Littell's Living Age

times to stop this source of squabbling, by the departure of the newly married couple; drawing up a table of precedence for Euro- but when his appeal to the monarch had no pean sovereigns; but it was not recognized. result, he expressed himself satisfied. The first rank was granted, without opposi- the previous century a Prussian envoy betion, to the envoy of the German emperor; haved with even less gallantry to a Danish but France, Spain, England, and at a later ambassadress. She claimed precedence, but date, even Sweden, contended for the second he most unceremoniously thrust her back. place.

The Congress of Vienna deprived ambas sadresses of the chance of quarrelling with one another, or with the envoys. The reg

These disputes of the envoys were taken up at the Congress of Westphalia by their wives, who carried them on much more vio-ulations drawn up on March 19, 1815, de lently and recklessly than their husbands did. There was abundant opportunity for this, because the rule was strictly adhered to that every newly arrived lady should return the visits of her female companions, exactly in the same rotation as they had been paid to her. Moreover, as every envoy had brought his wife to Münster, there was ample score for squabbles for precedence in this little town, where they were shut up so long. Moser gives us a long list of examples of this nature; and the wife of Servein, the French envoy, seems to have distinguished herself most by her quarrelsome temper. On her journey to Münster she had had a dispute at the Hague with the Princess of Orange about the first visit, and she carried on the same game at the Congress of Westphalia. Thus, for instance, this lady and the Countess Sannazar, ambassadress from Mantua, had a tremendous quarrel, because the latter paid the first visit to Madame Brun, the Spanish envoy's wife. Her husband had a similar quarrel with the Hanseatic envoy, because the latter paid the first visit to the Spanish ambassador. In consequence of these quarrels, banquets at this congress often terminated with sanguinary conflicts among the servants; and similar quarrels occurred at the Congress of Nimeguen. Moser tells us of one between the French and the Spanish ambassadors, because the latter received the first visit from the wife of the Swedish envoy, when she appeared in public after her confinement. Ever the envoys themselves were not always so gallant as to avoid squabbles with the ladies about precedence. M. de Brenne records such a case as occurring between the French ambassador and the English ambassadress, on the occasion of the marriage of Charles I. with the French Princess Henrietta. The envoy was not willing to allow his colleague's wife an envied seat in the king's coach upon

cided that ambassadors at the different courts
should rank according to the date on which
their arrival was officially announced to the
court. By this most simple arrangement,
which now holds good at every court in Eu-
rope, the old disputes for precedence among
the envoys are abolished, and nothing is left
to the ambassadresses but to yield to the
new order of things. Formerly the preten-
sions of envoys and their wives to precedence
over persons of a non-ambassadorial charao-
ter, were very far-fetched; and at times it
happened that they claimed precedence of
the princes and princesses of the court to
which they were accredited. Imperial and
royal envoys at times considered themselves
superior to the princes and electors to whom
they were sent; they even expected cardi
nals to yield to them; and Moser tells us
of a quarrel of this nature between Cardinal
Grimani and a Spanish ambassadress, in
1702, which led to a terrible fight between
their servants in the streets of Rome. A
papal decree, however, expressly claimed, in
1750, precedence for cardinals.
Such cases,
after all, are isolated, and the ambassa
dresses, as a rule, only demanded to be
ranked immediately after princesses of the
blood. At the Roman court they had car-
ried on for many years a quarrel for prece
dence with the princesses of the Houses of
Colonna and Ursini. It commenced in the
time of the first ambassadress, Countess
Olivarez, and cropped out again every now
and then. Similar disputes between ambas
sadresses and ladies belonging to the nobil
ity, took place repeatedly in these countries;
and Wicquefort tells us of one between
Countess Lilienroth, wife of the Swedish en-
voy, and a Countess Horn, which led to a
sharp exchange of notes between her hus
band and the States-General. There are no
established rules as to the rank of envoys
and their wives, although various formal

treaties have been made on the subject be- | ambassadresses, when belonging to a differ-
tween different states. As a rule, consider-ent creed from that of their husbands, have
able difficulty arises as to the position of a right to a special form of worshp, and this
ambassadresses to the Minister of Foreign question may be of practical importance in
Affairs and their wives. At the French court countries like Spain, Turkey, etc. This
there used to be entire equality; but now- privilege is almost universally conceded, by
a-days these ministers appear to have prece-writers on the subject, to ambassadresses, on
dence of ambassadors at nearly every court.
The rank of ambassadresses is most cer-
tainly determined in our country, where they
rank after the viscountesses, although they
take precedence of those ministers who are
not members of the nobility.

We will shortly allude to a few ceremo-
nial claims of ambassadresses. They, for
instance, are allowed to go to court with six
horses and outriders, and to bear the title of
Excellency; and, at the beginning of the
reign of Henry IV., they had the right of
driving into the Louvre in their coaches.
The Venetian ambassadress at the French
court enjoyed the special privilege that, when
she was confined, the king was godfather to
the child, held it at the font, and made it
handsome presents. Valuable presents were
also frequently made to these ladies by the
sovereigns. At the Papal court, these con-
sisted mostly of relics, or an agnus Dei;
presents which, at that day, had a far greater
value in the eyes of ladies than they would
have at present.
Ceremonial claims of so
prominent a character were, as we stated,
not conceded to the wives of envoys of a
lower rank; still they were treated very
courteously, and the wives of secretaries of
legation, even, were never denied admission
to court. Admission to court, however, has
been denied even to ambassadresses, for ir-
regular conduct, and the same has occurred in
consequence of disputes; as, for instance, in
1782, in the case of the wife of the Austrian
envoy at Stockholm. This lady had refused
to kiss the queen's hand upon introduction.
unless the latter consented to kiss her cheek,
and she was, consequently, not presented at
court. At a later date, the ambassadress
attended a ball at the city hall, at which the
royal family were also present; and the mas-
ter of the ceremonies intimated to her that,
as she had not been presented, she could not
remain in the society of the royal family.
The imperial court regarded this in the light
of an insult; the ambassador was recalled,
and his post remained vacant till 1788. The
question has been frequently asked whether

account of their caractère representant, but it is as unanimously refused to the wives of other envoys, and with some show of reason. The privileges of the latter are merely based on the circumstances that they form part of the suite of the envoy, their husband; and only the envoy himself has, according to the law of nations, a claim to his own private religious service, in the case that his co-religionists are not allowed to perform public or private worship in the same city.

Other envoys' wives are equally privileged with the ambassadress in this immunity and exemption from the legislature of the power to which their husband is accredited, but there have been a few cases in which this privilege has been broken through. Thus, in the last century, the wife of the Spanish envoy, at the court of Savoy, was arrested for debt, but as soon as the duke obtained cognizance of the fact, he ordered her liberation, and apologized to the King of Spain in a letter written with his own hand. In the same way the wife of the imperial envoy, Count Plettenberg, was insulted, in 1737, by the troops of the Archbishop of Cologne, at the siege of Nordhausen Castle; the emperor took up the matter very warmly, and wrote very urgent letters both to the archbishop and to his allies, the Electors of Brandenburg and the Palatinate, in which he ordered them to respect the law of nations. We have already alluded to the quarrel for precedence between the Swedish ambassadress, Countess Lilienroth, and the Countess Horn; in the squabble, the Countess Lilienroth felt herself insulted because the other lady said to her, "Madame vous êtes une impertinente;" and her husband made a heavy complaint to the States-General thereupon. At a later date, she imagined herself insulted by a young lawyer, who spoke to her while she was leaning out of window one evening; but as he had not employed insolent language, the States-General saw no reason to give the ambassador the satisfaction which he demanded; where

upon the latter asked for his passport, and laws, or peremptorily settled by the foreign went off to his native land. Lucky is the sovereign. These principles are applicable envoy who has not a wife so jealous of her to the wives of all envoys, and especially to privileges as the Countess Lilienroth, and ambassadresses, who, as we have seen, poswho appears to have caused her poor husband incessant trouble.

sess a more independent title to their privileges than the mere fact of belonging to their An occurrence, which might have had se- husbands' suite. Moser has written a sperious consequences, took place at Vienna in cial treatise on the subject, "How long an 1730, with the wife of the Prussian envoy, ambassador's widow enjoys the privileges of Von Brandt. She was driving, with her her deceased husband;" and one of the cases daughter, past a religious procession, and which he quotes is interesting. The wife of the mob, excited by a priest, insisted on the a foreign envoy at the Viennese court retwo ladies getting out, and on their refusal, mained there when a widow. No time was they were forcibly dragged forth by two men. settled during which she must return home, The Austrian Government had the latter or lose her privileges and be regarded as a at once thrown into prison, and they after-private person, and hence, when she died, wards asked pardon of the envoy on their a few years after, she still held the ambas knees, and in chains; but the priest escaped sadorial privileges, which had never been rewithout any punishment, because the Gov-called during her lifetime. Upon her death, ernment declared that it had no jurisdiction the question was raised whether these privover him. As undoubted as the inviolabil-ileges were applicable to her will, and the ity of ambassadors' wives, is their freedom Imperial Court of Exchequer gave an opinfrom the jurisdiction of the foreign state; ion to the contrary effect. Moser attacks and these, as well as all other privileges, re- this judgment, and declares that the court main equally valid after their husbands' was incompetent to decide the question, bedeath. The practice of the several courts cause the lady was not subject to its jurishas always been the same in this respect, diction during her lifetime. although some writers have now and then As a rule, a period is allowed in most made the arbitrary assertion that, by the countries for the duration of the ambassadeath of an envoy, his widow at once returns dorial privileges of the widow of an envoy— to private life. This idea originates from a generally one year; and the same is the case confusion between the functions of the em- if the ambassadress should remain in the forbassy and its privileges: the former cer- eign capital, after her husband's recall, or tainly cease through the demise of the envoy, with him. After the expiration of this time, but not the latter. Should these cease and the ambassador's wife becomes a private perdetermine before the return of the ambas-son, just in the same way as if she had resador and his suite to their native country, turned home immediately upon her hus it only takes place at the expiration of a cer- band's recall. tain period, which is either decided by the

CHARADE.-I have always had some doubt on the solution, Good-Night, said to be Praed's "own," of his Charade, "Sir Hilary," and have not seen the American interpretations. GoodNight does not, certainly, satisfy the first two syllables of prayer. I venture to propose another solution, and, as the charade is short and not always at hand, I append it, with the interpretation in brackets :

"Sir Hilary charged at Agincourt:

Sooth 'twas an awful day!

The revellers of camp and court
Had little time to pray!
'Tis said Sir Hilary uttered there
Two syllables by way of prayer: [aide Dieu]
My first to all the brave and proud

Who see to-morrow's sun, [aid]
My next, with its cool quiet cloud, [dew]
To those who win their dewy shroud
Or ere this day be done.

My whole to those whose bright blue eyes
[adieu]

Weep when a warrior nobly dies."

-Notes and Queries.

SPECIE PAYMENTS.-CURRENCY. SINKING FUND.

527

SPECIE PAYMENTS.-NATIONAL CUR- | Clothing, Arms, Ammunition, Ships, and

RENCY.-SINKING FUND.

DURING the year 1863, it is assumed for the purpose of the present argument, that the receipts of the United States, for Duties and Taxes of all kinds, will not be less than 300 millions of dollars.

We propose that all the payments of the United States be made in notes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 1,000 dollars; such notes to be payable on demand at the Treasury, New York. They may be supposed to amount to 300 millions of dollars.

Now as a man can get gold for his notes on demand, or can remit them to any part of the United States in payment of debt, or for purchases, he will ordinarily think them more convenient and valuable than the gold itself, and, therefore, will not ask for gold until he needs it. Indeed, there is so much inconvenience and danger in holding gold in a man's own house, that most persons who have much of it will be desirous of depositing it in some safe place. So Brokers, and all who have large amounts of gold in New York, are desirous of depositing it with the Banks there. But, for the same reasons, the Banks are not willing to take the trouble and run the risk of holding gold for other people. All the room they have for that purpose is needed for their own Stocks.

Houses, they will pay in notes of larger amounts. And in the same notes they will pay the Interest of the Public Debt.

These notes paid out during the year in all parts of the United States will come back in many ways. Merchants will draw gold with them for exportation. Large amounts of them will be paid for Duties, and innumerable payments for Taxes in all parts of the country will be made in them. Still they will never all come back. It is not too much to suppose that at the end of the year 100 millions of them will be outstanding, and of course an equal amount of gold will remain in the Treasury.

It would be perfectly safe, as our large Bank experience has proved, to take half this amount and invest it in United States six per cent Stocks, as the beginning of a great SINKING FUND; in order to keep up the credit of the United States, and to pay off the Public Debt in a single generation, as we shall proceed to show.

If this investment be made, we should have, at the beginning of 1864, an outstanding amount of notes of 100 millions; and we should have to meet them 50 millions of gold and 50 millions of United States Stocks. Here would Specie Payments be again and firmly established.

During 1864 the receipts would not be less than in 1863: 350 millions in addition to 50 millions of gold on hand. Let the payments be made in notes as before. To manage the constantly increasing business of the country, it

Now let the United States accept the custody of gold when offered at any Sub-Treasury, giving in return these notes payable in gold at the great centre of commerce, the city of New York.is supposed that an addition of 20 millions a And of course all such gold should be sent to New York, so as to be ready to meet any demand. It is estimated that Banks and private persons will deposit in the year 50 millions of gold in exchange for notes.

Adding this last item to the amount estimated as receipts for Taxes, it will be seen that the United States will receive throughout the year 350 millions of dollars, and will pay out the same large amount.

year of notes will be necessary; and that there will be a steady addition of that amount of the notes outstanding, and of the gold in the Treasury. At first, indeed, the amounts will be larger. Now if we invest each year half of this increase in United States Stocks, and invest also the Interest accruing thereon, the result will be, as shown in the following table, to pay off a thousand millions of Debt, in 25 years.

That this estimate is far short of the probable In practice there never would be so large an amount may be seen from a letter to the Secre- amount as 50 millions to be invested at one tary of the Treasury, by Mr. Cisco, the Assist-time. The Commissioners of the Sinking Fund ant Treasurer at New York. It is there shown would buy up Stocks at favorable times, and in that the receipts at New York for the last six smaller amounts. months of 1861, were 207 millions, and the dis bursements 233 millions. The sum was five times as great as in the last six months of 1860. Now let us look at the practical working of the matter.

The United States will pay their Soldiers and Sailors in notes of the smaller sums, as more desirable to that large class of public creditors. To Contractors for Beef, Pork,

It is evident that if judiciously managed the process would so strengthen the credit of the United States, that even a war with Europe would not shake it.

And then such a safe and steady CURRENCY

as would be established! Men who have watched the ebbs and floods of Corporation notes for 50 years past will not think it extrav agant to assert that the establishment of such a

Currency would compensate us for the money | the feasibility of introducing a National Curlosses of the rebellion. rency by means of rechartering the Bank, with

And this may be done so quietly, and will a provision that it should issue this Currency, grow so gradually, that all existing banking and no other. The President listened favora and other business will adapt itself easily to the bly; he told Congress that if applied to, he change. There is no uncertainty about it: the would furnish such a charter as he would be experiment has already been made in Great Bri- willing to approve. Congress would not ask tain by means of the Bank of England. That him, and the great opportunity passed away. At Corporation issues 30 millions sterling of notes, the end of thirty years it is again in our power. secured by 15 millions of Government Stock The pressure of financial necessity crowds us and 15 millions of gold. We have not, and do into the right path; the Treasury Department not need, any such gigantic Corporation to come has already entered upon it; the Press advobetween the Government and the people. cates it; the public is prepared for it, and Secretary Chase has it in his power to take rank with Alexander Hamilton.

Fully impressed more than forty years ago with these principles, the writer saw an opportunity of reducing them to practice when the charter of the United States Bank was about to expire. He visited President Jackson, to show

Office of Littell's Living Age,
Boston, 20 Nov., 1862.

TABLE OF SINKING FUND AND CURRENCY FOR TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.

Gold and gold curren

cy received this year.
Expenditure in Notes.

Increase of outstand

ing Notes this year.

Gold not called for, be-
sides balance last yr.
Investments in Stocks
this year.

Total investments in
Stocks.

1863 350

350 100 100 50 50