l8 THE LITE OF 



them thither. I therefore wrote to my wife to 

 confole her as well as I was able, telling her, 

 that Sir James Harris had acquainted me with 

 fome palTages of her letter, and defiring her to 

 prepare for her departure without giving a hint of 

 it to the Duchefs, till I ihould come down. In 

 the courfe of a couple of days I was fent for to 

 court to receive the difpatches of the Emprefs 

 for Potemkin ; it was then evening : my orders 

 were to leave St. Peterfburg.h that night. A fum 

 of money was paid me by the Secretary of War 

 for the expences of fo long a journey, and a 

 Serjeant of the Guards (who bears the rank of 

 Lieutenant in the army,) and who fpoke the 

 French and German languages, was ordered to 

 attend me. My route to the army lying through 

 Narva, and my difpatches requiring no hafte 

 (as it was expedled I ihould be at Cherfon be- 

 fore the Prince got there,) on taking leave of 

 her Majefty, I folicited permiilion to go off my 

 road to the Duchefs's houfe for twenty-four 

 hours ; this favour was benevolently granted ; 

 and I went to take leave of Sir James Harris, 

 and then to the hotel where my carriage and 

 fervants were, from whence I meant to have fet 

 off immediately. While my equipage was pre- 

 paring, I was prevailed on by fome officers to 

 gamble ; at which we continued till it was an- 

 nounced to mc that all was ready. Unfortu- 

 nately 



