The New York herald., 1873-09-10
WASHING on.
The Settlement of the Geneva
Award Consummated.
A SCENE FOR HISTORY
Reception by the American Premier Of the
Representatives of Old England.
MR.. FISH GIVES A RECEIPT.
SIS, 100000 Cold, as Nomi-
mated in the Bond.
Goose Quills Suddenly Becoming
Historic.
Sir Edward Thornton Washes His Hands Of
the Millions and Retires Gracefully.
A GREAT DAY FOR MIR. FISH.
Goose Quills Suddenly Becoming
Historic.
Sir Edward Thornton Washes His Hands Of
the Millions aud Retires Gracefully.
A GREAT bay FOR MIR. FISH.
Caleb Gushing on England's
Peace Offering.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 0, 1873.
The Geneva Award.

WASHINGTON Sept. 0, 1873.
The Geneva Award.
The great event OF the Gay in Washington was
the ulhlment OF the seventh article of the treaty
between the United States ana Great Britain,
| which prescrlbes, in case the Tribunal to meet at
Geneva find that Great oritan has failed to fulfil
any duty or duties agreed upon by the treaty in
previous articles or recognized by the princi-
! pies Of international law not inconsistent
! with the three rules laid down in the
| treaty for the guidance OF neutrals in
time Of war, 1t may II 1t thinks proper proceed to
award sum In gross TO be paid by Great Britain
to the United States for all claims referred to IT,
| and in such case, the gross sum so awarded shall
| be paid IN coin BY the government of Great
! Britain to the government of the United
| States at Washington within twelve months after
| the date Of the award. How the award was made,
the manner in which the amount was to be
silently put in the vaults OF the United states
Treasury. and dwindle the final transaction to
the mere exchange of bit OF paper, have
already been published in these dispatches; but
could Bulwer have accompanied his fellow country
men, Sir Edward Thornton, the British Minister,
and Consul General Archibald of New York. in
their rounds TO-DAY, while settling this bit OF in
debtedness amounting to $15,5OO,000 he could
have renewed the famous expression put in the
mouth OF Richelieu, "Put up the sword; States
can be saved Without i'll In the hands or men
entirely great the pen Is mightIer than the sword
So one would have thought. when Sir Edward
Thornton and Consul General Archibald crossed
the threshold ofthe Treasury building this morning.
to exchange q lot OF certificates OF Indebtedness
for a coin certificate covering the entire amount
OF the Geneva award In gold. Entering the
o1ice OF Secretary Richardson, who had
hoa nra l. iufnr I'm
| call, Mr.. Archibald was introduced as
the joint partner in this little business transaction
and the gold certificate was accepted in exchange
| for the other certificates. 1t was all done by the
| Secretary writing his name with bad ink in one
corner OF the paper, approving the signatures o
! the subordinate Ofncials This was a matte
| Of some moment,l as 1t put into the hand
of Sir Edward Thornton the order OF
the Treasury for the amount specified IN
| gold. Five minutes after this transaction Sir Ed
ward Thornton and Mr.. Archibald were i'm transit
! for the State Department, where they were re
ceived with that 0bsequi0usness belonging to the
portico and lower hall Of the first department Of
| the government.
The transactions in the ofice OF the Secretary
| OF State were not complicated or con1den-
| ial The British Minister good naturedly re-
| marked, ~ believe my government owes
| the United States a sum OF money, which
1t Is my purpose to pay to-day" Mr.. Davis, the
Assistant secretary OF state, seated Mr. Archibald
| and Secretary Fish requested Minister Sir Edward
Thornton to take seat at his desk 1t was sort OF
! rent day. so to sp eak Mr. Fish was landlord, or,
to be more definite, landlords clerk. The head of
the State Department never 1orgets that he is only
| his Uncle Sans clerk
J Drawing from his broadcioth coat a Russia
leather pocketbook and exhuming piece Of white
ho caid ~
| ink will soon settle this outstanding Indebted
ness you Snow." One of Gilott's swan pens was
| handed him, and in quick, running style he
| wrote, 'Pay TO the order Of Hamilton Fish, Secre-
tary of State" and signed his name ofcially. Con-
| sui General Archibald then inscribed his autograph
! underneath OF his superior. The wet ink was
blotted, and IN return for this prompt settlement
Mr.. Fish gave full release according to the terms
| of the treaty.
! The following is a copy OF the receipt given by
Mr.. FISH
! The Undersigned Hamilton Fish, Secretary OF
State to the United States OF America, hereby de-
cares tnat ne has this day received from the Right
| Honorable Sir Edward Thornton, Her Britannia
| potentiary, and from Edward Mortimer Archibald
| Esq, Her Britannia Majesty's Consul General at
New York h ,a,3 agents s OF Her Maess on D govern
! coin, being the whole amount OF the gross sum
awarded on the i4th of september, 1872, by the
/ i
! accordance with the provisions of the seventh
article OF the treaty Of May 8, 1871, between the
| said United States Of America and Her Britannia
In witness whereof the aforesaid Hamilton Fish,
Secretary OF state OF the United states OF America
has subscribed his name to this receipt, in dupli-
cate, at Washington, this 9Th OF September In the
HAMILTON FISH, Secretary of state.
While that receipt was properly drawn, it lacked
one thing, and that was internal revenue
| rho tive, ,ofH Her Maia
ernment bade our State Department officials good
morning, and vacated the premises. 1t was at the
close OF the winter of 1871 that Earl de Grey, Sir
! stafford Northcote, Montague Bernard, Sir John
| Mcdonald and Sir Edward Thornton went
ND the same staircase that Sir Edward
was now descending to wrestle automatically with
| Fish, Schenck. Nelson Hoar and Williams, as to
! the manner In which the a.mportant Alabama
claims business should be settled. The British
members of the Joint High Commission walked
more lesurely down stairs the first day they met
than sir Edward did to-day after relieving himself
OF that "bit of paper" worth twenty.four tons in
gold the result OF the wrestling match, in the
west room OF the state Department building, from
winch he was now making his exit. Paksnaam
was there to meet them. He Is the First Secretary
OF legation and as thoroughly English as curatc
OF the Church OF England. 'Clever piece OF busi-
| ness this transfer OF an invisible pile OF goldr he
said as the twain got into the carriage. al have
done my duty" said Sir Edward, ''and got Mr.
Fsh's receipt I can account TOR the amount" "
The carriage was driven rapidly to the legation,
| where lunch was served. Behind them came Mr.
Fish and Bancroft Davis, who, twenty minutes
later called on Secretary Richardson and ex
changed the gold certificate for piece OF parch
ment worth $751; 900 inscribed as i've per cent
bond ana that in the following manner -
} Mr.. Fish. after stating Chat he had come to Der