JB/023/154/001

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1830 Dec 7
J.B. to BelgiansLetter III
(4)

(3) continued

A few years ago being at Paris, I it happened such to me to find myself in company
with a then quondam diplomatic functionary of those same United
States. This occurrence cam on the carpet Mention being
made by me of this occurrence – Oh yes, said he
so it was: but that man before his mission ceased
had learned to speak the language with tolerable facility.
He was succeeded by had for his immediate successor another man (mentioning
him)) whose mission continued so many years (mentioning
them), and to the end of it he was not able to speak a
single syllable of that same language.

Not many a great many years ago on a mission
to the Court of London came a Minister Plenipotentiary
with his Secretary of Legation. I was well acquainted
with them both. On their arrival not any the least acquaintance with the French language was possessed by had either of them. In their then respective situations they both continued
for several years. At his departure the Secretary
of Legation had made some small acquaintance with
the French language, his principal not more than
on his arrival.

True it is that the language of the country
in which they were sent to they do their business was also
their own language, and that for any acquaintance with that language
so far as no reference came to be made to negotiations with
other powers, there are no would not, generally naturally, be any particular demand. Not the
less true is it that for such reference the occasion
could not but now and then have place. And, with the
members of the diplomatic circle to into which
in coming on this their mission on arrival they had to be introduced,
was it matter altogether matter of indifference
to the interest of their country whether they were able or
unable to hold converse? Could there be any such assurance
as that but for by the service of that same country no demand
would ever hav be
place made for information
of some sort or other
such as from any
other sources there
that same circle
would not be obtainable?
Respectable in personal character, distinguished in parentage and connection highly influential in connection were all those functionaries: and to this latter circumstance
may be seen a practicable cause of an appointment of a sort so singular and in with such frequency resurrected.

Identifier: | JB/023/154/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 23.
Date_1	1830-12-07	Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	023	Main Headings	lord brougham displayed
Folio number	154	Info in main headings field	jb to belgians
Image	001	Titles
Category	text sheet	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	e4 / f41 / f4
Penner	jeremy bentham	Watermarks	street & co 1830
Marginals		Paper Producer	antonio alcala galiano
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year	1830
Notes public		ID Number	8025
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