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in an offhand； easy…going way which appalled me。 The simple fact
was that the famine； though not so wide…spread； was more trying
than during the year before； for it found the peasant population
in Finland and in the central districts of the empire even less
prepared to meet it。 They had； during the previous winter； very
generally eaten their draught…animals and burned everything not
absolutely necessary for their own shelter； from Finland
specimens of bread made largely of ferns had been brought me
which it would seem a shame to give to horses or cattle； and yet
his imperial highness the heir to the throne evidently knew
nothing of all this。
In explanation； I was afterward told by a person who had known
him intimately from his childhood； that； though courteous； his
main characteristic was an absolute indifference to most persons
and things about him； and that he never showed a spark of
ambition of any sort。 This was confirmed by what I afterward saw
of him at court。 He seemed to stand about listlessly； speaking in
a good…natured way to this or that person when it was easier than
not to do so； but； on the whole； indifferent to all which went on
about him。
After his accession to the throne； one of the best judges in
Europe； who had many opportunities to observe him closely； said
to me； 〃He knows nothing of his empire or of his people； he never
goes out of his house； if he can help it。〃 This explains in some
degree the insufficiency of his programme for the Peace
Conference at The Hague and for the Japanese War； which； as I
revise these lines； is bringing fearful disaster and disgrace
upon Russia。
The representative of a foreign power in any European capital
must be presented to the principal members of the reigning
family； and so I paid my respects to the grand dukes and
duchesses。 The first and most interesting of these to me was the
old Grand Duke Michaelthe last surviving son of the first
Nicholas。 He was generally； and doubtless rightly； regarded as；
next to his elder brother； Alexander II； the flower of the flock；
and his reputation was evidently much enhanced by comparison with
his brother next above him in age； the Grand Duke Nicholas。 It
was generally charged that the conduct of the latter during the
Turkish campaign was not only unpatriotic； but inhuman。 An army
officer once speaking to me regarding the suffering of his
soldiers at that time for want of shoes； I asked him where the
shoes were； and he answered： 〃In the pockets of the Grand Duke
Nicholas。〃
Michael was evidently different from his brothernot haughty and
careless toward all other created beings； but kindly； and with a
strong sense of duty。 One thing touched me。 I said to him that
the last time I had seen him was when he reached St。 Petersburg
from the seat of the Crimean War in the spring of 1855； and drove
from the railway to the palace in company with his brother
Nicholas。 Instantly the tears came into his eyes and flowed down
his cheeks。 He answered： 〃Yes； that was sad indeed。 My
father〃meaning the first Emperor Nicholas〃telegraphed us that
our mother was in very poor health； longed to see us； and
insisted on our coming to her bedside。 On our way home we learned
of his death。〃
Of the younger generation of grand dukes；the brothers of
Alexander III；the greatest impression was made upon me by
Vladimir。 He was apparently the strongest of all the sons of
Alexander II； being of the great Romanoff breedbig； strong；
muscular； like his brother the Emperor。 He chatted pleasantly；
and I remember that he referred to Mr。 James Gordon Bennettwhom
he had met on a yachting cruiseas 〃my friend。〃
Another of these big Romanoff grand dukes was Alexis； the grand
admiral。 He referred to his recollections of the United States
with apparent pleasure； in spite of the wretched Catacazy
imbroglio which hindered President Grant from showing him any
hospitality at the White House； and which so vexed his father the
Emperor Alexander II。
The ladies of the imperial family were very agreeable。 A remark
of one of thema beautiful and cultivated woman； born a princess
of one of the Saxon duchiessurprised me； for； when I happened
to mention Dresden； she told me that her great desire had been to
visit that capital of her own country； but that she had never
been able to do so。 She spoke of German literature； and as I
mentioned receiving a letter the day before from Professor Georg
Ebers； the historical novelist； she said： 〃You are happy indeed
that you can meet such people； how I should like to know Ebers！〃
Such are the limitations of royalty。
Meantime； I made visits to my colleagues of the diplomatic corps；
and found them interesting and agreeableas it is the business
of diplomatists to be。 The dean was the German ambassador；
General von Schweinitz； a man ideally fit for such a positionof
wide experience； high character； and evidently strong and firm；
though kindly。 When ambassador at Vienna he had married the
daughter of his colleague； the American minister； Mr。 John Jay；
an old friend and colleague of mine in the American Historical
Association； and so came very pleasant relations between us。 His
plain； strong sense was of use to me in more than one difficult
question。
The British ambassador was Sir Robert Morier。 He； too； was a
strong character； though lacking apparently in some of General
von Schweinitz's more kindly qualities。 He was big； roughish； and
at times so brusque that he might almost be called brutal。 When
bullying was needed it was generally understood that he could do
it con amore。 A story was told of him which； whether exact or
not； seemed to fit his character well。 He had been； for a time；
minister to Portugal； and； during one of his controversies with
the Portuguese minister of foreign affairs； the latter； becoming
exasperated； said to him： 〃Sir； it is evident that you were not
born a Portuguese cavalier。〃 Thereupon Morier replied： 〃No； thank
God； I was not： if I had been； I would have killed myself on the
breast of my mother。〃
And here； perhaps； is the most suitable place for mentioning a
victory which Morier enabled Great Britain to obtain over the
United States。 It might be a humiliating story for me to tell；
had not the fault so evidently arisen from the shortcomings of
others。 The time has come to reveal this piece of history； and I
do so in the hope that it may aid in bettering the condition in
which the Congress of the United States has； thus far； left its
diplomatic servants。
As already stated； the most important question with which I had
to deal was that which had arisen in the Behring Sea。 The United
States possessed there a great and flourishing fur…seal industry；
which was managed with care and was a source of large revenue to
our government。 The killing of the seals under the direction of
those who had charge of the matter was done with the utmost care
and discrimination on the Pribyloff Islands； to which these
animals resorted in great numbers during the summer。 It was not
at all cruel； and was so conducted that the seal herd was fully
maintained rather than diminished。 But it is among the
peculiarities of the seals that； each autumn； they migrate
southward； returning each spring in large numbers along the
Alaskan coast； and also that； while at the islands； the nursing
mothers make long excursions to fishing…banks at distances of