i.e-Nathaniel Gorham, President of the Continental Congress. Amongst

the other prominent Americans believed to have been involved were James Monroe, future President; Rufus King, at that time delegate from Massachusetts and subsequently Senator from New York; and Alexander Hamilton, former secretary to Gen. Washington, presently delegate from New York and subsequently Secretary of the Treasury.2

Prince Henry did not get around to a reply, to these letters of von Steuben and Gorham until early April, 1787. He expressed his surprise, was very flattered, etc., but needed further assurances of prevailing American sentiments, etc. But by that time, as the saying goes, he'd lost his chance. The Constitutional Convention assembled at Philadelphia in May, 1787, perhaps before his reply ever reached von Steuben (and Gorham). Events no longer favored the proponents of an American kingship, who now shifted their efforts towards enhancing the power of a President under the Constitution. The details of the approach to Prince Henry did not come to public light until 1825 when the information was used as part of what we would now call a "smear campaign" against Rufus King, to circumvent his confirmation by the Senate as Minister to Great Britain (for a second time). The "scandal" was so great that President John Quincy Adams and Secretary of State Henry Clay had to go through the motions of making inquiries to reassure' themselves of Senator King's "innocence." But they were satisfied and King was confirmed, only to die the following year.

Further confirmation of the validity of the "scandal" came with the publication of a biography of Steuben3 in 1859 and then in 1900 with the publication of the last volume of King's biography. The final proof, however, came a few years later when a Berlin University professor discovered the draft copy of Prince Henry's letter of April, 1787' in the royal archives."

Two questions remain of some interest. Firstly, was some of the indignation in Washington in 1825 connected with knowledge of Prince Henry's sexual interests? Secondly, a matter of pure speculation: If Prince Henry had become King, and presumably continued in a childless state with his nominal wife, might not a golden opportunity have been provided for adoption. as the crown prince of Alexander Hamilton, who had already.exhibited in his considerable talents for endearing himself to elderly repressed homosexuals?

2 Life and Correspondence of Rufus King. Putnam's, 1900. Vol. VI, p. 643.

3 Friedrich Kapp, Life of Steuben. New York, 1859. p. 584.

4 See footnote Z above.

5 Richard Krauel, Prince Henry of Prussia and the Regency of the United States, 1786. American Historical Review; October, 1911 (V. 17).

6 James Vincent Nash, Homosexuality in the Lives of the Great. Little Blue Book No. 1564. Girard, Kansas, n.d., pp. 44-9

mattachine REVIEW

;

One Reader's Comment-from a letter to a young

Patience

friend.

Tom Wilson

Patience, they say, is a virtue. For you it is a necessity, almost, in fact,

a way of life.

You must be patient with your paramours, with society, with your friends -and with your enemies. Yes, you must be patient, oh so patient, with your enemies.

Most of all, of course, you must be patient with your chosen mate. If he strays you must be prepared to greet his return with open arms and understanding. If he has ideas that clash with yours you must remember that time and "education" work better than fruitless argument. If he falls short of your ideals remember that you love him for his vices as well as his virtues (perhaps more so). Then, finally, when that day of parting comes, as it does to all of us, meet it with patience and fortitude. Life must go on! Although you live in the shadow of the heterosexual world and are accorded the status of a third-class citizen you must always be patient with society. Despite entrapment, ridicule and discrimination the homosexual has survived through the centuries because of his discretion and patience. You know where you are going, therefore you can be tolerant and even sympathetic of the mixed-up straight world. You must also realize that you have many friends and allies in their camp and you can best help them to help you by exercising great caution and understanding.

Finally, you must be patient with your close friends, your co-workers, your class-mates, and even your own family. You must appreciate the fact that you daily do many things that must perplex and mystify them. You should try to alleviate this situation as much as possible. You cannot live entirely without your straight friends, so it is necessary for you to make adjustments, without necessarily conforming in the narrow sense. A true friend will respond to your patient loyalty even though he may not "dig" you completely. And, of course, there are your enemies-and they are many. You should avoid the “hustler” entirely, or be prepared to take the consequences. When a plain-clothes-man asks you for a match-tell him you don't smoke. Be most patient of all with those who ridicule you for they are ignorant and most likely in much deeper trouble themselves. As for all the others who would torment you, remember His words: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

11.