The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-03
SPECIAL MISSION FROM RUSSIA.
Arrival OF DR.. Thomas C0ttman, with lmpof'
tant Dispatches for Washington.
The PreuesItien Of the Car to Sell Silks
and Enter Upon n New Commercial
Treaty with the United States,
Ia Ac.. &C.

Treaty with the United States,
Ia. &C.. &c.
Among the passengers by the Indiana, which
arrived at this port yesterday from Havre, Is DR..
Cottman, an American gentleman, who has lived
for several months At st. Petersburg, and who has
been intrusted by the Gear with mission of the
highest importance to this country The friendly
feelings which tie Emperor Nicholas eDteItains
towards the United States are already well known,
but he desires that tie kindly relations shall be
cemented by commercial treaty; and it is to effect
this that he has invested our distinguished coun.
tryman with full powers to treat with our govern
m6nt. Dr.. Cottman has already forwarded his
dispatches to Washington, and viii take his depar
ture for that city this afternoon He will also pro-
pose to our government the purchase of 6itka; and
a. wo understand the terms are most advan-
tageous to US, Of course they win be &C
oepted with a. little delay rs possible. About four
months ago we recommended this very measure to
our administration, before it was known that the
Gar had any designs Of the kind in view. We
showed of what great advantage the possession OF
4itks would be to u.s. and expressed the conviction
that Nicholas would be willing to dispose Of it on
reasonable terms In ado ting this course the Car
has recognized his true policy, and we trust that
our government will act with premptness and des-
patch, 80 as to prevent its falling into the hands Of
the English. There can be no hesitation with re-
gard to the course that should be pursued; the En-
peror of Russia has evinced sincere desire to cul
tivate our friendship; and to show that he has the
utmost confidence In the good faith Of our people,
ho h0c u<o1 ofu <r
treat with ne.
Dr.. Cottman speaks in the highest terms Of all
the members Of the Imperial family, and expresses
the greatest admiration, not only for the talents
Of the Emperor, but for his character, which
has been the subject of 80 much villiAcation
in the English press. 1t is impossible, no says, for
us to obtain correct accounts of the progress Of the
war through the prejudiced mediums Of the English
newspapers and he asserts that far from the allied
powers being successful, they have been repulsed
in almost every attack made by the combined fleets
He visited Cronstadt on his way to this country,
and during his stay there they did not venture
within reach Of It's guns, although they had an
nounced their determination to annihlate the whole
city, as an example. The accounts which are pub
lished about the insanity Of the Gar are, he tells
us, equally false and instead Of his extlAiting
disposition to renounce his claims Turkey, he has
expressed his determination in the most emphatic
manner to force her to recognize them, though
all Europe were combined to prevent him. He
is exceedingly DESTROYS to cultivate the friend.
ship of our country, of which he always speaks
in the highest terms of praise. There are"
said he, but two governments in the world-those
Of Russia and America: and although / have the
greatest regard for the latter, yet know it would
be impracticable in my country. The republican
form Of government is best suited" he added,
" for the people Of the United States, because
they are enlightened and intelligent; but with
Russia it is entirely different, and the govern.
ment she has il the only one that Is suited to
her condition. To say that he understands
the institutions Of our country would convey
very inadequate idea Of the extent Of his infor-
nation in regard to Us. He Is not only thoroughly
informed on this particular but he ia quite familiar
with local politics. and knows the leading poll
ticans In the different States by name. He ia also
thoroughly posted up in the history Of the different
parties.
We have said that the Gear entertains the most
friendly feelings towards rs; but this is not al-he
treats every American who enters Russia with
the greatest hospitality, and affords him every
dominions. There are at present large number of
Americans employed BY him in most responsible po-
stons, and he holds forth the greatest Inducements
to al who desire to enter his service. Till within
the last eight or nine mouths the English enjoyed
his unbounded confidence, and Englishmen were to
be found in some of the most lucrative offices in the
country but recent events have led to great revo-
luton in this respect and they are now being ra-
pidly replaced by Americans.
In regard to the report that was so extensively
circulated about the property Of Sir Hamilton Sc
mour having been confscated by the Gear, DR.. Colt
man says there is not particle of truth in it. The
70 is Of the case are simply these: When Sir Fl.
Seymour was recalled by his own government, last
March, he put up his household furniture for sale ct
public auction. and sold only such articles as
he desired to dispose of at once retaining some
rare paintings and other works Of art. While
the sale was going on, the Emperor, who
was passing at the time from his winter palace to
the residence of his eldest daughter, the Grand
Duchess Marie, seeing the auction, took il for
granted that all was right, and that Sir H. Seymour
was merely preparing for his departure; but he was
somewhat astonished to fnd, some time after In the
London Times, statement to the efect that the
furniture had been conHscated by his orders. De-
termined on showing the falsity of this statement
he made the necessary inquiries. and proved that
the sale was ordered by Sir Hamilton Seymour him
self, and that what he could not dispose Of he had
shipped on board an English vessel named the nm
McAlister, which was then lying ice bound al st.
Petersburg. On finding, however, that the vessel |
would be detained till the st Of May, the Emperor
ordered his effects to be taken from on board, and
sent at his uhe Eml erors) private expense to Ber
lin. The English Vice Consul at st. Peters
burg - Mr.. Micbelly - told the Gar that as |
they were very fragile, they could not BE- |
shipped with safety, be would prefer to have them
remain rather than that they should be exposed to
any danger. To this Nicholas replied that IL II was