3(04 THE LIFE OF 



friends fupplied me with money even to profu- 

 lion ; and as I got it without trouble, I fpent it 

 without relu(5tance. Liberal as they were, my 

 extravagance outflripped their bounty, and I 

 was repeatedly involved in debt; ftill their 

 purfes were not (hut ; they fatisfied my credi- 

 tors, and, with fhame I relate, their generolity 

 only impelled me to new expences! 



Accuftomed, from my earlieft infancy, to the 

 moft elevated fociety, my ideas imperceptibly 

 aflimilated themfelves to theirs. I entertained 

 views of grandeur while yet a child ; I felt my- 

 felf born a foldier, and implicitly trufted to my 

 fword for opening to me the way to the Temple 

 of Glory. When little beyond the age of a 

 fchool-boy, I was diflinguifhed by the moft re- 

 nowned generals ; I had feen the immenfe arr 

 raies of Ruflla cloathed in an uniform of my own 

 contriving, and the celebrated Prince Potemkin 

 had, as is well known, honoured me with par- 

 ticular marks of his approbation. Flattering, 

 as are the diftindlions I received, I will not re- 

 late them all ; but my reception by the Prince 

 de Ligne was in a (lyle of compliment too lingular 

 to be omitted. 



Coming to Brabant, on my return from the 

 Black Sea, I had the honour of becoming ac- 

 quainted with that great and moft amiable 

 Prince. To the utmoft politenefs, he fuper- 



added 



