No. 59.
Mr. Partridge to Mr. Fish.
(Petropolis,) Rio de Janeiro, April 8, 1872. (Received May 21.)
Sir: I have just returned from Rio, where I went with my colleagues to be present at the reception of the Emperor and Empress on their return from their visit to Europe.
They came from Lisbon on the 13th of March, on the royal mail-packet Boyne, accompanied by their son-in-law, the Duke de Saxe, and two of his children, with a numerous suite, and landed on the morning of Easter Sunday, the 31st of March. The day was bright and beautiful; the city was crowded and gay with flags and streamers; the whole population poured forth in its holiday-dress to greet them, and the scene as their Majesties came ashore, escorted by hundreds of steamers, vessels, and boats of every size and description, the shouts of welcome, the music of the bands, the military display, the thunder of the salutes from all the forts and gaily-dressed men-of-war, echoed back from the mountains which surround this magnificent bay, offered sights and sounds not soon to be forgotten.
On the following day (Easter Monday) a grand Te Deum was chanted in the imperial chapel, at which all the state authorities and the diplomatic corps were present; and immediately afterward a formal reception was held at the city palace. The Emperor, who is tall, well-made, and a remarkably fine-looking man, and the Empress, who has been much improved in health, appeared in excellent spirits, and were evidently much moved and gratified at the cordiality of their welcome. The city was brilliantly illuminated for three nights, and it is not exaggeration to say that the display and effect of those long lines and arcades of light in the crowded streets, among the palms and flowers of the public gardens and promenades, along the whole front of the city, on the islands, in Nictheroy opposite, and reflected in the waters of the bay, were really magnificent.
On the evening of the 5th of April the Emperor received, at the palace of San Cristovãs, those members of its diplomatic corps who had arrived here after he had left for Europe in May last. These (in order of seniority) were Count Koskull, the Russian minister, myself, Count Solms, the German minister, Don Miguel Palasios, the Paraguayan special envoy, and Monsieur de Vorges, the French chargé de affaires.
The Emperor did not receive us separately, as has generally been the custom here heretofore, but a circle was formed as soon as His Majesty was announced; and he came in unattended, even by a chamberlain to present or announce the name of each, first to Count Koskull, whom he only knew to be the Russian minister after some moments’ conversation.
As he next came to me, after saluting him, I said, (in French,) “I have the honor to offer to your Majesty my congratulations on your safe return and so cordial a welcome home;” and it was only by my reply to his question what news I could give him from my country, when I said, “Everything goes well there, generally at last, if not always quietly at first, and the only foreign question we have, that of the ‘Alabama’ claims, makes much less noise there than in England,” that he knew me to be from the United States, when he appeared for a moment surprised, and said very affably, (in Spanish,) “Ah, this is Mr. Partridge!. Why then have we been talking in French?” and after a few moments’ conversation in Spanish, he asked me, in very good English, what news I could [Page 95] give him of Professor Agassiz, whom he was sorry to have just missed here on his return. He then continued for some minutes in English, which he pronounced remarkably well, though sometimes hesitating for a moment to recall the proper word, saying some very affable words about our country, which, he said, he very much wished and yet hoped to visit, showing also an intimate knowledge of the works of American authors, and mentioning especially Mr. Bancroft, whom he had met in Berlin.
The Emperor impressed me in every way as completely entitled to the reputation and popularity he has, not only among his own people, but also where he has lately been, and, in short, with all who have ever approached or known him. To the advantages of a fine person, a dignified presence, and most affable address, without the least parade, (which he heartily dislikes,) he adds the solid things of admirable good sense, capacity, and knowledge. If this were not what every one says of him, I should not attempt to form or express any judgment of my own without further opportunity of knowing. He certainly appeared to me to be the best thing I have seen in Brazil.
We were afterward presented separately to the Empress, who received us with amiable civility.
I have, &c,