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Description

Trip to England

Date

2-20-1862

Keywords

letter, McIlvaine, Chase, England

Transcript

London Feb. 20, 1982

My dear Mr. Chase

I am here still [doing] Mr [?] my only co-worker, [We] had Bancroft Davis, of Sec. of [?] when Mr. Lawrence was Minister. He staid for days & being well known in English [??] & well versed in American affairs, & of acceptable [manners] he was very useful. Pity he did not stay longer. He [gone], Mr. [?] & I are quite alone for such a work as that of leavening [opinion] in England. He thinks & others think that a [?sides] the [changes] for the [have] better place in the [earnest] of opinion teaching our affairs in the last [?]. Certainly the speeches in Parliament especially those of Cabinet Ministers have been better than were expected & indicate on the part of the [mutiny] as I have also in private conversation, a real desire to avoid as much as possible any offence to our Government & all appearance of [unnecessary] participation in our struggle, or interference therewith I have conversed with few that take so [?] & intelligent a view of our affairs as the Duke of Argyle. His sympathies are evidently with us. But he is lurking with apprehension upon our financial matters. The last time I saw him he spoke of a book by a Mr .Spence of Liverpool entitled “The American Union,” written in the intent of the Rebellion & with very considerable ability, what he said was being very widely read here & was making a strong impression, especially as to the loyal right of [?] & the unpopularity of any return of the seceded States except under [subjection]. The Recorder of London also tells me it is having a great [?] & [?]. I wish there were some American here of loyal abilities to answer in in the loyal question.

We have just heard of the capture of Fort Mr. Henry by the [?] Boats on [?] [?] River, & we hope next to her that our forces have turned the flanks of the enemy at [Bowling] Green & compelled their retreat.

I preached last Sunday night to nearly 5000 people in St. Paul's Cathedral, the largest congregation, the Bp. of London, who was present, tells me that has been there yet. As I did not preach from notes, I was [?] lest in the [?] of speaking with great deliberation in order to be heard, watching the echoes, my mind would not work with ease. But I was [?] more [?] or less disturbed, & I am assured that I was heard at the extremity of the vast [?]. The [Americans] were there in force & seemed greatly gratified. I go to Oxford soon, & though I waited to [?] it, I am booked to preach in Great St. Mary’s, the University Ch. in which [?] was [?] & where he denounced the Pope & all his [?] before his persecution.

I have had appointments of conversation with several of the Cabinet, & my [?] of [?] multiply. Your care & burden must be enormous, under the pressure of the vast expenses to be provided for, & the dis[?] effect in your spirit of the friends which have been preached in the service of the Govt. Now I think of you in that connection. I am asked a great deal about you, especially where Bp. Chase is remembered. My brother wants that his son is much pleased with the clerkship you gave him, for which I as well as he, am much obliged. There is a good deal of [rumours] here that [?], who by the way, is a very [obscure] personage here, is ready to offer as a price of recognition by the Govt. a gradual emancipation, a law providing for self purchase by slaves & prohibiting the separation of husband & wife by [sole]. If so, it is a strong proof that they think slavery a sinking ship. I have set a Member of Parliament to finding about for information how far the rumours are true, that I may inform Mr. Adams.

Will you be so good as to send the enclosed to Mr. Stanton.

Yours affectionately,

Charles P. McIlvaine

Letter to Chase, S. P. (?)

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