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.  Je ne manquerai pas de vous faire parvenir par l’entremise de Lord Bloomfield les insignes et la patente de l’ordre.

Veuillez en attendant, Monsieur, recevoir mes sinceres felicitations et l’assurance de ma parfaite consideration.

Le Ministre de l’instruction publique,
CTE OUVAROFF.

ST PETERSBOURG,

ce 24 Aout, 1847
----------
5 Septbr.
a Mr G. B. Airy, Esq.,
Astronome Royal de S. M. Britannique a
Greenwich.

* * * * *

Airy provisionally accepted the Order, but wrote at once to Lord John Russell the following letter of enquiry: 

ROYAL OBSERVATORY, GREENWICH,
1847, Oct. 15.

MY LORD,

In respect of the office of Astronomer Royal, I refer to the first Lord of the Treasury as Official Patron.  In virtue of this relation I have the honour to lay before your Lordship the following statement, and to solicit your instructions thereon.

For conducting with efficiency and with credit to the nation the institution which is entrusted to me, I have judged it proper to cultivate intimate relations with the principal Observatories of Europe, and in particular with the great Observatory founded by the Emperor of Russia at Pulkowa near St Petersburg.  I have several times received Mr Struve, the Director of that Observatory, at Greenwich:  and in the past summer I made a journey to St Petersburg for the purpose of seeing the Observatory of Pulkowa.

Since my return from Russia, I have received a communication from Count Ouvaroff, Minister of Public Instruction in the Russian Empire, informing me that the Emperor of Russia desires to confer on me the decoration of Knight Commander in the second rank of the Order of St Stanislas.

And I have the honour now to enquire of your Lordship whether it is permitted to me to accept from the Emperor of Russia this decoration.

I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship’s very obedient servant,
G.B.  AIRY.

The Rt Honble Lord John Russell,
    &c. &c. &c. 
  First Lord of the Treasury.

* * * * *

The answer was as follows: 

DOWNING STREET,
October 19, 1847.

SIR,

I am desired by Lord John Russell to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, of the 14th inst. and to transmit to you the enclosed paper respecting Foreign Orders by which you will perceive that it would be contrary to the regulations to grant you the permission you desire.