Again, the treaty of 1782 had left open a question of compensation for property - including slaves, I regret to say on territory which England was to restore to us. To whom did we go for. arbitration? Why, to Russia, most naturally; and the arbitration of Russia, made, and repeated on new questions arising out of the first decision, was satisfactory. But there was one question between us, of such magnitude and difficulty that neither of the Treaties - that of Paris, in 1782, nor that of Ghent, in 1814-seemed able to close it,

that was the Northern Boundary. Nearly the whole line, from the Island of Grand Menan, off Eastport, to the Lake of the Woods, was in dispute. Such was our confidence in Russia, that we were ready to put all our rights and interests on that vast issue in her hands. England objected to the arbitration of Russia, and we fell back upon the unlucky King of the Netherlands, whose "Dutch highlands," lying in the beds of rivers, left the question open, with all its elements of irritation, until it was closed by the great act of three men, capable of large ideas and high action, - Peel, Webster, and Ashburton, in 1842.

This is not all, sir. Our day of distress, weakness, and peril came upon us. We met with sad disappointment in the tone of speech from. friendly nations. They told us, by the speeches of statesmen and the voice of the press, that we had grown too strong,

and that we must expect them to wish for our division. Some, more civilly, assured us it was for our good to be divided. "Rise and be hanged, Master Barnardine! These are your friends, the hangmen, Master Barnardine !" I hope we may forget, no doubt we should try to forget, the ill-concealed delight with which our misfortunes were witnessed, as well as the open derision, obloquy, that was poured upon us in those days: the utmost efforts made to secure against us the opinion of the world on every available ground. And when the commander of a sloop of war, uninstructed, does an act, the legality of which the law officers of the British Crown and the British press first admitted and then questioned, without waiting to learn whether our Government sustained or repudiated it, the British Government, which, in any other state of this country would have unquestionably made it matter of diplomatic inquiry, availed themselves of the occasion to make a military and naval demonstration against our blockade and entire war -for that I take to have been the plain English of the war movement in the Trent affair.

From this trying picture, how pleasing it is to turn to the aspect which Russia presented to us. Mr. Everett has read to us the friendly and graceful message of Russia to America sent to us in our darkest hour, telling us that the preservation of our

Union was essential to the universal political equilibrium, and that Russia stood pledged to the most friendly interest. Well did Mr. Seward, in reply, acknowledge that the friendship of Russia "had its beginning with the national existence of the United States."

I must return, Mr Mayor, to the subject to which you more immediately directed my attention, the prize courts and navy of Russia. Of its courts, I cannot speak from personal knowledge; but of its navy, it has been my fortune to know something. I have met Russian ships of war in all quarters of the globe. At the Sandwich Islands, they told me with delight of the escape of the frigate Diana from a British fleet which came to Honolulu, in 1854, a few days after the Diana hurried away; that same frigate whose singular fate, a few months afterwards, attracted the attention of the scientific world, lifted up from her anchors in Simoda Bay, in Japan, and swamped by one monstrous swell of the sea, in a quiet day, which rolled from Japan to California, with the regularity of the march of a planet, raising and plunging everything in its course, until its last effects were registered by the astonished watchers of the tide gauges at San Diego and San Francisco; and when I was mentioning this, just now, to the Russian officer whom I have the pleasure of finding at my side, he replied, "O yes! our Admiral commanded the Diana then." I met them

in China, in Japan, and I found a squadron at San Francisco; and when I went to the navy yard at Mare Island, in California, there I found a room full of Russian naval officers who had been examining our works. Wherever science, or general knowledge, or national interests called them, there Russian ships of war were found. And, our friends will not think me indelicate or assuming if I pay my tribute to the high order of education I always found among them. All spoke French, -and the world knows that Russian French is the best out of Paris, and most spoke English also; and it is well known that among Russian naval officers are found competent representatives of their country in diplomacy and science as well as war.

Let me ask your leave, sir, to propose, not as a formal toast, that is not my office, but as a sentiment to be taken into our hearts: The friendship of Russia and America, beginning with our national existence, in our darkest hour showing no abatement, may it last as long as there shall be Russia in the old world and United States in the new.

At the invitation of the Mayor, Captain Kremer, of the Vitiaz, responded to this sentiment, speaking substantially as follows:

MR. MAYOR,I hope you do not expect a very handsome speech, but since I am called upon I can

speak only what is in my heart. I take it as a fact, proved and confirmed this night by so many remarkable orators, that Russia has a very warm sympathy in the United States; and I know, also, that Russia as well as the United States at this moment depends upon her army. You have had severe trials, and you have them at this moment. I know many people in Europe are surprised that you are progressing so slowly towards Richmond, but I know, having been in Sebastopol, how to appreciate your difficulties. Perhaps you may hear to-morrow that Richmond is taken. But whether it is taken to-morrow or after to-morrow, I have no doubt it will be taken very soon. I have the honor to propose a toast"The Army of the United States."

The Mayor gave the following:

"The Army of the United States. In the past our pride; to-day our steadfast hope."

Lieut.-Col. D. F. Jones, 11th Regiment, U. S. Infantry, responded briefly.

The next sentiment was:

"The Navy of the United States. The iron as well as the wooden walls of our country."

Rear-Admiral Stringham responded, and concluded with the following:

Russia-The great Empire of the North: The United States The great Republic of the North: May they con