The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-08
SOME NEW hooks.
The nisrS of6eo+ee NJ. Daiis..

The BiAry of6sorGe NJ. Dallas.
Nowadays n an American Minister were to
Zen record OF his observations and impress
Sions OF European society. the performance
would provoke a smile. Everybody goes to
Europe, and any respectable American can be
presented at any court 1t Is. indeed. CUES.
tionablo whether any American Minister now
bees tenth part so much OF society in any Ell.
ropean capital as do some OF his compatriots
not occupying Official positions The case was
otherwise nifty aud even thirty years ago. As
late MS 1850 tho proportion Of native Ameri.
cans who were thoroughly conversant with
Europe was small. and those who knew
anything OF the Russian or the Eng
lish court might have been reckcned on
the fingers OF ono hand. Whom. conse quently
GgonGE MIFfIlN DALLAS went to Russia as
Eaited States Minister in 1897. and to London
in the same capacity in 1856. he was likely to
see and hear things worth recording. though
It does not appear that the Diary. now pub
lished by the Lippincotts was intended for
any other eyes than those OF his own family.
There is. indeed. special reason why this
journal. interesting in itself. should be given
to the world: namely. that the two periods
with which IL deals were OF exceptional his
torical Importance. The threo years. 1868
which Mr.. Dallas spont at St Petersburg were
contem poraneous with tho rapid military
development OF Turkeys great Egyr-
tian vassal, and Immediately preceded
the strenuous diplomatic contest be-
tween England and France which. had NJ.
Theirs carried his point. must have resulted
in tho dissolution Of tho Ottoman empire.
When Mr. Dallas was presented to Car Nicho-
las. the latter was still lamenting the failure
OF q Russian General to seize Constantinople
few years before when the prize lay in his
Nd fho M ~ a nlrpnIv plhp pipr
removed demonstrations on tho Lower
Danube. which. rs it turned out. were post
poned until the eve OF tho Crimenn war; but
would have taken place in 1910 had not
England rescued tho Sultan from invasion and
probable deposition Mt tho hands OF 1brahim
Pasha. FrauGht with still deeper interest for
American readers is tho period from December.
1857. to May 10. 1851. during which Mr.. Dallas
was the American Minister ut the court OF st.
James. These. Of course. were the years
which witnessed tho inception and outbreak
OF the rebellion. Indeed. Mr.. Dallas did not
leave his post until two months after Mr. Lin
coins Inauguration. when he was succeeded
by Mr.. Adams. Tho portion. therefore. of his
Diary rotating to England reflects like n mir
ror the attitude OF London society toward tho
United States at tho beginning Of our civil war.
The Russian section OF this Diary is full OF
anecdotes. some Of which are well worth re-
producing. for there wcro many persons living
in st. Petersburg who had taken part In tho
wars of1S12-14. and oven tho traditions about
Catherine II. were still fresh. The author OF
the Diary hoard. for instance. an ezempli
ficatlon. though no does not vouch for its au-
thenticty. Of the political lncssc OF the great
Empress. 1t Is we'll known that Charles James
Fox long showed himself very hostile to Rus
STA and its sovereign in the House OF
Commons. 1t CHANGED one day that
Catherine II. gave large entertain
ment at the Hermitage. to which sho in
vited several distinguished EnElishmen. who
happened to be In St Petersburg at the time.
In one Of the rooms had been placed plaster
cast OF Fox, which was surrounded by busts
OF Cicero Demosthones. and other great mas
ters Of eloquence IT was in this apartment
and near the busts that tho Empress seated
herself to play at whist In tho course Of the
evening her English guests sauntercd into
her nelghborhood. and seeing the cast. ex-
pressed aloud to each other their surprise
The Empress frowncd. listened for moment.
and then said to them what! Gentlemen
are you surpris ed to see that bust in the midst
Of the greatest orators? Do you think
me incapable OF doing justice to an enemy2 I
can give Mr.. Fox the rank to which his Won
Uertul ability euIltleS nun oven Wnlle 6uucr
under its exertions." These words were nat
urally reported to Fox who soon aftarwnrd
became the Parliamentary friend and eulosst
OF Catherine. Not unnaturally also. the plas
ter cast soon gave way to one Of marble and |
another OF bronze.
There were many stories current at tho time |
OF Mr.. Dallass sojourn in st. Petersburg about !
the Car. Alexander l.. and his experiences In |
France. We arc reminded that when the |
allies entered Paris In 1914. The Emperor
Alexander used to separate himself from his |
stan. and in spirit OF confidence. born |
OF his good Intentions toward the French |
people.was wont to ride alone aud in advance. IL |
is not generally known. however. that on one
occasion no was stopped by knot Of pOis-
sardes. one OF whom stepped forward and pre-.
scented him with a handsome bouquet OF
flowers. saying that he wis the only one OF tho
sovereigns whom they liked. Wo
know from the historians that during his
stay at Paris Alexander was in the
habit OF visiting tho Empress Josephine
at Malmaisop. and that he interposed
at the Congress OF Vienna in behalf OF her son.
Eugene Beauharnais Mr.. Dallas was told
that when ono day driving out TO SEQ tho ex-
Empress In his carriage. with four horses
abreast and galloplng rs usual. Alexander
met French officer with u fine currlcle and
pair. The Frcnchman would not yield tho
road. but cried out. Give way! Give way"
and tho consequence was that when tho two
oQuipages encountered the currcle was over
turned and broken to pieces. its horses knocked
down and much wounded. aud their owner
thrown out and rendered perfectly furious
With rage. The Emperor alghted Immediate
~. begged the officers pardon. hoped ho was
not hurt. and ascrbed the disaster to the care
lessness OF his coachman. mol" was the re-