52 Ten Years of my Life. 



ed, ls\x. Lincoln remained for a time silent, then at once he 

 threw up his long arms, calliug out in his peculiar manner, 

 ' Well, gentlemen, that's a very great affair ! But mind, I do 

 not promise you anything for certain, I must first speak to the 

 Secretary of War !' 



In the ensuing conversation he touched on the difficulties 

 into which his Government might get with the European Pow- 

 ers, on which Colonel Corvin said, that if he gave Salm and 

 him authority to raise twenty thousand men it did not include 

 the authority to raise them in Europe, and what they thought 

 expedient to do for the purpose would be done on their own 

 danger and responsibility. 



' Bring the men,' said Mr. Lincoln, ' you know they will be 

 welcome, and no questions asked.' 



* Yes, Mr. President,' answered Corvin, * but I cannot get 

 them without money, and cannot get money without your sig- 

 nature, under the requested authorisation.' Mr. Chittenden, 

 then ' Register of the Treasury,' to whom Corvin had commu- 

 nicated the plan, had said that his bankers would be at the 

 colonel's disposition if Lincoln would give such authorisation. 



The negotiations ended, however, in nothing, for Mr. Stan- 

 ton, who was utterly disgusted with foreigners, and besides 

 averse to anything supported by Mr. Seward, would hear noth- 

 ing of such a proposition, and opposed it decidedly. I will 

 only mention in reference to this affair a circumstance which 

 is rather characteristic. The Prince and Corvin signed a paper 

 promising an influential person twenty thousand dollars if the 

 President would sign the requested authorisation. 



While Salm was busy all day with his recruiting affairs, my 

 life in New York was by no means agreeable, especially as it 

 was midsummer and the heat overpowering. I accepted, 

 therefore, with pleasure, the invitation of General Blenker to 

 pass a few weeks on ' Blenker's Farm,' near Rookville, in the 

 State of New York. 



Dear old Blenker's home was a place which I remember 

 with great pleasure and affection. I have seen grander country 

 seats, but nowhere have I been received with such heartfelt 

 kindness and hospitality, and nowhere I felt more at home. 



It was a delightful time. Poor Blenker died, I think, in 

 December of the same year., I am glad that I have had an 

 oj:)portunity of doing justice to his memory, for he has been 



