people of Japan, for the great hospitality and kindness I have received at the hands of all during my most pleasant visit to this country. I have now been two months in Tokio and the surrounding neighbourhood, and two previous weeks in the more southerly part of the country. It affords me great satisfaction to say that during all this stay and all my visiting, I have not witnessed one discourtesy toward myself, nor a single unpleasant sight. Everywhere there seems to be the greatest contentment among the people; and while no. signs of great individual wealth exist, no absolute poverty is visible. This is in striking and pleasing contrast with almost every other country I have visited. I leave Japan greatly impressed with the possibilities and probabilities of her future. She has a fertile soil, onehalf of it not yet cultivated to man's use, great undeveloped mineral resources, numerous and fine harbours, an extensive seacoast abounding in fish of an almost endless variety, and, above all, an industrious, ingenious, contented, and frugal population. With all these nothing is wanted to insure great progress except wise direction by the Government, peace at home and abroad, and non-interference in the internal and domestic affairs of the country by the outside nations. It is the sincere desire of your guest to see Japan realize all possible strength and greatness, to see her as independent of foreign rule or dictation as any Western nation now is, and to see affairs so directed by her as to command the respect of the civilized world. In saying this, I believe that I reflect the sentiments of the great majority of my countrymen. I now take my leave without expectation of ever again having the opportunity of visiting Japan, but with the assurance that pleasant recollections of my present visit will not vanish while life lasts. That your Majesty may

long reign over a prosperous and contented people, and enjoy every blessing, is my sincere prayer."

The Emperor replied by reading his own address, which was as great a departure from the imperial custom as shaking hands with his guest. His address was as follows:

"Your visit has given us so much satisfaction and pleasure, that we can only lament that the time of your departure has come. We regret, also, that the heat of the season and the presence of the epidemic [cholera] have prevented several of your proposed visits to different places. In the meantime, however, we have greatly enjoyed the pleasure of frequent interviews with you, and the cordial expressions which you have just addressed to us in taking your leave have given us great additional satisfaction. America and Japan, being near neighbours, separated by an ocean only, will become more and more closely connected with each other as time goes on. It is gratifying to feel assured that your visit to our empire, which enabled us to form very pleasant personal acquaintance with each other, will facilitate and strengthen the friendly relations that have heretofore happily existed between the two countries. And now we cordially wish you a safe and pleasant voyage home, and that you will on your return home find your nation in peace and prosperity, and that you and your family may enjoy long life and happiness."

Great preparations were made to receive General Grant at San Francisco, Cal. The people of that State were determined to make it the grandest reception ever given to an American in that country. Time and money were lavished upon the arrangements, as if the managers had resolved to eclipse all demonstrations of honour in the East.

About three o'clock p.m. on the twentieth day of September the bell on the Merchants' Exchange rang out the glad tidings. As if by magic the whole city was astir at once, and from every direction the multitude surged toward the harbour.

It was nearly dark when the General landed at the foot of Market Street, where the Mayor of the city welcomed him in a brief address, to which Grant replied. Then the procession started, which was signalled by another boom of cannon, ringing of bells, and screaming of steam-whistles. Market and Montgomery Streets, through which it passed, were converted into one long, magnificent archway of flowers, banners, festoons, flags, and draperies, more beautiful than any oriental display which the illustrious guest had seen. The city was illuminated, and bonfires blazed on surrounding hills and even at the corners of streets, while Roman candles, electric lights, rockets, and other fireworks poured the light of day upon the host of people in the streets.

A week was given to receptions, dinners, and other public demonstrations in honour of Grant.

On the 25th, Oakland received him. Sixty thousand people were added to her population of forty thousand on that day.

After dinner at Tubb's Hotel, the General addressed the multitude in a brief but fitting speech. On his return to the wharf the crowd followed him. A bright little girl, who pleaded to be lifted up that she might see the General, was passed along from one to another, over the heads of the throng, to Grant, who took her in his arms, kissed her, and passed her back, creating the wildest applause possible.

On the 29th TWENTY THOUSAND children of the public

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schools welcomed him at Woodward Gardens. It was a memorable day.

On his way from the West to the East the whole population seemed to be waiting to do him honour. At Chicago the reception was on a grand scale. The Mayor's address of welcome and Grant's reply elicited hearty applause.

At Philadelphia, whose citizens hoped that he might make the "Quaker City" his home, and to that end had presented him with a fine house, his welcome was not inferior to that of San Francisco. The procession which escorted him was four hours passing a given point.

Among the demonstrations were, a grand dinner given by George W. Childs, Esq.; a reception at Independence Hall; a camp-fire reception by the Grand Army of the Republic; another reception by the Chamber of Commerce; and a farewell reception ball and banquet, the latter of which, it is claimed, surpassed in brilliancy anything of the kind ever given in America. All of them were worthy of the occasion-that of honouring the most renowned general and statesman in the world!

At nearly every dinner and public demonstration, from the time Grant reached San Francisco until he left Philadelphia, he addressed the assemblies. Some of these speeches were his longest and best; all of them were worthy of the man and the occasions. Our limited space has compelled us to omit most of them.

Very appropriately, the General left Philadelphia to pay a visit to his aged mother in New Jersey.

XXIX.

MISFORTUNE AND SICKNESS AT LAST.

GENERAL GRANT did not sit down in idleness after his tour round the world. He was too active a man by nature to waste time with "nothing to do," and too much of a patriot to be indifferent to the welfare of his country. All public matters connected with reconstruction, the relations of the United States Government to foreign powers, the commercial intercourse of our country with the West Indies, Mexico, and other nations, -these and kindred questions enlisted his undivided

attention.

The construction of railroads in the interest of Amer. ican traffic was a subject upon which he bestowed much attention; and he was offered the presidency of one of the largest railroad enterprises of the day to establish better commercial relations between our country and the republic of Mexico. He visited Mexico twice, for the sole purpose of enlarging the fraternal and commercial relations of the two countries. It was universally conceded that his great influence did turn the attention of the two countries to each other, and that here is found the secret of the promise which now invests that republic, especially in respect to its future intercourse with the United States.

General Grant took up his residence in New York

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