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.