| Show ON HIS WORD A good many things were done at the time of the civil war in this country which were of great value to the federal government but which history has never recognized perhaps lit it will always remain remain a mystery who it was that placed 11 at the mys disposal s of the government a great fortune in gold without asking any security so that thereby the cruisers which were being built in england for the confederate government were never permitted to sail out of english harbors says the boston globe in the early years of the war certain shipbuilders ship builders in great britain received commissions from the confederate government to build some very swift steamships which were to be armed with with ion long range guns and which I 1 sat sailing 1 ing u under efer letters of marque we were re expected to inflict great damage u upon on the vessels sailing under the union wag flag charles francis adams was minister from the united states to the british courland court Cour tand and he was very anxious about these ships because he knew that if they were ever permitted to sail from english ports the damage they could do to vessels sailing under the american flag would be enormous he protested to the british government but was told that that government had no information that these ships were designed to prey upon aie abe commerce of the united states unless mr adams could furnish that information the british government could take no s steps to restrain them the vessels were being built and they were almost ready to put to sea when mr adams appeared before the british authorities with proof which he had obtained in a manner which he alone knew and which he kept as a secret to the day of his death that these vessels were paid for with confederate money and he also furnished a complete list of officers and crews who were to sail upon them he furnished other evidence which was convincing at that time it was said that the min astry was not friendly to the union cause and would be glad to see the C confederate federate government maintain it 1 if f the law of nations is is very strict however so that england could be accused of doing an unfriendly act if she permitted these vessels to dep depart after such evidence mr adams believed that the ministry would find some technical way to evade responsibility and he had reason for such belief A day or two after he had made his protest with proof he received word from the british authorities that if he aou would id deposit in gold immediately to protect the english government against suit for damages the vessels would not be allowed to depart mr adams was in despair he believed this to be a trick of course he had not 5 at his instant command and as there was no ocean cable in those days he could not get it from his government in much tess less than three weeks time before he could hear from washington these cruisers would be out upon the high seas As he sat in his office grieving greatly over t this hi is peril a gentleman walked in who asked that thai absolute privacy be secured for a few moments when these two men were alone secure caire from any possible eavesdropping this visitor said to mr air adams 1 I have just learned of the demar demand ld made upon you for in in gold Is as a guarantee to the british government to protect the ahn in case they prevent the baiting sailing of these cruisers I 1 know that you cannot command any such sum of money as that until you hear from washington 1 I believe that this has been done to enable the vessels to sail away therefore I 1 have come to offer you mr adams that in gold and I 1 have only one condition to impose and that i is s that my name be never known known in thi this s transaction mr adams was amazed it seemed to him as though this was a direct interposition ter of providence after thanking in m most st earnestly his benefactor mr aga adams mos said to him 1 I have no security to offer to you OU axce except t my pledge that I 1 will s send to washington washington immediately and ask that the government forward to you its bonds as security for this loan but for three weeks at least yon will be without other security than my promise with this agreement the benefactor departed and before nightfall M mr r adams had deposited the in in gold to the intense surprise of the british officials they were obliged to keep their word and the were restrained and thus this great peril was removed As soon as it was possible to hear from washington mr adams received some in government bonds which were turned over to the benefactor as security Of course he received his gold back afterward and the bonds were returned only one living man knows who this benefactor was president lincoln knew secretary chase and mr ada adams in s also and they died without revealing the secret mr chittenden who was register of the treasury and who took the bonds to england now knows and he has enclosed the name in in an envelope despo cited it with the secretary of the treasury and after his death it may be given to the world yet financiers are satisfied that this benefactor of the united states who risked to save it from peril was either george peabody the banker and philanthropist who had long lived in london or else one of the baring brothers these were the only men capable of commanding on the instant so great an amount of money as that in gold w who ho were also so driendl friendly to the united states as to induce t them kem to make this amazing offer mr adams used to say hadit had it not been for this timely aid perhaps the history of the civil war would d have been differently written |
