The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-06-16 00:00:00

THE CZAR'S ARRIVAL IN ST. PETERS.
BURG.

The Czar and Czarina returned to St. Petersburg on
Sunday, and were received by the populace with
demonstrations of loyalty and goodwill.—Noticing the
reception, ,the St. Petersburg Correspoodent of The
Times, writing on Sunday, says :
Mid-day was the hour fixed for the arrival of their
Majesties from Moscow, which they left last night ;
but by nine o'clock the Newsky Prospect was lined
with eager spectators. The route of entry was lined
on each side with a double row of all tho available
military in the district of the capital—marines, cadets,
/so., all wearing their Bide arms only, and behind them
stood the docile spectators; but numerous as these
were, there was still room enough to " circulate " on
the pavement, It was a beautifully clear, but burn-
ing hot day—the first day of the real Russian summer;
but the patience of the spectators was sustained by the
abounding gaiety of the scene, and by the numerous
bands posted all along the route.
At last the mid-day gun, on the main bastion of the
fortress in the river, thundered ont; the troops stood
to attention, all eyes were directed towards the
Moscow station, and in a few minutes there arose a
distant reverberating cheer, which grew in volume
like an advancing wave as it approached, and became
almost deafening as it neared the cathedral, bearing
their Majesties on its crest. The uncovered multitude
cheered, the bells broke out, the bands struck up the
National Anthem, and the popular welcome culmi-
nated. Seated beside the Empress, in an open car-
riage, and safer far in her companionship than in an
encompassing cloud of cavalry, the Emperor, bowing
his acknowledgments all the while, was driven along
at a very rapid trot, with only some of the Grand
Dukes and dignitaries driving in the rear. That was
all the procession.

Their Majesties ascended the steps of the Cathedral,
where they were received by the clergy, and went in
to worship for a few minutes before the shrine of Our
Lady of Kasen, though the bursts of cheering outside
must have somewhat disturbed their devotions.
Doubly loud rose the cheers as they came out and
rollerfl away, entirely without escort, down the New.
sky Prospect, past the Winter Palace, and across the
bridge, into the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul,
where repose the ashes ef most of the Sovereigns of
Rußsia since the time of Peter the Great. Within a
golden crown on the marble tomb of Alexander the
Emancipator burns perpetual taper fire and in front
of it the deep-voiced priests chant daily prayers for
the soul of the murdered monarch. Fresh wreaths
continue to be placed on the tomb, and the latest
tribute of affectionate reverence deposited there is a
circle of immortelles "from the Bulgarian peasants to
the Czar Liberator." The newly.crowned Emperor
and Empress spent a few moments in devotion before
the tomb of Alexander IL, and then took bat for
Peterhof, their favourite suburban retreat, on the
bceezy shore of the Gulf of Finland.

The Morning Post says that the Emperor presented
to Lord Wolseley a magnificent gold snuff box, studded
with diamonds, and worth 400 guineas, as a parting
present.