There was an awful silence! In a few moments the chairman meekly said: "Perhaps our American friend will offer the prayer himself." I did so, for it was evident that all the Scotchmen present considered our cause past praying for.
On the morning of our departure my letter appeared in the _Scotsman_ accompanied by a long and bitter reply by the editor.

Within a week several of the Scotch newspapers were in full cry, denouncing that "bloody Presbyterian minister from America." After a hurried run to Switzerland I reached Paris in time to witness the celebration of the imperial birthday and to see Louis Napoleon review the splendid army of Italy with great pomp, on the Champs des Mars.

It was a magnificent spectacle.

That day Mr.Slidell, the representative of the Southern Confederacy, hung on the front of his house an immense white canvas on which was inscribed: "Jefferson Davis, the First President of the Confederate States of America." Our ambassador, Hon.

William L.Dayton, was a relative of mine, and I had several conversations with him about the perilous situation of affairs at home.