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.
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