King Louis's Private Messenger Makes a Discovery in London—Beaumarchais, America's First Friend, Writes a Letter—A Secret Conference of State in Philadelphia—Timothy Jones, Alias Silas Deane, the First American Diplomat—The Continental Army Saved by "Roderique Hortalez"—Some Revolutionary Correspondences Showing that All is Not Neutral that Protests. Clandestine Diplomacy.
Enter One of the Most Extraordinary Men that Ever Lived—Paris Taken by Storm—An Ambassador, Secretary of State, War, Navy, and Treasury All in One—A Courier Arrives in Paris with Startling Intelligence—Comedy of English and French Spies—Benjamin Franklin and Louis XVI Sign the Treaty of Alliance—Our Obligation to France.
The European Cabal Against Democracy—The United States Sends out an All-American Team—Benjamin Franklin Plays Fair and Wins the Applause of His Opponents—John Jay Discovers a Plot and Throws His Instructions to the Winds—The Part Played by the Intercepted Dispatches of Marbois and the Secret Mission of Reyneval in American Independence—The Foundations of the Anglo-Saxon Solidarity.
Gouverneur Morris Takes a Hand in the French Revolution—His Memorandum to the King—The Man from Home Plans the Escape of Marie Antoinette—The Affair of the King's Money and Papers—Coaching a Despot to Play Republican—The Embassy a Haven for Condemned Aristos—Invaded by the Commune—The Minister Arrested—All the Ambassadors Leave—"Better My Friends Should Wonder Why I Stay Than My Enemies Inquire Why I Went Away"—Morris Stands by His Post of Danger—The King's Legacy Delivered in Vienna.
Elihu Washburne, Ambassador for the World During the Siege of Paris—The Commune Again—History Repeated—The Empress Eugénie Rescued from the Revolution by an American—The Coming of the Prussians—All the Foreign Envoys Pick Up Their Hats in a Hurry—The Deluge of Victims—The Secret Messenger of the Royal Family—The Gold of Prince Murat—Counsellor to the Republic—Vive l'Amérique—An Embassy Over a Mine and Under a Barricade.
Napoleon Steals Louisiana from the "Prince of Peace" and Organizes an Invasion of America Out of His Victorious Armies Led by Marshal Victor of "The Terrible Regiment"—Thomas Jefferson, Pacifist, Turns a Political Somersault—Rufus King Holds a Momentous Conference in London—Robert Livingston Throws a Challenge in the Face of a Great Conqueror—Napoleon in His Bath-Tub Makes History—James Monroe Goes to Purchase a Town and Returns with a Kingdom—America Saved by the British Fleet.
The "Shadow of God" and "Emulator of Alexander" Writes a Dispatch to "The Amiable James Monroe, Emperor of America"—Courtly Frightfulness vs. Truculent Pacifism—John Adams has a Pleasant Chat with a Pirate in London—An Algerian Price List of American Sailors—Boston Mariners Left in Turkish Slavery—The Diplomatic Triumph of a Courteous Murderer—Blackmail the Alternative of a Navy—The Portrait of George Washington—Stephen Decatur Demonstrates the Persuasive Value of Gunpowder in Diplomatic Discourse.
George Canning Reveals a Plot for the Extermination of Democracy—Richard Rush Sends James Monroe a Literary Bomb-Shell—The Emperors of Europe Combine for Conquest of America—The Duke of Wellington Proves a Tartar—England Makes a Proposition—Thomas Jefferson Proposes to Marry the British Fleet—The Solid Front of the Anglo-Saxon—James Monroe Throws Down a Challenge to Royalty—Ambitions Sunk in the Waters of Trafalgar.
A Mysterious Stranger Appears at the Paris Consulate with Proof of an Imperial Plot—The Iron-Clad Rams of Napoleon III—The Death Knell of the Fleet and the Threatened Bombardment of New York—The Intrigues of an Emperor—The Fallacy of Neutrality—The Diplomatic Methods of John Bigelow—A Cunning Ruse—The Planted Dispatch—The Collapse of the Conspiracy.
Righting an Old Wrong — Introducing an Ultimatum, Including the Story of a Hold-Up at Sea — Two Ambassadors Captured and Imprisoned in Fort Warren, Boston — A Lesson in International Law Proves an Example of International Joke — A National Celebration — A National Indignation — A National Retraction — Abraham Lincoln's Way — Anecdotes vs. the Rattling Sabre — A Conference of State — Salmon P. Chase States a Principle.
The Everlasting Problem of "The Inferior Race." Conflict of "Manifest Destiny" and "The Square Deal" — A Crisis in the Orient — The "Powers" Rig an Action Against the Celestial Kingdom, Backing the Advance of the Caucasian Drummer — Anson Burlingame, Back Bay Politician, Takes the Case of China — The Fate of a Continent in His Hands — An Ambassador to All the World — His Treaty with Seward — A Convention with Lord Clarendon — The Triumphant Diplomatic Conquest of Two Emperors and the Iron Chancellor.
The Diplomacy of the War with Spain — The Crime of National Pride and Procrastination — The Verdict of History — The Plight of Cuba — Revolution Engineered in New York — Mutual Cruelties — American "Pirates" — Cleveland's Firm Hand — Woodford vs. Sagasta, a Triumph of Fair Play — Concessions Made by Spain — "Home Rule" — Removal of Weyler — "Autonomy" — Revocation of Reconcentration — Isabel's Despair — The Intervention of the Pope — Final Concessions and Armistice — "Remember the Maine" — An Intercepted Insult — The Recalled Minister and the Fateful Message to Congress — A Tribute to Spanish Courtesy.
The Man Behind the Revolution — Room 1162, Waldorf-Astoria, The Liberty Hall of Panama — Bunau-Varilla Goes Scouting in Washington — The Three Horns of the Panama Dilemma — Reading the Future Actions of the Government — Playing with Destiny — A Kingdom for a Warship — Victory on the Isthmus — "Time is of the Essence" — Intrigue and Procrastination Squelched by Theodore Roosevelt — The Dramatic Finish in John Hay's Residence.
Premonitions — The King of Prussia's Precious Doctrines in 1823 — The Oppressed Revolutionists of Germany — Debut of the Prussian Bully in Samoa — The Emperor's Fatal Birthday — The Advent of the Famous Formula: "Impossible Ultimatum, Instant Defensive Invasion, and Annexation" — Leary of the Adams Takes a Hand — Schrechlichkeit Foiled by Hurricane — "The Organization of Failure in the Midst of Hate"— Why the Kaiser Did Not Take Uncle Sam "By the Scruff of the Neck"— "If You Want a Fight, You Can Have It Now"— Roosevelt Calls the Teuton Bluff— A Case of Arbitration—Designs on the Caribbean — An Opinion by John Hay.
