Evening star., 1914-12-27
CENTENNIAL OF TREATY OF GHENT

Young man saw in Holland. France and
England"
There are bright side lights on tho
history and men of that time in tho
diary of young Gallatin. Among tho
figures on the political stage are tho
Duke of Wellington, the Car AleNan-
der l and his minister, Pozzodf Borgo:
Lafayette. Madame de Stael, Joseph
Bonaparte, Nine. Patterson Bonaparte.
wife of Jerome Bonaparte: Napolegn
Bonaparte during the hundred days
that elapsed from March 20, 1915: the
return of Napoleon to Paris, June ~.
date OF the second restoration. Louis
XVIII, Duke de Berri 1920; George "
There is mention also of Alexander
Won Humboldt, Lord Castlereagh-
Chateaubriand. Talleyrand, Count de
Orsay. Nine Recamier, Count walewski.
George Canning, Lord Goderick, Count
ess de Boigne of whom Charles Nlcoul-
laud has published interesting menu
oirs.
Briefly the young secretary has re-
counted his diplomatic experience in a
most spiritual and attractive style de-
spite the inclination to the scandalous
side. all of which is history under a
veil not often used by the historian
This historian takes pains to have
his readers understand that he is only
seventeen years of age in pretext
and excuse for his precocity.
Albert Gallatin. after graduation at
the University of Geneva, went TO
America IN liSu, entered the
States Senate in 1895; married a
daughter of Commodore James Mich
olson; was Secretary of the Treasury
under Jefferson and Madison from 1900
to 1913. Gallatin adopted the financial
policy of Alexander Hamilton.
When England refused to accept
Russias offer of mediation between
America and England. Gallatin. who
had already visited Russia and Eng
land. induced Lord Castlereagh. Brit
ich ,,,it, ,iS-ta 70 hn tra Sf
of the proposed peace negotiations to
Ghent, Belgium. Gallatin. after a So
journ of several years in Europe,
where he was envoy extraordinary and
lS16-lS23, and minister to England.
1S26-1s27; retired to private life.
He was president of the New York
Historical and chronological societies.
and died in New York. August IL. ls4e.
In 1913. an offer having been made
by the Russian minister of mediation
of Russia with view of making peace
between. England and the United
States, Mr.. Madison, the President.
sent for Mr.. Gallatin. and requested
him to proceed at once to St PETERS
burg as head Of a mission. appointing
Mr.. Adams minister to Russia). and
Mr.. Bayard as the other two delegates.
Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Russell were subse-
quently added to the commission.
The diary of Mr.. James Gallatin
opens thus: March ~. 1913. the EN-
peror Alexander Of
Was Rejected fers mediation. The
u.+. president Will send
Dy uHe Vote. a commission TO
Russia and has requested father to go.
He will take me his secretary.
The commission went to st. Peters,
burg, but the emperor was away fight
ing Napoleon
October 10-A thunderclap today.
Letters from Washington; one an
nouncing officially that the Senate had
rejected fathers nomination as the
head of the commission by one vote"
This was an affront before the world
but it did not touch Mr.. Gallatin. who
accepted it silently. The American
commissioners refused point-blaDk to
treat in England. The Emperor of
Russia went to London. where he re-
ceived Mr.. Gallatin and promised to do
all he could to aid peace.
July THE commission arrived in
Client and lodged at the Hotel l
Alcantare.
mission arrived this afternoon. We
heard they were coming and / actually
saw them arrive. They are lodged in
Ia fine Carthusian monastery.
ing. The British commi ssioners de-
manded that the Indian tribes should
have the whole of the northwestern
territory. This comprises the states of
Michigan, Wisconsin and ihlnois.
four-fifths of Indiana and the third of
Ohio. That an Indian sovereignty
should be constituted under the guar
antee of Great Britain: this Is to pro-
tect Canada. Father mildly suggested
that there were more than hundred
thousand American citizens settled in
these states and territories. The an
swer was: They must look after
themselves Father is not impressed
with the British delegates"
August 9-The otner demands are
of little Importance. They consist Of
Sacketts harbor and Fort Niagara, so
as to have control of the lakes. But
all this means the dismemberment of
the United States. Father drafted the
rejection of the British Sine qua
non.'
august 1o-Father finds greater
difficulty with his own colleagues.
The accident which placed him at the
foot of the commission placed Mr..
Adams at the head of it. Messrs. Clay.
plainly know that. though he might
be the nominal mouthpiece. Gallatin
was their leader. Clay used strong
language to Adams. and Adams re-
turns the compliment. Father looks
calmly on with twinkle in his eye.
Today there was a severe storm and
father said, Gentlemen, gentlemen,
we must remain united or we will
fail
November 2S-Today father re-
ceived private dispatch from the
Duke of Wellington
Wellington'S marked strictly
n:.l confidential which
Madison as well as Mr.. Monroe gave
you full power to act without even
consulting your colleagues on points
you considered of Importance. / now
feel that peace is shortly in view. Mr..
Goulbourn has made grave errors and
Lord Castlereagh has read him a sharp
lesson Father burnt this dispatch,
and does not even know that l have
recorded it. / wanted to copy 1t and
was doing SO when he took it off the
table and burned it.
December More discussion. ever
lasting pickering and matters delayed.
Father can no longer support Mr..
Adams; he has tried his patience too
far.
December 24-The treaty was sign
ed today in the refectory of the
monastery. Later on there was a SOL
emn service in the cathedral 1t was
most imDreSSiye"