Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part III
Mr. Clay to Mr. Seward
Sir. * * * * * * *
The Emperor and Russians have not been wanting in reciprocating the courtesies shown the naval officers and fleet in America. I was lately invited to [Page 289] spend a few days at the imperial palace of Kopcha, about 40 versts from here, to be present at a mock campaign and fight of about 60,000 troops. * * * His Majesty told me that he had allowed his officers lately in the United States to call upon me in mass, and express their gratitude for the courtesies extended to them in America; all of which was evidently intended as a national compliment. The Prince Galitzin, aide-de-camp or chief of the suite of the minister of the marine, General Krabbe, called first upon me, and returned thanks on behalf of the minister, and asked when it would be agreeable to me for Admiral Lessoffsky and his officers to call in mass and pay their respects. I named Thursday last. On that day the admiral and officers, accompanied by Count Admiral Greig, chief of the staff of the grand admiral, his Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Constantine, and also of the suite of the Emperor, called upon me as agreed. They were received by myself and Secretary Bergh in full uniform.
Admiral Greig said he was commanded by his Imperial Majesty to return thanks for the courtesies shown his navy in the United States, and instructed also to introduce to me Admiral Lessoffsky and his officers, whom he had also permitted to call on me in person to give expression to their friendly sentiments. The admiral was then introduced, made a complimentary address, and then introduced his suite. I responded in like expressions of regard; then introduced Mr. Bergh, who made a few remarks in French, which were, perhaps, generally better understood than my English. After a pleasant interview, we separated. I asked leave, however, to return the visit at such time as would be convenient, and Saturday last was named.
On Saturday one of the officers of the fleet called, and put us upon the imperial yacht, which was in the city. We were there received by Admiral Greig, who escorted us to the fleet beyond Cronstadt. The American flag was flying at the masthead. When we hove in sight we were signalled in our approach by cannon, and again saluted as we neared the flag-ship; the starry banner of the republic flying also at the admiral’s ship’s masthead. After being shown the ship, we sat down to an elegant collation, at which the health of the President was first drunk; then other toasts and speeches were made, the band alternating between Yankee Doodle, the Russian national anthem, and other fine music. The admiral of Cronstadt was also present to honor us. After a most pleasant day, we took leave, entered again upon the imperial yacht, and, amidst the firing of cannon and the waving of hats along the whole fleet, we set out for St. Petersburg, where we were safely set ashore. As these honors were for our country, and not for me, I shall prepare a printed report of the same, and send you in a few days.
At a supper given by the oldest regiment of the “guards,” at Krasnoe-Selo, where all the officers of the 60,000 troops were present, the Grand Duke Nicolas, and the two Grand Dukes Alexander and Vladimir, and the Prince Oldenburg of the imperial family, our country was warmly toasted, and myself, as its representative, especially honored.
It will be our own fault if the friendship between the nations shall prove short or useless.
I am, truly, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c., Washington, D. C.
Sequel to the last visit of the Russian flet to the United States under command of Rear-Admiral Lessoffsky.
On the 11th of August Prince Galizin, aide-de-camp to the minister of marine, and on his behalf, presented himself at the legation of the United States in St. Petersburg, Russia, and announced to General Clay, representative of that country, that it was the desire of Rear-Admiral Lessoffsky, and the officers under his command, to call on him and return thanks for the friendly reception which they had everywhere received in America.
His excellency the minister of the United States, in reply, assured Prince Galitzin that he highly appreciated the honor, and begged leave to appoint the following Thursday, the 18th instant, at noon.
Accordingly, on that day, Rear-Admiral Lessoffsky, accompanied by a numerous suite, and preceded by Rear-Admiral Greig, aide-de-camp and principal secretary to his Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Constantine, entered the legation, and were received by General Clay and Mr. Bergh, secretary.
Rear-Admiral Greig then formally communicated in English the object of the visit, prefacing the presentation of Admiral Lessoffsky and his officers by a speech in the following words:
General: By command of his Majesty the Emperor, my august master, I have the honor to introduce to your excellency Admiral Lessoffsky, and the officers of the squadron, late in America, under his command.
You are aware, doubtless, that his Imperial Majesty has already, through his minister at Washington, expressed to the President his warmest thanks for the cordial and brilliant reception which was extended to the Russian flag by the government and people of the United States. Now, it is the desire of his Imperial Majesty that one of the first acts of the admiral and his officers, on their return to St. Petersburg, should be to present themselves before the American minister for the purpose of giving utterance to the grateful feelings which animate them individually, as well as the entire navy, and all classes of society throughout the empire, for the hearty welcome and magnificent hospitality which they have been the recipients of during their sojourn in the waters of the great republic so ably represented here by you.
Admiral Greig then formally presented each officer present, after which Admiral Lessoffsky spoke as follows:
Your Excellency: It is by command of our august sovereign, as well as the promptings of our own feelings, that we appear here to-day to return our grateful acknowledgments to the minister of the United States for distinguished hospitalities which have been extended to us during our prolonged stay in America. Our beloved master in thus anticipating our wishes gives another evidence of the nobleness of his nature, while manifesting his high appreciation of such gratifying assurances of the genuine friendship of a great and gallant people. For ourselves, sir, we realize how impotent is language to faithfully represent the emotions which we experience at the recollection of the boundless and untiring goodness heaped upon us by the men and women of your great nation, beginning with our appearance and scarcely ending by the articulation of the reluctant word “adieu.”
General: During our usually stormy voyage of life, it is a pleasant thing, and we congratulate ourselves upon our good fortune, when we receive shelter only from the pitiless storm; but where is the man, and where the forms of speech, that can correctly present his sensations, when the stranger, in addition to this, beholds the unstinted bounty of a nation offered him by the warm hand of friendship?
For myself I have ploughed many a sea, and let go my anchor in many hospitable havens, but the country you represent, sir, has left preponderating remembrances, [Page 291] just as the impressions, inspired by a sight of America’s great cataract surpass the emotions occasioned by all similar phenomena of nature. That the day is not distant when your country, now passing through the school of adversity, shall be again happily united, is our earnest prayer, and that of all generous Russians.
This speech being finished, the American minister responded in the following language:
I am proud to be the medium of transmission to my country of his Imperial Majesty’s good will, and of the thanks of yourselves and the Russian naval officers, late in America. Individual friendships spring from natural laws; they are always agreeable, often useful; a wise man ever seeks to make friends, from policy if not from sentiment; such considerations are applicable both to nations and to individuals.
Russia, the great power of the eastern, and the United States of America, of the western world, having no antagonistic interests, would naturally obey these laws of affinity; for though one government is autocratic and the other republican, no necessary antagonism results from such difference of forms.
Although we are not prepared to go as far as Pope:
“For forms of government let fools contest;
Whate’er is best administered is best;”
yet we, of all people, are least inclined to propagandism, because we are eminently practical, and we know that political institutions grow, and are not made.
From the time of Catharine II, and the hour of our national birth, we have been friends. It was our interest to be so; but, admiral, allow me to say, that the enthusiasm with which you have been received in America sprang from no such cold calculation; it was based upon a higher principle than interest, sentiments yet nobler than the gratitude which we owed your Emperor for his friendship in our hour of trial and misfortune: it came of a common cause in the advancement of our common humanity. Alexander II has liberated by his will more than twenty millions of serfs; we by the power of arms project the freedom of four millions of slaves. Never before in the history of the world had God given into the hands of one man so much power for good, and most nobly and intelligently and bravely has the Emperor done his work. Peter the Great, on the level of the civilization of his age, mastered the physical forces. Powerful in arms, he added new territories to the old, and with iron will and rare intelligence consolidated the power of all. Seeing that in the workshops were created the embryos of the triumphs of the battle-field, by personal example he sought to make labor honorable. He failed because his people were slaves. With all his power he could not remedy the uncleanliness of his peasants, nor compel them to cut their unseemly beards! The peasants seemed wiser than the prince. They needed their beards for protection against the cold. The way to cleanse them was not to shave, but to free them!
The Emperor Alexander, having a higher stand-point upon the advancing centuries, knowing that mind is superior to matter, wields the moral as Peter did the physical forces. He made the peasants free. Freedom will bring self-respect, and self-respect cleanliness. Greater than Peter, he has made labor honorable, since it is no longer the badge of slavery; and yet he has his callumniators, and so have we! From the enemies of progress the world over, came hypocritical cries against our “fratricidal war”! Great are our sacrifices in blood and treasure, but greater yet will be the gain of our triumph to the human race. Often men have fought for their own liberty; we straggle not for our own, but for the liberties of others. Every fallen hero is the world’s martyr, who dies that the nations may live forever.
I thank God that I live to witness these great events. Proud of the history of my own country, I yet congratulate myself upon my associations with your [Page 292] own great monarch. In Russian annals he will be enrolled as the Emperor of all the Russias, King of Poland, Duke of Finland, and “a’that,” but the world shall better know him for all time as “Alexander the Great, the liberator, the friend of mankind.”
* * * * * * * * *
General Clay then presented the secretary of legation, Henry Bergh, esq., remarking, as he did so, that as French was perhaps more generally understood by those present than English, the secretary would offer some remarks in that language.
[Translation.]
Gentlemen: I find it difficult resisting the temptation to add a few remarks to those of General Clay, expressive of my pleasure, also, at seeing you here to-day in the legation of our country, and more especially so since the object you have in view is to testify your gratification with the friendly reception which you have everywhere met with in the United States.
By this courteous reception of the officers and fleet of his Imperial Majesty, gentlemen, our countrymen have shown themselves worthy of that ancient alliance which has for its basis mutual respect and good will.
During your absence from your country the journals of Europe have been greatly exercised in divining the object of your visit, and a majority of them have not hesitated to attribute it to a political character, not over favorable to certain European nations. I will not detain you by citing the various hypotheses which these journals have advanced, in order to explain the singular anomaly of two countries, so dissimilar in the form and polity of their government, at the same time so closely connected through their friendly relations as Russia and America; but to us, gentlemen, this presents no difficulty in the way of our perfect comprehension of it. It is explained by a mutually frank and generous policy, by a friendship which knows no wounding souvenir, and above all, by the observance of a firm resolution not to intermeddle in the domestic affairs of one another. Such are the means by which this “mysterious alliance” has been maintained between your country and ours, and I pray God that it may never be impaired; nor is it difficult to imagine the vast advantages which would likewise result to all the governments of the world by the faithful exercise of a similar policy in their intercourse with one another; then, gentlemen, the enormous expenditures of the present day, in the construction of hostile fleets and the organization of prodigious armies; the fabrication of arms and other munitions of war would cease, to be speedily substituted by a beneficent industry, universal fraternity, and a genuine civilization.
From thenceforth burning cities and desolated fields, so common in our time, would no more be seen; no longer would the agonizing cry of these wretched victims to a policy as selfish as it is cruel be heard; in a word, gentlemen, the entire world would be brought to understand that “mysterious alliance” which subsists between Russia and America.
The formalities of the interview being terminated, the party circulated through the rooms of the legation, pausing from time to time before the portraits of Washington and his Imperial Majesty, Alexander II, which conspicuously adorn the walls.
VISIT TO THE FLEET AT CRONSTADT.
According to appointment, made on the occasion of the foregoing reception,
the minister of the United States, accompanied by the secretary of legation, visited Rear-Admiral Lessoffsky, on board his ship, Osliaba, lying at Cronstadt, on the following Saturday.
At noon of that day an officer was sent to the legation to announce that the [Page 293] yacht of the Emperor was in readiness at the English quay, and on arriving on board General Clay and the secretary were received by Rear-Admiral Greig, chief of the staff of his Imperial Highness, the grand duke, general admiral, and immediately thereafter started for the fleet, the flag of the republic flying at the masthead. The numerous government vessels lying at anchor, or at the quays along the entire route, manifested their cognizance of the event by manning the rigging, and as the yacht dropped anchor on its arrival, the flag-ship fired a salute of fifteen guns as the “stars and stripes” were unfolded to the breeze from the masthead. With the rapidity incident to perfect order and high discipline, the “gig” of the admiral was in a few minutes alongside of the yacht, and the party were conducted through a rough sea to the stately and defiant floating fortress of the gallant admiral. Amidst cheers, the roar of cannon, and the national airs of the republic, admirably performed by the band of the flagship, the minister, secretary, and their gentlemanly escort, Rearr Admiral Greig, ascended to the deck, where the commander, surrounded by his officers, awaited their arrival.
Now were manifested those graceful personal courtesies which, while they tend to smooth the rude asperities that exist along the highway of life, as unerringly proclaim the high-bred gentleman as lights along a friendly sea-coast indicate its form and bearing.
Having been shown throughput this splendidly appointed ship, Admiral Lessoffsky then invited the party to inspect the numerous souvenirs with which he had been presented during his sojourn in the United States, and subsequently the entire company sat down to a beautiful dejeuner, that was appropriately interspersed with speeches and sentiments, among which are given the following as evidences of the friendly and social feeling that pervades the minds of the citizens of both countries.
THE DEJEUNER.
List of guests invited to the entertainment given to his excellency General Clay, minister plenipotentiary, and to Henry Bergh, esq., secretary of the legation of the United States of America, by Rear-Admiral Lessoffsky, on board his flag-ship, the Osliaba, at Cronstadt:
His excellency Vice-Admiral Berens, commander-in-chief of Cronstadt.
His excellency Rear-Admiral Baron Taube, chief of staff to the commander-in-chief.
His excellency Rear-Admiral General Greig, assistant to the minister of marine
Captain Boutakoff, commanding the frigate Osliaba.
Captain Kopitoff, commanding the frigate Peresvet.
Captain Kremer, commanding the corvette Vitiaz.
Captain Sarcovnin, flag captain of the squadron.
And the staff of the admiral and the officers of the Osliaba.
The first toast given was by Admiral Lessoffsky:
“Gentlemen: I desire you to unite with me in doing honor to a name which the possessor has already rendered immortal by the exercise of high moral courage, in opposition to erroneous popular prejudice, and the practice of a sublime humanity in the emancipation of the slave:
“His excellency Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States.”
General Clay responded:
“I might, perhaps, legitimately confine myself to the simple proposal of the health of the representative of your nation, ‘the Emperor of Russia,’ but when I reflect that his deeds belong not to Russia only, but to the world, you will allow me to propose the health of ‘Alexander, the liberator.’”
The third toast was presented by Mr. Bergh, secretary of legation:
[Page 294]“Gentlemen: I enjoy the distinguished honor of being permitted to offer a toast, the mention of which suggests the futility of comment, and the feebleness of the rarest eloquence; for while, on the one hand, it fills your loyal hearts and ours with tender recollections of the holy mission of woman on earth—her love, charity, gentleness, and maternal devotion, compared with which the loftiest political and social positions in the world are but tributary; it, on the other hand, addresses itself to our manly appreciation of all that is honorable, chivalric, and glorious in the nature of man. But let me not further mar the beauty of the sentiment by longer dwelling on it—gentlemen:
“Your Christian Sovereign, her Majesty the Empress of Russia, and the imperial family.”
By an admirably preconcerted arrangement, as each of the three first toasts was uttered, the battery of the Osliaba mingled its roar along with the cheers of the convives in the cabin.
Admiral Lessoffsky then proposed:
“The health of the American minister.”
Who in turn offered:
“Prosperity to the Russian navy.”
To this Admiral Lessoffsky replied in the following speech:
“Gentlemen: The sentiment just offered by my honored guest, ‘the prosperity of the Russian navy,’ calls for a hearty response in favor of that of the United States, towards which we all entertain reminiscences of such a grateful character that death alone can obliterate them. For my part, I shall ever remember with pride the many tokens of good will with which I personally have been honored by the most eminent commanders of that gallant navy; and never shall I forget the pleasant intercourse I have had with all the brave and devoted sons of that arm of the national defence, who, by their energy, determination, and professional skill, have proved themselves worthy of their illustrious predecessors whom, history informs us, converted the growing trees of the forest into powerful ships-of-war in the incredibly brief space of fifty days!
“Everywhere, that obstacles present themselves to bar their steady progress, do we discover the same heroism and inventive genius in removing them; ships of shapes unheard of before are seen sailing upon waters hitherto only navigated by the clumsy and shallow flatboat, threading their way through the woods and bayous at island No. 10, by an ingenious expedient floated over the rapids of the Red river, and finally victoriously passing the tremendous batteries of Vicksburg and New Orleans.
“Again, on the ocean we behold the little Monitor, the product of the genius of Ericsson, rescuing a whole squadron of wooden ships from the assaults of the gigantic iron-clad Merrimac.
“Day by day have we been called upon to bear testimony to the distinguished virtues of these indomitable defenders of their country—their courage, daring, perseverance, faith, devotion.
“Hand in hand with this navy, upon the same path of self-devotion—in the daily exercise of the virtues of the generous brave—have we known the officers of that army, of which we have now so distinguished a representative among us.
“In the generous hospitalities of the camp, gentlemen, as well as the cabin, have we had occasion to note the existence of similar characteristics, giving assurance, along with the goodness of their cause, that this people shall and deserve to be triumphant. I beg you, therefore, to assist me in doing honor to the toast I am about to offer, namely:
“The navy and army of the United States of America.”
In reply to this sentiment General Clay said:
“That it had been our good fortune to achieve improvements in naval art, as in all other practical sciences. The whole working class in our country is educated; [Page 295] the laborer having knowledge of chemistry and the mechanical powers, is continually making improvements upon all old methods. The greatest inventions are made not only by the ‘boss,’ or master-workman, but by the laborers themselves. Russia has been the first of the nations to adopt our improvements. The new system of labor will place your people in the same category with our own, and when occasion shall occur, I doubt not you will be our teachers, as you are now, in a measure, the recipients of our dearly-bought knowledge. At all events the brotherhood of our growing navies, so auspiciously begun, I trust will last forever.”
The minister concluded his remarks by saying, he had heard it said, when Russian sailors saw an American ship they cried out, “There go our countrymen.” So now you will allow me to propose the health of “our admiral.”
The foregoing speech and toast were received with a storm of applause.
Captain Boutakoff, commander of the flag-ship, then rose and said:
“Gentlemen: We have drunk to the commander-in-chief of the navy and army of the United States, as well as to those branches of the public service collectively, and now I propose to offer a name which, in my opinion, is more representative of that navy than any other in America, by reason of the brilliant deeds its possessor has performed at New Orleans and elsewhere, and as I believe is at this time doing before Mobile. Let us drink in a bumper:
“To the health of the gallant and heroic Admiral Farragut.”
Admiral Lessoffsky begged permission to join to this toast:
“The health of the gallant admiral’s lady, the good and amiable Mrs. Farragut.” [Tumultuous cheering.]
General Greig here rose and said that he desired to propose a toast, which he was sure would be received and supported with sincere pleasure by all those who two days ago listened to the friendly sentiments so beautifully expressed, by the subject of it, at the legation of America. He begged the company to unite with him in heartily cheering:
“Mr. Bergh, the accomplished and universally esteemed secretary of the legation of the United States.”
The cheers with which this toast was received having subsided, Mr. Bergh, in substance, said:
“Gentlemen: ‘I am out of my element.’ Notwithstanding many years of foreign travel, and a considerable portion of the time upon the sea, in spite of the most heroic and persistent efforts on my part to cultivate friendly relations with the monarch of the ocean, I regret to say that I have failed to make the least progress, and that we stand to-day, in one sense, in precisely the same attitude that we did at the beginning of our acquaintance, to wit, mutual distrust and abhorrence. It is true that the present rock-like immobility of your floating château, the sumptuous repast before me, the delicious wines, the music, and the shouts of those iron throats on deck, but above all, the occasion which has broken their silence, have established a temporary truce between Neptune and myself; although I think, upon reflection, you will agree with me that the bit of road lying between us and the yacht we but just quitted in the ‘gig’ of our gallant admiral is rather rough and needs repairing. In a less material sense, however, I am a great admirer of the sea, and I am bold enough to assert that if ships would be more quiet in their deportment, or, what is still better, would only sail on land, I should have been an admiral long ago. But as human art and science are not likely to fill up the ocean, nor reform the behavior of vessels, it follows that I shall never be promoted, although permitted, as heretofore, to contemplate its poetic beauties of fathomless depth, of boundless space, and mysterious solitude. These and other more important associations, gentlemen, serve to render glorious the profession which you by your individual bearing and gallant deeds have imparted such high lustre to. Who can contemplate without emotion a numerous and mighty fleet about setting out for a distant [Page 296] land; having for its mission the restoration of that equilibrium of international obligation, which pride, passion, or ignorance for a time may have disturbed?
But, gentlemen, you have not the time, nor I the power, to do justice to such grand considerations. Suffer me, therefore, to thank you, in such inadequate terms as I have at my command, for the honor you have done me in accepting the toast just offered by the distinguished gentleman who has this day so kindly acted as the escort of the minister of the United States among you, and to ask you to lend your acclamations to those of General Clay, and my own, when I offer the name of Rear-Admiral Greig, coupled with that of the governor of Cronstadt, the officers and crew of this Russo-American squadron.
The nine cheers demanded by Mr. Bergh being given, and counted by him as they were pronounced—
General Greig again rose and said: That the toast to Mr. Farragut reminded him of the one without which no company on board the vessels of this squadron ever separated until due honor had been done it; therefore, in rising, as he did, for the last time on this occasion, for the purpose of announcing it, he would premise by saying that it was a sentiment eminently calculated to disturb the fictitious repose of many of his brother officers present; and to substitute, therefore, much sighing and blushing on their part, notwithstanding their wonted manly indifference to menace and danger of every other sort. The truth is, gentlemen, the hearts of very many of this squadron have been stolen from them by the fair girls of America; and, however odd it may seem, with a full knowledge of the enormity of the deed, I rise to propose: “The health and happiness of the ladies of America.”
This toast was received by a tornado of applause, amidst which General Clay rose and proposed:
“The ladies of Russia.”
Which was in like manner responded to with the most vehement cheers, tigers, &c., and by which the repast was concluded; and soon thereafter the minister and secretary returned on board the yacht, delighted with their reception, and immediately started for St. Petersburg, amid the roar of cannon, the shouts of their gallant entertainers, and the manning of the rigging of all the ships lying in the roadstead.
And thus terminated one of those pleasing manifestations of international courtesy which, unhappily for the peace, prosperity, and permanent civilization of the world, are far too rare in our time.