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duchesses。 The first and most interesting of these to me was the
old Grand Duke Michaelthe last surviving son of the first
Nicholas。 He was generally； and doubtless rightly； regarded as；
next to his elder brother； Alexander II； the flower of the flock；
and his reputation was evidently much enhanced by comparison with
his brother next above him in age； the Grand Duke Nicholas。 It
was generally charged that the conduct of the latter during the
Turkish campaign was not only unpatriotic； but inhuman。 An army
officer once speaking to me regarding the suffering of his
soldiers at that time for want of shoes； I asked him where the
shoes were； and he answered： 〃In the pockets of the Grand Duke
Nicholas。〃
Michael was evidently different from his brothernot haughty and
careless toward all other created beings； but kindly； and with a
strong sense of duty。 One thing touched me。 I said to him that
the last time I had seen him was when he reached St。 Petersburg
from the seat of the Crimean War in the spring of 1855； and drove
from the railway to the palace in company with his brother
Nicholas。 Instantly the tears came into his eyes and flowed down
his cheeks。 He answered： 〃Yes； that was sad indeed。 My
father〃meaning the first Emperor Nicholas〃telegraphed us that
our mother was in very poor health； longed to see us； and
insisted on our coming to her bedside。 On our way home we learned
of his death。〃
Of the younger generation of grand dukes；the brothers of
Alexander III；the greatest impression was made upon me by
Vladimir。 He was apparently the strongest of all the sons of
Alexander II； being of the great Romanoff breedbig； strong；
muscular； like his brother the Emperor。 He chatted pleasantly；
and I remember that he referred to Mr。 James Gordon Bennettwhom
he had met on a yachting cruiseas 〃my friend。〃
Another of these big Romanoff grand dukes was Alexis； the grand
admiral。 He referred to his recollections of the United States
with apparent pleasure； in spite of the wretched Catacazy
imbroglio which hindered President Grant from showing him any
hospitality at the White House； and which so vexed his father the
Emperor Alexander II。
The ladies of the imperial family were very agreeable。 A remark
of one of thema beautiful and cultivated woman； born a princess
of one of the Saxon duchiessurprised me； for； when I happened
to mention Dresden； she told me that her great desire had been to
visit that capital of her own country； but that she had never
been able to do so。 She spoke of German literature； and as I
mentioned receiving a letter the day before from Professor Georg
Ebers； the historical novelist； she said： 〃You are happy indeed
that you can meet such people； how I should like to know Ebers！〃
Such are the limitations of royalty。
Meantime； I made visits to my colleagues of the diplomatic corps；
and found them interesting and agreeableas it is the business
of diplomatists to be。 The dean was the German ambassador；
General von Schweinitz； a man ideally fit for such a positionof
wide experience； high character； and evidently strong and firm；
though kindly。 When ambassador at Vienna he had married the
daughter of his colleague； the American minister； Mr。 John Jay；
an old friend and colleague of mine in the American Historical
Association； and so came very pleasant relations between us。 His
plain； strong sense was of use to me in more than one difficult
question。
The British ambassador was Sir Robert Morier。 He； too； was a
strong character； though lacking apparently in some of General
von Schweinitz's more kindly qualities。 He was big； roughish； and
at times so brusque that he might almost be called brutal。 When
bullying was needed it was generally understood that he could do
it con amore。 A story was told of him which； whether exact or
not； seemed to fit his character well。 He had been； for a time；
minister to Portugal； and； during one of his controversies with
the Portuguese minister of foreign affairs； the latter； becoming
exasperated； said to him： 〃Sir； it is evident that you were not
born a Portuguese cavalier。〃 Thereupon Morier replied： 〃No； thank
God； I was not： if I had been； I would have killed myself on the
breast of my mother。〃
And here； perhaps； is the most suitable place for mentioning a
victory which Morier enabled Great Britain to obtain over the
United States。 It might be a humiliating story for me to tell；
had not the fault so evidently arisen from the shortcomings of
others。 The time has come to reveal this piece of history； and I
do so in the hope that it may aid in bettering the condition in
which the Congress of the United States has； thus far； left its
diplomatic servants。
As already stated； the most important question with which I had
to deal was that which had arisen in the Behring Sea。 The United
States possessed there a great and flourishing fur…seal industry；
which was managed with care and was a source of large revenue to
our government。 The killing of the seals under the direction of
those who had charge of the matter was done with the utmost care
and discrimination on the Pribyloff Islands； to which these
animals resorted in great numbers during the summer。 It was not
at all cruel； and was so conducted that the seal herd was fully
maintained rather than diminished。 But it is among the
peculiarities of the seals that； each autumn； they migrate
southward； returning each spring in large numbers along the
Alaskan coast； and also that； while at the islands； the nursing
mothers make long excursions to fishing…banks at distances of
from one to two hundred miles。 The return of these seal herds；
and these food excursions； were taken advantage of by Canadian
marauders； who slaughtered the animals； in the water； without
regard to age or sex； in a way most cruel and wasteful； so that
the seal herds were greatly diminished and in a fair way to
extermination。 Our government tried to prevent this and seized
sundry marauding vessels； whereupon Great Britain felt obliged；
evidently from political motives； to take up the cause of these
Canadian poachers and to stand steadily by them。 As a last
resort； the government of the United States left the matter to
arbitration； and in due time the tribunal began its sessions at
Paris。 Meantime； a British commission was； in 1891…1892； ordered
to prepare the natural…history material for the British case
before the tribunal； and it would be difficult to find a more
misleading piece of work than their report。 Sham scientific facts
were supplied for the purposes of the British counsel at Paris。
While I cannot believe that the authorities in London ordered or
connived at this； it is simple justice to state； as a matter of
fact； that； as afterward in the Venezuela case；＇1＇ so in this；
British agents were guilty of the sharpest of sharp practices。
The Russian fur…seal islands having also suffered to a
considerable extent from similar marauders； a British commission
visited the Russian islands and took testimony of the Russian
commandant in a manner grossly unfair。 This commandant was an
honest man； with good powers of observation and with considerable
insight into the superficial facts of seal life； but without
adequate scientific training； his knowledge of English was very
imperfect； and the commission apparently led him to say and sign
just what they wanted。 He was somehow made to say just the things
which were needed to help the British case； and not to say
anything which could hurt it。 So absurd were the misstatements to
which he had thus been led to attach his name that the Russian
Government ordered him to come all the way from the Russian
islands on the coast of Siberia to St。 Petersburg； there to be
reexamined。 It was an enormous journeyfrom the islands to
Japan； from Japan to San Francisco； from San Francisco to New
York； and thence to St。 Petersburg。 There； with the aid of a
Russian expert； I had the satisfaction of putting questions to
him； and； having found the larger part of his previous alleged
testimony to be completely in conflict with his knowledge and
opinions； I forwarded this new testimony to those in charge of
the American case before the Paris tribunal； in the hope that it
would place the whole matter in its true light。 With it was also
presented the concurring testimony taken by the American