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COXE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIA. 67%
perfon, though rather below the middle fize, is majeftic, and her countenance, particu-
larly when fhe fpeaks, exprefles both dignity and fweetnefs. She walked flowly through
the drawing-room, to her apartment, and entered alone. ‘The Great Duke and Duchefs.
followed the Emprefs to the door, and then retired to their own drawing-room, where
they had a levee ; but as we had not yet been prefented to them at a private audience,,
we could not, according to the etiquette of the Ruffian court, follow them. The Great
Duchefs leaned upon the arm of His Imperial Highnefs, and they both inclined their
heads on either fide to the company, as they pafled along.
In the afternoon, at fix, we repaired to a ball at court. The private as well as the
ftate apartments of the Emprefs are on the third ftory, and the whole fuite is remarkably
grand and fplendid. We found the company affembled in the anti-chamber, who, as
foon as the Great Duke and Duchefs made their appearance, all entered a fpacious
ball-room. i
The Great Duke opened the ball by walking a minuet with his confort, at the end of
which he handed out a lady, and the Great Duchefs a gentleman, with whom they each
performed a fecond minuet at the fame time. They afterwards fucceflively conferred
this honour in the fame manner upon many of the principal nobility, while feveral other
couples were dancing minuets in different parts of the circle: the minuets were fuc-
ceeded by Polifh dances, and followed by Englith country-dances. When the Emprefs
entered, fhe was more richly appareled than in the morning, and wore a {mall crown of
diamonds.
On her, appearance the ball was fufpended ; while the Great Duke and Duchefs and
the moft confiderable perfons haftened to pay their refpects to their Sovereign. Catha-
rine having addreffed a few words to fome of the principal nobility, afcended an ele-
vated feat, and the dancing being again refumed, fhe, after a fhort-time, withdrew into
an inner apartment. We, in company with feveral courtiers, threw ourfelves into the
fuite, and formed acircle round a table, at which fhe had fat down to cards. Her party
confifted of the Duchefs of Courland, Countefs Bruce, Sir James Harris, Prince Po-
temkin, Marfhal Razomof{ki, Count Panin, Prince Repnin, and Count Ivan Tcherni-
chef. The game was Macao, the pieces in circulation were imperials *, and a player
might win or lofe two or three hundred pounds.
In the courfe of the evening the Great Duke and Duchefs prefented themfelves, and
{tood by the table about a quarter of an hour, during which time Her Majefty occafion-
ally entered into converfation with them. The Emprefs paid little attention to the
cards; converfed familiarly and frequently with great vivacity, as well with the party
at play as with the perfons of rank ftanding near her. About ten fhe retired, and foon
after the ball concluded.
On the 6th we had the honour of being prefented at a private audience to the Great
Duke and Duchefs ; both of whom converfed with us in the moft affable and conde-
fcending manner; according to the etiquette of this court, we kifled Her Imperial
Highnefs’s hand. }
There is a drawing room at court every Sunday morning at twelve, and on other
particular feftivals, at which the Ambaffadors are ufually prefent, and which all foreign.
ers who have been prefented, are permitted to attend. The ceremony of kiffing the
Emprefs’s hand is repeated every court day by foreigners in the prefence chamber, and
by the Ruffians in another apartment, who bend their knee on this occafion; an ex-
* An Imperial = 21.
VOL. VI. 4R preffion
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