the prosperity and progress of the beautiful country over which you rule with so much justice and thought for the ruled. My party are all well, and join me in expression of highest regards for yourself and Cabinet, and wishes for long life, health and happiness to all of you, and peace and prosperity to Siam. Your friend, U. S. GRANT. TOLANI HALL, HONOLULU, HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, Feb. 18, 1879. Dear Sir: The public newspapers give me the information that you are at present on your passage to the East, and are intending to return to the Unitd States across the Pacific Ocean. When I was in the United States during your Presidency, you manifested such interest in the prosperity of my kingdom, that I am proud to think it will not be uninteresting to you to observe the progress we have made, and the general state of the country. I will not remind you that other travelers have found the natural features of the islands, and more especially their volcanic phenomena, interesting, and I entertain a hope that if you accept the invitation which I now tender to you to visit us, as a guest of myself and this nation, on your return to your native country, such a visit will be a pleasant rememberance to you. For myself, it will afford me a great gratification to receive and entertain you, and my people will be proud to do everything in their power to make your visit agreeable. I am your friend, KALAKUA. To General U. S. Grant. UNITED NEAR SHANGHAI, May 16, 1879. HIS MAJESTY, KING KALAKAUA. Dear Sir: On the eve of my departure from Hong Kong for Shanghai, China, I was put in possession of your very polite invitation of the 18th of February for me to visit your kingdom, and to be the guest of Your Majesty. I can assure you that it would afford me the greatest pleasure to accept your invitation if I could do so. I have always felt the greatest desire to visit the Hawaiian Islands, and cannot say positively yet that I may not be able to do so. But it will be impossible for me to give a positive answer until I get to Japan and learn of the running of the vessels between Yokohama and Honolulu, and between the latter place and San Francisco. I shall visit Pekin before going to Japan, and remain in the latter country a month or six weeks. As soon as it is determined whether I am to have the pleasure of visiting your most interesting country or not, I will inform you. Hoping that I may be able to go, Your friend, TO HIS EXCELLENCY, THE LATE PRESIDENT: U. S. GRANT. It has been a high honor and a source of the deepest satisfaction to myself, the high provincial authorities and the gentry and people of Canton, that Your Excellency, whom we have so long desired to see, has been so good as to come among us. Upon learning from you of your early departure, while I dared not interfere to delay you, I had hoped, in company with my associates, to present my humble respects at the moment of your leaving. I refrained from doing so in obedience to your command. I have ventured to send a few trifles to your honored wife, which I hope she will be so kind as to accept. I trust that you both will have a prosperous journey throughout all your way, and that you both may be granted many years and abundant good. Should I ever be honored by my sovereign with a mission abroad, it will be my most devout prayer and earnest desire that I may meet you again. I respectfully wish you the fulness of peace. LIU KUN. UNITED STATES STEAMER ASHUELOT, NEAR SHANGHAI, China, May 16, 1879. HIS EXCELLENCY, THE VICEROY OF KWANGtung and KWANGHAI. Dear Sir: Before leaving Hong Kong for more extended visits through the Celestial Empire, I was placed in possession of your very welcome letter giving expression to the best wishes of Your Excellency and of all the high officials in Canton for myself and mine. Since then it has been my good fortune to visit Swatow and Amoy, both, I understand, under Your Excellency's government, and have received at each the same distinguished reception accorded at Canton. Myself and party will carry with us from China the most pleasant recollections of our visit to the country over which you preside, and of the hospitalities received at your hands. Mrs. Grant desires to thank you especially for the beautiful specimens of Chinese work which you presented to her. With the best wishes of myself and party for your health, long life and prosperity, and in hopes that we may meet again, I am your friend, U. S. GRANT. General Grant's welcome at Shanghai was a fitting climax to the extraordinary reception he had received in China. The story of his two-days' residence here is a story of festivals and pageantry, culminating in the celebration and reception by the Governor and Council. As the General and party came to the spot selected for landing, the banks of the river were thronged with Chinamen, and at least one hundred thousand lined the bank. At three o'clock precisely the barge of the Ashuelot was manned, the American flag was hoisted at the bow, and General Grant, accompanied by Mrs. Grant, Mr. Borie, Colonel Grant, Mr. Holcombe, Acting Minister at Pekin; Mrs. Holcombe, Consul-General Bailey, and Dr. Keating, embarked. As the boat slowly pulled toward the shore the guns of the Ashuelot thundered out a national salute, while the other men-of-war manned the yards. In a few minutes the boat came to the landing, which was covered with scarlet cloth. Mr. Little, Chairman of the Municipal Council, and the committee, shook hands with the General, and the procession marched into the building. As General Grant entered, the audience rose and cheered heartily. On reaching the seat prepared for him he was presented to the Chinese Governor, who had come to do his part in the reception. The Governor was accompanied by a delegation of mandarins of high rank. The band played "Hail, Columbia," and after the music and cheering ceased, Mr. Little advanced and read the following address: |