236 POLITICAL LIFE-XII 



that it would be instructive and agreeable to have a second 

 diplomatic experience in Russia after my absence of 

 nearly forty years. I therefore accepted, and in the au- 

 tumn of 1892 left America for St. Petersburg. 



While in Washington to receive my instructions before 

 leaving, I again met Mr. Harrison, and must say that he 

 showed a much more kindly and genial side than that 

 which had formerly been revealed to me, when I had dis- 

 cussed shortcomings of his administration as regarded 

 the civil service. 



My occupancy of this new position lasted until the au- 

 tumn of 1894, and there was one thing in it which I have 

 always regarded as a great honor. Mr. Harrison had ap- 

 pointed me at about the close of the third year of his term 

 of office ; I therefore naturally looked forward to a stay of 

 but one year in Eussia, and, when I left America, certainly 

 desired no more. A little of Russian life goes very far. It is 

 brilliant and attractive in many ways ; but for a man who 

 feels that he has duties and interests in America it soon be- 

 comes a sort of exile. At the close of Mr. Harrison's ad- 

 ministration, therefore, I tendered my resignation, as is 

 customary with ministers abroad at such times, so that it 

 would arrive in Washington on the fourth day of March, 

 and then come under the hand of the new President, Mr. 

 Cleveland. I had taken its acceptance as a matter of 

 course, and had made all my arrangements to leave Russia 

 on the arrival of my successor. But soon I heard that 

 President Cleveland preferred that I should remain, and 

 that so long as I would consent to remain no new appoint- 

 ment would be made. In view of the fact that I had stead- 

 ily voted against him, and that he knew this, I felt his 

 conduct to be a mark of confidence for which I ought to be 

 grateful, and the result was that I continued at the post 

 another year, toward the close of which I wrote a private 

 letter to him, stating that under no circumstances could I 

 remain longer than the 1st of October, 1894. The fact was 

 that the book which I considered the main work of my life 

 was very nearly finished. I was anxious to have leisure to 



