MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 37 



lirrived at St. Peterfburgh to replace Sir James 

 Harris. The Prince was moft particularly cu- 

 rious to know his character, and I had many 

 converfations with him on the fubjed: ; for Sir 

 James had been among the moft peculiar friends 

 ;ind intimates of Potemkin. No ceremony, no 

 drefs, no etiquette was obferved, however much 

 the Prince might be engaged. Sir James in 

 his pelice and cap always found immediate 

 accefs, even though other foreign minifters had 

 been fome time in the anti-chamber, and per- 

 haps after all could not obtain an audience. 



From Karazu-bazar, I was fent on military 

 bufinefs to A6tiare, where I met my old friend 

 Admiral Mackenzie, with his little fleet. His 

 fortifications and other works were in great 

 forwardnefs, and every thing bore the afpedl 

 of improvement. We went to vifit an antient 

 building, called, I think, the antient Cherfo- 

 nefe, which is near Acfliare, and lays in a cove 

 almoft inacceflible. We in vain endeavoured 

 to reach it by fea, the rocks were fo perpendi- 

 cular that they defied our attempts, and with 

 much difficulty we fcrambled over the top of 

 them from the land lide. The building, if it 

 can be fo called, is compleat, and is almoft in- 

 tirely cut out of the rock ; but it is uninhabited, 

 except by one man ; and whether he lives there 

 Crorn motives of religion, or of concealment, I 



D 3 cannot 



