44 '^^^^ LIFE OF 



The firil: etiquiry^made by thofe who appeared 

 rn 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 vifitors 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 vifit anv hour without ceremonv, 

 feldom failed to cure the gloom of Potemkin. 



Nor was the drefs of this renowned comman- 

 der on thefe occaiions lefs extraordinary than 

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

 chamhrcy which in winter he wore of velvet, and 

 in fummer of filk or chintz, flowing round 

 him; his neck and breafr 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 dreff- 

 ed. His hair flowed about his head in a mofl: dif- 

 orderly iiatc ; and in this naked flovenly trim he 

 would fit down to table with all the princes or 

 general officers of Ruffia, 



His behaviour at table was as far removed 

 from the common road of life as his drefs ; 

 fometimes he would lit fulienly without faying 

 a word^ and this was not without its due effect 



OH 



