Connecticut western news., 1881-03-30
The Czar and Uncle Sam.
WHY THE RUSSIAN FLEET WAS SENT HERE
 DURING THE REBELLION.


 A correspondent of the New York Herald, referring to letter from Mr. Thurlow Weed regarding Russia s friendship toward America and referring to the presence of Russian fleets in our waters during the war, gives us further insight to the matter. He adds
 Some years since there came to my knowledge the following story: At the close of the mission of one of our Am- bassadors to the Russian court, and as he was about to leave he called upon the Czar and Czarina to pay his final re- spects. As he was taking his leave of Her Majesty she requested him to bear to the American people her warmest re- gards and most sincere gratitude for the attention and kindness extended to her son while he was visitor among US. The ambassador called Her Ma iesty's attention to the President of the United States, whom she had failed to mention. With an exhibition of some feeling she replied with earnestness, "To the American people, MT. -" " Greatly surprised and somewhat an- noyed, the ambassador waited upon His Majesty, where he received similar message. The attention of the Czar was called to his neglect of the Presi- dent, when he gave the same response, "To the American people, MT.
 Unable to account for this strange exhibition of feelings, the representa- tive of America waited upon the astute Gortschakoff, from whom he requested an explanation of the remarkable con- duct of their Majesties.
 Ordering an attache to bring some volumes from the State archives, the minister opened one and, handing it to our representative, bade him read let ter. It was from the Foreign Minister of France to Russia, stating that France and England had entered into alliance for the purpose of recognizing the bel igent rights of the Southern States and raising the blockade of our ports and end the war by the dissolution of the States, and requesting the cooperation of Russia. A second volume was handed the ambassador, in which he read @ similar letter from England. A third volume was presented, in which was the reply of Russia, dictated by the Czar and written by Gortschakoff, stat ing that since the United States had been an independent government it had been the firm and friendly ally of Rus sia, and the Czar saw no reason why that relationship should be changed at that hour, and most firmly declining to join France and England in any of their schemes.
 A fourth volume, taken from the secret archives, was produced, and handed the surprised American. In that were two letters of instructions from the Admiralty Office to Russian admirals then in American waters. The first let ter instructed the admirals to take their fleets to New York and San Francisco, anchor them there and remain until further orders, and also instructing them that in case England and France, or any other foreign power, attempted to interfere with the private affairs of America to break their sealed orders and obey them.
 The second letter-the sealed orders referred to by Mr.. Weed-instructed the Russian admirals to immediately tender their fleets to the American gov ernment and tell them Russia with all her power, stood ready behind them.