2^ THE LIFE OF 



CHAP. V. 



Improvements in the Rujfian army by the author. — 

 Remarks on military uniforms. — RuJJian peafants, 

 — Remarks on the proper ufe of the bayonet in 

 exercije. — A refutation of an anonymous libeller, 

 — 'The author having compleated the organization 

 of the Corfican^y fets off to the army in the Cri- 

 mea. — His fiat tering reception. — Character of the 

 commanders^ Potemkin and Suwarrow. — Rujfian 

 foldierSy their chara&er and hardinefs. 



UuRiNG my firft converfations with Potemkin 

 at Peterfburgh, he had afked my opinion of the 

 Ruffian army; and I frankly told him that im- 

 provements might be made_, in both their drefs 

 and manoeuvres. 



The Ruffian uniform confifled of a green 

 coat, lined and faced with red, very tight, and 

 fo long that it incommoded the wearer, by 

 beating on the calves of his legs ; the breeches, 

 which were alfo tight, did but barely cover the 

 knee-joint; and as the Ruffian foldiers, both 

 cavalry and infantry wear boots, though of a 

 different form, a vacancy between the knee- 

 welt of the breeches and the boots became una- 

 voidable; the hat was very fmall, and unfit for 



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