The New York herald., 1871-12-07
CATACAzY'S CATASTROPHE.
The Correspondence Which Led to the
Russian Minister'S Recall.
Interference in Our Business and Abuse d
American Officials the Cause.
The Visit of Alexis and Its Bear.
ing ON the Case.
Catacazy lnly Tolerated" During tho
Visit at t g Request Of the Gear.


Visit at t Request of the Gear.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Q, 1871. n
The President sent to the Senate to-day the cor.
resp0ndence between the state Department and the
American Minister at st. Petersburg relative 10 she
recall OF Minister Catacazy. The Senate ordered
the correspondence to be printed, but while news
paper men were engaged IN copying 1t Mr.. Cameron
discovered that he did not want the correspondence
made public. and persuaded the Senate 10 revoke
the order to print though not before most OF the
correspondence had been copied.
THE FIRST LETTER THE SUBJECT. n
Mr.. Flsh's first letter to Minister Curtin Is az fol-
lows:-
WASHINGTON, June 10, 1871.
To A. u. CURTIN. st. Petcrsburg-
SIR--I am directed to inform You that the conduct
Of Mr.. Caiacazy, the Minister OF Russia here. both
Official and personal, has Tor some time past been
such a. materially to imralr hs usefulness TO MS
own government. and to render intercourse with
him, for either business or social purposes, highly
dlsagreeabe. Under these circumstances tine
President ~ OF opinion that the interests OF both
countries would be promoted, AMI those relations
or cOrdlality with the government OF the Gar, OF
the lmpor ance OF watch he Is well aware, would be
pla Ell upon much higher footing II the head or
the Russian Legation mere were to be changed. 10
IS aoped that tn, intlmaton Will be suicent 10 oc-
and the continuance OF those opportunities OF free
and cordial olc,a and other intercourse course
ss es s t.
which have always existed. with the esteemed
predecessors OF the present Minister, but which Mr.
CatacaZys course or conduct has made impossible
to be maintained with him. The Presidents SIM
cere desire to AVOID any step which may show want
OF confidence tor the person whom HIS Imperial
Majesty has selected 10 represent the Interests or MS
government has made MN hesitate long before
directing this announcement, and he dcenl, regrets
the necessity which at length cOmpes MIN 70
make ".
Gorchakon and furnish him with u copy II ne de-
sreS II.
DELAY-PRINCE GoETcuAKoFF ABSENT
On July II Minister Curtin telcgraphed as follows
to Secretary Fish,
The Prince In Germany till October; shall pro-
sent the despatch to Wesfmann, Adjunct Chancel-
lOr, or TO the Prince.
FISH INSISTS.
Fish at once telegrapned TO Curtln:-
Present the despatch OF June 10 to Wesfmanh
should the Minister be acsent.
PRINCE GoRroHAKoFFs DEPUTY CAUTIOUS.
Minister curtin telegraphed from st. Petersburg,
July 10, as loows:- III
wesfmann cannot treat the despatch very
the return OF the Prince. said ne would not mem
ton to the Emperor in absence oi the Prince, as
would be agreeable to those continually trying to
disturb tile friendship OF the two countries.
CURTIN URGES THE MATTER.
Curtin informs Fish that In accordance with in
structons he mad In the absence OF Prince
Gortchak0fY, Chancellor OF the Empire formally
presented the request for the recall Of Catacazy 70
wesfmnnn who seemed TO be much surprised.
and treated the subject very serious He said
the subject too grave for hS consideration, and
declined TO act In the absence oil Prince Gortchakof,
anu did mol ask or copy Oi the Secretarys
dispatches. Wesimann said he would write TO the
Prince on the subject, and made memorandum OF
the conversation.
@.sFIsH DETEKMINED-HE WANTS NO DELAY.
Fish teegraphed to Curtin. August IS, as fol-
lOWs:-
The Hesitation and delay in complying with tho
request directed the despatch or he 10Th OF June
occasions much disquict aud disappointment. The
reason alleged ~ not satisfactory, communication
with the Minister Tor Foreign Affairs be reached.
decision IS important before the advent OF the
Grand Duke, as the President cannot bc expected 60
receive as the principal attendant OF liis Hghness
one who has been abusive OF him ana Is personally
unacceptable.
NE THE EAGLE SCREAMS.
Assistant Secretary OF State Davis on August Is
teleRraphcd 10 Curtin, urging him to receive reply
from Wesfmann. Finally.
THE RUSSIAN BEAR GROwIs AND CONSENTS.
Alter other correspondence Curtin received .
reply IN which this government was resquested to
tolerate Catacazy until after tile presentation OF the
Grand Duke to the President ana to tins request
the government acceded. Hence Catacazy ceased
TO represent the Russian empire after the presenta-
ton.
WHAT 1T WAS ALL DONE FOR
The correspondence Is volumlno is, Including
long letter from Mr.. Fish, dated November I6, sent
10 Mr.. Curtin, circumstantlaly stating the reasons
why Catacaly rendered himself unacceptable to this
government. In this letter occur the following
paragraphs
On his arriva! at Washington Catacazy gave
promise OF being a useful ana very acceptable
Minister and made very agreeable Impression.
0nicious interfering III questions not appropriately
c0naecte1 With his Legation, and In Those pending
before Congress importunin1 senators and Repre-
sentatives aud resorrng personal interv ews and
solicitations UNUSUAL on the part OF the repre-.
seniaiives OF other Powers acsreiiea 70 this gov
thus in lecorously approached ana tending to en-
barrass the fee course OF Legislation on the SUBJ
jects With respect to which his interference was
OTHER OBJECTIONABLE PROCEEDINGS.
He did not hesitate 10 use the newspapers OF the
country to influence puplic opinion upon questions
pending before the government, ami indulged IN
much license In his dennnciatfOl or measures ana
OF individuals. Iu his conversation he was even
more severe ana unrestrained, aud employed aou
persons, including several in public positions and
enjoying the respect aud confidence OF the commu-
nifty. The improperly OF a foreign Minister thus
attempting TO influence and to misJrec, the public
opinion OF the country must be admitted as sufficient
gr und for his ccasng to be proper agent between
the government wnlcn he represents and that to
which lie Is accredited.
the correspondent Q contains proofs showing the
truth OF the state OF the Secretary, and other
matters OF pubic interest. s.
CArAoAzy's LAST WORDS
letter from Mr. Catacazy to Secretary Fish Is
also tanned in the dence as sent to the
Senate but as the Senate abruptly reconsidered the
motion 10 nave the correspondence printed, ana
took away the copy from which the newspaper men
were :ndustrIously making their notes. the sub
stance OF 1t could not be obtained.
--
DESTRUCTION OF WALLS OPERA HOUSE IN
WASHINGTON ~
WASHINGTON, Dec. g. 1871.
wall's opera House, near Ninth street aud Penn.
syvania avenue, was destroyed by fire early this
morning, flames having been communicated from,