For this purpose the most common expedient is a liberal subscription to some benevolent institution, and occasionally a regular bargain is made.

I know of at least one instance where the kind of decoration was expressly stipulated.

The affair illustrates so well the commercial character of these transactions that I venture to state the facts as related to me by the official chiefly concerned.

A merchant subscribed to a society which enjoyed the patronage of a Grand Duchess a considerable sum of money, under the express condition that he should receive in return a St.Vladimir Cross.

Instead of the desired decoration, which was considered too much for the sum subscribed, a cross of St.Stanislas was granted; but the donor was dissatisfied with the latter and demanded that his money should be returned to him.