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.
go2 COXE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIA.
empire, to his friendfhip for the King of Pruflia, which however their defires for peace
would have made them not only put up with, but approve.
Several other little circumftances greatly exaggerated, and artfully reprefented and
improved, contributed to the fall of this unhappy Prince, who had many excellent
qualities, and who never did a violent or cruel action in the courfe of his fhort reign ;
but who, from an abhorrence of bufinefs, owing to a bad education, and the unhappy
choice of favourites, who encouraged him in it, let every thing run into confufion, and
by a miftaken notion he had conceived of having fecured the affections of the nation,
by the great favours he had fo nobly beftowed upon them after his firft mounting the
throne, fell into an indolence and fecurity that proved fatal to him. ‘To conclude, not
only I, but feveral perfons of fenfe and difcernment, thought they could perceive,
latterly, in this Prince, a confiderable change from what he was for fome months after
his acceflion, and the perpetual hurry in which he lived, and the flattery he met with
from the vile people about him, had in fame meafure affected his underftanding. I
muft own, that I had no apprehenfion that this revolution could happen fo foon; but
I was always of opinion, that, if he left his dominions, he ran a rifk of never returning
to them; and for that reafon ] made ufe of every means I could think of to divert him
from that expedition, fometimes by reprefenting the danger to others, who had the
honour to approach his perfon, and a title to offer him their advice ; whether they did
their duty in this point, particularly Prince George, I cannot fay, but if they did, the
event has fhewn that it was all to no purpofe.
July 2-13. Laft night, about ro o’clock, I received a meflage from the matter of
the ceremonies, defiring me to be at court this morning at eleven; and having gone
thither accordingly found great numbers of people, and amongft the reft, my brethren
the foreign minifters, and we were foon after carried into the Emprefs’s apartments,
and prefented to her by the chancellor: in kiffing Her Imperial Majefty’s hand, I took
the opportunity of wifhing her a happy reign, and of making her a proper compliment
in the King’s name, which was kindly received, and returned in very handfome terms,
and, upon the whole, my reception was very good.
I could obferve the countenances of fome of my brethren confiderably changed for
the better, particularly thofe of the Danifh envoy, and of the imperial ambaffador;
a-propos to the laft orders have already been fent to the Count Czernichef, forthwith
to leave the Pruffian army, and return into Ruffia; at the fame time, orders were
likewife difpatched to General Panin, to go and take the command of General Roman-
zow’s army, and bring it back hkewife into Ruffia; all this gives fome people the no-
tion, that this court may have entertained fore thoughts of keeping the whole, or fome
part of that country, notwithftanding the late peace.
There was likewife a good deal of difference to be obferved in the faces of the cour-
tiers, fome for the better, fome for the worfe; thofe who feemed to make the moft
important figure, were the Hetman, Monf. Panin, and that gentleman Monf. Orlow,
who is mentioned in the former part of this letter ; he is made knight of St. Alexander,
and-chamberlain. Amongft the ladies, the Princefs of Dafhkow was diftinguifhed by
the order of St. Catharine, the Emprefs having given her the ribband fhe wore herfelf
before fhe put on the Blue. Her father and filter are under confinement in Count Ro-
moinzow’s houfe, It is faid that the Emperor, in making his terms, defired only three
things, his own life, and grace for his favourite lady, and for his Adjutant Brigadier
Godowitz, who is likewife under arreft. There have been feveral promotions made,
particularly of new fenators,in which number the vice-chancellor is; but I refer myfelf
to my next, in which I fhall tranfmit the moft exaé lift I fhall be able to procure.
Prince
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
