4^ TllE LliTE OF 



an inhabitant of the palace, his houfc had it 

 private communication with the Emprefs's a- 

 partments. Potcmkin had fucceeded Orloff in 

 her affedions ; and Lanlkoi, who had been a 

 Chevalier Garde, with the intervention of a few 

 fhort lived favourites, fucceeded Potemkin. It 

 would however be an endlefs tafk to enume^ 

 rate all the lovers, who fucceflively occupied 

 the favourite's apartments. Thefe confift of 

 a fuite of rooms on the entre fol, very magni- 

 ficent, in which the Favourite (for fo he is always 

 called,) is little better than a ftate prifoner, 

 as he cannot mix in fociety, and all his mo- 

 tions are clofely watched. 



Such was the afcendancy of Potemkin, that 

 I have feen him tear an order ligned by the 

 ' Emprefs, and which only wanted his fignature, 

 becaufe it had not been obtained by his means. 

 The Emprefs frequently vifited him in his own 

 apartments, at which time we, (the officers of 

 his fuite) were ordered to attend in the anti- 

 chambers ; fome times flie came unawares, and 

 then all fled hclter-flvelter, and, without waiting 

 orders, repaired to our polls. 



Bcfides the houfe where he ufually lived, he 

 had fcvcral rich palaces in the town, to which 

 he occafionally went, and where he kept fer- 

 vants ; he had alfo fome fplcndid apartments 

 in the houfc I have jull defcribed, but thefe he 



feldom 



