requisition.
Paris dresses, laces, coiffures, and jewelry are to be worn for
the first time. At ten and a half o'clock we saw the spacious
rowboats belonging to the Emperor nearing our ship. How gaily they
were decked out with scarlet cloth and fringe hanging over the
sides almost touching the water; each boat was rowed by twelve men
dressed in white caps and uniform. They approached the vessel's
side with extreme caution, owing to the heavy sea, which was
rolling in. As the boat would rise upon a wave and sink away, one
person stepped in after another until it was filled, when another
boat would take its place. In this way all were safely landed. We
left the boat by crimson-carpeted steps leading up from the water
into a picturesque canopied landing. The ladies occupied the
carriages and the gentlemen rode on horseback. We formed quite a
procession, numbering over sixty persons.

"The gates were thrown open to admit us to the palace grounds. A
company of mounted Cossacks were drawn up on each side of the gate,
and we passed through in military order, escorted by the Grand Duke
Michael, brother of the Emperor, who had met us on the way.

"At precisely twelve o'clock we formed in front of the palace. The
smoothly cut lawn around us was like a velvet carpet, with a
profusion of surrounding flowers. Immediately the Emperor and the
Empress appeared, accompanied by their daughter Marie, and one of
their sons, the Grand Duke Serge, followed by a retinue of
distinguished persons.

"The American Consul who had come with us from Odessa stepped
forward and read a short address to his Imperial Highness Alexander
II, Czar of Russia, which had been prepared and signed by the
passengers. The Emperor replied to it by saying 'that he thanked us
for the address and was very much pleased to meet us, especially as
such friendly relations exist between Russia and the United
States.' The Empress further replied by saying 'that Americans were
favourites in Russia,' and she hoped her people were the same with
the Americans.

"The Emperor is tall and well-proportioned, with a mild yet firm
expression. The impression of the beholders is that he is one born
to command. He wore a white cap and a white linen suit, the coat
confined with a belt around the waist a