MOSCOW. 
But small as this sum is, it might have been 
omitted ; for it is never paid. Few among the 
nobles deem it any disgrace to owe their ser- 
vants so trivial a debt. There is, in fact, no 
degree of meanness too base for the condescen- 
sion of a Russian nobleman. To enumerate all 
the instances of which we were eye-witnesses, 
would only weary and disgust the Reader. 
It will suffice that we end with one. 
A hat had been stolen from our apartments. 
The servants positively asserted, that some 
young noblemen, who had been more lavish 
of their friendship and company than we de- 
sired, had gained access to the chambers in 
our absence, and had carried off the hat, with 
some other moveables even of less value. The 
fact was inconceivable, and we gave no credit 
to it. A few days after, being upon an excur- 
sion to the Convent of the New Jerusalem, forty- 
five versts north of Moscow, some noblemen, 
to whom our intention was made known, during 
the preceding evening, at the Societe (le Noblesse, 
overtook us on horseback. One of the party, 
mounted upon an English racer, and habited 
like a Newrmrhet jockey, rode towards the side 
of our carriage ; but his horse being somewhat 
unruly, he lost his seat, and a gust of wind car- 
ried off his cap. The author s companion imme- 
