given last night by our ambassador extraordinary, the Duke of Devonshire, which, for splendour and effect, has surpassed all the others.
“The night was cloudy, and favorable to the advantageous display of the brilliant illumination which lighted up the side and front of the magnificent house where his Grace resides. – So great was the blaze of light that the whole of the dark horizon over a third of Moscow was made visible, and this was produced without there being any overabundant quantity of lamps, for there were none too many, and all harmonized and contributed to the general effect. Indeed, this was the great merit of the whole of the decorations and ornaments, both inside and out; there was nothing too much – nothing overcharged: all was in keeping, if I may so speak, and as it should be.
“The west end of the house can be seen well from the Kremlin, and other elevated spots in the city, and this, accordingly, was the part the most illuminated, and the initials of the King of England, were placed in a conspicuous part of the building.
"On entering, and mounting the stairs, the eye met, above the first landing place, a well executed transparency, with the initials of the Emperor and Empress. Then, proceeding onwards, you found lodged in the anteroom the upper servants of the Duke, in their rich state livery of blue and gold; and on passing thro’ them, you arrived at the door, from whence stood, in two irregular lines, all the attachés of the embassy, leading up to his Grace, who, in a splendid uniform, stood there to receive his guests. The people about him formed rather a striking coup d’oeil. Men of all nations, statesmen and warriors in every variety of uniform, bedecked with stars, and all the insignia of military honours, many of them bravely won, while Russian courtiers, chamberlains, and senators, glittered in all the dazzling pomp which gaudily embroidered coats, with gold and silver, and ribbons and crosses, ‘the cheap reward of Kings,’could confer. There was Marmont in his field-marshal’s uniform, wearing all his well merited orders and stars, with his staff and aides-de-camp, in all the showy variety of the French uniform; the Prince of Hesse Homberg, the Austrian ambassador extraordinary, in the uniform of his country. In short, the representatives of all the crowned heads of Europe, with the American minister, and the envoys from Georgia, Persia, and other countries of the East, who, in their Asiatic costumes, served to complete the variegated and brilliant assemblage.
“About nine o’clock notice was given of the approach of the imperial family, when his Grace, accompanied by all his suite, descended to receive them. The Emperor wore a scarlet uniform, the evening dress of the regiment of chevaliers gardes; the Empress (led in by the Duke) a robe of crimson coloured silk, richly ornamented with diamonds and pearls. She had a necklace of diamonds, with a row across the shoulders, of superior size and beauty, most of them appearing half-an-inch in diameter, while strings of them of inferior magnitude were entwined among her hair. She looked extremely well, and, throughout the evening, was all condescension and amiableness,