l History. (Acc. 50021, cats. 11267, 11263;
Smithsonian photos 45602-A, 45602-H.)]

The tray and saltcellar were presented to Fox on the estate of Prince
Galitzine, one of the wealthiest members of the Russian nobility. These
two items bear the marks of a Russian maker and are engraved "July 5,
1864," which date marked the coming-of-age of the Prince. On August 26,
shortly after the American delegation arrived in Russia, Fox and his
party drove to the beautiful Galitzine estate, about 12 miles from
Moscow. The members of the party were met by the Prince and went with
him to a part of the park where a deputation of peasants awaited them.
Leader of the peasant group was the mayor of the neighboring village, an
emancipated serf, who presented Fox with bread and salt--traditional
symbols of Russian hospitality--on a silver salver and said:

We wish to tell the envoy that we are come to congratulate him on
his arrival, and to present him with bread and salt and also to
say that we love him, and that we shall remember the love of his
people for our country and our sovereign.[20]

Two days later, on August 28, Fox met Prince Gortchakoff by appointment
at the foreign office. After various complimentary allusions to the
manner in which Mr. Fox had performed the delicate duties entrusted to
him by his government, the Prince, in the name of the Emperor, presented
a gold snuffbox set with diamonds.[21] The box, exquisitely chased, had
the Emperor's miniature on the top surrounded by 26 diamonds. Six larger
diamonds were set three on each side at equal distances from the inner
circle. The Emperor was pictured in full military uniform with various
orders on his breast.[22] The snuffbox minus its decorations is part of
the Gustavus Vasa Fox collection in the Museum. The precious stones on
the lid and the miniature in the center were bequeathed by Mrs. Fox to
various members of the family when the box (cat. 11268) was willed to
the Museum.

A large and elaborate silver vase was presented by the members of the
U.S. Life-Saving Service to Mrs. Samuel S. Cox in honor of the
outstanding work of her husband, who as a congressman supported various
bills for the improvement of the Service. Mr. Cox served as Congressman
for 20 years, first from Ohio and later from New York State. He died in
New York City in 1889. Two years later General Superintendent S. I.
Kimball, in behalf of a committee representing the Service, presented
the v