204 
MOSCOW. 
chap, of violence, and, being quite stunned by the 
IX ' , blow, remained a few seconds insensible : after- 
wards, his loud lamentations were heard; and 
we saw him tearing off and scattering his white 
hairs. He had, according to the custom in 
Russia, received his liberty upon the death of 
the Prince; but choosing rather to consign him- 
self for the remainder of his days to a convent, 
he retired for ever from the world, saying, 
“ Since his dear old master was dead, there was 
no one living who cared for him. 
A plate was handed about, containing boiled 
rice and raisins; a ceremony we are unable to 
explain. The face of the deceased was then 
covered with linen, and the archbishop poured 
consecrated oil, and threw a white powder, 
probably lime, several times upon it, pronounc- 
ing some words in the Russian language, these 
he afterwards repeated aloud in Latin: “Dust 
thou art; and unto dust thou art returned!" The 
lid of the coffin was then replaced ; and, after a 
requiem, “ sweet as from blest voices,” a pro- 
cession began from the church to a convent in 
the vicinity of the city, where the body was to 
be interred. There was nothing solemn in this 
part of the ceremony. It began by the slaves 
of the deceased on foot, all of whom were in 
mourning. After the slaves, followed the pnests, 
3 
