4^ THE LIFE Ot 



He had an extraordinary and whimfical man- 

 ner of punifliing his aides de camp, when they 

 exhibited any thing unmilitary in their drefs 

 and behaviour. Inftead of verbal reproof, he 

 ufed to fend them long difagreeable journeys; 

 and would take care they fhould fet off when 

 lead: prepared. As an inftance, a young gen- 

 tleman who had lately been appointed, and who 

 had no other recommendation than his being 

 protedied, appeared at dinner drelTed in all the 

 frivolity of a coxcomb : Potemkin looked at 

 him with a louring obliquity of countenance, 

 and ordered his fecretary to prepare fome dif- 

 patches. When thefe were ready, and before 

 dinner was ended, the young beau was called 

 for, and commanded inftantly to flep into a 

 carriage that was waiting to carry them to the 

 Viceroy of Mofco\v„ There was no refufmg or 

 hefitating; and without even the necelTary 

 cloathing for the feafon, he had fcven hundred 

 verfles, (live hundred Englifli miles) to travel in 

 the dead of winter. 



After the Prince's return from the Crimea, 

 the firfl: of the nobility gave him entertain- 

 ments, in which invitation, his fuite was always 

 fuppofed to be included. The Duchefs of 

 Kingfton, willing to immitate thofe of the mofl 

 diftinguiflied rank, and wifhing at the fame time 

 %o affront mc, fent an invitation to Potemkin ; 



but 



