Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-05
From the New York Herald Of Thursday.
The United States and Russia.

Among the passengers by the Indiana, which
arrived at this port yesterday from Havre, is
Or. Cottman, an American gentleman, who has
lived tor several months at st. Petersburg, and
who has been intrusted by the car with mis-
sion OF the highest Importance to this country.
The friendly feelings which the Emperor Nj.
cholas entertains towards the United States are
already well known; but he desires that the
kindly relations shall be cemented by COM
mercial treaty; and it is to this effect that
he has invested our distinguished countryman
with full powers to treat with our government.
DR.. Cottman has already forwarded his dis
patches to Washington, and will take his de.
parture for that city this afternoon. He will
also propose to our government the purchase
OF Sitka; and, as we understand the terms are
most advantageous to us, of course they will
be accepted with as little delay as possible. In
adopting this course the car has recognised
his true policy, and we trust that our govern.
ment will act with promptness and dispatch, so
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
Emperor of Russia has evinced sincere de-
sire to cultivate our friendship; and to show
that he has the utmost confidence in the good
faith of our people, he has appointed one OF
our own countrymen to treat with us.
DR.. Cottman speaks in the highest terms OF
alPthe 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 so much vlifca-
ton in the English press. 1t is impossible, he
says, for us to obtain correct accounts of the
progress ofthe war through the prejudiced me-
diums of the English newspapers, and he as
serts that so 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 even
venture within reach fits guns, although they
had announced their determination to annhi-
late the whole city, as an example. The ac-
counts, which are published about the insanity
of the car, are, he tells us, equally false; and
instead of his exhibiting disposition to re-
nounce his claims on Turkey, he has expressed
his determination in the most emphatic man
ner to force her to recognize them, though all
Europe were combined to prevent him. He is
exceedingly DESTROYS to cultivate the friendship
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 /
navy lHO SiSttCob iCSdiu lOI TIC ldIlcT, yCU l.
know it would be impractible in my country.
The republican form of government is best
suited" he added "for the people of the
United States, because they are enlighten-
ed and intelligent. But with Russia it
is entirely different; and the government
she has is 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 tho.
roughly informed on this particular, but he is
quite familiar with our local politics, and knows
the leading politicians in the dife ent States by
name. He is also thoroughly posted up in the
history of the different parties.
We have said that the car entertains the
most friendly feelings towards us; but this is
not all: he treats every American who enters
Russia with the greatest hospitality, and af
fords him every possible facility for visiting
all parts of his dominions. There are at pre-
sent large number of Americans employed
by him in most responsible positions, and he
holds forth the greatest inducements to all who
desire to enter his service. Till within the last
eight or nine months the English enjoyed his
unbounded confidence, and Englishmen were
to be found in some of the most lucrative Of
fees in the country; but recent events have
led to a great revolution in this respect, and
they are now being rapidly replaced by Ameri-