124 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS [vor. 48 
information, documents and the like with every probability of obtain- 
ing them, and this is not the case with the great majority of unofficial 
persons. . 
The social intercourse to which I have referred also affords a 
special means of casually obtaining important facts which one outside 
the diplomatic circle cannot reach. 
The “Diplomatic Relations of the United States” are a great 
depository of information of all sorts, and are becoming more and 
more valuable. In proof of this assertion I would gladly refer to the 
despatches of many recently or at present in active diplomatic life; 
but, as that might seem invidious, I may at least say that a large 
number of them are models of wise observation, clear statement, and 
cogent reasoning. Any one looking over the main dispatches of our 
representatives abroad will see that their positions are not mere 
sinecures, but full of earnest and lucid thought for the highest 
interests of their country. 
Another duty of a foreign representative of our country is to 
protect Americans within the country to. which he is accredited. No 
doubt there are many in our own land who care little for this: it is 
very easy to say in an off-hand way, that if people go abroad as 
missionaries or for business, health or pleasure, they must take their 
chances; but as civilization has developed there has been evolved a 
better feeling which I trust may become deep and permanent 
throughout the country, and that is, that our citizens are to be fully 
protected in all parts of the world, at any cost. The famous boast 
“T am a Roman citizen,” which was the passport and armor of the 
Roman in any part of the world, gives the idea of what ought to be 
the claim of the American citizen. Our own history in this respect 
has at times been creditable to us, but here, too, our mother country 
sets the world an example. Let any British subject in any part of 
the world be maltreated, and immediately it is a matter of interest 
to the home government. The resident minister feels himself false 
to his duty, or, if he deos not feel so, knows that he will surely be 
denounced by the press and in Parliament, if he be remiss in securing 
redress for any wrong thus committed. 
The most striking example of this, which now occurs to me, took 
place in the early part of this century in Lower Italy. An English 
gentleman and his wife were on their way from Naples to the ruins 
of Paestum. Having stopped over night at a town on the way, they 
took from their traveling carriage a dressing case in which the uten- 
sils were of silver, and this fact having been communicated from the 
servants at the inn to the neighboring brigands, these robbers on 
