1792' anecdotes of higadiir Resen, 345 



who is regarded as the Methusalem of this city, 

 where few old men are seen *, and it was truly co- 

 mique to hear the commodore giving him advice at 

 table, under the juvenile and diminutive name of 

 Jacky, as to the difhes he ought not to acquire the 

 habit of eating as hurtful to health, X^c. 



Another most laughable circumstance of the kind 

 happened when invited to dine with the first lord of 

 the admiralty, count ChernifhefF, who was so long 

 ambafeador in England. The count inquired, on 

 sitting down to table, if the commodore had nobody 

 with him, but was answered by him, none but his 

 boys ; who were of course left, without farther re- 

 flection, to dine with the young people in the next 

 room ; but one of the guests arriving late, inquired 

 at the count who the two hoary venerable officers 

 were, whom he observed at dinner with the young 

 folks, as he pafsed through their room ; and to the 

 no little amusement of the company, it was discover- 

 ed that they were Trunnion's boys, two superannua- 

 ted officers of invalids, the one seventy, the other 

 near it. Talking of them one day at general Bet- 

 Ikoi's table, the commodore said, " Tom was a good 

 stout lad, but that Will, the youngest, had but a 

 feeble constitution, and he was afraid would never 

 be good for much." 



• Few but what may be called effectlvemsn, are tobe seen in St Peters- 

 burgh at an advanced age, as the nobility g«;ncraliy retire to their estate , 

 to pafs their last yeais amongst their humble vafssls; and the peasants 

 are sent to their villages by their lo-ds, when past labour, where he muiC 

 maintain tbcm at his own properly. 



