mothered quarrel with America, but he took even
higher ground than this in his sense of the blessing to the world of an
absolute reconciliation in good faith between the old England and the new.
At first the government proposed (Nov. 28, 1870) to send over Sir John
Rose to America. He was one of the many Scots who have carried the British
flag in its best colours over the face of the globe; his qualities had
raised him to great prominence in Canada; he had enjoyed good
opportunities of measuring the American ground; he was shrewd, wise, well
read in the ways of men and the book of the world, and he had besides the
virtue of being pleasant. Rose himself did not formally undertake the
mission, but he applied himself with diligence and success to bring the
American government to the project of a joint high commission to examine
and consider a situation that there was a common desire to terminate.

(M131) On Feb. 1, 1871, Mr. Gladstone was able to report to the Queen the
arrival of news that the government of the United States were willing to
concur in a commission for the discussion of international questions at
present depending, without a previous understanding that liability in
respect of the _Alabama_ was to be acknowledged by this country. The
cabinet naturally thought that on this they might close, and they at once
considered the composition of the commission and the proper instructions.
Lord de Grey consented to be its president. Lord Derby, on being invited
to join the commission, was very grateful for the compliment but declined,
being of opinion that firmness and not concession to the Americans was
what was wanted. Sir George Grey declined; so did Lord Halifax. "I asked
Northcote," Lord Granville reports to Mr. Gladstone, "his eyes twinkled
through his spectacles. But he said he must ask Lady Northcote, and
requested permission to consult Dizzy. The former consented, ditto Dizzy,
which looks well." So the commission was made up of Lord de Grey as the
head of it, Northcote, Thornton (the British minister at Washington), Sir
John Macdonald, as the representative of Canada, and Mr. Mountague
Bernard, a theoretic jurist, who had written a book about our neutrality
the year before.(260)

III

The personal relations of Lord de Grey and his brethren with their
American colleagues were excellent. They worked hard all day, and enjoyed
Washington hospitality in its full strength every night. In business, Mr.
Fish o