Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Pages ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
COXE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIA. 765
not only aukward and embarrafled, but even timid and diftant. In mixed companies
and with ftraneers, he was filent and referved ; but with thofe with whom he was inti-
mate, he was affable, cheerful, and indulged himfelf in mimicry and farcaltic raillery,
in which he excelled. In routs, balls, and large focieties, he was frequently feen
ftanding ifolated from the company, abforbed in thought ; the involuntary geftures
_ of his body, marked the reftlefsnefs of his difpofition, and the agitation of his
mind, which feemed labouring with vaft projeéts. In fa& he was fatiated with plea-
fures, and miferable becaufe he had no enjoyment left to defire, and every thing to
apprehend.
He was not fatisfied with his high honours and exalted ftation; but was perpetually
forming {chemes of diftinction and aggrandifement. He was folicitous to obtain the
order of the garter, and felt extremely difappointed that his application did not fucceed.
Through his influence, however, a treaty was negotiated between Great Britain and
Ruflia, by which Minorca was to be ceded to the Emprefs; and the whole artillery
and flores, which were worth near a million fterling, were to be yielded as a gratifi-
cation to Prince Potemkin. In return, the Emprefs was to fend feveral fhips of the
line to the affiftance of England. This negotiation was interrupted by the capture of
Minorca. At one time he afpired, at the inftigation of the court of Verfailles, to be
Hofpodar of Moldavia and Wallachia ; at another, by the fuggeftions of the King
of Pruffia, to become Duke of Courland; and by the Houfe of Auitria, he was per-
fuaded,to afpire to the throne of Poland. All thefe fchemes, rapidly fucceeding each
other, kept him ina continual {tate of reftlefs agitation.
He was extremely attached to religious ceremonies, particularly to the pomp of
_the Greek church, and was well verfed in ecclefiaftical matters. Whenever difcon-
tented with the court, or vexed with the cabals againft him, he expreffed an intention
to retire, and affected an inclination to become a monk.
The room in which he received company: was next to his bed-chamber, contained a
billiard table, and was ufually crowded by perfons of all ranks and nations. I have
feen at the fame time the principal minifters and generals, noblemen of the higheft
diftin@ion, artifts, and mechanics; Englifh, French, Germans, Swedes, Danes, Per-
fians, Georgians, Turks, Calmucs, and ‘Yartars. Chefs-boards. and back-gammon
tables were feattered about the room, and the company engaged in different games,
as their fancy fuggefted. He ufually dined at three, then retired into his bed-chamber,
to take his afternoon nap, and when he awoke, made his appearance in this room
where the company was aflembled, fometimes full drefled, at other times in his robe
de chambre, and flippers, and occafionally even without ftockings. He amufed him-
felf by overlooking thole-who were playing, or in talking with the company, principally
with foreigners or artifts.
He treated the Ruffian nobles with great haughtinefs; but was attentive and even
affable to foreigners, when his firft referve was worn off. In his own houfehold he
was kind to his fervants, and would not fuffer them to be beaten, according to the
cuftom of the country, though he was aware that he was the worle ferved for this mild
treatment.
He was fingularly voracious, as well as capricious in his appetite. Befides his ufual
meals, in which he devoured indifcriminately the moft common as well as the moft
coftly difhes, he was continually eating {mall patés and bifcuits, of which he had a con-
ftant fupply placed even at his bed-fide.
Dining one day at Baron Sutherland’s, court banker, and a member of the Englith
factory, he was fo much pleafed with a round of beef, that he defired the remainder,
with
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
