March 20th. Well, Dear, it is quite decided. W. accepts to go to Moscow, and takes me with him. He consulted his brother and his friends and all told him he could not refuse. As long as they didn't send a soldier (W. himself would have asked Marechal MacMahon to go, if he had been at the Foreign Office), he was "tout indique."[2] It seems all the other Powers are going to send Princes--Spain, the Duc de Montpensier; England, the Duke of Edinburgh; Italy, the Duc d'Aoste, etc. [2] After the Berlin Congress and the Foreign Office. We are to start somewhere about the 8th or 10th of May. W. is busy now composing his Mission. Of course everybody wants to go. It seems such an undertaking. We had a nice ride this morning--various people riding with us, and all talking about the Coronation. I overheard one timid old gentleman saying to W., "Vous emmenez votre femme? Vous avez tort; on ne sait pas ce qui peut arriver"--not very reassuring. April 1st. My Dear, my letters will now become monotonous, as I have only one idea--the Mission. All the arrangements are being made, such an affair. W. has sent off a man to Moscow to see about a house big enough to hold all the party, with ballroom, and large dining-room We are 9 people--W. and I; Comte de Pontecoulant, Ministre Plenipotentiaire (W.'s ancien Chef de Cabinet); General Pittie (General de Division, chef de la maison militaire du President de la Republique); Colonel Comte de Sesmaisons, commandant les 6eme hussards; Francois de Corcelle, Secretaire d'Ambassade; Commandant Fayet (de la maison du President--Jules Grevy); Richard Waddington, Depute, Capitaine dans l'armee territoriale; Robert Calmon, lieutenant dans l'armee territoriale. L'uniforme est absolument necessaire en Russie. We have three servants--W.'s valet Joseph and my two maids Adelaide and Mdme. Hubert. All the gentlemen have their servants. Then there is Pierson, the huissier from the Quai d'Orsay (you know whom I mean, the big man who wears a gilt chain, announces the people, and writes down names, etc.), two cooks with one or two garcons de cuisine; 3 coachmen, Hubert of course, and two Englishmen. One, Mr. Leroy, such a magnificent person, came this morning to see W. He has already represente on several occasions, and driven gala carriages, etc. He seems graciously inclined to go with us (with very high wages, and making his conditions--will drive only the Ambassador and Ambassadress in the gala carriage, etc.). That will necessitate very delicate negotiations with Hubert, who also wishes to drive only the Ambassador and me. However, as he has never driven a gala carriage, and they are very heavy, unwieldy vehicles to manage, I think he must waive his claim. April 10th.