mwr0\ 



Figure 13. — Silver-moi. mi.ij iankaku picsciucd to 

 Cyrus VV. Field by the workmen of Central Park, 

 New York City. Loan of Metropolitan Museum of 

 Art. In Division of Political History. (Ace. 64761, 

 cat. 26209; Smithsonian photo 45992-H.) 



A Testimonial of Respect and Esteem Presented to Hon. 

 Samuel Lilly by a few of his Fellow Citizens without distinc- 

 tion of Party; on the eve of his departure for Calcutta as 

 Consul-General to British India January 29. 1861. 



The inside of the stem is marked with the lion, an- 

 chor, and "G" of the Gorham Silver Company, the 

 word "coin," and the figure "8." 



When Dr. Lilly left India in 1862 he was given a 

 silver pitcher and a silver tray.'' The pitcher (13 

 inches high and 7}i inches in diameter) has a tall, 

 slender neck with a decided downturn to the pouring 

 lip and a hinged lid with a thistle flower as a knob. 

 The neck is engraved on each side with a design of 

 grape leaves and grapes. The bowl of the pitcher has 

 eight panels embossed with scrolls of vines and flowers. 

 Both the tray and the pitcher are marked "Allen and 

 Hayes." One side is engraved: 

 To the Hon. Samuel Lilly, ALD. 

 The other side is engraved : 



i» Gift of William Lilly (ace. 103012, cats. 35781-82), 

 Division of Political History, USNM. 



PAPER 47: PRESENT.\TION PIECES 



222-412.— CO 7 



By tlie .American Merchants in Calcutla July 1862. 



The silver tray (18 inches in diameter) has a .scroll- 

 leaf and flower design in relief around the edge. The 

 scroll-leaf design is repeated on the sinface. Tiic tray 

 is inscribed as follows: 



Presented to the Hon. Samuel Lilly M.D. by the American 

 Merchants Resident in Calcutta as a token of regard and 

 acknowledgment of the creditable manner with which he 

 has upheld the dignity of the office and executed the duties 

 appertaining to the post of Consul-General of the United 

 States of America in British India, Calcutta, July 4th, 1862. 



American interest in European affairs, considerably 

 increased by the middle of the century, is also reflected 

 in the collection. In 1866 the life of the Czar of Russia 

 was saved from a Nihilist's bullet by the brave action 

 of one of the serfs who had recently been emancipated 

 by royal decree. Czar Alexander II was well liked by 

 his own people and was regarded as an enlightened 

 ruler by the other nations of the West. He was espe- 

 cially respected in the United States because of the 

 open support he gave to the Union side during the 

 Civil War. His escape from death was a cause for 

 official rejoicing in this country, and the Congress of 

 the United States passed a resolution of congratulations 

 on the deliverance of the life of the Czar and commis- 

 sioned Gustavus Vasa Fox, Assistant Secretary of the 

 Navy, to deliver it to the Czar. Fox set out for Europe 

 in one of the newly designed Monitor ships that had 

 proved so effective in naval fighting during the Civil 

 War. His Monitor was escorted by other ships of the 

 fleet with a large delegation of naval officers. The 

 party was greeted by the Russians with great acclaim, 

 and it was showered with gifts and honors. Many of 

 the interesting items given to Fox personally were be- 

 queathed to the United States National Museum by his 

 widow, Mrs. V. L. W. Fox (accession 50021, Division 

 of Political History). Among these objects are a silver 

 tray (fig. 14), a silver saltcellar in the shape of a chair 

 (fig. 14), and a gold snuffbox. 



The tray and saltcellar were presented to Fox on the 

 estate of Prince Galitzine, one of the wealthiest mem- 

 bers 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 



97 



