“I can assure you that this generous gift of the American Red Cross has made a profound impression in Italy. I made the formal presentation to Her Majesty, the Queen, on the 16th instant, and Her Majesty was overcome with emotion and for a moment at loss to express herself. Finally she made a beautiful speech and poured forth her admiration for the organization of the American Red Cross.” Ambassador Griscom, under date of February 18, forwarded to the State Department for transmission to the American Red Cross two letters from the Countess Spaletti Rasponi, the President of the Patronato Regina Elena, and from the Honorable Bruno Chimirri, President of the “Comitato di Vigilanza,” respectively, expressing the gratitude of the Committee and Council of the Patronato Regina Elena for the gift of $250,000, for the establishment of the Orphanage. The letters referred to follow: [Illustration: MAJ.-GEN. R. M. O’REILLY Copyright, Harris-Ewing, ’08] “EXCELLENCY: “The Council of the ‘Opera Nazionale di Patronato Regina Elena,’ having known of the conspicuous offer of 1,300,000 lire made by the American National Red Cross in favor of the children whom the recent earthquake has thrown into the condition of orphans, has passed a vote of thanks to the officers and to Your Excellency, to whose influential interest it is due if so important a part of the funds collected in America has been devoted to our institution. “And I, interpreting the desire of the Council, warmly and specially beg Your Excellency to kindly transmit to the meritorious American Red Cross the expression of our profound and heartfelt gratitude toward all the noble and great American nation, not inferior to any other in all the manifestations of human genius and solidarity. “With the assurances of my highest consideration, “The President, (Signed) “COUNTESS SPALETTI RASPONI.” [Illustration: HON. ROBERT BACON Copyright, Harris-Ewing, ’08] “MR. AMBASSADOR: “I have the honor to offer you the warmest thanks of the Committee and Council of the ‘Opera Nazionale di Patronato Regina Elena’ for the generous offer which you have made on behalf of the Calabrian and Sicilian orphans. “I beg you to be good enough to be interpreter of our very grateful sentiments to the American Red Cross, which has completed, with its splendid gift, its relief work in Calabria and Sicily. “The Agricultural Colony, which will be named American Red Cross Orphanage,’ will perpetuate the remembrance of this charity, and will contribute to render continually more close the ancient ties of sympathy and friendship which unite Italy with your mighty Republic, ties which you called attention to in your brilliant speech on the occasion of the centenary of the great President Lincoln.