SHIPS WITH GIFTS 105 



panied by another Russian warship, the Rynda, 

 both of them anchoring in the Delaware River, 

 dressed in holiday attire with flags from stem to 

 stern. Cannon roared the Imperial salute, and 

 Philadelphians were treated to the unusual spec- 

 tacle of warships of a foreign nation celebrating 

 one of its most important holidays. 



Prince Cantacuzen presented to the Relief Com- 

 missioners the following letter, all of them being 

 present excepting Mr. Blankenburg, who at that 

 time was in Japan: 



RUSSIAN IMPERIAL LEGATION, WASHINGTON, 



May 27, 1893. 



DEAR SIR: 



Before leaving my country for the United States I 

 had the great satisfaction to receive a special order of 

 His Majesty, the Emperor, my most gracious Sover- 

 eign, to present tokens of His Majesty's gratitude to 

 the American citizens, who, moved by philanthropic 

 and friendly feelings towards the suffering population 

 of our country, came over to Russia last year and 

 attended personally the distribution of the aid, for 

 which they contributed largely with the generous 

 American people. 



I avail myself of the presence of our men-of-war in 

 Philadelphia, from which harbour sailed the first ship 

 with flour for Russia/to tender to you, dear Sir, on the 

 day of the Coronation of Their Majesties, this case 



