The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-07
Making Ready to Sail.

the vicinity of st. Petersburg.
Pleasing Remembrances.
Our entire stay here has been of the most
greeable and pleasant character. We did
Ot dream that the generous hospitality and
attentions OF our hosts would equal that we
lave already received. From our arrival in
the Gulf OF Finland to this time we have been
the recipients OF the most profuse,s generous,
and delicate hospitality and substantial evil
dences of the warm sYmp athy and friendship
OF the Russians, not from the officials alone
representing the Emperor guests we
are-but from the people of every rank and
degree.
The reception has been national in charac-
ter and most marked in every way. Dinners
of the most elegant and princely description
have been given us by the navy and by the
municipal government of the city of Cron-
stadt, at which the most generous and friendly
sentiments OF complete sympathy and regard
have been expressed, and no means left un-
tried through which we could be made to
fully appreciate the affection and esteem in
which the Russian nation hold us. The
entente cordidLe has not been based on trea-
ties, but on the honest and true feelings of
the Government and the people 1t is the
genuine affection Of brothers rather than the
amity dictated by policy and selfinterest.
No one can doubt this fact who sees the close
affiliation between the Russianans do urselVes
1t is too palpable to be denied Each day
shows it more clearly, as it reveals some new
evidence Of the hearty and genuine affection
OF every one here, from the Emperor to the
lowest OF his subjects. But the mere recital
OF the details of our soiourn here. as they are
developed, will show more clearly than words
what is the nature of our reception. And to
that recital will at once devote myself
The Hospitalities.
In my last was compelled by lack of time.
to coniine myself to mere mention Of two
magnificent banquets which we had enoyed
in Cronstadt from the hands of the Russian
Navy and the municipality of Cronstadt
They were so brilliant that 1 must not omit
to give further and most detailed descrip-
tion of them.
{ The Naval Banquet.
fIe first wa. on the afternoon of the 9th,
and was given by the RussiSSI9 Imperial Navy
in the grand salon of the Navy Club at Croi-
stadt. The salon de CGSsembIe-a splendid
room-was elegantly decorated with flags,
Russian and the American, fraternally en-
twined by flowers and eXotics, pictures and
gay banners.
At one end of the room was the coat-of-
arms of Russia over the splendid portrait of
the Grand Duke Constantine, and at the
other was the portrait of Washington under
the arms Of the United States. The flags of
10th nations draped them. The portraits of
prominently displayed Ujs-G-Uis with those OF
the Imperial family - all encirced with
wTeaths of natural flowers and fresh leaves.
The busts OF Peter the Great and Of AleXan-
der the Second, crowned with flowers and
leaves, were placed in conspicuous places.
All about the room were rare trees and
shrubs and flowers of great beauty, brought
from st. Petersburg for the occasion. In the
balconies were two magnificent bands, one
the celebrated orchestra of Ladon, from the
Imperial Opera, and the other the splendid
post band of Cronstadt. The salon was
brilliantly illuminated by grand candelabras,
with wax candles The dinner itself. fur
nished by the mostEcelebrated reStGurGteur OF
st. Petersburg was one of the most elegant
and sumptuous that / have ever seen. 1t
could not be eXcelled.
The wines were of the greatest variety and
profusion, the best that the world affords.
The dinner was as complete as it well could
be,and was greatly enjoyed by the four hundred
and fifty gentlemen who partook Of it, The
bills of fare, designed and engraved expressly
Tor the occasion, were models of elegance and
appropriateness. At the head was a picture
of the MidntonOnGh passing Fort St.Paul.
In the grand garland surrounding the Wig
nette, was the date OF our arrival, 1885, y
while in the border, made by cables, on one
side were the date, '1492," of the discovery OF
America. and the names Of Columbus, Wash
ington, Fulton and Lincoln; and on the other
the date 862, the year OF the foundation OF the
Russian nation, and the great names of Vdadi
mir Ravonaopostolin, Dimitri Donskoi, Peter
the Great, and Alexander III. Under the
Tignette was the inscription in English =
''The Miantonon1dh'S arrival at Constadt."
There were also on either side of the cart
a representation of Russian and American
sailor, holding their respective national flags
which crossed each other and blended thei
folds together, while the sailors saluted eacl
other. About the base were the names G
Sinope, Tchesma, Reyel, Navarin, Sevastopo
Mobile, Charleston, Fort Fisher. New Or
leans-names glorious in the annals of til
Russian and American navies.
The bands played yankee Doodle" "Ha
Columbia" the Russian national HYMN, tn
E'Kommissarow March," and other patriot
airs at intervals, interspersed with selection
from the best operas.
After the dinner sentiments were ofere
and responses made, which were receive
with the greatest enthusiasm. The first toa
was to the Emperor; after which
Mr.. Fox's Speech.
Mr.. Fox made a capital little speech,
which he spoke OF the sympathy existing b
tween Russia and America. We were j
debted greatly to the Emperor for his XIII
greeting during the darkest hour of our tria
when Russia proved to be the only friend '
had in Europe. 1t had made the two natio
friends forever. His remarks, which do n
pretend to report, were received with terri
Sentiments-To the Empress and Roy
family; to Admiral commanding the po
which were replied to and honored WI