The following account of his reception by the czar is written in pencil:  “On the paper found in my room in Peterhoff.”  It differs somewhat from the letter written to his children and introduced by Mr. Prime in his book, but is, to my mind, rather more interesting.

“August 14, 1856. This day is one to be remembered by me.  Yesterday I received notice from the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, through our Minister Mr. Seymour, that his Imperial Majesty, the Emperor Alexander II, had appointed the hour of 1.30 this day to see me at his palace at Peterhoff.  I accordingly waited upon our minister to know the etiquette to be observed on such an occasion.  It was necessary, he said, to be at the boat by eight o’clock in the morning, which would arrive at Peterhoff about 9.30.  I must dress in black coat, vest and pantaloons and white cravat, and appear with my Turkish nishan [or decoration].  So this morning I was up early and, upon taking the boat, found our Minister Mr. Seymour, Colonel Colt and Mr. Jarvis, attaches to the Legation, with Mrs. Colt and Miss Jarvis coming on board.  I learned also that there were to be many presentations of various nations’ attaches to the various special deputations sent to represent their different courts at the approaching coronation at Moscow.

“The day is most beautiful, rendered doubly so by its contrast with so many previous disagreeable ones.  On our arrival at the quay at Peterhoff we found, somewhat to my surprise, the imperial carriages in waiting for us, with coachmen and footmen in the imperial livery, which, as in England and France, is scarlet, and splendid black horses, ready to take us to our quarters in the portion of the palace buildings assigned to the Americans.  We were attended by four or five servants in livery loaded with gold lace, and shown to our apartments upon the doors of which we found our names already written.

“After throwing off our coats the servants inquired if we would have breakfast, to which, of course, we had no objection, and an excellent breakfast of coffee and sandwiches was set upon the table, served up in silver with the imperial arms upon the silver waiter and tea set.  Everything about our rooms, which consisted of parlor and bedroom, was plain but exceedingly clean and neat.  After seeing us well housed our attendant chamberlain left us to prepare ourselves for the presentation, saying he would call for us at the proper time.  As there were two or three hours to spare I took occasion to improve the time by commencing this brief notice of the events of the day.