New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-16
,..,,.. were eager to end their business.


anu r,,,bior ouietly said that he hoped that
i0 .o,,,d no permanent Mr.. Adams. in re-
pea'' go the hone that IL would be the last
ply =, ,aace between Great Britain and the
u W" c,otos The Commissioners could hardly
nv h,or sanxrine respecting the permanence
= ,osce sicce they were aware that the inn
o. - n American seamen. the rights OF ex-
p-,a,,.n and various neutral obligations and
p~'.'.css-the real questions which had led TO
ips-a,-had been left unsettled 10y the treaty. So
'' e, ,os they done their work that it remains
W." w e,sntv-four years the last treaty Of peace
zen ,wo sister nations now united as never
- in common fellowship and good feeling.
", monks in their frugal repasts in the re-
-. - have for daily grace the memories Of an
- American peace which has proved real
ard lasting.
RyPLAY OF TREATY MAKING.
~ Adams writing in his diary nineteen
,rs after the signing OF the treaty. recalled
=, ,oeilns Of anxiety and dependency which
=. carried with him to Client. and also the en-
.,,,srcd struggles which followed with his col
,..cues and the British Commissioners; yet. in
~ o. the final issue Of the peace mission and
-. armament results Of the negotiations, he
-, forced to add: The transactions at Client
'1-s the most fortunate occurrences OF my life"
a, one can unrsvel that tangled skein OF d.
.,oracy without being convinced that the treaty
.s the work OF the one consistent peacemaker
:, the group OF eight Commssioners-Albert
csi,at,n His signature had no more weight
.,.n those Of his colleagues and opponents, but
,s natience. hexibility, tact and conciliatory
..,,s- we're rewarded when the treaty was
.,rr.d ON that historic Christmas Eve In that
.orosly and shabby reception room. with Its
.,.,n table and common chairs. II Mr.. Clay
IA brought on the war IL was Mr.. Gallatin VINO
r.as entitled to the honors OF the peace
vr Adams in his "reminiscences OF his seven
,,onths residence in Client referred with CRATE
o., snpreciation 10 the kindness and hospitality
:, tho citizens There were. however. Few Of
e.i.l courtesies ard only one or two pubic
h.rouets and receptions When the American
commissioners arrived in the town the Mayor
,,sgested that the house which General buIo"
ne6 been occupying might be placed at theH
asnosal: but the ambiguous offer was not acted
rno, The peacemakers preferred to DO theH
xork So far as possible. without attracting Cd
ssrvaton Napoleon was in Eloa' the diPIoiha-
lists al Vienna were recasting the map Oh
rurone. Belgium. after having been uhder
french domination was temporarily unuer Aus
,rian rule and was reluctantly striving 10 au-
inst itself TO the prospect OF constrained uhio'
with Holland under the house OF orange the
distractlnc uncertainties and confusion OF TINS
transition period after the storm ana stress OF
Continental warfare were keenly felt al Eheh''
and in few months were to come the hundred
Davs and Waterloo. The Commissioners were
necessarily left dependent upon their OWE re-
sources for entertainment and during the IN
tervals Of diplomatic labor disported themselves
g. they pleased.
The social byplay is faithfully recorded IN MI
Adauss voluminous diaries. Dinners were
given at the British and the American lodgings
but these entertainments were Gull SUN ana
reserved since each side was accusing the other
Of insincerity and treachery, and sarcasticaAy
,rtimating that the farce was nearly played
out The Americans had superior facilities Tor
entertainment at their hotel, giving two or three
dinners for thirty guests, and one tea-ano-caru
marty with one hundred and fifty invitations
on these occasions a band Of music was hired,
and the hotel garden was Illuminated with
oolored lamps and civic dignitaries, represen-
tatiyes Of the old nobesse and rich Eer-
chants OF Client strolled about the inner court
and watched the players at the card-taoes until
midnight The British Commissioners probably
had a superior source OF amusement, for they
could lend TO their diplomatic opponents copies
~ the London papers containing accounts OF
the burning Of Washington and other reverses or
the American land forces. The battle Of New
Orleans being deferred until a fortnight after
the signing Of the Treaty OF Client the Ameri-
cans could not retaliate in these grim amenities.
Card-players like Henry Clay were never at a
10. for recreation Sometimes the play was
sill running on in adjoining room when the
vrtuous Adams. in his nightcap at o'clock in
the morning lighted his candle in order 10 study
International law IN bed Even the Puritan
was occasionally beguiled into play. for he con-
fessed that Clay won from him a prize picture
drawn a. a lottery
OLD CLIENT LITTLE CHANGED.
Although restoration marplots have been
meddlng with the old churches, and railway
stations, a new palace Of justice and other in
novations bear witness 70 the undermining spirit
old Client has changed very little since the time
Of the Peace Commission. The Place dArmes'
with It's lime trees. Is still the centre Of the
town and the half-mile stroll to the Carthusian
Convent reveals the Cathedral, the Belfry, the
Gothic Town Hall. the quaint churches OF st
Nicholas and 81. Jacques, and the Marche de
Nendredi-the famous forum OF jacques Arte-
Veide and the scene of the Inquisiton horrors.
The American Commissioners must have passed
all these famous structures and places on that
Christmas Eve when they went TO the British
lodgings TO sign the treaty. and II they followed
the Lys In returning to their own quarters they
would have what has remained to this
Gay the most picturesque bit Of old Client with
us quays and bridges, the square keep. bastions
and gateway OF the ruined castle OF the Counts
or Flanders; the guildhouses Of the Shippers
snd Grain Measurers and Staple House, and the
mediaval houses. with their pointed gable ends
and projecting windows and dormers. WIFE
al the signs OF faded grandeur and civic de-
cadence, the glory Of the rich medieval towr
snerein Charles V was born has not yet passed
away. From the convent door, where the monks
are SO eager to exhibit walls frescoed VIII
postage stamps and so Indifferent 10 the priv