Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White — Volume 1White, Andrew Dickson
History
Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White — Volume 1
White, Andrew Dickson
Cornell University; Diplomats -- United States -- Biography; White, Andrew Dickson, 1832-1918
Evolution of the University administration. The Trustees; new
method of selecting them; Alumni trustees. The Executive
Committee. The Faculty method of its selection; its harmony.
The Students; system of taking them into our confidence. Alumni
associations. Engrossing nature of the administration.
Collateral duties. Addresses to the Legislature, to
associations, to other institutions of learning. Duties as
Professor. Delegation of sundry administrative details.
Inaccessibility of the University in those days; difficulties in
winter. Am appointed Commissioner to Santo Domingo in 1870;
to a commissionership at the Paris Exposition in 1877, and as
Minister to Germany in 1879-1881. Test of the University
organization during these absences; opportunity thus given the
University Faculty to take responsibility in University
government. Ill results, in sundry other institutions, of
holding the President alone responsible. General good results of
our system. Difficulties finally arising. My return. The four
years of my presidency afterward. Resignation in 1885. Kindness
of trustees and students. Am requested to name my successor, and
I nominate Charles Kendall Adams. Transfer of my historical
library to the University. Two visits to Europe; reasons for
them. Lectures at various universities after my return.
Resumption of diplomatic duties. Continued relations to the
University. My feelings toward it on nearing the end of life.
PART V--IN THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE
CHAPTER XXVI. AS ATTACH<E'> AT ST. PETERSBURG--1854-1855
My first studies in History and International Law. Am appointed
attach<e'> at St. Petersburg. Stay in London. Mr. Buchanan's
reminiscences. Arrival in St. Petersburg. Duty of an
attach<e'>. Effects of the Crimean War on the position of the
American Minister and his suite. Good feeling established
between Russia and the United States. The Emperor Nicholas; his
death; his funeral. Reception of the Diplomatic Corps at the
Winter Palace by Alexander II; his speech; feeling shown by him
toward Austria. Count Nesselrode; his kindness to me. Visits of
sundry Americans to St. Petersburg. Curious discovery at the
Winter Palace among the machines left by Peter the Great.
American sympathizers with Russia in the Crimean War.
Difficulties thus caused for the Minister. Examples of very
original Americans; the Kentucky Colonel; the New York Election
Manager; performance of the latter at a dinner party and display
at the Post House. Feeling of the Government toward the United
States; example of this at the Kazan Cathedral. Household
troubles of the Minister. Baird the Ironmaster; his yacht race
with the Grand Duke Alexander; interesting scenes at his table.
The traveler Atkinson and Siberia.
CHAPTER XXVII. AS ATTACH<E'> AND BEARER OF DESPATCHES
IN WAR-TIME--1855
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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