This volume brings together speeches and essays from a ceremony held in 1886 to honor the Dutch philosopher Hugo Grotius, whose ideas on international law and natural rights continue to resonate today. It is a fascinating window into the intellectual debates of the late 19th century and a reminder of the enduring legacy of one of Europe's most influential thinkers. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.