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766 COXL’s TRAVELS IN RUSSIA
with the pewter difh, and carving knife and fork, might be fent to his apartments in
the palace. It was regularly ferved at his table, and placed on a fide-board in the anti-
chamber, until it waseaten. The Prince applied to it himfelf feveral times in the courfe
of the day, and prefled thofe who vifited him to partake of the Englifh fare.
He was by na natursand habit extremely indolent, and often neglected the moft im-
portant a ; but when roufed to exertion, his “adtivity was as remarkable as his
{upinenefs. He fometimes ftarted from his luxurious life at Peterfburgh, and, with
{carcely a moment’s notice, travelled like a courier, night and day, in a common »
kibitka; in thefe journies he adopted the food of the Ruffian peafants, particularly the
black bread, garlic, and falted cucumbers, until he reached the place of his deftination,
when he re-affumed his cuftomary mode of living.
He was fond of wild and expenfive fchemes, and was always furrounded with pro-
jectors, who continually duped and deceived him.
A proof of his fingular and whimfical difpofition in the condu& of the moft important
affairs, was communicated by a perfon prefent at the following fcene. Sitting after
dinner at Karakrim, or Old Crim, in company with feveral gentlemen, both Ruflians
and Englifh, Potemkin faid, ‘ let us ballot for the capital of Crim Tartary.” Taking
up a rofe, he laid a leaf in one place, and a fecond in another, exclaiming “let this
be for Achmetfchit, and that for Batcheferai; let every one puta leaf near that to
which he gives the preference, without alleging a reafon.” All did fo, and the Prince,
counting the leaves, found the majority for Achmetfchit, and he faid, “ let Achmet-
{chit be the capital,’’ and it became the capital.
He warmly encouraged commerce and manufactures, was the great patron of iearn-
ing, and particularly promoted Greek literature. He poffefled a quick comprehenfion,
and furprifing memory ; his knowledge of books was general, though fuperficial ; his
reading was principally confined to the French belles lettres, and tranflations of the
claflics, particularly Plutarch, and to Ruffian authors on religious ceremonies ; but the
information which he drew from perfons of eminence in every profeflion was prodi-
gious.
. A well-drawn character of this extraordinary man, by M. de Segua, French ambaf-
fador at Peterfburgh, is given in Caftera’s Vie de Catherine II. 1ft edition, and in “
Tooke’s tranflation, vol, ill. p. 326. ;
CHap,
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