Europe welcomes America's "Tyneside Skipper" -- 1877-78: on the Mediterranean with the US Navy -- 1878: a summer of summitry from the North Sea to the Neva -- 1878-79: a decisive letter from Washington -- 1879: the "distinguished foreigner" east of Suez -- 1879: the "King of America" and the viceroys of China -- 1879: the path to peace not taken -- 1879: home