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794 COKE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIA.
The governor of Archangel kept the keys of the gates, and without lis permiffion no
one, not even the phyfician, if they were indifpofed, could venture to vifit them. From
the windows of their houfe they were able to defery, towards the fouth-eaft, a fmall
turn of the river Dvina, and towards the fouth-weft, the high road leading to St. Pe-
terfburgh. They inhabited the apartments on the ground-ficor, which lead by a finall
flight of fteps into a garden, planted with a few birch, and containing a muddy fith-
pond, furrounded with avenves of trees. In this fifh-pond floated an old and crazy
boat. hey had the ufe of an old-fafhioned coach, drawn by fix horfes, and attended
by the foldiers, in which they could drive backwards and forwards along an alley about
a quarter of a mile within the enclofure.
Thefe illuftrious prifoners, whofe birth entitled them to a better fate, faw no other
perfons but their attendants; had no other amufement than to play at whift or ombre,
and dared not read any thing but books of prayer in the Ruffian language.
‘Godovin, governor of Archangel, under whofe infpection they remained feventeen
years, treated them with great neglect. He fuffered the houfe and garden to fall inte
decay, furnifhed an indifferent table, and gave no account of the money allotted for
their fupport. But in 1779 they experienced a more favourable change of circum-
ftances. Melgunef being difpatched by the Emprets to divide the province of Arch-
angel into two governments, vifited the prifoners, and was moved with compaffion at
their forlorn fituation. By his advice the youngeft Princefs Elizabeth wrote to the
Emprefs, in an artlefs and pathetic manner, and laid before Her Majefty an account of
their deplorable fituation. Catharine, greatly affected at the perufal, reflored them
to liberty, and placed them under the proteétion of the Queen-Dowager of Den-
mark.
By her order, Melgunef prepared every thing for their departure; and at two
o’clock in the morning, on the 27th of June 1779, releafed them from the prifon-
houfe, and accompanied them to Archangel. On their arrival in the fortrefs, he in-
formed them of the Emprefs’s gracious intentions to fend them into Denmark. This
unexpected news at firlt filled them with apprehenfiohs; they miftrufted fome hidden
danger, and expreffed a defire to remain at Kolmogori with the enjoyment of more fi-
berty. But when Melgunef affured them, in the ftrongeft terms, of the goodnefs of
the Emprefs, delivered to them a valuable prefent of clothes, plate, and diamonds, and
informed them, that they would be placed under the proteétion of the Queen-Dowager
of Denmark, their aunt, they burft into tears, and falling upon their knees, expretied
the warmeft gratitude for this unexpected favour, and offered up prayers to Heaven for
their kind benefactrefs.
On the 30th of June they went,on board the frigate prepared for their voyage, fet
fail on the following night, and after a paflage of three months, and being expoled to a
violent tempeft, reached Berghen in Norway. There they embarked on board a Danifh
veffel, and landed at Flatftrand, on the coaft of Jutland. Being conveyed to Aalberg,
they remained five days with the governor, Count Often*, and from thence pro-
ceeded by eafy journies, and fixed their refidence at Horfens, a town of Jutland,
fituated at the extremity of a bay of the Baltic, a few miles from the frontiers of
Slefwic.
In my fecond tour to the North, in 1784, I purfued my travels to Horfens, from a
defire to pay my refpeéts to thefe illuftrious perfonages, On our arrival we waited on
* J received thefe particulars from Count Often himfelf, whom I met at Copenhagen.
the
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