Details
GRANT, Ulysses S. Autograph letter signed ("U. S. Grant"), as former President, to Alfred Torbert, Athens, Greece, 9 March 1878. 5½ pages, 8vo, small tear along one vertical crease.
A POST-PRESIDENTIAL VISIT TO THE MIDDLE EAST, DURING A REFUGEE CRISIS. A vivid account of the human toll of the Greco-Turkish war of 1878, Grant's travels in the Middle East and the burdensome gift of an Arabian horse. "After a most pleasant visit up the Nile," he tells Torbert, "back through the Suez Canal, then to Jeppa and out to Jerusalem, up to Smyrna and from there to Constantinople where we spent five days we have reached this city on our way to a different civilization. I find the authorities in Constantinople looking and feeling very gloomy, but the appearance of a successful foe immediately outside the gates of the city did not seem to affect the populace generally. But the sight is wretched enough. In a small portion of the city is stowed away in the Mosques and public buildings probably more than a hundred thousand refugees, men, women and children, who have fled to the Capital before a conquering Army. They are fed entirely by charity and mostly by foreigners. What is to become of them is sad to think of. Besides many...have been shipped to places in Asia Minor and turned loose upon the inhabitants..."
In fact, Grant reports, he had a very pleasant interview with the Sultan, who showed his "his stable of blooded Arabian horses" one of which he "wished to present me." When Grant declined, he let it be known that refusal would be a grave insult. Grant was saddled with the gift horse's transportation and he apologetically asks Torbet-- American Consul General in Paris--to personally charge Grant for the shipping costs. But with any luck, he says, the potentate might change his mind and not send the horse after all.
A POST-PRESIDENTIAL VISIT TO THE MIDDLE EAST, DURING A REFUGEE CRISIS. A vivid account of the human toll of the Greco-Turkish war of 1878, Grant's travels in the Middle East and the burdensome gift of an Arabian horse. "After a most pleasant visit up the Nile," he tells Torbert, "back through the Suez Canal, then to Jeppa and out to Jerusalem, up to Smyrna and from there to Constantinople where we spent five days we have reached this city on our way to a different civilization. I find the authorities in Constantinople looking and feeling very gloomy, but the appearance of a successful foe immediately outside the gates of the city did not seem to affect the populace generally. But the sight is wretched enough. In a small portion of the city is stowed away in the Mosques and public buildings probably more than a hundred thousand refugees, men, women and children, who have fled to the Capital before a conquering Army. They are fed entirely by charity and mostly by foreigners. What is to become of them is sad to think of. Besides many...have been shipped to places in Asia Minor and turned loose upon the inhabitants..."
In fact, Grant reports, he had a very pleasant interview with the Sultan, who showed his "his stable of blooded Arabian horses" one of which he "wished to present me." When Grant declined, he let it be known that refusal would be a grave insult. Grant was saddled with the gift horse's transportation and he apologetically asks Torbet-- American Consul General in Paris--to personally charge Grant for the shipping costs. But with any luck, he says, the potentate might change his mind and not send the horse after all.