PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. 



695 



burned out. In 1867 he published two poems, 

 "May, 1866," and "July, 1866," for the first 

 of which he was arrested and punished with a 

 month's imprisonment, in consequence of the 

 severity of its personal reflections on the King. 

 He did not again offend, but retired to private 

 life at Stettin, where his failing health soon 

 prevented his further appearance in public. 

 Herr Prutz was a very popular and prolific 

 writer. His earliest work was " The Poets of 

 Gottingen," 1841 ; this was followed by a vol- 

 ume of his own " Poems," 1844; " History of 

 German Journalism," 1845; "Political Es- 

 says," 1845 ; " History of the German Thea- 

 tre," 1847; "German Contemporary Litera- 

 ature," 1847 ; " Political and Literary Miscel- 

 lanies," 2 vols., 1847; "Dramatic Works," 

 4 vols., 1847-'49; "N"ew Poems," 1849; 

 "History of Ten Years," 1840-'50; "The 

 Beautiful Sister," a novel, 1851; "The Little 

 Angel," 3 vols., 1851 ; "Felix," 2 vols., 1851 ; 

 and the two poems we have already mentioned. 



PUBLIC DOC UME NTS. Message of Pres- 

 ident GRANT at the commencement of the third 

 session of the Forty-second Congress, December 

 2, 1872. 

 To the Senate and House of Representatives : 



In transmitting to you this, ray fourth annual 

 message, it is with thankfulness to the Giver of all 

 good that, as a nation, we have been blessed for the 

 past year with peace at home, peace abroad, and a 

 general prosperity vouchsafed to but few peoples. 



With the exception of the recent devastating fire 

 which swept from the earth with a breath, as it were, 

 millions of accumulated wealth in the city of Boston, 

 there has been 110 overshadowing calamity within 

 the year to record. It is gratifying to note how, like 

 their fellow-citizens of the city of Chicago, under 

 similar circumstances a year earlier, the citizens of 

 Boston are rallying unde'r their misfortunes, and the 

 prospect that their energy and perseverance will 

 overcome all obstacles, ana show the same prosper- 

 ity soon that they would had no disaster befallen 

 them. Otherwise we have been free from pesti- 

 lence, war, and calamities, which often overtake na- 

 tions ; and, as far as human judgment can penetrate 

 the future, no cause seems to exist to threaten our 

 present peaca. 



When Congress adjourned in June last, a question 

 had been raised by Great Britain, and was then 

 pending, which for a time seriously imperilled the 

 settlement by friendly arbitration of the grave dif- 

 ferences between this Government and that of her 

 Britannic Majesty, which by the Treaty of Washing- 

 ton had been referred to the tribunal of arbitration 

 which met at Geneva, in Switzerland. 



The arbitrators, however, disposed of the question 

 which had jeopardized the whole of the treaty, and 

 threatened to involve the two nations in most un- 

 happy relations toward each other, in a manner en- 

 tirely satisfactory to this Government, and in accord- 

 ance with the views and the policy which it had 

 maintained. 



The tribunal, which had convened at Geneva in 

 December, concluded its laborious session on the 

 14th day of September last, on which day having 

 availed itself of the discretionary power given to it 

 by the treaty to award a sum in gross, it made its 

 decision, whereby it awarded the sum of $15,500,000 

 in gold, as the indemnity to be paid by Great Britain 

 to the United States for the satisfaction of all the 

 claims referred to its consideration. 



This decision happily disposes of a long-standing 

 difference between the two Governments, and, in 

 connection with another award made by the German. 



Emperor, under a reference to him by the same 

 treaty, leaves these two Governments without a 

 shadow upon the friendly relations which it is my 

 sincere hope may forever remain equally unclouded. 



The report of the agent of the United States ap- 

 pointed to attend the Geneva tribunal, accompanied 

 by the protocols of the proceedings of the arbi- 

 trators, the arguments of the counsel of both Gov- 

 ernments, the award of the tribunal, and the opin- 

 ions given by the several arbitrators, is transmitted 

 herewith. 



I have caused to be communicated, to the heads 

 of the three friendly powers who complied with the 

 joint request made to them under the treaty, the 

 thanks of this Government for the appointment of 

 arbitrators made by them respectively, and also my 

 thanks to the eminent personages named by them, 

 and my appreciation of the dignity, patience, impar- 

 tiality, and great ability with which they discharged 

 their arduous and high functions. 



Her Majesty's Government has communicated to 

 me the appreciation by her Majesty of the ability 

 and indefatigable industry displayed by Mr. Adams, 

 the arbitrator named on the part of this Govern- 

 ment, during the protracted inquiries and discus- 

 sions of the tribunal. I cordially unite with her 

 Majesty in this appreciation. 



It is due to the agent of the United States before 

 the tribunal to record my high appreciation of the 

 marked ability, unwearied patience, and the pru- 

 dence and discretion with which he has conducted 

 the very responsible and delicate duties committed 

 to him, as it is also due to the learned and eminent 

 counsel who attended the tribunal on the part of 

 this Government, to express my sense of the talents 

 and wisdom which they brought to bear in the at- 

 tainment of the result so happily reached. 



It will be the province of Congress to provide for 

 the distribution, among those who may be entitled 

 to it, of their respective shares of the money to be 

 paid. Although the sum awarded is not payable 

 until a year from the date of the award, it is deemed 

 advisable that no time be lost in making a proper 

 examination of the several cases in which indemnifi- 

 cation may be due. I consequently recommend the 

 creation of a board of commissioners for the purpose. 



By the thirty-fourth article of the Treaty of Wash- 

 ington, the respective claims of the United States 

 and of Great Britain, in their construction of the 

 treaty of June 15, 1846, defining the boundary-line 

 between their respective territories, were submitted 

 to the arbitration and award of his Majesty the Em- 

 peror of Germany, to decide which of those claims 

 is more in accordance with the true interpretation of 

 the treaty of 1846. 



His Majesty the Emperor of Germany, having 

 been pleased to undertake the arbitration, has the 

 earnest thanks of this Government and of the people 

 of the United States for the labor, pains, and care, 

 which he has devoted to the consideration of this 

 long-pending difference. I have caused an express- 

 ion of rny thanks to be communicated to his Ma- 

 jesty. Mr. Bancroft, the representative of this Gov- 

 ernment at Berlin, conducted the case, and prepared 

 the statement on the part of the United States, with 

 the ability that his past services justified the public 

 in expecting at his hands. As a member of the Cab- 

 inet at the date of the treaty which has given rise 

 to the discussion between the two Governments, as 

 the minister to Great Britain when the construction 

 now pronounced unfounded was first advanced, and 

 as the agent and representative of the Government 

 to present the case and to receive the award, he has 

 been associated with the question in all of its phases, 

 and in every stage has manifested a patriotic zeal 

 and earnestness in maintenance of the claim of the 

 United States. He is entitled to much credit for the 

 success which has attended the submission. 



After a patient investigation of the case and of the 

 statements of each party, his Majesty the Emperor, 

 on the 21st day of October last, signed his award in 



