40 THELIFEOF 



with my bed into a bufh ; my Ruflian driver, who 

 had received no hurt, comforted me, as he would 

 have done, had we all broken our necks, with 

 Nebos ! Nebos ! 'tis nothing ! 'tis nothing ! The 

 Coflacs galloped on without taking the leaft 

 notice, and fuppofing we muft be all infallibly 

 killed, cooly informed the officers at head- 

 quarters, that the Englifli Adjutant with his 

 Kebeetky had fallen down the precipice. This 

 news reached the Prince's cars, and an officer 

 with one of his Highnefs carriages was fent to 

 my affiftance. I met the officer upon the road ; 

 for, refolved to fliew the Ruffians that I was as 

 indifferent to accidents as themfelves, I lay 

 quietly in the bufli till a new carriage could 

 be procured, and then remounting with my 

 unfortunate valet, I refumed my journey with 

 all l\\Qfangfroid I could mufter. 



In the end of the winter of 1783 the Prince, 

 whofe fatigues had much exhaufted him, retired 

 from the Crimea to Krementchuck, to recruit 

 his flrength. In the mean time. Prince Alex. 

 Potemkin, who had been fent againft the Circaf- 

 fians, forced them to conclude a^peace. They 

 had, together with other petty flates, been 

 waging a pilfering war againfl Ruffia ; but were 

 now compelled to fend the young Prince, fon 

 to the reigning Prince, to Potemkin as a hoft- 

 «^gc. He was accordingly put under the care 



of 



