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COXE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIA. 795
the principal officer attendant on the Ruffian Princes, and requefted to have the honour
of being prefented. We received a favourable anfwer; but when we expected our res
queit to be complied with, we were put off with various excufes. We did not know,
until we were informed by Mr. Guldberg, whom we had the honour of feeing at Aar=
huus, that by fpecial orders from the court of Denmark no foreigners were prefented to
them. They were only accompanied by a Ruffian lady, and a prieft and his wife. From
their ignorance of any language but the Ruffian, and their inability to converfe with
mott of thofe who were placed about them, on their firft arrival at Horfens they ap«
peared even to regret their prifon at Kolmogori. But they were foon reconciled, and
became quile delighted with the change in their fituation.
They are {till a kind of ftate prifoners, though, in comparifon with their former fitua-
tion, they may be faid to enjoy perfect liberty. They never go out without attendants,
and have not yet been permitted to vifit any family in the town. ‘The gates of their-
houte or palace, as it is called, are carefully clofed in winter at ten, and in fummer at
eleven. They amufe themfelves with reading, playing at billiards, cards, riding, and
walking; they walk much about the town, and in the environs, and drive out in car-
riages. ‘Ihe princes often ride, particularly Alexéy, who is fond of that exercife, and
is faid to be expert. They not unfrequently pay vifits in the country, and dine with
the neighbouring families. |
The names of thefe defcendants of the imperial family are Catharine, born July. 26,
1741, Peter, born March 31, 1745, Alexéy, born March7, 1746, of whom Anne
died in childbed. This prince is fince dead. Elizabeth, the youngelt fifter, was
a woman of high fpirit and elegant manners. On being*releafed, fhe wrote a letter of
thanks to the Emprefs, fo well exprefled as to excite admiration. Her father is faid to
have inftru€ted her; but fhe likewife obtained confiderable information from feveral
officers who were her guards, and whom fhe conciliated by her captivating manners.
On her arrival at Horfens fhe poffeffed portraits of her father and mother,.and had even.
contrived to procure a rouble of her brother Ivan ftruck in his fhort reign. She alone
of her brothers and filters could fpeak a little German, and ferved as an interpreter
between them and Prince Ferdinand of B:unfwick, who more than once vifited his ne-
phews and nieces.. She is reported to have died of chagrin; but, as far as I could
colle&, her death was occafioned by a violent fever, which was foon attended with a:
delirium, and hurried her to the grave on the fixteenth day of her illnefs,
But though we were unfuccefsiul in our attempt. to be prefented, we did not quit:
Horfens without feeing their perfons; as on the day after our arrival there was a great
fair, and many people were aflembled in the market-place, the Princes frequently ap-. |
peared at the windows of their palace. ‘The Princefs feemed pale and thin, the Princes.
were about the middle fize, fair complexioned, with {trong features, light hair, and exe.
_"preffive eyes.
As I beheld thefe auguft defcendants of the Tzar Ivan, I felt extreme fatisfaction, in
refleGting that they were enlarged from the precinéts of a Ruffian prifon ;. and admired:
the humanity and magnanimity of Catharine the Second, who, above the fufpicions.
of ftate-jealoufy, releafed from a long confinement perfons whofe parents had died in.
prifon, whofe brother had once filled the Ruffian throne, and clofed his unfortunate life:
by the hand of violence.
Having bad frequent occafion to mention Count Munie, I fhall here throw together:
a few anedotes of that extraordinary man, ‘who enjoyed the favour of five fove.
reigns, who attained, at one period of his life, the higheft honours, and at another was
Bbis doomed
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