REFORMS IN THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE 371 



have never been able to discover the slightest disadvan 

 tage to my country or myself from that fact. 



Colleagues of mine, clad in resplendent uniforms, have, 

 indeed, on more than one occasion congratulated me on 

 being allowed a more simple and comfortable costume; 

 and though such expressions are, of course, to be taken 

 with some grains of allowance, I have congratulated my 

 self with the deepest sincerity on my freedom from what 

 seems to me a most tiresome yoke. 



The discussion of a question of such vast importance 

 to the censors above referred to would be inadequate 

 were mention not made of a stumbling-block which does 

 not seem to have been adequately considered by those 

 who propose a return to the earlier practice of our Ee- 

 public and this is, that the uniform is, at any Euro 

 pean court, but a poor thing unless it bears some evi 

 dence of distinguished service, in the shape of stars, 

 crosses, ribbons, and the like. A British ambassador, or 

 minister plenipotentiary, in official uniform, but without 

 the ribbon or star of the Bath or other honorable order, 

 would appear to little advantage indeed. A represen 

 tative of the French Eepublic would certainly prefer to 

 wear the plainest dress rather than the most splendid 

 uniform unadorned by the insignia of the Legion of 

 Honor, and, in a general way, the same may be said of 

 the representatives of all nations which approve the wear 

 ing of a diplomatic uniform. 



But our own Republic bestows no such &quot; decorations, &quot; 

 and allows none of its representatives, during their term 

 of office, to receive them; so that, if put into uniform, 

 these representatives must appear to the great mass of 

 beholders as really of inferior quality, undistinguished 

 by any adornments which indicate good service. 



All this difficulty our present practice avoids. The 

 American ambassador, or minister, is known at once 

 by the fact that he alone wears plain evening dress ; and 

 this fact, as well as the absence of decorations, being 

 recognized as in simple conformity with the ideas and 



