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interesting； some of them being wonderfully quaint。
The violinist of the late King； Johannes Wolff； played some solos
in a masterly way。
The music by the great military band； especially the hymn of
William of Nassau and the Dutch and Russian national anthems； was
splendidly rendered； and the old Dutch provincial music played in
connection with the dances and tableaux was also noteworthy。
It was an exceedingly brilliant assemblage； and the whole
festival from first to last a decided success。
June 18； Sunday。
Went to Leyden to attend service at St。 Peter's。 Both the church
and its monuments are interesting。 Visited also the church of St。
Pancras； a remarkable specimen of Gothic architecture； and looked
upon the tomb of Van der Werf； the brave burgomaster who defended
the town against the Spaniards during the siege。
At the university I was much interested in the public hall where
degrees are conferred； and above all in the many portraits of
distinguished professors。 Lingered next in the botanical gardens
back of the university； which are very beautiful。
Then to the Museum of Antiquities； which is remarkably rich in
Egyptian and other monuments。 Roman art is also very fully
represented。
Thence home； and； on arriving； found； of all men in the world；
Thomas B。 Reed； Speaker of our House of Representatives。 Mr。
Newel； our minister； took us both for a drive to Scheveningen；
and Mr。 Reed's conversation was exceedingly interesting； he is
well read in history and； apparently； in every field of English
literature。 There is a bigness； a heartiness； a shrewdness； and a
genuineness about him which greatly attract me。
June 19。
Called on M。 de Staal to show him Holls's telegram from Berlin；
which is encouraging。 De Staal thinks that we may have to give up
the tenth section of the arbitration plan； which includes
obligatory arbitration in sundry minor matters； but while I shall
be very sorry to see this done； we ought to make the sacrifice if
it will hold Germany； Italy； and Austria to us。
A little later received a hearty telegram from the Secretary of
State authorizing our ordering the wreath of silver and gold and
placing it on the tomb of Grotius。 Telegraphed and wrote Major
Allen at Berlin full directions on the subject。 I am determined
that the tribute shall be worthy of our country； of its object；
and of the occasion。
In the afternoon took Speaker Reed； with his wife and daughter；
through the 〃House in the Wood；〃 afterward through the grounds；
which are more beautiful than ever； and then to Delft； where we
visited the tombs of William the Silent and Grotius； and finally
the house in which William was assassinated。 It was even more
interesting to me than during either of my former visits； and was
evidently quite as interesting to Mr。 Reed。
At six attended a long meeting of the American delegation； which
elaborated the final draft of our communication to M。 de Staal on
the immunity of private property on the high seas。 Various
passages were stricken out； some of themand； indeed； one of the
bestin deference to the ideas of Captain Mahan； who； though he
is willing； under instructions from the government； to join in
presenting the memorial； does not wish to sign anything which can
possibly be regarded as indicating a personal belief in the
establishment of such immunity。 His is the natural view of a
sailor； but the argument with which he supports it does not at
all convince me。 It is that during war we should do everything
possible to weaken and worry the adversary； in order that he may
be the sooner ready for peace； but this argument proves too much；
since it would oblige us； if logically carried out； to go back to
the marauding and atrocities of the Thirty Years' War。
June 20。
Went to the session of one of the committees at the 〃House in the
Wood；〃 and showed Mr。 van Karnebeek our private…property
memorial； which he read； and on which he heartily complimented
us。
I then made known to him our proposal to lay a wreath on the tomb
of Grotius； and with this he seemed exceedingly pleased； saying
that the minister of foreign affairs； M。 de Beaufort； would be
especially delighted； since he is devoted to the memory of
Grotius； and delivered the historical address when the statue in
front of the great church at Delft was unveiled
A little later submitted the memorial； as previously agreed upon；
to Count Munster； who also approved it。
Holls telegraphs me from Berlin that he has been admirably
received by the chancellor； Prince Hohenlohe； and by Baron von
Bulow； and that he is leaving for Hamburg to see the Emperor。
At four P。M。 to a meeting of the full conference to receive
report on improvements and extension of the Red Cross rules； etc。
This was adopted in a happy…go…lucky unparliamentary way； for the
eminent diplomatist who presides over the conference still
betrays a Russian lack of acquaintance with parliamentary
proceedings。 So begins the first full movement of the conference
in the right direction； and it is a good beginning。
Walked home through the beautiful avenues of the park with Mr。
van Karnebeek and Baron d'Estournelles； who is also a charming
man。 He has been a minister plenipotentiary； but is now a member
of the French Chamber of Deputies and of the conference。
June 21。
Early in the morning received a report from Holls； who arrived
from Hamburg late last night。 His talks with Bulow and Prince
Hohenlohe had been most encouraging。 Bulow has sent to the
Emperor my long private letter to himself； earnestly urging the
acceptance by Germany of our plan of arbitration。 Prince
Hohenlohe seems to have entered most cordially into our ideas；
giving Holls a card which would admit him to the Emperor； and
telegraphing a request that his Majesty see him。 But the Emperor
was still upon his yacht； at sea； and Holls could stay no longer。
Bulow is trying to make an appointment for him to meet the
Emperor at the close of the week。
Early in the afternoon went with Minister Newel and Mr。 Low to
call on M。 de Beaufort regarding plans for the Grotius
celebration； on July 4； at Delft。 It was in general decided that
we should have the ceremony in the great church at eleven o
'clock； with sundry speeches； and that at half…past twelve the
American delegation should give a luncheon to all the invited
guests in the town hall opposite。
Holls tells me that last night； at the dinner of the president of
the Austrian delegation； he met Munster； who said to him； 〃I can
get along with Hohenlohe； and also with Bulow； but not with those
dd lawyers in the Foreign Office〃 （〃Mit Hohenlohe kann tch
auskommen； mit Bulow auch； aber mit diesen verdammten Juristen im
Auswartigen Amt； nicht〃）。
June 22。
Up at four o'clock and at ten attended a session of the first
section at the 〃House in the Wood。〃 Very interesting were the
discussions regarding bullets and asphyxiating bombs。 As to the
former； Sir John Ardagh of the British delegation repelled
earnestly the charges made regarding the British bullets used in
India； and offered to substitute for the original proposal one
which certainly would be much more effective in preventing
unnecessary suffering and death； but the Russians seemed glad to