AROUND     THE    WORLD.
To  this  was  added  by  the  dignitaries :  —


797


To  General  Grant. — We  join  our  voices  to  prolong  the
poean  whicli  bas  girdled  tbe  earth,  wafted  o'er  seas  and  continents.
Pi'aises  to  the  warrior  and  statesman  most  graciously  presented
by  the  Chinese  of  California.
The  General  replied  :  —


4

!8  Of-V
vnil  ■


Gentlemen.  —  I  am  very  glad  to  meet  the  representatives
the  Chinese  community  and  receive  this  address.  I  have,  as  yott
Bay,  just  returned  from  a  visit  to  your  country.  It  was  a  most
interesting  visit  —  one  that  I  shall  always  remember,  and  espe-
cially because  of  the  kindness  and  hospitality  shown  me  by  the
peojile  and  the  authorities  of  China.  For  that  I  am  grateful,  and
glad  of  an  opportunity  of  expressing  that  gratitude  so  soon  after
my  arrival  at  home,  and  hope  that  the  remark  you  make  about
China  breaking  down  the  seclusion  in  which  she  has  been  shrouded
for  ages  will  prove  true  in  all  senses,  and  that  China  will  continue
to  draw  near  to  her  tlie  sympathy  and  the  trade  of  the  civilized
world.  The  future  of  China  will  largely  depend  upon  her  policy
in  this  respect.  A  liberal  policy  will  enlarge  your  commerce
and  confer  great  commercial  advantages  upon  the  outside  world.
I  hope  that  America  will  have  a  large  share  in  this.  Again  I
thank  you.
After  presenting  the  address,  Colonel  Bee  said  that
Mrs.  Grant  liad  done  more  to  break  down  the  spirit  of
domestic  exclusiveness  that  reigned  in  China  than  the
warrior  had  done,  by  the  honors  shown  her  in  Tientsin.
