appoint me the governor of it.  I must observe that in the meantime the old asylum was immediately improved, as much as the building allowed, for the introduction of your dear mother’s admirable system.  Shortly after, I had the pleasure of accompanying the Empress to examine a palace-like house—­Prince Sherbatoff’s—­having above two miles of garden, and a fine stream of water running through the grounds, situated only five miles from St. Petersburg.  The next day an order was given to purchase it.  I was permitted to send the plan of this immense building to your dear mother for her inspection, as well as to ask from her hints for its improvement.  Two extensive wings were recommended, and subsequently added for dormitories.  The wings cost about L15,000, and in addition to this sum from the Government, the Emperor, who was always ready to promote the cause of benevolence, gave three thousand pounds for cast-iron window-frames, recommended by your dear mother, as the clumsy iron bars which had been used in the old institution had induced many a poor inmate, when looking at them, to say with a sigh, “Sir, prison, prison!” Your dear mother, also strongly recommended that all, except the violent lunatics, should dine together at a table covered with a cloth, and furnished with plates and spoons.

The former method of serving out the food was most disgusting.  This new plan delighted the Empress, and I soon received an order to meet her at the asylum.  On her arrival she requested that a table should be covered, and then desired me to go round and invite the inmates to come and dine.  Sixteen came immediately, and sat down.  The Empress approached the table, and ordered one of the upper servants to sit at the head of it and to ask a blessing.  When the servant arose to do this, they all stood up.  The soup, with small pieces of meat, was then regularly served; and as soon as dinner was finished, they all rose up spontaneously and thanked the Empress for her motherly kindness.  I saw that the kind Empress was deeply moved, and turning to me she said, “Mon Cher, this is one of the happiest days of my life.”  The next day the number increased at table, and so it continued increasing.  After your dear mother’s return from Ireland, where she had been visiting, among other institutions, the lunatic asylums, she wrote me a letter on the great importance of supplying the lunatics with the Scriptures.  This letter deserved to be written in letters of gold; I sent it to the Imperial family; it excited the most pleasing feelings and marked approbation.  The court physician, His Excellency Dr. Riehl, a most enlightened and devoted philanthropist, came to me for a copy of it.  It removed all the difficulty there had been respecting giving the Holy Scriptures to the inmates.  I was therefore permitted to furnish them with copies, in their various languages.  It may be useful to state the result of this measure, which was considered