42 THE LIFE ©F 



he gave me leave to proceed as I pleafed. Iri 

 my progrefs I again pafTed through Pultowa ; 

 and being more at leifure than when I came to 

 the armv, I vifitcd with increafed intereft and 

 attention the plain where the famous battle was 

 fought between the Czar Peter the Great and 

 Charles of Sweden. The mound ftill remains 

 that was built with the bodies of the flain. On 

 being dug into, it exhibits an awful melange of 

 fkcletons of men and horfes, with the iron heels 

 of boots, rufty fpurs, and broken weapons. 



Here it was that Charles XII. difmounted to 

 charge a body of Ruffians, at the head of his 

 own regiment of infantry. His orders were 

 not to fire till he fhould command them; how- 

 ever, on approaching the enemy, they fired : 

 but, though fuccefsful, the Swcdifh hero was 

 fo mortified at their difobedience, that he 

 mounted his horfe, and rode away without 

 fpeaking one word. 



On my arrival at Mofcow, I paid niy refpedts 

 to Count Chernecheff, the Viceroy, who lived 

 in a flyle of incredible magnificence. I had the 

 honour of dining with him the day after my 

 arrival. About a hundred guefts fat down to 

 table, behind each of whom flood one of the 

 Count's own fervants, in very fpleiidid liveries ; 

 he himfeU' was furrounded by a hoft of upper 



fervants. 



