Mr. Clay to Mr.
Seward
No. 117.]
Legation of the United States,
St Petersburg, Russia,
August 30, 1866.
Sir: On the 27th July (8th August,) 1866, G. V.
Fox, esq., Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and Messrs. Murray and
Beaumont, and several other persons, were presented by me to his
imperial Majesty at Peterhof. Mr. Fox presented the resolutions of
Congress signed by the President of the United States, on parchment, and
delivered the address*
hereunto appended, marked A, to his imperial Majesty.
The Emperor of Russia responded:
“He congratulated himself that the sympathy existing between Russia and
the United States is appreciated in America.”
His Majesty added that “he was convinced that this national fraternity
would be perpetual; and that for his part he would with all his efforts
advance it.” (“y contribuerent.”)
The emperor expressed how “sensible he was of the testimony (‘un temoignage’) of personal affection which he
had just received from Congress and the American nation.”
“He thanked those who had come so far to bear him those words.”
He assured them of “a welcome on Russian soil.” And concluded by saying
that “never should be effaced from his memory the hearty reception given
to his fleet in the United States.”
Secretary Fox and all the Americans here have been received, by prince
and peasant, with the most enthusiastic demonstrations of admiration and
love.
Secretary Fox has promised me a journal of his stay in Russia, which in
due time I will transmit to you as a final report of this extraordinary
mission to Russia.
I have the honor to be, sir, you most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., Washington, D. C.
Speech of Prince Scherbatoff, mayor of Moscow, at the great dinner to the
Americans in August, 1866.
The great nation of the other hemisphere sends us her greetings—that
glorious nation that has lately triumphed over her painful trial,
and has astonished the whole world by that new [Page 418] demonstration of her gigantic power.
Powerful by her inexhaustible resources, still more so by her
undaunted spirit, and full faith in her future, the great North
American nation has attained in the space of a few years what to
others would have been the work of whole centuries, and has at once
taken place among the leading nations of the civilized world.
Distant lands and the ocean divide us, but the spirit of men cares
not for space, and notwithstanding the distance that divides our
countries, our two peoples have long since united in thought and
feeling.
With a lasting interest do we follow each other’s successes; with
mutual sympathy do we sustain each other in times of struggle; and
we also unite to praise the glorious names of the great men whom
Providence does in His mercy send at the times of great national
trials. The name of Lincoln is one of such illustrious names.
Untiring warrior for a sacred cause, he went forward, never losing
out of sight his leading star, and his death has been the last
tribute of his loyal service to his native country and to
humanity.
But the great immortal idea has not perished with his life. Lincoln
has bequeathed the accomplishment of his deed to his people—to his
successor; and his last will is now nearly fulfilled.
May God Almighty help you to reap the harvest of your present
glorious labors and endeavors. May He strengthen the ties of the
revived union of your great nation; may the American people, blessed
by peace, advance towards the accomplishment of his glorious
historical calling, with his elected leader at his head.
We drink to the welfare of the North American United States and to
the health of President Johnson.
