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. 803
inftantly difarmed, bound, and conduéted him prifoner to a corps of troops pofted on
the river Yaik, under the command of General Suvarof*. He was conveyed to
Yaitfk,
* This was the celebrated General, who has fince been fo juftly diftinguifhed for his military exploits.
Alexander Vaffilievitch Suvarof, defcended from a Swedith family ennobled in Ruflia, was born in 1730,
and at the age of twelve enrolled in the Ruffian army. He made his firft campaign againft the Pruflians
in 1759; became brigadier in 1768, and firft diftinguifhed himfelf as a general againft the confederates in
Poland, in 1771, when he obtained the order of St. Alexander Neviki for his military fervices.
He afterwards fignalized himfelf on various occafions, too numerous to be repeated, and clofed his
military career by his aftonifhing campaign againft the French in Italy, and his no lefs aftonifhing retreat
over the Alps of Switzerland. :
Several accounts of his life and charaéter have been already given to the public; and I am happy to have
it in my power to add fome’authentic anecdotes of his difgrace and death.
. After the unfortunate battle of Zuric, Suvarof was feized with a dangerous illnefs, probably occafioned
by the violent fatigue he had undergone in his paflage through Switzerland. The news of his indifpofition
had no fooner reached Peterfburgh, than a phyfician (Dr. Vifchart) was difpatched to attend him ; orders
for his return were at the fame time forwarded; and it was fignified to him, that apartments were prepared
in the palace for his reception, and that he was to receive the fame honours as the imperial family.
Suvarof, fufpe@ting the intention of the Emperor to fecede from the alliance, pleaded ill-health to remain
at his poft, and reprefented, in ftrong terms, the neceffity of an immediate re-inforcement. Thefe repre-
fentations ill accorded with the views of Paul, who had conceived a violent difguft againft the Houfe of
Auftria. Orders being again difpatched to Suvarof to return, he repeated his remonftrances; but at length
commenced his march, moving by flow ftages, and fixed his winter quarters in Bohemia. At lalt a courier
from’ St. Peterfburgh arrived with pofitive commands to return to Ruflia without delay ; and acquainted
him, in terms ftrongly marking the high difpleafure of the fovereign, that the apartments deflined for him
in the palace were already difpofed of, and that his prefence was not neceflary in the capital.
From this moment his intelleéts were fenfibly affeéted. Notwithftanding the efforts of his phyfician, he
perfifled in travelling inceflantly ; and on the days in which his fever intermitted, underwent fuch fatigue
as thofe in health could not bear without inconvenience.
At length reaching Peterfburgh, he was obliged to take refuge in a {mall houfe fituated in an obfcure
quarter of the town, and belonging to a diftant relation, of the name of Quaftof. On the night of his
arrival, according to the information of a perfon who faw him, his appearance was humiliating and af-
fecting ; he was wan and emaciated, more refembling a corpfe than an animated being ; his intelle&s were
difordered, but his underftanding returned at intervals, and he occafionally recollected, and {poke affec-
tionately to many of,thofe who were prefent.
The medicines which were adminiftered, and the repofe which he enjoyed after his fatiguing journey,
reftored his faculties, and he gave a proof of the fingularity of his difpofition, and the independence of his
{pirit, by the manner in, which he received a meflage from the Emperor Paul who two days after his arrival,
fent his favourite and prime-minifter, Count, Rattofsin, (who had been formerly a fubaltern in his regi-
ment) to inquire after his health.’, He affected to difbelieve that Raftofsin was prime-minifter, becaufe he
appeared in the new military/coftume,, and when his quality was repeatedly declared, at length pretended
to apologize, and faid he had miftaken him from his jack-boots for an officer of the police. -In the
courfe of the converfation, he fuddenly apoftrophifed the minifler by his chriftian name, and faid, furely
you were an under officer in my regiment. Raftofsin replying in the affirmative, Suvarof exclaimed,
happy Ruffia! whofe minifters are drawn from every ftation. In other countries, indeed, the empldy-
-ments of ftate axe filled by thofe who have been bred up in the details of office, and grown grey in the fer-
vice: But Roffia is above thefe antiquated prejudices!” pists }
A perfon who vifited him two days before his death, found him totally childihh ; hevamufed himfelf
with giving away eftates which he did not poflefs, as well as, in making imaginary gifts of Perfian horfes,
and rich furs, which thofe to whom he diltributed his) largeffes pretended to receive-with great, acknow-
ledgments of his liberality. gata: ; as ee
In this melancholy ftate, he continued till the hour of his death, which happened an the 18th of May.
His body was laid in ftate in the houfe where he died, and the room was fo {mall as fcarcely to admit. fuf-
ificient’{pace ‘for the canopy, and for the numerous cufhions on which. his different orders of knighthood
were placed. All ranks of people crowded to vifit his remains, and the enthnfiallic attachment of the
Ruffians to their general was as great at this period, as in the midit of his victorious career, notwith{tand-
ing the difapprobation of the fovereign. . oT aera ts
The indignation of the Emperor, »which, had been firft, excited by his bitter farcafms againft the néw
military fyftem, and his delays in marching back his troops, was increafed by his treatment.ofy Raltofsin,
and furvived his deceafe. The funeral of Suvarof compjeted his fingular and unmerited ae after
Sk2 avin ge
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
