The Press.
London, England, 1854-10-07 00:00:00

OCTOBER 7, 1854.

his Imperial Highness corrected her, as he is perfectly ao
quintet' with the language, which, he informed me, was
taught to him and the Imperial Family by Dr. Law, respect-
ing whose health he made some inquiries, and expressed a
great esteem for that gentleman.
It was now late (past eleven), and her Imperial High-
ness doubtless thought it time fur our interview to close.
She went round and said something to the Grand Duke,
ou which he used the word Stoppi, which, as I have ex-
plained, signifies "proceed," i.e., let us alone. Her
inperbal Highness then left us. I observed that she was
now in a different costume: she wore a large Leghorn
straw hat, a rich crimson velvet bodice fitting quite close,
and a white skirt. Soon after her departure the Grand
Duke rose, and, shaking hands, dismissed me, saying he
was afraid I must be fatigued.
His interview with the Emperor was much
shorter. He was summoned to the palace on
the 25th of June :
While waiting in the ante-room two fine young men,
evidently very tall for their age, and dressed in generals'
uniform, accosted me in excellent English. As I wee
talking to them, answering their questions, Prince
Dolgorouki summoned me to the Emperor's presence;
nor did I know till afterwards that they were the two
youngest of the Grand Dukes, Nicholas and Michael, who
had honoured me with their attention. Their questions
were such as a kind interest dictated, and merely referred
to my stay in Russia, how I liked what I had seen, etc. I
followed the Prince into a small, rather dark apartment;
he there introduced me to his Imperial Majesty, and then
retired a little distance behind.
The Emperor was standing in the middle of the room,
dressed in the plain (lark blue uniform of a general in-
chief, and wore a simple white enamelled cross at the
button-hole on his chest. This, I believe. was the cross of
the Order of St. George, an honour conferred only upon
persons who have rendered important services to their
country. 1 imagine that his Imperial Majesty has not
yet assumed the decoration of the highest class of the
order, which is worn by such men as Paskiewitch, Womn-
soli, etc., and which was described to me as different in
size from that worn by the Emperor. I expected to see a
fine tall man, but was not prepared to find his Imperial
Majesty so much superior to the generality of men in
height and appearance. He certainly did not look more
than fifty ; nor were there any particular signs of care on
his countenance, at least not more than one sees in every
man of his age. His features were fine and regular, his
head bald in the centre, and his eye expressive of mildness,
quite in accordance with his words.
I was aware that his Majesty spoke both English and
French, and hoped that he would address me in my native
tongue. As I bowed and stepped forward, he addressed
me as " Monsieur le Lieutenant," and inquired after my
health, whether I had got rid of my fever, snd how and
where I had caught it. lie asked me about the loss of
the Tig•r, and inquired why we had not anchored, being so
near the land. I replied that the fog was very thick, and
that by our reckoning we were some distance from land
when the vessel struck. He asked if I was married, made
some kind inquiries respecting the family of my late
captain, and informed me that Mrs. Giffard was gone
to Odessa to join her husband, not having heard of his
death.
His Imperial Majesty then said, that it had been his
intention to grant the captain his liberty ; but as that was
now impossible, he would extend that grace to me as the
next in command, and asked me how I should like to go
home.
I was quite taken aback by this announcement, as,
although I had been told at Odessa that I should have my
liberty, still I did not anticipate that it would be granted so
soon and so freely. I was therefore unprepared to answer
the question as to my intended route, and said that I
really had not thought of it ; upon which his Imperial
Majesty burst into a fit of laughter, much amused at my
surprise and embarrassment, and said, " Allez done,
pensez-y (go and think about it), and let me know this
evening, through the Minister of War, what road you would
like to take." He then bowed me out of the room, turning
to the Prince, to whom he made some remark in Russian,
and the latter followed me.
When we were in the outer room the Prince shook hands
with me, congratulating me on my release, and said, " I
suppose we shall not again see you against us?" and on
joining the other officers in the hall I received their con-
gratulations also, one of them telling me that they knew
very well a week previously that I was to have my release;
still it had not transpired, to my knowledge. I gladly ac-
cepted the offer of Prince Dolgorouki to fall in with the
cortege of his Imperial Majesty, who was preparing to
attend divine service in the chapel of the palace.
As we were conversing, the Emperor, leading the Em-
press, and followed by the rest of the Imperial Family and
their suite, passed on their way to the. chapel, and we
closed in the procession. I should have felt s delicacy is
thrusting myself forward had not Prince Dolgoronki
kindly taken me by the arm and led me into the chapel,
in which the Imperial Family had taken their places, so
that I was within twenty yards of the altar; the rest of
the officers in attendance were outside, in a room that
opens into the chapel by a small door, and where, as
I was informed, I should have been unable to hear the
music.
The Empress occupied a seat to my left ; the rest of the
aksembly standing during the service. Her Majesty was
evidently suffering from ill-health, and only rose occasion-
ally during particular parts : the ladies of the Court were
behind her and the Emperor.
That this graciousness was not wholly with-
out nn objeet may be inferred from his fare-
well with Prince Dolgorouki :
On leaving the palace grounds we returned to our rooms
ad dined; soon after I received a message from the