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rode; his kindness to me. Visits of sundry Americans to St. Petersburg. 

 Curious discovery at the Winter Palace among the machines left by Peter 

 the Great. American sympathizers with Russia in the Crimean War. Diffi- 

 culties thus caused for the Minister. Examples of very original Americans ; 

 the Kentucky Colonel ; the New York Election Manager ; performance of 

 the latter at a dinner party and display at the Post House. Feeling of the 

 Government toward the United States ; example of this at the Kazan Cathe- 

 dral. Household troubles of the Minister. Baird the Ironmaster ; his yacht 

 race with the Grand Duke Alexander ; interesting scenes at his table. The 

 traveler Atkinson and Siberia . 447 



CHAPTER XXVII. As ATTACHE AND BEARER OF DE- 

 SPATCHES IN WAR-TIME 1855 



Blockade of the Neva by the allied fleet. A great opportunity lost. Russian 

 caricatures during the Crimean War. Visit to Moscow. Curious features in 

 the Kremlin ; the statue of Napoleon ; the Crown, Sceptre, and Constitution 

 of Poland. Evidences of official stupidity. Journey from St. Petersburg to 

 Warsaw. Contest with the officials at the frontier; my victory. Journey 

 across the continent: scene in a railway carriage between Strasburg and 

 Paris. Delivery of my despatches in Paris. Baron Seebach. The French 

 Exposition of 1855. Arrival of Horace Greeley ; comical features in his 

 Parisian life ; his arrest and imprisonment ; his efforts to learn French in 

 prison and after his release, especially at the Crfanerie of Madame Busque. 

 Scenes at the Exposition. Journey through Switzerland. Experience at the 

 Hospice of the Great St. Bernard ; Fanny Kemble Butler ; kind treatment by 

 the monks. My arrival in Berlin as student 466 



CHAPTER XXVIII. As COMMISSIONER TO SANTO DOMIN- 

 GO 1871 



Propositions for the annexation of Santo Domingo to the United States. I 

 am appointed one of three Commissioners to visit the island. Position taken 

 by Senator Sumner ; my relations with him ; my efforts to reconcile him 

 with the Grant Administration ; effort of Gerrit Smith. Speeches of Sena- 

 tor Schurz. Conversations with Admiral Porter, Benjamin F. Butler, and 

 others. Discussions with President Grant; his charge to me. Enlistment 

 of scientific experts. Direction of them. Our residence at Santo Domingo 

 city. President Baez; his conversations. Condition of the Republic; its 

 denudation. Anxiety of the clergy for connection with the United States. 

 My negotiation with the Papal Nuncio and Vicar Apostolic ; his earnest de- 

 sire for annexation. Reasons for this. My expedition across the island. 

 Mishaps. Interview with guerrilla general in the mountains. His gift. Vain 

 efforts at diplomacy. Our official inquiries regarding earthquakes; pious 

 view taken by the Vicar of Cotuy. Visit to Vega. Aid given me by the 

 French Vicar. Arrival at Puerto Plata. My stay at the Vice-President's 

 house; a tropical catastrophe; public dinner and speech under difficulties. 

 Journey in the Nantaslcet to Port-au-Prince. Scenes in the Haitian capital ; 

 evidences of revolution ; unlimited paper money ; effect of these experiences 

 on Frederick Douglass. Visit to Jamaica ; interview with President Geffrard. 

 Experience of the Commission with a newspaper reporter. Landing at 

 Charleston. Journey to Washington. Refusal of dinner to Douglass on the 



