from my being made acquainted only this afternoon with some
official arrangements, I am compelled to trouble you at a time which I
fear is less convenient than I could have desired.

The object of my present communication is, to ask whether (if the
movements of the Court permit it) it would be agreeable to your
Lordship to present me to the Emperor. In explanation of this enquiry,
I beg leave to state that this is an honour to which, personally, I
could not think of aspiring. My presence however at Pulkowa at this
time is in an official character. As Astronomer Royal of England, I
have thought it my duty to make myself perfectly acquainted with the
Observatory of Pulkowa, and this is the sole object of my journey to
Russia. It is understood that the Emperor takes great interest in the
reputation of the Observatory, and I am confident that the remarks
upon it which I am able to make would be agreeable to him.

I place these reasons before you, awaiting entirely Your Lordship's
decision on the propriety of the step to which I have alluded. I am
to leave St Petersburg on Saturday the 4th of September.

I have the honor to be
My Lord,
Your Lordship's very faithful servant,
G. B. AIRY.

_Lord Bloomfield, &c., &c._

* * * * *

It was probably in acknowledgment of this letter that in due time he
received the following letter with the offer of the Russian Order of
St Stanislas:

MONSIEUR L'ASTRONOME ROYAL,

Sa Majeste l'Empereur en appreciant les travaux assidus qui vous ont
donne une place distinguee au rang des plus illustres Astronomes de
l'Europe, et la cooperation bienveillante, que vous n'avez cesse de
temoigner aux Astronomes Russes dans les expeditions, dont ils etaient
charges, et en dernier lieu par votre visite a l'Observatoire central
de Poulkova, a daigne sur mon rapport, vous nommer Chevalier de la
seconde classe de l'Ordre Imperial et Royal de St Stanislas. Je ne
manquerai pas de vous faire parvenir par l'entremise de Lord
Bloomfield les insignes et la patente de l'ordre.

Veuillez en attendant, Monsieur, recevoir mes sinceres felicitations
et l'assurance de ma parfaite consideration.

Le Ministre de l'instruction publique,
CTE OUVAROFF.

ST PETERSBOURG,

_ce_ 24 _Aout_, 1847
----------
5 _Septbr._
_a Mr G. B. Airy, Esq.,
Astronome Royal de S. M. Britannique a