HER KNOWLEDGE OF RUSSIA. 239 



officers, I was in waiting to receive her ; on the 

 highest step she endeavoured already to give us 

 a proof of her acquaintance with our customs, 

 by making a courtesy, which was intended to 

 accord with the most approved rules of the 

 art of dancing, though the feet, not perfectly 

 tutored in their parts, performed in rather a 

 comic style. In attempting this feat, she lost 

 her balance, and v/ould have fallen into the 

 water, if a couple of strong sailors had not 

 caught her illustrious person in their arms. 



She was much delighted with all that she saw 

 on board, especially with my cabin, where the 

 sofa paid dearly for the honour of her appro- 

 bation, — she sat upon it, and broke it down. 

 The portrait of the Emperor Alexander at- 

 tracted her particular attention ; she sat down 

 opposite to it upon the floor, where she could 

 cause no farther destruction, and said, after 

 gazing upon it for some minutes with much 

 interest, " Maitai, Ycri nue Rukkini !'' (the 

 great Governor of the Russians is beautiful !) 

 She told me, that she knew a greG.t deal about 

 Russia. A Sandwich Islander, named Lauri, 

 who, in 1819, had made the voyage thither, in 



