MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 41 



of an officer of dragoons, and condu6ted to- 

 wards Krementchuck, near which place I was 

 appointed to receive him. On meeting him, 

 then a boy, feven or eight years old, I informed 

 him, through the medium of the interpreter, 

 that the Prince-General, though much indif- 

 pofed, and even confined to bed, meant to fee 

 him on his arrival ; adding fuch other blandifh- 

 ments as were likely to foothe his mind. As 

 we approached his Highnefs's quarters, which 

 I pointed out to him, this young Circaflian 

 feemed quite diftreffed at the noife of the bell, 

 worn by the fbaft-horfe of his carriage; and 

 which is the diftinguifhing mark of an officer 

 and the Imperial poft. The amiable boy had 

 no fervant near him, and was too mild to afk 

 fuch a thing of me; he therefore requefted, by 

 the interpreter, that I would allow him to 

 alight and rake off the bell, leaft it might dif- 

 turb the Prince who was fick. Immediately on 

 my arrival I related this puerile anecdote to the 

 Commander, who inltantly received the young 

 Tartar into his favour; and continued to fliew 

 him every mark of regard and attention. ^ 



We remained at Krementchuck fome time in 

 cantonments ; when the affairs of the Crimea 

 being fettled, Potemkin returned to the capital. 

 As I wilhed to vilit fome parts of the country, 



he 



