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that when his Excellency tumbled from his horse at a review； his
Majesty sent twice to inquire after his health。 The whole effect
upon the conference was to provoke roars of laughter。
But the great matter of the day was the news； which has not yet
been made public； that Prince Hohenlohe； the German chancellor；
has come out strongly for the arbitration tribunal； and has sent
instructions here accordingly。 This is a great gain； and seems to
remove one of the worst stumbling…blocks。 But we will have to pay
for this removal； probably； by giving up section 10 of the
present plan； which includes a system of obligatory arbitration
in various minor matters；a system which would be of use to the
world in many ways。 While the American delegation； as stated in
my letter which Holls took to Bulow； and which has been forwarded
to the Emperor； will aid in throwing out of the arbitration plan
everything of an obligatory nature； if Germany insists upon it； I
learn that the Dutch Government is much opposed to this
concession； and may publicly protest against it。
A curious part of the means used in bringing about this change of
opinion was the pastoral letter； elsewhere referred to； issued by
the Protestant Episcopal bishop of Texas； calling for prayers
throughout the State for the success of the conference in its
efforts to diminish the horrors of war。 This pastoral letter； to
which I referred in my letter to Minister von Bulow； I intrusted
to Holls； authorizing him to use it as he thought fit。 He showed
it to Prince Hohenlohe； and the latter； although a Roman
Catholic； was evidently affected by it； and especially by the
depth and extent of the longing for peace which it showed。 It is
perhaps an interesting example of an indirect 〃answer to prayer；〃
since it undoubtedly strengthened the feelings in the prince
chancellor's mind which led him to favor arbitration。
June 24。
Sent to M。 de Staal； as president of the conference； the memorial
relating to the exemption of private property； not contraband of
war； from capture on the high seas。 Devoted the morning to
blocking out my Grotius address； and afterward drove with Holls
to Delft to look over the ground for our Fourth…of…July festival。
The town hall is interesting and contains； among other portraits；
one which is evidently a good likeness of Grotius； the only
difficulty is that； for our intended luncheon； the rooms； though
beautiful； seem inadequate。
Thence to the church； and after looking over that part of it near
the monuments； with reference to the Grotius ceremony； went into
the organ…loft with the organist。 There I listened for nearly an
hour while he and Holls played finely on that noble instrument；
and as I sat and looked down over the church and upon the distant
monuments； the old historic scenes of four hundred years ago came
up before me； with memories almost overpowering of my first visit
thirty…five years ago。 And all then with me are now dead。
June 25。
At nine in the morning off with Holls to Rotterdam； and on
arriving took the tram through the city to the steamboat wharf；
going thence by steamer to Dort。 Arrived； just before the close
of service； at the great church where various sessions of the
synod were held。 The organ was very fine； the choir…stalls； where
those wretched theologians wrangled through so many sessions and
did so much harm to their own country and others； were the only
other fine things in the church； and they were much dilapidated。
I could not but reflect bitterly on the monstrous evils provoked
by these men who sat so long there spinning a monstrous theology
to be substituted for the teachings of Christ himself。
Thence back to The Hague and to Scheveningen； and talked over
conference matters with Count Munster。 Received telegrams from
Count von Bulow in answer to mine congratulating him on his
promotion； also one from Baron von Mumm； the German minister at
Luxemburg； who goes temporarily to Washington。
June 26。
At work all the morning on my Grotius address Lunched at the
〃House in the Wood；〃 and walked to town with sundry delegates。 In
the afternoon went to a 〃tea〃 at the house of Madame Boreel and
met a number of charming people； but the great attraction was the
house； which is that formerly occupied by John De Wittthat from
which he went to prison and to assassination。 Here also Motley
lived； and I was shown the room in which a large part of his
history was written； and where Queen Sophia used to discuss Dutch
events and personages with him。
The house is beautiful； spacious； and most charmingly decorated；
many of the ornaments and paintings having been placed there in
the time of De Witt。
June 27。
At all sorts of work during the morning； and then； on invitation
of President Low； went with the other members of the delegation
to Haarlem； where we saw the wonderful portraits by Frans Hals；
which impressed me more than ever； and heard the great organ。 It
has been rebuilt since I was there thirty…five years ago； but it
is still the same great clumsy machine； and very poorly
played；that is； with no spirit； and without any effort to
exhibit anything beyond the ordinary effects for which any little
church organ would do as well。
In the evening dined with Count Zanini； the Italian minister and
delegate； and discussed French matters with Baron d'Estournelles。
He represents the best type of French diplomatist； and is in
every way attractive。
Afterward to Mr。 van Karnebeek's reception； meeting various
people in a semi…satisfactory way。
June 29。
In the morning； in order to work off the beginnings of a
headache； I went to Rotterdam and walked until noon about the
streets and places； recalling my former visit； which came very
vividly before me as I gazed upon the statue of Erasmus； and
thought upon his life here。 No man in history has had more
persistent injustice done him。 If my life were long enough I
would gladly use my great collection of Erasmiana in illustrating
his services to the world。 To say nothing of other things； the
modern 〃Higher Criticism〃 has its roots in his work。
June 30。
Engaged on the final revision of my Grotius speech； and on
various documents。
At noon to the 〃House in the Wood〃 for lunch； and afterward took
a walk in the grounds with Beldiman； the Roumanian delegate； who
explained to me the trouble in Switzerland over the vote on the
Red Cross Conference。
It appears that whereas Switzerland initiated the Red Cross
movement； has ever since cherished it； and has been urged by
Italy and other powers to take still further practical measures
for it； the Dutch delegation recently interposed； secured for one
of their number the presidency of the special conference； and
thus threw out my Berlin colleague； Colonel Roth； who had been
previously asked to take the position and had accepted it； with
the result that the whole matter has been taken out of the hands
of Switzerland； where it justly belonged； and put under the care
of the Netherlands。 This has provoked much ill feeling in
Switzerland； and there is especial astonishment at the fact that
when Beldiman moved an amendment undoing this unjust arrangement
it was； by some misunderstanding lost； and that therefore there
has been perpetuated what seems much like an injustice against
Switzerland。 I promised to exert myself to have the matter
rectified so far as the American delegation was concerned； and
later was successful in doing so。
In the evening dined at Minister Newel's。 Sat between Minister
Okolicsanyi of the Austrian delegation； and Count Welsersheimb；
the chairman of that delegation； and had interesting talks with
them； with the Duke of Tetuan； and others。 It appears that the
Duke； who is a very charming； kindly man； has； like myself； a
passion both for cathedral architecture and for organ music； he
dwelt much upon Burgos； which he called the gem of Spanish
cathedrals。
Thence to the final reception at the house of M。 de Beaufort；
minister of foreign affairs； who showed me a contemporary
portrait of Grotius which displays the traits observable in the
copies which Burleigh painted for me twenty years ago at
Amsterdam and