No. 237.
Mr. Read
to Mr. Evarts
.
Athens , March 15, 1878. (Received April 13.)
Sir: Yesterday at 3 p.m. the marshal of the court called to take leave of General Grant in the name of the King and Queen. It had been His Majesty’s intention to accompany General Grant to the railway, but his intentions were frustrated by an accident which fortunately proved to be of no lasting consequence. General Grant, Mrs. Grant, Mr. Jesse Grant, Admiral Le Roy, and myself left my residence at 3.15 in the King’s carriages. General Grant was met at the station by the minister of foreign affairs, the prefect of Attica, the mayor and council of Athens, and a guard of honor.
The former took leave of General Grant with words of warmest friendship and respect, and General Grant replied in feeling terms. A special train and the King’s car conveyed General Grant and his suite to the Piraeus, where another enthusiastic meeting took place, in which the city authorities and a large concourse of people took part. The city was decorated with flags, and as General Grant passed to the Vandalia, all the ships in the harbor, including the war-vessels of Greece, America, England, Germany, France, and Italy, manned yards, cheered, and fired salutes of twenty-one guns.
General Grant’s visit has been marked by constant expressions of respect on the part of the King and the people, and I have never witnessed a more enthusiastic reception. General Grant was surprised and impressed by the appearance of Athens, by the good order prevailing everywhere, and by the evidences of progress, prosperity, and civilization apparent on all sides. He constantly expressed his astonishment in finding such a well-settled country and such an admirable population. He said that he felt such a people deserved sympathy and encouragement, and that the King’s slender territories should be increased by important additions, enabling Greece to take the position in the world to which her ancient renown and her modern struggles and triumphs entitle her. America and Greece have many things in common, and our vigorous country should seek on every occasion to manifest her sympathy for the Hellenic kingdom.
I have, &c.,