>J4 '^"^ LIFE OF 



The firfi enquiry^rnade by thofe who appeared 

 m the anti-chamber was, " In what humour is the 

 Prince?" I fit was known he was out of temper, it 

 was not unufual for many of the vilitors to de- 

 part immediately, well knowing that no good was 

 to be done that day. Prince Serge Galitzin, 

 •who married one of the Prince's nieces, had 

 the greateft influence; for his great livelinefs, 

 added to the high favour in which he flood, 

 and which enabled him, like Sir James Harris, 

 to make a viiit anv hour without ceremonv, 

 feldom failed to cure the g^Ioom of Potemkin. 



Nor was the drcfs of this renowned comman- 

 der on thefe occafions lefs extraordinary than 

 his apartments. It conlilied of a loofe roi^e de 

 cbambrcy which in winter he wore of velvet, and 

 in fummer of filk or chintz, flowing round 

 him; his neck and breaft were bare; and his 

 lilk {lockings hung about his heels. No High- 

 lander had a more cordial hatred to a pair of 

 breeches ; thefe he never wore but when he drelT- 

 cd. His hair flowed about his head in a mod dif- 

 orderly ftate ; and in this naked flovenly trim he 

 would fit down to table with all the princes or 

 general ofiiccrs of Ruffia, 



His behaviour at table was as far remiOved 

 from the common road of life as his drefs ; 

 Ibmetimes he would lit fullenly without faying 

 d. word ; and this was not without its due effed: 



OH 



