The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-09-23
RUSSIA.
Americans ON Visit TO the Emperor.
YALTA, Russia, Aug. 26, 1867.

ASSSAAs
Americans on "a Visit 10 the Emperor.
YALTA. Russia, Aug. 26, 1867.
The passengers on board the Ameri-
can steam yacht Quaker City have been
paying pleasant, informal visit 10 His
Majesty, the Autocrat OF all the. Rus
sias, mt his summer palace near this viii
lsge. We were not smOthered with at
lentions at Constantinople. America
Is in bad odor there, on account of her
outspoken sympathy with the Cretans.
Russia. At SebastopOl we were re-
ceived with great cordiality, and were
not even asked to show our passports
n singular thing to occur in u Russian
mort. We were surprised because we
had been warned that those documents
would be called for and strictly scruti-
niZed about every forty minutes while
One OF the passengers began TO inquire
into the matter. The Russian officer he
spoke To explained it in IL very few
words, and very gracefully. He said :
"Yonder is yOur passport-the flag you
are flying is sullicientw
The Sebastopoliaus said the Emperor
OF Russia was. spending the summer at
the little watering place of Yalta, 40
miles away, and warmly recommended
us 10 take the ship there and visit him.
They said they could insure us kind
reception. They insisted on telegraph
ing and also sending IL courier overland
to announce us. But we had been told
that the great Viceroy of Egypt had
had his visit there almost for nothing a
few dnys before, and we were modest
enough to have our doubts, So we
went our way to Odessa, two hundred
miles distant. Again we were well re-
ceived, and again they said go and
see the Emperor" Finally the Govern
or-General telegraphed to the court, n
prompt reply was returned, aud we
sailed toward Yalta. A great question
had to be solved: What is to be done
and how are we to do it?
\ committee went ashore to wait on
his EXcellency the Governor-General,
and learn our fate. at the end of three
hours OF DUdiug suspense, they came
back and said the Emperor would re-
ceive us at noon the next dny-would
send carriages for us-would hear the
Michael had sent to invite us TO his pal
ace also-both desired 10 visit the ship
the following day with their families,
the weather permitting. Counterfeited
smiles never gave place to real ones SO
suddenly befOrel Any man could see
that there was an intention here to
show that Russia's friendship for Amer
=
private citizens objects worthy of kind
ly attentions.
At the appointed hour we drove out
three miles, and assembled in the hand.
some garden IN front of the Emperor's
palace. In FIVE minutes the Autocrat
came out, and with him the Empress
the Grand Duchess Marie (her daugh'
girl of 14), and little Grand Duke,
about 10 years old. With them came a
few princes and great dignitaries in
handsome, but not ghudy uniforms
We took off our hats. 1 smiled "A reck-
less smile at the finest Uniform, but
found il was only the Lord High Ad.
miral, and so had TO smile Il all over
again. II had had any sense might
have known that the Imperial family
would be the plainest dressed person.
ages on the spot. The Consul read the
address to the Emperor and then
handed il to him. He said word or
two in reply, and passed the document
to court dignitary. This is the ad-
dress:
To His I1apeTidL Majesty, ALEXANDER
H., Emperor Of Russia:
We are handful of private citizens
of America, travelling simply for re.
creation-and unostentatiously, Hs be.
comes our unofficial state-Hnd, there
fore, we have no excuse to tender for
presenting ourselves before your Msjes-
Iy. save the desire of offering our CRATE.
full Acknowledgements 10 the lord of a
realm, which through good and through
evil report, has been the steadfust friend
OF the land we love so well.
We could not presume TO take steE
like this, did we not know well that the
words we speak here, and the senti'
ments wherewith they are freiEhted,
are but the reflex of the thoughts and
the feelings of all our countTymen,
from the green bills of New England
to the shores of the far Pacific. We are
few in number; but we utter the voice
OF "A nRtionl
One of the brightest pages that has
gruced the worlds history since written
history had its birth was recorded by
your Majesty's hand when it loosed the
bonds of twenty millions OF men; and
Americans can hut esteem it privi-
Iege to do honor to ruler who has
wrought so great deed. The lesson
that was taught US then we have profit
ed by, and are free in truth to. day,
even as We were before in name. Amer
lea owes much to Russia-is Indebted
to her in many ways, an dchiefiy for
her unwavering friendship i'll seasons
of our greatest need. That that friend
ship ,may still be hers in time to come
we confidently pray; that she is and
will be grateful to Russia and to her
sovereign for it, we know full well;
that she will ever forfeit it by any un-
premeditated, unjust act or unfair
course, it were treason to believe.
SAM. l.. CLEMENS, WIN. GIBSON,
TIMOTHY d. CROKER. S. ~. SANFORD,
Col. P. KINNEY, U. s. A.,
Committee on behalf of the passengers
OF the steamer Quaker City.
The Emperor had on a white cloth
cap and white cloth coat and pantR-
looms, all OF questionable fneness.
The Empress and her daughter wore
simple suits of foulard, with little
blue spot in it, blue trimmings, low
crowned straw hats trimmed with blue
velvet, linen collars, clerical reck-ties
OF muslin, blue sashes, fesha Colored
gloves, psrasols-lady realiers will take
due notice. The exceeding simplicity
OF these dresses would insure them
against creating sensation in Broad
way. The little Grand Duke wore a
red calico blouse and straw hat, and
had his pantaloons tucked into his
boots. Simplicity of costume and king
ly stateliness OF manner cannot go very
well together, and WIS curious to ses
how the Imperinl party would act.