ole that the United States was
beginning to play in international affairs is a silver pitcher and
salver[25] presented to Judge George S. Batcheller in appreciation
of his services as president of the International Postal Congress,
which was held in Washington, D.C., in 1897. Judge Batcheller's
international career began when President Ulysses Grant appointed him
as the U.S. judge in the newly created International Tribunal for legal
administration of Egypt. The Tribunal had jurisdiction in cases between
foreigners of different nationalities and also in cases of foreigners
versus Egyptians. Batcheller later served as minister to Portugal and
then as manager of European interests for various American companies.

The International Postal Congress presented Judge Batcheller, its
presiding officer, with a handsome urn-shaped pitcher with the following
inscription engraved on the center front:

Le Congres postal de Washington a son President le General George
S. Batcheller Juin 1897.

The pitcher, 14-1/4 inches high, is marked inside the base "Galt &
Bros., Sterling, 925--0--1879, 277, 7-1/2 pts." The "925" is circled,
and the date is boxed. Accompanying the pitcher is a silver tray
with the monogram "G S B" in script in the center. The tray is marked
on the back with an eagle in a circle to the left, an "A" in a shield in
the center, and a hammer and sickle in a circle to the right (an
unidentified mark).

20th-Century Pieces

FOR SERVICE IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR

One of the most controversial figures of the Spanish-American War is
represented in the Museum's collection of some of the silver that was
presented to Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley.[26] Schley became a
national hero primarily because of his genial personality, and he was
acclaimed and supported by the masses of the American public even while
his claims to fame were being challenged by his colleagues.

Admiral Schley had already had a long and illustrious naval career
before the outbreak of the war with Spain. After his graduation from the
Naval Academy in 1860, he served on board the frigate _Niagara_ when it
was detailed to bring to the United States the first representatives
from Japan to this country. As a junior naval officer he took part in
the Civil War engagements leading up to the capture of Port Hudson. Then
followed a period with sea duty and alternate posts ashore at the Naval
Academy and elsewhere. During this period he too