Major semple lisle. 33 



in the Crimea; where my pride was not a little 

 flattered by feeing the uniform of which I had 

 given the model worn by an immenfe army, 

 and my manoeuvres adopted and applauded. 

 I was then about twenty-five, and with my 

 natural vanityj^ this diftindion almoft turned 

 my brain, as it perhaps might have done to 

 men much older and wifer then myfelf j and if 

 I had no very great fliare of prudence in pecu- 

 niary matters before, this made me quite re- 

 gardlefs of them, 



I was now at the Prince's right-hand day and 

 night ; he loaded me with honours, and I left 

 nothing in the line of duty undone to deferve 

 them. Potemkin was juftly placed among the 

 iirft charadlers of this or any other age; brave, 

 open, rough, and impetuous, he was firft in 

 every exploit of danger ; fudden in his manoeu- 

 vres, his plans were conceived and executed ,, 

 with unparalleled rapidity ; in the field he knew 

 no charader but a foldier, nor could age or 

 rank plead with him any excufe for relaxation 

 from the rules of duty. 



Suwarrow was with us, already adling a 

 dillinguiflied part. Bold and impetuous as 

 his cornmander, he was indefatigable in duty, 

 and feemed to afpire, by copying fo great, a 

 mafter, at that rivalihip of glory to which he 

 has now arrived. 



D The 



