hours on horseback. The concentration of the two corps d'armée made the work far more interesting, and the final attack and repulse of the invaders were grand and picturesque in the extreme. No fewer than 50,000 men were engaged, and all the 120 guns were brought into action. The Empress as usual rode, and was joined towards the end by the Grand-Duchesses and other ladies in carriages. At two we had an out-of-door luncheon at a kind of farm, where, in the orchard, tables were laid out, and a general scramble of hungry officers ensued; at the Imperial table alone had we chairs. Previous to the luncheon 600 cadets were paraded, and received their commissions in a short speech from the Emperor. I need hardly say their cheers were long and loud, and the sight of the young faces, radiant on the receipt of the word from the Czar that "he claimed them as his officers," was pleasant to see. After luncheon, one of the old generals came behind the Emperor's chair, and called to all around to drink to the health of the Czar. Off went caps, and a grand hurrah resounded, the peasants standing in their brightly coloured dresses beyond the orchard enclosure taking up the shout, and even the cooks working at the open-air kitchens joining in the cheer. Then a few words from the Emperor, and more cheering; then the Empress's health, and still louder hurrahs, and so the scene closed. A few words of compliment to the generals who commanded on either side, and then we strangers formed in line and received the parting words of the Imperial family. I had already had so much said to me by the Emperor and the Empress that I was content to kiss the Empress's hand and accept her Majesty's kind words of adieu, as sincerely as I believe they were kindly meant. Probably I shall see her again, as I told you in my last letter. The Princess of Hanover was more than kind, for she over and over again joined with the young Grand-Duchess Constantine in expressing her hope we might meet again ere long.
Then came the hand-shaking with generals and others; and my old friend Lubowidski (General) fairly put both arms round my neck and hugged me tight. "Shall we ever meet again?" were his last words; and I believe he really was in earnest in hoping it might be so, before we have to give an account of our battles and service before a mightier King than the Czar.
And so at a gallop to Krasnoe, where we found a special train, and reached St Petersburg at six. As some of our party go away to-day, we had a deal of toast-making and friendly converse at our dîner d'adieux, Prince Windischgrätz, as our doyen, being spokesman. Just before dinner, General von Richter, the head of the Emperor's military staff, came to my room, bearing a very handsome flagon of enamelled silver, a present to me from the Emperor, who had sent him off the field after the luncheon to execute his orders to buy this as my souvenir. I am not likely to forget his Majesty's gracious expression of goodwill or this act of condescension.
Hôtel de l'Europe, St Petersburg,
Friday, Aug. 29.
My last letter, sent on the 27th, brought me to the time when General von Richter brought me this flagon which the Emperor had sent. I had intended leaving for Moscow last night; but I had a short visit to the Hermitage in
