr. Buchanan had passed a short time in England, and made the acquaintance of some of the public men of that period. This was in the latter part of the reign of King William IV. In 1853, Queen Victoria had been on the throne for sixteen years, and the reign was a very different one from that of her immediate predecessor. The cabinet was a coalition ministry, and was described by a sort of nick-name as the “Ministry of all the talents.” It broke down rather disastrously and suddenly while Mr. Buchanan was in England, but on his arrival it seemed to have a long lease of power. Lord Aberdeen was the Premier; Mr. Gladstone, Chancellor of the Exchequer; Lord Palmerston (out of his proper element), was at the head of the Home Department; Lord Clarendon was Foreign Secretary; the Duke of Newcastle was Secretary for the Colonies; Mr. Sidney Herbert, Secretary at War; Lord John Russell was the ministerial leader of the House of Commons. The other members of the ministry were: Lord Cranworth, Lord Chancellor; Earl Granville, President of the Council; the Marquis of Lansdowne, without office; the Duke of Argyle, Lord Privy Seal; Sir James Graham, First Lord of the Admiralty; Sir Charles Wood, President of the Board of Control; Sir William Molesworth, First Commissioner of Public Works. In point of personal ability and character, this was a strong ministry. It went to pieces in 1855, in consequence of its want of capacity to conduct a foreign war, for which neither Lord Aberdeen nor Mr. Gladstone had any stomach, originally; for which the Duke of Newcastle, who had become Secretary at War, although an excellent man, had not the requisite force; and which should, in fact, have been under the guidance of Lord Palmerston, if there was to be a war with such a power as Russia, in conjunction with such an ally as Louis Napoleon. But when Mr. Buchanan came to London, the Crimean war was a good way in the distance, and it seemed not improbable that he would have a clear field for the settlement of the questions which had brought him to England.

It will strike the reader, however, oddly enough, after perusing the grave account which Mr. Buchanan has given of his reasons for accepting the mission, and the nature of the topics on which he was to negotiate, that while the conferences were going on between him and Lord Clarendon on the subjects which had brought him to London, he had to encounter a question of court etiquette. The story would hardly be worth repetition now, if it were not for the amusing _finale_ of the whole affair. It may be introduced with a little preface.

On the accession of Queen Victoria, at the early age of eighteen, the Duke of Wellington is said to have drily remarked, that the Tories would have little chance under a female sovereign, since he had no small-talk and Peel had no manners.[12] The Tories did not find it so in the sequel, for although, when the Whigs had to go out of power, in 1841, and the Queen had to part with her first official advisers, it cost her a rather severe personal struggle,—inasmuch as she is said to have written a very unconstitutional note to her old friend, Lord Melbourne, lamenting that “the sad, the too sad day has come at last,”[13]—yet, so wise and faithful had been the political education which that minister had given to his young sovereign, that at the very first necessity she gracefully yielded her personal feelings to her public duty, and made it certain that personal government, independent of the will of Parliament, had passed away forever from the public affairs of England. From that time forward, it seems to have been the accepted doctrine of the British constitution, that the sovereign is not merely a state pageant, but is a magistrate raised above the feelings or interests of party, with a function to perform in the State, which comprehends the right to be consulted on every question or measure, to offer advice, and to give a real as well as a formal assent, although bound at all times to receive as ministers those who can command the confidence for the time being of the House of Commons. And well and wisely has the woman whose reign has now extended to the very unusual period of forty-six years fulfilled this function of a constitutional sovereign. But her Majesty has long had the reputation of being very rigid in matters of court etiquette and ceremonial. The truth probably is, that at the commencement of her reign, the necessity for giving to the manners of the court a very different tone from that which had existed in the time of the late king, her uncle,—a necessity which coincided with her tastes as a lady, and her sense of what was becoming in her position,—had brought about a good deal that was regarded by strangers, and by some of her own subjects, as an unnecessary observance of punctilio. The officials of the court, whose duty it was to attend to these matters, very likely carried them farther than the queen’s wishes or commands required. At all events, the sequel of Mr. Buchanan’s little affair of what dress he should wear at the queen’s receptions, does not show that her Majesty attached quite so much importance to it as did her master of ceremonies.

Footnote 12:

Mr. Justin McCarthy is responsible for this anecdote. “History of
our own Times.” Vol. I.

Footnote 13:

This anecdote is given on private authority.

Governor Marcy, our Secretary of State, was a man of great vigor of intellect, and for all the important duties of his position an uncommonly wise and able statesman. But his intercourse with the world, aside from American politics, had not been extensive. He had thought proper to issue a circular to the ministers of the United States in Europe, directing them to appear at the courts to which they were accredited, “in the simple dress of an American citizen.” What this might be, in all cases, was not very clear. Our ministers at foreign courts had hitherto, on occasions of ceremony, worn a simple uniform, directed for them by the Department, which, whatever may have been its merits or its demerits as a costume, was sufficient to distinguish the wearer from “one of the upper court servants.” All this was now to be changed, and our ministers were to go to court in the dress of “an American citizen,” unless it should appear that non-conformity with the customs of the country would materially impair the proper discharge of their duties. In Mr. Buchanan’s case, “the simple dress of an American citizen” was an affair of very easy determination. He wore at all times the kind of dress in which his figure appears in the frontispiece of the present volume; and his personal dignity was quite sufficient to make that dress appropriate anywhere. Although he was a democrat of democrats, and cared little for show of any kind, he was accustomed to pay that deference to the usages of society which a gentleman is always anxious to observe, and to which no one knew better than he how to accommodate himself. He was the last man in the world to attach undue importance to trifles, and it may well be supposed he was annoyed, when he found rather suddenly that the circular of the Secretary was about to cause a serious difficulty in regard to his position at the British court. The first intimation he had of this difficulty is described in a despatch which he wrote to Mr. Marcy on the 28th of October.

No. 13.

LEGATION, ETC., LONDON, October 28, 1853.

SIR:—

I deem it proper, however distasteful the subject may be, both to
you and myself, to relate to you a conversation which I had on
Tuesday last with Major-General Sir Edward Cust, the master of
ceremonies at this court, concerning my court costume. I met him
at the Traveller’s Club, and after an introduction, your circular
on this subject became the topic of conversation. He expressed
much opposition to my appearance at court “in the simple dress of
an American citizen.” I said that such was the wish of my own
Government and I intended to conform to it, unless the queen
herself would intimate her desire that I should appear in costume.
In that event, I should feel inclined to comply with her majesty’s
wishes. He said that her majesty would not object to receive me at
court in any dress I chose to put on; but whilst he had no
authority to speak for her, he yet did not doubt it would be
disagreeable to her if I did not conform to the established usage.
He said I could not of course expect to be invited to court balls
or court dinners where all appeared in costumes; that her majesty
never invited the bishops to balls, not deeming it compatible with
their character; but she invited them to concerts, and on these
occasions, as a court dress was not required, I would also be
invited. He grew warm by talking, and said that, whilst the queen
herself would make no objections to my appearance at court in any
dress I thought proper, yet the people of England would consider
it _presumption_. I became somewhat indignant in my turn, and said
that whilst I entertained the highest respect for her majesty, and
desired to treat her with the deference which was eminently her
due, yet it would not make the slightest difference to me,
individually, whether I ever appeared at court.

He stated that in this country an invitation from the queen was
considered a command.

I paid no attention to this remark, but observed that the rules of
etiquette at the British court were more strict even than in
Russia. Senator Douglas of the United States had just returned
from St. Petersburg. When invited to visit the czar in costume, he
informed Count Nesselrode that he could not thus appear. The count
asked him in what dress he appeared before the President of the
United States. Mr. Douglas answered in the dress he then wore. The
count, after consulting the emperor, said that was sufficient, and
in this plain dress he visited the emperor at the palace and on
parade, and had most agreeable conversations with him on both
occasions.

Sir Edward then expressed his gratification at having thus met me
accidentally,—said he had just come to town for that day and
should leave the next morning, but would soon do himself the honor
of calling upon me.

Although he disclaimed speaking by the authority of the queen, yet
it appeared both to myself and Colonel Lawrence, who was present,
that they must have had some conversation in the court circle on
the subject. I entertain this belief the more firmly, as Sir
Edward has since talked to a member of this legation in the same
strain.

So then, from present appearances, it is probable I shall be
placed socially in Coventry on this question of dress, because it
is certain that should her majesty not invite the American
minister to her balls and dinners, he will not be invited to the
balls and dinners of her courtiers. This will be to me,
personally, a matter of not the least importance, but it may
deprive me of the opportunity of cultivating friendly and social
relations with the ministers and other courtiers which I might
render available for the purpose of obtaining important
information and promoting the success of my mission.

I am exceedingly anxious to appear “at court in the simple dress
of an American citizen;” and this not only because it accords with
my own taste, but because it is certain that if the minister to
the court of St. James should appear in uniform, your circular
will become a dead letter in regard to most, if not all, the other
ministers and chargés of our country in Europe.

The difficulty in the present case is greatly enhanced by the fact
that the sovereign is a lady, and the devotion of her subjects
towards her partakes of a mingled feeling of loyalty and
gallantry. Any conduct, therefore, on my part which would look
like disrespect towards her personally could not fail to give
great offence to the British people. Should it prove to be
impossible for me to conform to the suggestions of the circular,
in regard to dress “without detriment to the public interest,” and
“without impairing my usefulness to my country,” then I shall
certainly and cheerfully be guided by its earnest recommendation
and “adopt the nearest approach to it compatible with the due
performance of my public duties.” This course I pursued from
choice whilst minister in Russia, and this course I should have
pursued here without any instructions.

Yours very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

We next get some reference to the dress question in the following letter to Miss Lane:

LONDON, December 9, 1853.

MY DEAR HARRIET:—

I received your favor of the 14th ultimo in due time, and thank
you for the information it contained, all of which was interesting
to me.

In regard to your coming to London with Colonel Lawrence and his
lady, should he be married in February next, I have this to say:
Your passage at that season of the year would, unless by a happy
accident, be stormy and disagreeable, though not dangerous. I have
scarcely yet recovered from the effects of the voyage, and should
you be as bad a sailor as myself, and have a rough passage, it
might give your constitution a shock. The month of April would be
a much more agreeable period to cross the Atlantic; and you would
still arrive here in time for the most fashionable and longer part
of the fashionable season.

It is my duty to inform you that a general conviction prevails
here, on the part of Lord Palmerston, the secretary of the
interior, and the distinguished physicians, as well as among the
intelligent people, that the cholera will be very bad in London
and other parts of England during the latter part of the next
summer and throughout the autumn. They are now making extensive
preparations, and adopting extensive sanitary measures to render
the mortality as small as possible. The London journals contain
articles on the subject almost every day. Their reason for this
conviction is,—that we have just had about as many cases of
cholera during the past autumn, as there were during the autumn in
a former year, preceding the season when it raged so extensively
and violently. Now this question will be for your own
consideration. I think it my duty to state the facts, and it will
be for you to decide whether you will postpone your visit until
the end of the next autumn for this reason, or at least until we
shall see whether the gloomy anticipations here are likely to be
realized.

I still anticipate difficulty about my costume; but should this
occur, it will probably continue throughout my mission. It is,
therefore, no valid reason why you should postpone your visit. In
that event you must be prepared to share my fate. So far as
regards the consequences to myself, I do not care a button for
them; but it would mortify me very much to see you treated
differently from other ladies in your situation.

If this costume affair should not prove an impediment, I feel that
I shall get along very smoothly here. The fashionable world, with
the exception of the high officials, are all out of London, and
will remain absent until the last of February or beginning of
March. I have recently been a good deal in the society of those
who are now here, and they all seem disposed to treat me very
kindly, especially the ladies. Their hours annoy me very much. My
invitations to dinner among them are all for a quarter before
eight, which means about half-past that hour. There is no such
thing as social visiting here of an evening. This is all done
between two and six in the afternoon, if such visits may be called
social. I asked Lady Palmerston what was meant by the word “early”
placed upon her card of invitation for an evening reception, and
she informed me it was about ten o’clock. The habits, and customs,
and business of the world here render these hours necessary. But
how ridiculous it is in our country, where no such necessity
exists, to violate the laws of nature in regard to hours, merely
to follow the fashions of this country.

Should you be at Mr. Ward’s, I would thank you to present my kind
love to Miss Ellen. I hope you will not forget the interests of
Eskridge in that quarter. You inform me that Sallie Grier and
Jennie Pleasanton were about to be married. I desire to be
remembered with special kindness to Mrs. Jenkins. I can never
forget “the auld lang syne” with her and her family. Give my love
also to Kate Reynolds. Remember me to Miss Hetty, or as you would
say, Miss Hettie, for whom I shall ever entertain a warm regard. I
send this letter open to Eskridge, so that he may read it and send
it to your direction.

From your affectionate uncle,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

As the court was not in London at the time when this letter was written, the portentous question of Mr. Buchanan’s costume was not likely to be brought to an immediate solution. But early in February, (1854), Parliament was to be opened by the queen in person. Mr. Buchanan did not attend the ceremony; and thereupon there was an outcry in the London press. The following extract from a despatch to Mr. Marcy gives a full account of the whole matter, up to the date:

You will perceive by the London journals, the _Times_, the
_Morning Post_, the _News_, the _Morning Herald_, the _Spectator_,
the _Examiner_, _Lloyd’s_, &c., &c., copies of which I send you,
that my absence from the House of Lords, at the opening of
Parliament, has produced quite a sensation. Indeed, I have found
difficulty in preventing this incident from becoming a subject of
inquiry and remark in the House of Commons. All this is peculiarly
disagreeable to me, and has arisen entirely from an indiscreet and
rather offensive remark of the London _Times_, in the account
which that journal published of the proceedings at the opening of
Parliament. But for this, the whole matter would probably have
passed away quietly, as I had desired.

Some time after my interview with Sir Edward Cust, the master of
ceremonies, in October last (whom I have never since seen), which
I reported to you in my despatch No. 13, of the 28th of October, I
determined, after due reflection, neither to wear gold lace nor
embroidery at court; and I did not hesitate to express this
determination. The spirit of your circular, as well as my own
sense of propriety, brought me to this conclusion. I did not deem
it becoming in me, as the representative of a Republic, to imitate
a court costume, which may be altogether proper in the
representatives of royalty. A minister of the United States
should, in my opinion, wear something more in character with our
Democratic institutions than a coat covered with embroidery and
gold lace. Besides, after all, this would prove to be but a feeble
attempt “to ape foreign fashions;” because, most fortunately, he
could not wear the orders and stars which ornament the coats of
other diplomatists, nor could he, except in rare instances, afford
the diamonds, unless hired for the occasion.

At the same time, entertaining a most sincere respect for the
exalted character of the queen, both as a sovereign and a lady, I
expressed a desire to appear at court in such a dress as I might
suppose would be most agreeable to herself, without departing from
the spirit of the circular.

It was then suggested to me, from a quarter which I do not feel at
liberty to mention, that I might assume the civil dress worn by
General Washington; but after examining Stuart’s portrait, at the
house of a friend, I came to the conclusion that it would not be
proper for me to adopt this costume. I observed, “fashions had so
changed since the days of Washington, that if I were to put on his
dress, and appear in it before the chief magistrate of my own
country, at one of his receptions, I should render myself a
subject of ridicule for life. Besides, it would be considered
presumption in me to affect the style of dress of the Father of
his Country.”

It was in this unsettled state of the question, and before I had
adopted any style of dress, that Parliament was opened. If,
however, the case had been different, and I had anticipated a
serious question, prudential reasons would have prevented me from
bringing it to issue at the door of the House of Lords. A court
held at the palace would, for many reasons, be a much more
appropriate place for such a purpose.

Under these circumstances, I received, on the Sunday morning
before the Tuesday on which Parliament met, a printed circular
from Sir Edward Cust, similar to that which I have no doubt was
addressed to all the other foreign ministers, inviting me to
attend the opening of the session. The following is extracted from
this circular: “No one can be admitted into the Diplomatic
Tribune, or in the body of the House, but in full court dress.”

Now, from all the attending circumstances, I do not feel disposed
to yield to the idea that any disrespect was intended by this
circular, either to my country or to myself. Since I came to
London, I have received such attentions from high official
personages as to render this quite improbable. What may be the
final result of the question I cannot clearly foresee, but I do
not anticipate any serious difficulties.

In the latter part of February the queen held the first levée of the season. Mr. Buchanan had signified to the master of ceremonies that he should present himself at the queen’s levée in the kind of dress that he always wore, with the addition of a plain dress sword. The result is given in the course of the following letters to his niece; and thus, through a happy expedient, assented to cheerfully by the queen, this Gordian knot was cut by a drawing-room rapier which never left its sheath. In fact, Mr. Buchanan had already become so much liked in the royal circle and in society generally, that the court officials could not longer refuse to let him have his own way about his reception at the levée, especially after he had dined at the palace in “frock-dress,” an invitation which was doubtless given in good-humored compliance with his wishes, and to smooth the way into the more formal reception.

[TO MISS LANE.]

LONDON, February 18th, 1854.

MY DEAR HARRIET:—

According to my calculation, Captain West will leave New York for
Liverpool in the Atlantic on Saturday, the 29th April; and it is
my particular desire that you should come with him, _under his
special care_, in preference to any other person. I shall send
this letter open to Captain West, and if he should transmit it to
you with a line stating that he will take charge of the freight,
you may then consider the matter settled. I shall meet you, God
willing, in Liverpool.

I have no doubt that the lady whom you mention in yours of the 2d
instant would be an agreeable companion, and should she come in
the Atlantic at the same time with yourself, it is all very well;
but even in that event, I desire that you should be under the
special care of Captain West. He is a near relative of our old
friend, Redmond Conyngham, and I have the most perfect confidence
in him both as a gentleman and a sailor. He stays at the Astor
House when in New York, and you had better stop there with your
brother when about to embark.

Had he been coming out two weeks earlier in April, I should have
been better pleased; but on no account would I have consented to
your voyage until near the middle of that month. Yours
affectionately, etc.

LONDON, February 21st, 1854.

I have received your letter of the 2d instant, and am truly
rejoiced to learn that you have recovered your usual good health.
I hope you will take good care of yourself in Washington and not
expose yourself to a relapse.

I intended to write you a long letter to-day, but an unexpected
pressure of business will prevent me from doing this before the
despatch bag closes. I now write merely to inform you that I have
made every arrangement for your passage with Captain West in the
Atlantic, either on Saturday, the 15th, or Saturday, the 29th
April. He does not at present know which, but he will inform you
on his arrival in New York. He will leave Liverpool to-morrow. And
let me assure you that this is the very best arrangement which
could be made for you. You will be quite independent, and under
the special charge of the captain. You will discover that you will
thus enjoy many advantages. If you have friends or acquaintances
coming out at the same time, this is all very well; _but let not
this prevent you from putting yourself under the special charge of
Captain West_; _and you can say that this is my arrangement_. I
wish you to inform me whether you will leave New York on the 15th
or 29th April, so that I may make arrangements accordingly. In
either event I shall, God willing, meet you at Liverpool. I shall
write to Eskridge by the next steamer, and direct him to provide
for your passage. You will of course have no dresses made in the
United States. I am not a very close observer, or an accurate
judge, but I think the ladies here of the very highest rank do not
dress as expensively, with the exception of jewels, as those in
the United States.

I dined on Wednesday last with the queen, at Buckingham Palace.
Both she and Prince Albert were remarkably civil, and I had quite
a conversation with each of them separately. But the question of
costume still remains: and from this I anticipate nothing but
trouble in several directions. I was invited “in frock-dress” to
the dinner, and of course I had no difficulty. To-morrow will be
the first levée of the queen, and my appearance there in a suit of
plain clothes will, I have no doubt, produce quite a sensation,
and become a subject of gossip for the whole court.

I wish very much that I could obtain an autograph of General
Washington for the Countess of Clarendon. She has been very civil
to me, and like our friend Laura is a collector of autographs. She
is very anxious to obtain such an autograph, and I have promised
to do my best to procure it for her. Perhaps Mr. Pleasanton could
help me to one.

The first wish of my heart is to see you comfortably and
respectably settled in life; but ardently as I desire this, you
ought never to marry any person for whom you think you would not
have a proper degree of affection. You inform me of your conquest,
and I trust it may be of such a character as will produce good
fruit. But I have time to say no more, except to request that you
will give my love to Laura and Clemmie, and my kindest regards to
Mr. Pleasanton, and also to Mr. and Mrs. Slidell and Mr. and Mrs.
Thomson, of New Jersey. Ever yours affectionately, etc.

LONDON, February 24, 1854.

Mr. Peabody handed me at the dinner-table the enclosed, which he
made me promise to send to you. Mr. Macalester had mentioned your
name to him.

The dress question, after much difficulty, has been finally and
satisfactorily settled. I appeared at the levée on Wednesday last,
in just such a dress as I have worn at the President’s one hundred
times. A black coat, white waistcoat and cravat and black
pantaloons and dress boots, with the addition of a very plain
black-handled and black-hilted dress sword. This to gratify those
who have yielded so much, and to distinguish me from the upper
court servants. I knew that I would be received in any dress I
might wear; but could not have anticipated that I should be
received in so kind and distinguished a manner. Having yielded
they did not do things by halves. As I approached the queen, an
arch but benevolent smile lit up her countenance;—as much as to
say, you are the first man who ever appeared before me at court in
such a dress. I confess that I never felt more proud of being an
American than when I stood in that brilliant circle, “in the
simple dress of an American citizen.” I have no doubt the circular
is popular with a majority of the people of England. Indeed, many
of the most distinguished members of Parliament have never been at
court, because they would not wear the prescribed costume.

I find lying on the table before me a note from the Duchess of
Somerset, which possibly Laura might be glad to have as an
autograph. She prides herself on being descended in a direct line
from Robert the Third of Scotland.

With my love to Laura and Clemmie, and my best regards to Mr.
Pleasanton, I remain, in haste, yours affectionately, etc.

LONDON, March 10, 1854.

I have received yours of the 16th ultimo, from Philadelphia, and
am rejoiced to learn from yourself that your health has been
entirely restored. For several reasons I should have been glad you
had gone to Washington at an early period of the winter, as I
desired, and I hope you went there, as you said you would, the
week after the date of your letter.

You have not mentioned the name of Miss Wilcox in any of your
letters, and from this I presume you have not made her
acquaintance. I regret this, because she was much esteemed among
her acquaintances here, and many persons whom you will meet will
make inquiries of you concerning her. She talked of you to me.

I shall soon expect to learn from you whether you will leave New
York with Captain West for Liverpool on the 15th or 29th April.
God willing, I shall meet you at Liverpool. I should be very glad
if Mrs. Commodore Perry would accompany you. I am well acquainted
with her, and esteem her highly. Still, I repeat my desire, that
in any event you should come with Captain West on one of the two
days designated. I have no news of any importance to communicate.
I am getting along here smoothly and comfortably, determined to
make the best of a situation not very agreeable to me. My health
has absolutely required that I should decline many 7½ and 8
o’clock dinner invitations, and evening parties commencing at 10½
and 11 o’clock.

I venture to predict that you will not be much pleased with
London, and I desire that you should not be disappointed. You must
not anticipate too much, except from seeing the sights. These are
numerous and interesting, from their historical associations. I
have been making inquiries concerning a maid for you.

Please to remember me, in the kindest terms, to Mr. Pleasanton,
and give my love to Laura and Clemmie. Ever yours affectionately,

JAMES BUCHANAN.

In a despatch to Mr. Marcy, written soon after his appearance at the Queen’s levée, Mr. Buchanan said: “I have purposely avoided to mention the names of those with whom I have had interviews on this subject, lest it might expose them to censorious remarks hereafter; but having mentioned that of Sir Edward Cust, the master of ceremonies, in my despatch No. 13, of the 28th October last, it is but an act of simple justice to state, that at the court on Wednesday last, his attentions to me were of the kindest and most marked character, and have placed me under many obligations. In the matter of the sword, I yielded without reluctance to the earnest suggestion of a high official character, who said that a sword, at all the courts of the world, was considered merely as the mark of a gentleman, and although he did not mention the queen’s name, yet it was evident, from the whole conversation, that this was desired as a token of respect for her Majesty. He had, on a former occasion, expressed the hope that I would wear something indicating my official position, and not appear at court, to employ his own language, in the dress I wore upon the street. I told him promptly that I should comply with his suggestion, and that in wearing a sword at court, as an evidence of the very high regard which I felt for her Majesty, I should do nothing inconsistent with my own character as an American citizen, or that of my country. I might have added that as ‘the simple dress of an American citizen’ is exactly that of the upper court servants, it was my purpose from the beginning to wear something which would distinguish me from them. At the first, I had thought of United States buttons; but a plain dress sword has a more manly and less gaudy appearance. I hope I am now done with this subject forever.”

So that, after all, it appears plainly enough that, so far as the queen herself was concerned, her Majesty’s wish was only that the representative of the nation nearest in blood to her own, should honor his country by paying to her a mark of respect, by a token that would indicate the official position in which he stood before her. As soon as Mr. Buchanan perceived this, he acted as became him, and from that time forward he was as welcome a guest in the royal circle as any one who entered it.

[FROM SECRETARY MARCY.]

(Private and confidential.) WASHINGTON, January 3, 1856.

MY DEAR SIR:—

I have just finished a despatch in answer to Lord Clarendon’s last
on British recruitment in the United States. You will be startled
at its length, and I consider it objectionable in that respect,
but the peculiar character of the one to which it is a reply
rendered a review of the whole subject unavoidable. You are
requested to read it to Lord Clarendon, but I presume he will do
as I did when his was presented to me by Mr. Crampton—I moved to
dispense with the reading, or rather had it read by the title, and
received the copy.

I do not mean to trouble you with any other comments upon it, but
merely to remark that you will find that I have been very mindful
of your kind suggestion. The _suaviter in modo_ has really very
much impaired the _fortiter in re_. The manner I am quite sure
will please Lord Clarendon, but I presume the matter will not. I
really believe he does not know how offensively British officers
have behaved in this recruiting business; but he had the means of
knowing all about it, and when it was made a grave matter of
complaint it should have been investigated. After the issues of
fact and of law made in the case, and the refusal on the part of
Great Britain to do anything which could be regarded as a
satisfaction, it was not possible to avoid the recall of Mr.
Crampton.

You will see by the papers here that the debate in the Senate on
the Central American question has opened finely. I do not think
that advocates even among any of the factions can be found who
will attempt to justify the conduct of the British ministry in
that affair.

The correspondence on the subject appears in the “_The Union_” of
this morning and you will receive it as soon as you will this
letter. We shall all be very anxious to learn how it has been
received by the British government and people.

The people of the United States are not in a very good humor
towards the British government at this time, yet there is great
calmness in the public mind, which indicates a settled purpose to
stand for their rights.