At Leamington, Warwick, a grand reception was given. General Grant, and participated in by the Mayor and leading citizens.

On arriving at Sheffield, on the 26th, General Grant was received at the railway station by the Mayor and corporation. A procession then formed to the Cutlers' Hall, where congratulatory addresses were presented by the Corporated Cutlers' Company and the Chamber of Commerce, to which General Grant briefly replied, referred to the American tariff, and reminded his hearers that the United States had to raise money to pay off the great debt incurred by the war. The revenue from imports was regarded solely as the means of attaining that end. If the United States were to abolish the revenue from imports, foreign bondholders would very soon cry out when their interest was not forthcoming. He added: "We get along well enough with the payment of our debt, and will compete with you in your manufactures in the markets of the world. The more of your merchants and mechanics that go to America, the better. Nothing pleases us more than the immigration of the industry and intelligence of this community. We have room for all, and will try to treat you as you have treated me to-day." The General was loudly cheered.

The following evening a grand banquet was given in his honor by the Mayor and corporation of Sheffield. The proceedings were most enthusiastic and cordial.

General Grant arrived at Stratford-on-Avon on the 28th, and met with a brilliant reception. His visit was made the occasion of a festival, in which the whole town took part. The houses were decorated with flags, among which the American colors were conspicuous. The stars and stripes were displayed from the Town Hall and the Mayor's residence. The Mayor and members of the corporation received the General and Mrs. Grant, who were

accompanied by General Badeau, at the railway station, and escorted them to Shakespeare's birthplace. Thence the party proceeded to the Museum, the church, Anne Hathaway's cottage, and other places of interest.

The distinguished visitors were subsequently entertained at a public lunch in the Town Hall. A toast to the health of General Grant was proposed and drank with cheers, and he was presented with a very cordial address, enclosed in a casket made from the wood of the mulberry tree planted by Shakespeare. The General, replying to the toast, spoke most heartily of the welcome given him. He declared it would have been impossible for him to leave England without visiting the birthplace and home of Shakespeare. He pointed to the numerous American Shakespearian societies as proof of the honor paid the poet in the United States.

General Grant and wife spent several days visiting their daughter, Mrs. Sartoris, at Southampton.

On the 6th of October the corporation of the city received him, presenting a complimentary address. At Torquay, Mr. Alfred D. Jessup, of Philadelphia, gave a brilliant reception, the leading residents and noblemen of Torquay and vicinity being present.

On the 16th General Grant and party visited Birmingham. On their arrival they were received by the Mayor and driven to the Town Hall, where the Town Council, a deputation of workingmen, and the Peace Society, presented the General with addresses, which he briefly acknowledged. He was the guest of Mr. Chamberlain, M. P. The following evening General Grant was entertained at a banquet, the Mayor presiding. After the health of the Queen was drank, the Mayor proposed that of the President of the United States, as a potentate all should honor. This was received with due honor by the company.

Mr. Chamberlain, M. P., then proposed the health of exPresident Grant in a happy speech, complimentary to the distinguished guest and his countrymen.

General Grant, in response, referring to the last speaker's allusion to the prompt disbandment of the army after the civil war, said: "We Americans claim so much personal independence and general intelligence that I do not believe it possible for one man to assume any more authority than the constitution and laws give him." As to the remarks that had been made as to the benefits which would accrue to America by the establishment of free trade, the General said he had a kind of recollection that England herself had a protective tariff until her manufactures were established. American manufactures were rapidly progressing, and America was thus becoming a great free trade nation. [Laughter.] The General then warmly thanked the company for the reception they had given him.

General Grant found the labor of accepting the hospitality of his English friends more arduous than the cares of State. It had, in fact, become so great a tax upon his health that from the first of October he had determined to retire to private life, and that the first thing he would do would be to avail himself of the courtesy extended by the Secretary of the Navy, to visit the Mediterranean in one of the vessels of the European squadron, and spend some time in the waters of Italy.

CHAPTER XXIV.

GRANT IN PARIS.

Ex-President Grant, accompanied by his wife and son, left London for Paris on the morning of October 24, 1877. On the arrival of the General and party at the railway station in Charing Cross, to take the train for Folkestone, he was greeted by a large crowd of Americans and Englishmen, who gave him a hearty cheer as he stepped out of his carriage. A special train was in waiting to convey the distinguished party. The large space in front of the hotel and station, extending through to Trafalgar square, was filled with vehicles and pedestrians. After considerable hand-shaking in the waiting-room, and lively greetings on the platform, Sir Edward Watkin, the chairman of the Southeastern Railway Company, being in attendance, he and his guests boarded the train, which moved off precisely at ten o'clock. After a pleasant run of about two hours the train arrived at Folkestone, where General Grant was met at the wharf by the Mayor and members of the Common Council; and fully two thousand of the inhabitants of this old Kentish town welcomed the exPresident with loud cheers. The General at once went on board the special yacht Victoria, accompanied by the Herald correspondent, Sergeant Gazelee, and one or two other officials, these being the only guests. As the trimlooking yacht, with the American flag flying at its fore, left the chalk cliffs of old England, the General stood upon the bridge and waved his hat, responsive to the cheers and adieus from the shore.

The sea was calm, with only a gentle swell, and a fine summer yachting breeze prevailed. The General paced the deck, enjoying his cigar and studying the interesting points and scenery along the majestic cliffs on the southeastern coast, where William the Conqueror landed and fought the battle of Hastings. On nearing the French coast he beheld the sunny hills and shores of the memorable site of Napoleon's Boulogne camp, where the Austerlitz army so long prepared for the invasion of England.

The Victoria arrived at the Boulogne wharf at a quarter to two o'clock. A large crowd of Frenchmen, who had been advised of the arrival of the grand guerrier Americain, was in attendance, and received the guests with a hearty greeting. On entering the special train, the subPrefect of the Department met and was introduced to the General. In the name of the Marshal-President and of the French people, he welcomed him to the shores of France.

The General expressed his warm acknowledgments, saying he had long cherished the wish to visit France, and he was delighted with the present opportunity. M. Hoguet-Grandsire, the Senator representing the Department of the Pas de Calais, also bade him welcome in a brief address, full of sympathy and kindly feeling.

After a long delay, somewhat in contrast to the promptness of the English railroads, the train started for Paris. On the way the General studied closely the scenery of the lovely country along the route, noted the principal industrial sections, and especially observed the wonderful agricultural resources of the country.

General Grant spoke a great deal about his reception in England; that it had been unvarying in warmth, and, as to the hospitality of the people there, nothing could be more kind, considerate and gracious. Everywhere he had experienced, both in official and private circles,