Imperial Governments being to preserve the status quo, and to avoid any questions which could disturb the good feeling existing between them.

The Prince and Princess of Wales left St. Petersburg on the 27th February for England, having gained during their stay fresh laurels of popularity among all classes.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh left on the 28th February for England, viá Antwerp. They were attended by Princess Wiasemsky, Prince Vladimir Bariatinsky and General Ozeroff. From the frontier heir Royal Highnesses had the use of the Empress's pecial train, which is not only provided with sleeping partments, but a complete kitchen apparatus, so that hey did not require to stop at any station for refreshments.

The Emperor and the Grand Dukes accompanied Chem to Gatchina.

CHAPTER V.

The Emperor of Russia's Visit to England-His Reception -Banquet in St. George's Hall-Reception by His Imperial Majesty at Buckingham Palace of Diplomatic Corps and Distinguished Personages-His Visit to the Comte de Paris and to the Empress Eugénie at Chislehurst-Fête at the Crystal Palace-Reviews at Aldershot and Woolwich-State Ball at Buckingham Palace-Luncheon at the Guildhall-- His Departure from Gravesend -Betrothal of Grand Duke Vladimir and Princess Marie of MecklenburgSchwerin-Russian Law in Regard to Imperial Marriages-Letter to Lord Derby on his Return to the Foreign Office-Retirement of Count Brunow -Appointment of Count Schouvaloff—His Wish for Cordial Relations with England His Disapproval of Course Taken in regard to Khiva—His Explanation of it-Conference at Brussels to Discuss Means of Diminishing Calamities of War-Naval Warfare Excluded-Emperor Declines German Proposal to Recognise the Spanish Government-Letter from Don Carlos Reuter's Persian Concession Obnoxious to Russia-Empress of Russia's Visit to England-Turcoman Tribes-Their Submission to Russia.

EARLY in May the Emperor Alexander, accompanied by the Grand Duke Alexis, left St. Petersburg for Stuttgardt, to attend the marriage of his niece the Grand Duchess Vera, daughter of the Grand Duke Constantine, to Prince William of Würtemburg. His Majesty, on leaving Stuttgardt, proceeded to Flushing, to meet the Imperial yacht, the Derjava, which was to convey him to Gravesend.

The Derjava, with the Emperor on board, grounded on leaving Flushing. The Duke of Edinburgh had gone with the Trinity yacht Galatea to meet His Majesty, and he made every attempt, aided by two Dutch steamers, to drag the Derjava off the sandbank, but without success, and she had to remain

there during the night. On the following morning at high tide she was floated, but, instead of Gravesend, the Port of Dover was chosen for landing.

I was instructed to be in attendance during His Majesty's stay in England, and I arrived in London a few days before the Emperor's arrival.

The delay in the Emperor's arrival, and the change of port of his landing, disconcerted all the arrangements and preparations for his reception, and instead of going to Gravesend we had all to go to Dover. The meeting of the Emperor with his daughter, whom he fondly embraced, was most tender and touching, and he affectionately greeted the Prince of Wales and the other Princes. His Imperial Majesty was vociferously cheered by the assembled crowd as he entered the special train for Windsor, which arrived there at ten o'clock. He was received by the Queen and Princesses, and Officers of State, at the grand entrance. The following morning the Emperor, with the Prince of Wales, visited various places of interest in Windsor Park and the interior of the castle, and later in the day the Queen and Czar, with the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Edinburgh, drove to Virginia Water and the Flemish farm. In the evening a State banquet was given in St. George's Hall, at which 130 guests were present. After the banquet, Count Brunnow, the Russian Ambassador, who had become very infirm and feeble, was obliged to retire. I was then ordered to undertake his functions and to present to Her Majesty the members of the Emperor's suite.

On the following day the Emperor went to Buckingham Palace and received the Diplomatic Corps, and afterwards the Cabinet Ministers, as also those of the late Government, and several noblemen and gentlemen who had been invited to pay their respects to His Majesty. He then paid visits to all the members of the Royal family, and to the Comte de Paris, who was then residing at Claridge's Hotel, after which he dined with the Prince and Princess of Wales at Marlborough House, and in the evening accompanied them to a ball given by the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland at Stafford House.

On the following day the Emperor went to Chislehurst to pay a visit to the Empress Eugénie. His Majesty, previous to his leaving St. Petersburg, had made known to the French Government this intention through General Le Flo and Prince Orloff at Paris. He said to General Le Flo, that it was simply a "visite de courtoisie." The Empress, during his visit at Paris, and at the time of the attempt on his life, had been most kind and attentive to him, and that now in her time of adversity, his feelings of chivalry and grateful recollection of former kindness made it obligatory to him to pay this compliment. His Majesty said that he was aware that it would give rise to much comment on the part of the European press, but that he should take care that it was represented in its true light. It may be easily imagined how grateful this attention must have been to the Empress. It was a noble act of the Emperor, and is worthy of being recorded.

On his return from Chislehurst the Emperor visited the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.

After lunching at Buckingham Palace, His Majesty went to a fête at the Crystal Palace, where on his arrival the Russian National Hymn was performed by twelve military bands. It was a most imposing sight; all the fountains played, and at the conclusion of the concert dinner was served for one hundred guests. After the dinner there was a splendid display of fireworks.

On the following day, Sunday, he attended divine service at the Russian Embassy chapel with his son and daughter, and dined privately with the Prince of Wales at Chiswick.

On the following Monday the Emperor went in State to the Guildhall to receive an address and to partake of a luncheon given by the Lord Mayor and Corporation, which His Majesty had preferred to a ball or concert. He read his reply to the address in English. He declared himself afterwards to have been much gratified by the hearty reception accorded to him on his way to and from the Guildhall.

Reviews were held at Aldershot on Tuesday and at Woolwich on Wednesday. A State ball was given at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday and a State dinner by Lord and Lady Derby at the Foreign Office on Wednesday, followed by a large reception.

His Imperial Majesty left England on Thursday, embarking on board the Derjava at Gravesend. Thus ended most successfully the Imperial visit to