the flotilla departed st. john's on 5 june and reached queenstown, ireland on 16 june. "ashuelot" parted from the group at that port. the two remaining warships headed for england on 21 june; and, during the ensuing year visited most of the maritime countries of europe and, in every case, received enthusiastically friendly hospitality from royalty and commoners alike. the highlight of the cruise was the visit to russia which began upon the warships' arrival at helsingfors (helsinki) on 3 august. finland was then an autonomous duchy owing allegiance to the tsar. three days later, the pair reached kronstadt, the port serving st. petersburg and the americans, home-away-from-home for more than a month in which they enjoyed the warmest of welcomes. the tsar and members of the russian royal family visited the ships on 9 august. lavish entertainment on board the royal yacht, sightseeing tours, and an inspection of the russian fleet filled the ensuing days until "augusta" and "miantonomoh" got underway again on 15 september and headed for stockholm.