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588 COKE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIA.
tongue of the Ruffian, and therefore the ftyle of the facred writings, though fomewhat
obfolete, is under{tood without much difficulty, even by the common people.
The clergy, he informed me, are divided into fecular and regular priefts; the latter,
from whom are chofen the dignitaries of the church, are not permitted to marry ; the
feculars are the parifh priefts, and from a literal ebfervation of St. Paul’s precept, ‘* the
hufband of one wife,” are required, as a qualification for orders, to marry ; and, in the
{pirit of the fame tenet, are after the death of their wives deemed unfit for the facred
function. The difqualification arifing from widowhood may, indeed, be healed by the
Bithop’s difpenfation*, but a fecond marriage irrecoverably divorces from the altar.
The Archbifhop was politely continuing to acquaint me with many other circumftances
peculiar to the ecclefiaftical eftablifhment, when the converfation was interrupted by a
{ummons to dinner. A fmall table in the corner of the withdrawing-room, according
to the cuftom in this country, was previoufly covered with plates of caviare, red herring,
bread, butter, and cheefe, and different forts of /igueurs, to which the company helped
themfelves before they adjourned to dinner.
About ninety perfons fat down toa fplendid entertainment. During the fecond
courfe, a large glafs with a cover being brought to Prince Volkonfki, he ftood up, de-
livered the cover to the Archbifhop, who fat next him, filled the glafs with champagne,
and drank the Emprefs’s health, which was accompanied with a difcharge of cannon.
The Archbifhop followed his example, and the glafs was in like manner circulated round
the table. The healths of the Great Duke, of the Great Duchefs, and of their fon
Prince Alexander, were then fucceflively toafted with the fame ceremonies; after which
Count Panin arofe, and drinking a return of thanks to the matter of the fealt, was joined
by the whole company. When each toaft was named by the Prince, all the perfons at
table rofe out of refpeét, and remained ftanding while he drank.
During our ftay at Mofcow we frequently experienced the hofpitality of Count
Alexéy Orlof, who, in the laft war with the Porte, commanded the Ruffian fleet in the
Archipelago, and burnt the Turkifh armament in the bay of Tchefme, for which action
he was honoured with the title of Tchefminfki. The cuftom of conferring an additional
name for the performance of fignal fervices to the country, was in imitation of the Ro-
mans, ufually practifed by Conttantine and his fucceflors the Greek Emperors, who
reigned at Conftantinople. From that quarter it probably paffed to the Ruflians, who
in the earlier times of their hiftory gave fimilar appellations to fome of their illuftrious
leaders. ‘Thus the Great Duke Alexander was called Neviki for his victory over the
Swedes near the Neva, and Demetrius Ivanovitch was denominated Dontki, for his con-
queft of the Tartars upon the banks of the Don. . This cuftom, which was long difcon-
tinued, was revived by the prefent Emprefs. _Marfhal Romanzof received the denomi-
nation of Zadunaifki, for his victories fouth of the Danube; Prince Dolgorucki that of
Crimfki for his fucceffes in the Crimea; and Count Orlof this of Tchefminfki, for the
naval victory in the bay of Tchefme.
The houfe of Count Orlof is fituated at the extremity of one of the fuburbs, upon an
elevated fpot, commanding a fine view of the vaft city of Mofcow and the neighbourin
‘country ; many feparate buildings occupy a large tract of ground. ‘The offices, {tables,
manege, and other detached ftructures, are of brick; the foundation and Jower
flory of the dwelling-houfe are built with the fame material; but the upper part is of
* In general the fecular prieft, when a widower, is received into a monaflery.
a wood,
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