“A few days ago, as he was coming out of the gate of the London Docks on foot, after having inspected them, a great crowd was waiting to see him, among whom was an old woman of about seventy years of age, who seemed very anxious to get near him, but, the crowd pressing very much, she exclaimed, ‘Oh, if I could but touch his clothes!’ The Emperor overheard her, and, turning round, advanced to her, and, pulling off his glove, gave her his hand, and, at the same time dropping a guinea into hers, said to her, ‘Perhaps this will do as well.’  The old woman was quite overcome, and cried, ‘God bless Your Majesty,’ till he was out of sight.

“An old woman in her ninetieth year sent a pair of warm woolen stockings to the Emperor, and with them a letter stating that she had knit them with her own hands expressly for him, and, as she could not afford to send him silk, she thought that woolen would be much more acceptable, and would also be more useful in his climate.  The Emperor was very much pleased, and determined on giving her his miniature set in gold and diamonds, but, upon learning that her situation in life was such that money would be more acceptable, he wrote her an answer, and, thanking her heartily for her present, enclosed her one hundred pounds.

“These anecdotes speak more than volumes in praise of the Emperor Alexander.  He is truly a great man.  He is a great conqueror, for he has subdued the greatest country in the world, and overthrown the most alarming despotism that ever threatened mankind.  He is great also because he is good; his whole time seems spent in distributing good to all around him; and where-ever he goes he makes every heart rejoice.  He is very active and is all the time on the alert in viewing everything that is worth seeing.  The Emperor is also extremely partial to the United States; everything American pleases him, and he seems uncommonly interested in the welfare of our country.

“I was introduced to-day to Mr. Harris, our charge d’affaires to the court of Russia.  He is a very intelligent, fine man, and is a great favorite with Alexander.  From a conversation with him I have a scheme in view which, when I have matured, I will submit to you for your approbation.

“The King of Prussia I have seen but once, and then had but an imperfect view of him.  He came to the window with the Prince Regent and bowed to the people (at St. James’s Palace).  He is tall and thin, has an agreeable countenance, but rather dejected in consequence of the late loss of his queen, to whom he was very much attached.

“General Bluecher, now Prince Bluecher, I have seen five or six times.  I saw him on his entrance into London, all covered with dust, and in a very ordinary kind of vehicle.  On the day after I saw him several times in his carriage, drawn about wherever he wished by the mob.  He is John’s greatest favorite, and they have almost pulled the brave general and his companion, Count Platoff, to pieces out of pure affection.  Platoff had his coat actually torn off him and divided into a thousand pieces as relics by the good people—­their kindness knows no bounds, and, I think, in all the battles which they have fought, they never have run so much risk of losing their limbs as in encountering their friends in England.