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out； the great danger is that such a court； sitting constantly as
we propose； would； for some years； have very little to do； and
that soon we should have demagogues and feather…brained
〃reformers〃 ridiculing them as 〃useless；〃 〃eating their heads
off；〃 and 〃doing nothing〃； that then demagogic appeals might lead
one nation after another to withdraw from an arrangement
involving large expense apparently useless； and in view of this
latter difficulty I am much inclined to think that we may； under
our amended instructions； agree to support； in its essential
features as above given； the British proposal； and； with some
reservations； the code proposed by the Russians。
Among the things named by the Russians as subjects which the
agreeing powers must submit to arbitration； are those relating to
river navigation and international canals； and this； in view of
our present difficulties in Alaska and in the matter of the
Isthmus Canal； we can hardly agree to。 During the morning Sir
Julian came in and talked over our plan of arbitration as well as
his own and that submitted by Russia。 He said that he had seen M。
de Staal； and that it was agreed between them that the latter
should send Sir Julian； at the first moment possible； an
amalgamation of the Russian and British plans； and this Sir
Julian promised that he would bring to us； giving us a chance to
insert any features from our own plan which； in our judgment；
might be important。 He seemed much encouraged； as we all are。
Returning to our rooms； I found Count Munster。 As usual； he was
very interesting； and； after discussing sundry features of the
Russian plan； he told one or two rather good stories。 He said
that during his stay in St Petersburg as minister； early in the
reign of Alexander II； he had a very serious quarrel with Prince
Gortchakoff the minister of foreign affairs； who afterward became
the famous chancellor of the empire。
Count Munster had received one day from a professor at Gottingen
a letter stating that a young German savant； traveling for
scientific purposes in Russia； had been seized and treated as a
prisoner； without any proper cause whatever； that； while he was
engaged in his peaceful botanizing； a police officer； who was
taking a gang of criminals to Siberia； had come along； and one of
his prisoners having escaped； this officer； in order to avoid
censure； had seized the young savant； quietly clapped the number
of the missing man on his back； put him in with the gang of
prisoners； and carried him off along with the rest； so that he
was now held as a convict in Siberia。 The count put the letter in
his pocket； thinking that he might have an opportunity to use it；
and a day or two afterward his chance came。 Walking on the quay；
he met the Emperor （Alexander II）； who greeted him heartily； and
said； 〃Let me walk with you。〃 After walking and talking some
time； the count told the story of the young German； whereupon the
Emperor asked for proofs of its truth。 At this Munster pulled the
letter out of his pocket； and； both having seated themselves on a
bench at the side of the walk； the Emperor read it。 On finishing
it； the Emperor said： 〃Such a thing as this can happen only in
Russia。〃 That very afternoon he sent a special police squad；
post…haste； all the way to Siberia； ordering them to find the
young German and bring him back to St。 Petersburg。
Next day Count Munster called at the Foreign Office on current
business； when Gortchakoff came at him in a great rage； asking
him by what right he communicated directly with the Emperor； and
insisting that he had no business to give a letter directly to
the Emperor； that it ought to have gone through the Foreign
Office。 Gortchakoff reproached the count bitterly for this
departure from elementary diplomatic etiquette。 At this Munster
replied： 〃I gave the letter to the Emperor because he asked me
for it； and I did not give it to you because I knew perfectly
well that you would pigeonhole it and the Emperor would never
hear of it。 I concede much in making any answer at all to your
talk； which seems to me of a sort not usual between gentlemen。〃
At this Gortchakoff was much milder； and finally almost
obsequious； becoming apparently one of Munster's devoted friends；
evidently thinking that； as Munster had gained the confidence of
the Emperor； he was a man to be cultivated。
The sequel to the story was also interesting。 The policemen；
after their long journey to Siberia； found the young German and
brought him to St。 Petersburg； where the Emperor received him
very cordially and gave him twenty thousand rubles as an
indemnity for the wrong done him。 The young savant told Munster
that he had not been badly treated； that he had been assigned a
very pleasant little cottage； and had perfect freedom to pursue
his scientific researches。
On my talking with the count about certain Russian abuses； and
maintaining that Russia； at least in court circles； had improved
greatly under Alexander III as regarded corruption； he said that
he feared she was now going back； and he then repeated a remark
made by the old Grand Duke Michael； brother of Alexander II； who
said that if any Russian were intrusted with the official care of
a canary he would immediately set up and maintain a coach and
pair out of it。
At six o'clock our American delegation met and heard reports；
especially from Captain Mahan and Captain Crozier； with reference
to the doings in the subcommittees。 Captain Mahan reported that
he had voted against forbidding asphyxiating bombs； etc。；
evidently with the idea that such a provision would prove to be
rather harmful than helpful to the cause of peace。
Captain Crozier reported that his subcommittee of committee No。 2
had； at its recent meeting； tried to take up the exemption of
private property from seizure on the high seas in time of war；
but had been declared out of order by the chairman； De Martens；
the leading Russian delegate； who seems determined to prevent the
subject coming before the conference。 The question before our
American delegation now was； Shall we try to push this American
proposal before the subcommittee of the second committee； or
before the entire conference at a later period？ and the general
opinion was in favor of the latter course。 It was not thought
best to delay the arbitration plan by its introduction at
present。
In the evening dined with Minister Newel； and had a very
interesting talk with Van Karnebeek； who had already favorably