From The Wiltshire Times, Saturday 25th August 1888:
Longleat. A Distinguished Visitor.
M. de Stael, the Russian Ambassador, who has been visiting the Marquis of Bath at Longleat, is about 60 years of age, with white hair and side whiskers, and his face bears a striking resemblance to that of the late Professor Darwin . . . . His voice is soft and sibillant, and his whole manner so subdued and professional that one can with difficulty believe that it has frequently fallen to him to practically hold in his hand the balance of peace and war between ourselves and Russia.