Page:Men of the Time, eleventh edition.djvu/933

"The manner in which you have conducted the duties of Minister of this Government in Greece has been such as to merit hearty approval; and the patriotic sacrifices which you have made, in order to secure, without interruption, the representation of the United States in that country, entitle you to the respect and commendation of your countrymen. It gives me great pleasure to repeat the frequently expressed satisfaction with which this Government has regarded your conduct of the interests entrusted to you during a period of eleven years in the foreign service of the country, and my own hearty concurrence therewith. Your performance of the delicate and important duties of Consul-General in Paris during the Franco-German War was such as to call forth the approbation not only of your own Govemment, but also of the French and German authorities; and your subsequent services as the diplomatic representative of the United States in Greece has received the frequent commendation of this Government. While the Government is thus unfortunately deprived of your services in an important capacity, I cannot but hope that you will still have many years of happiness and usefulness before you, and that your country may continue to enjoy your active interest in all that concerns its prosperity." The official organ of the Prime Minister of Greece made use of the following language: "The departure of General Read from Greece has called forth universal regret, for, during a residence of six years amongst us, he has succeeded in drawing all hearts to him by his high mental qualities, and the charm and distinction of his manners, as well as by his readiness to serve the true interests of our country. Immediately on his arrival here for the first time, he made it his duty to gather in every direction information on the present condition and aptitudes of the Greek people. In the course of his learned researches he has been able to get together one of the finest collections on Greece—especially unrivalled by the importance of its modern and mediæval works. He has devoted himself to a thorough study of these books, annotating them, and accompanying his researches with facts drawn from all classes of society in various parts of our territory. His perfect knowledge of the history of ancient and modern Greece lent to his words a strength and a weight, before which difficulties disappeared, and the most sincere doubts vanished. General Bead has become one of the most remarkable authorities in all matters relating to the Eastern Question; and there is certainly no foreigner who understands as well as he the character and the capabilities of the Greek race. We are certain that his eminent abilities will not fail Greece in the present juncture, when the territorial question is not yet solved. He is so well known throughout Europe, and counts among his friends so many influential persons in England, France, and Germany, that his views cannot fail to have the most happy influence." The moment he was freed from official ties he set to work with generous ardour to promote the interests of the struggling people who were then pleading their cause before Europe. Bringing all the resources of his unrivalled acquaintance with Eastern affairs to bear in the highest quarters, he journeyed at his own expense from one important point to another, arguing and urging the return to Greece of at least a portion of the ancient territories lying beyond her present borders. During his long sojourn in Greece he had won the confidence alike of the sovereign and of the people, and he was in a position to see that additional territory was essential to the existence of the