by train to Krasnoe at 1.30 – all our luggage going at 10.30. So after coffee, and packing off my servant with orders to have our red coats ready for us on our arrival at the camp, I went to call on Sir Edward Thornton, our ambassador. His house was in the hands of workmen (Lady Thornton being in the country). It is well situated, facing the Neva on one side, and the great square or Champ de Mars on the other. Returning from the Embassy, I found all assembled for an early dinner, for which no one had much appetite, and then we all started en cortége for the trains, and were taken great care of by Prince Obolensky, the Grand Marshal of the Palace. On arriving at Krasnoe, more carriages and footmen. My vehicle is number eight, with two fiery little horses. We reach our quarters on the hill near the Emperor's pavilion, and I find myself in a nice little apartment, bedroom, sitting-room, and servants'-room – all sous la clef – four other generals being in the same house. Our luggage is late, and we have only three-quarters of an hour to get ready to join the Emperor's party on his Majesty's state entry into camp.
We got our luggage at last, and in full tenue proceeded to call on the Grand-Dukes Nicholas, uncle, and Vladimir, brother to the Emperor. Prince Windischgrätz headed us; General de Miribel, the Frenchman, followed; I came next, followed by General Leczinski of the German army, each general followed by his staff, and so on. We found the Grand-Dukes on the balcony of their wooden pavilion, and formed a line or semicircle. They came round and spoke to each general. My Crimean medals, of course, attracted notice, and the Grand-Duke Nicholas alluded rather nicely to our having been vis-à-vis to each other in Sebastopol. When this was over, we found in the main street, which traverses the whole line of pavilions, horses and orderlies, and we mounted at once. Meanwhile the street was being lined with troops on foot without arms, from the Emperor's pavilion towards the camp, and the general staff of the Russian army, headed by the Grand-Dukes and the Minister of War, formed in line opposite to us on either side of the street. The variety of uniforms, and the great names of some of the wearers, gave a certain impressiveness to the scene, Cossack orderlies hurrying to and fro, Tcherkess attendants on the Emperor, &c.; while the German Ambassador General Schweinitz, and the French Ambassador General Appert, both generals of distinction, joined our line and headed it. And all this time the troops were singing, and the singing became a shout as the carriage of the Empress, drawn by four white ponies, appeared, with the Emperor riding by her side. We followed, and thus reached the camp, where the whole of the troops were formed in line four deep in front of their tents. Each battalion took up the shout as we passed – a low hoarse hurrah. We rode at least a mile and a half past the line of tents, and must have seen 50,000 men. The ground is prettily accidenté, and altogether well suited for camp purposes. At the end we came upon the Guard Regiments and the Préobrajensky Regiment, with whom finished the inspection; and here were assembled all the bands and drums, to the number of 800, in one compact mass facing the Empress's pavilion or tent, at the door of which she and her ladies alighted, and were joined by the Emperor and Grand--
