New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-17

ment became involved in o war with foreign ma
tions. Mr.. Weed SAYS that when in Washington
lew days later Secretary Seward informed him that
the Russian Minister upon being asked why the
fleet was kept long in American waters. had
said, while disclaimng any knowledge of the nature
oil the visit, that u had no unfrendly purpose.
- The following letter. which was received at THE
ihl9UNE Office yesterday, gives corroboration 10
Mr. weeds statement:
10 the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR One fact in the life Of the murdered Car have
pose must be known TO persons II was told me
lately returned from ST. Petprsburg lie said that dur
ing an clcal call on Gort>chako the Chancellor sent
der HIS own land at the outset OF the southern
rebellion This order was the substance OF sealed IN
sruc'lOns seat To the Admiral OF the Russian 1et,
then lying in New-York Hrbor, that II either England
France tOok any part fdvorug Sout the Admiral
was at once to report to President Lincoln Tor orders
NCr 0rk. March II. C. MS
A reporter Of HE TRIBUNE. meeting Hamilton
Fish in Second-ave. yesterday. asked him whether
he had heard Of secret instructions having been
given by the Car 70 the kn3sian Admiral.
Mo- have not he said. " what Mr. Weed says
III his letter is news to me-"
"Da YOU think that such instructions were really
given?"
1t is not improbable Mr. Weeds intimacy with
Mr. Seward very great, and there is no reason
TO doubt his statement. Asyou know, my olhciai
relation with the Government did not begin until
later ana have no official knowledge oi these mat
do you think that the Russian Admiral had in
structionS to report TO President Lincoln, as I. W.
We'll rather doubt that. That would certainly
be an unusual proceeding"
do you think that the Gar was PROMPTED to do
this by feelings Of friendship or sympathy for the
American peOplcF
"That is hard TO tell. The sn-much-taIkcd.of
sympathy and good feeling existing between the
two nations is not based any real similarity of
character or institutions existing III The two conn
tries. There is "A deal of sentnnentality about
it, much better and more plausible reason why
Russia showed herself our friend during the War of
the Rebellion is the fact that she has always been
jealous of England. At that time, moreover she had
not recovered from the blows INFLICTED bv the allies,
ana was stl Tnartng under the deIc3,S rGeevfu III
entered INTO his counsls and largely determined the
| course he took"
MIR Curtin. ex-Ministcr TO Russia said to tho rr-
porter that the secret orders undoubtedly
given and that the IL ct was stationed here for the
purpose of beng OF the SPOT i'll case any foreign
power should actively interfere in behalf OF the
| States then in rebellion.
Il remember perfectly we'll of courac, the time
| the fleet was here" he remark kcd. but lne7er
heard before that the Russian ADM raj was acting
under secret instructions. You may depend though.
upon what Mr.. Weed has said lie WAS III the posi-
ton to know, if anyone was, and what
your correspondent writes seems to corroboIate his
statements. never heard the matter referred TO
when was in Russia. though that was n le69,
four years after the close OF the 1lc Emperor
| showed himself on every occasion interested III
American affairs, and undoubtedly had great regard
and friendship for the American people. He never
| failed TO inquire of Inc. when was brought III III
tercOurse with him officially, whether the animosty
between the North and South showed signs OF dying
| ont, and always expressed ms nope that the
| bad feeling and sectional hatred enGcndered
| by the war would pass away soon. lie
| was prepared undoubtedly to aid us in case any
| foreign power should actively support the Con-
federacy, and he refused 10 JOIN the coalition which
! the Emperor Napoleon was trying to form for the
purpose of compelling us TO raise the blockade on
| the Southern ports ana for the recognition of the
Southern COnfederacy. Russia has always been
| friendly to the United States Catherine ii. was
the first to offer her mediation when we were assert
| ing rights against the power OF England.
| The murdered EmperoPs father was not less
| our affairs Mr.. Dallas relates in his book
| which he wrote when he returned from Russia that
| the Car Nicholas frequently asked him about the
troubles which grew out of the contested elections
sary call out the militia to put down the rioters
Reasons of policy NAV have been considered IN
which he took in relation to the United states. L
think though that his friendship aud his esteem for
our people were genuinely felt by him. The eman-
cipator of 20 1000 600 sers could not look but with
| favor upon nation struggling to bestow an equal
boon upon an unfortunate race
| "The memory of the defeats IN the Crmea may
have prompted him to issue those secret orders An
other cause may be found III the fact that Russia
accused the Court of France we'll as OF England
| the correspondence of Lord Russell shows hs-of
having iOstcred the unsurrectIon IN POland IN lSG2
Apparently Russia did so with some degree OF rea-
| SON and the Car intended the sending of IA fleet
| into American waters as demonstration against
| England. But, after all, think that the
personal character OF the Szir-h,' no no.
| course Russia took during the Rebellion. remcln-
| her meeting Admiral LasOfski, who commanded the
| Russian h-et, at Vicksburg He returned 10 lhs
| country after the fail OF VIcksburg' but heNer
heard until now of the secret Instructions under
which lie acted. That the American people owe
debt OF gratitude to the Car for giving them the
| moral support of great country at time when
dangers threatened them Oh every SIDE, there ID no