The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-06-02 00:00:00

In an interesting description of the reception, the
Correspondent of The Times says :

As the long line of deputies, filing two and two
through the hall, came up, the Emperor asked them
each a few questions, then touched with his hand
the presents which they brought, as. a sign of ac-
ceptance, and a Master of Ceremonies took charge
of the gifts, while the happy donors bowed them-
selves away. Most of the presents offered were large
massive silver-gilt plates, with Russian ornamen-
tation, bearing dark-looking flat loaves of bread, with
silver or gold saltcellars containing salt, or an Icon
richly jewelled, which the Emperor and Empress both
kiFsed, or an album of portraits. All these costly
presents were laid out in order on tables stretching
along the right of the hall behind the pillars, with the
exception of the loaves, which were piled up in heaps
on the window-sills. The Emperor and all his brothers,
uncles, nephews, and cousins wore the blue riband of
St. Andrew, and the Empress, in a rich white dress,
with crimson embroidered train, wore a coronet and
necklace of very large diamonds and sapphires. The
Grand Dukes Michael and Nicholas, as Field-
Marshals, carried their batons.

After all the Zemstvo deputations had been received
it was interesting to see the young Heir-Apparent, in
blue Cossack uniform, as Hetman of all, the Cossacks,
march up at the head of the Cossack representatives,
and bow before his parents, who smiled upon him
with evident delight. Most curious of all were the
deputies from remote regions of Siberia, from the
eastern confines of the Empire, and from Turkestan
and the Chinese frontiers. Some of the Asiatics ware
at a loss how to approach the great White Czar, and
had evidently not been left to their own devices by
the Masters of Ceremonies. A couple of Bouriats,
with pig-tails and Chinese faces, made an attempt to
fall at their Czar's feet, hut were deterred by a
gracious word or two from His Majesty. One of the
Kirghiz from the steppes, carrying a large hat of
State, like the top of a Chinese parasol, presented a
handsome bottle of curious Oriental workmanship,
filled with koumiss, or fermented mare's milk,
and a few coins. The Tekke-Turkoman deputa-
tion from the Transcaspian consisted of ten stal-
wart men, with enormous black woollen hats
which they kept on their heads. They had
with them a little boy, the son of the late Noor Verdi
Khan, and also, as an officer by my side observed,
three Turkoman notables from Merv, who were in no
way Russian subjects, and had only been permitted to
do homage to the Czar at their own urgent request.
The Turkoman present consisted of a beautifully
ornamented sword. Another remarkable figure was
that of the High Priest, or Llama, of the Calmucks,
in yellow robe and yellow Phrygian hat.
The reception of the Diplomatic Body followed, with
closed doors. After a short pause, during which the
Emperor and Empress retired, the congratulatione of
the members of the Imnerial Council and the Min sters
were offered in single tile, beginning with the Grand
Dukes Vladimir, Alexis, Michael, Nicholas, and Con-
E tantine, who went out of the hall, in order to take up
their places at the head of the procession. The
Emperor in this case shook hands with each person;
and, after being thus honoured, each was permitted
to kiss the hand of the Empress. The congratulations
of the high Clergy, who came forward in a body,
attired in magnificent wide-spreading garments,
and led by M. Platon, Metropolitan of Kieff, were,

perhaps, the most important, as well as interesting
of all, Standing before their Majesties, the vener•
able prelate addressed the Emperor in a forcible speech,
accompanied with emphatic gestures of the hands,
and delivered in a tone that s:emed immediately
to fix the attention of the Emperor and of all around
him. The aged Metropolitan fixed his calm gaze upon
the face of the Emperor, and pointei out to him, with
the boldness of authority, the grave significance of the
coronation of yesterday. At the end of his speech, he
pointed' his finger heavenwards and said, "Beloved
Monarch, —God is with you and Russia lies before
you."