Je voudrais vous écrire dans votre langue, mais, comme je n'en ai pas l'habitude, j'ai craigné de ne pas vous exprimer tout-à-fait les sentiments de
Votre affectionné,
D. PEDRO D'ALCANTARA.
RIO,
22 Octobre, 1872.
* * * * *
Airy's reply was as follows:
ROYAL OBSERVATORY, GREENWICH, 1872, November 26.
SIRE,
I am honoured with your Imperial Majesty's autograph letter of October 22 informing me that, on considering the attention which the Royal Society of London had been able to offer to your Majesty, as well as the explanation of the various parts of the establishment of this Observatory which I had the honor and the high gratification to communicate, You had been pleased to place my name in the Imperial Order of the Rose, and to present to me the Decorations of Grand Cross of that Order.
With pride I receive this proof of Your Majesty's recollection of your visit to the scientific institutions of Great Britain.
The Diploma of the appointment to the Order of the Rose, under the
Imperial Sign Manual, together with the Decorations of the Order, have
been transmitted to me by his Excellency Don Pereira de Andrada, Your
Majesty's Representative at the British Court.