CLIMATE of RUSSIA. 235 



calm, clear and ferene fky which generally accompanies it in 

 this climate ; and during its prevalence, her Imperial Majefty 

 having fent for me one morning, ordered me to go to the 

 apartments of Prince Orloff, in another part of the palace, 

 who, fhe faid, had, for fome days pad, become uncommonly 

 electric every time his hair was combed. 



I found the Prince at his toilet, and obferved, in fact, 

 that, at every time his valet de chambre drew the comb 

 through his hair, a pretty ftrong crackling noife was heard ; 

 and on darkening the room, by drawing the curtains, the 

 fparks were feen following the direction of the comb in great 

 abundance, whilft the Prince, by this operation, was become 

 fo completely electric, that ftrong fparks could be drawn from 

 his hands and face ; nay, he was even electrified when he was 

 Only powdered with a puff, the friclion of the air againft his 

 hair being able to produce a confiderable degree of electricity ; 

 a curious experiment, which however but feldom fucceeded af- 

 terwards, when I was defirous of repeating it. 



A few days after this fcene with the Prince, I was witnefs 

 to a ftill more ftriking effect of the electric ftate of our atmo- 

 fphere at this period. His Imperial Highnefs the Grand Duke 

 fent for me one evening in the twilight, and told me, that, having 

 brifkly drawn a flannel cover off a green damafk chair in his 

 bed chamber, which had been put on it by accident, he was 

 aftonifhed at the appearance of a ftrong bright flame that fol- 

 lowed it ; but having immediately comprehended that it muft 

 have been an electric phenomenon, his Highnefs had been 

 trying to produce a fimilar illumination on different pieces of 

 furniture, and could now (how me a beautiful and furprifing 

 experiment, that he had juft difcovered.— His Highnefs then 

 threw himfelf on his bed, which was covered with a damafk 

 quilt laced with gold, and rubbing it with his hands in all di- 

 rections, the young Prince, who had then reached his twelfth 

 year, appeared to be fwimming in fire, as, at every ftroke, 



g g 2 flames 



