800 
RUSSIA, 
of the entertainment was in a corresponding taste; coffee, ices, 
orgeat, in short, every refreshment that Asiatic, French, or 
Italian ingenuity could devise, was proffered during the dancing 
and cards. At twelve o’clock, an equally sumptuous supper 
was spread in the large saloon of the hall; and there I found, 
amongst every profusion of eatables, temples and running foun¬ 
tains, the waters of which were kept constantly flowing by means 
of a concealed machinery, while the tiny tanks into which they 
played were animated by numbers of little live fish sporting in 
the twinkling stream. The lights from the chandeliers produced 
this glittering effect on the water. But these were not the only 
fairy decorations ; bowers, parterres of flowers, and a variety of 
other whimsical conceits, chequered the immense length and 
breadth of the table. The reigning family were seated at the 
upper end, and as I still held my place by the prince, I had the 
advantage of seeing all these “ cunningly devised ornaments” 
in their prime point of view. The master of the fete, together 
with his lady, were in constant movement around, attending on 
their guests; a hospitable custom of simple times, not long ago 
retained in Russia. At two o’clock, the dancing recommenced, 
and so we continued till the dawn of day. 
The prosperity of some years before, may perhaps account in 
some degree for the superior splendour of Yassy, when compared 
to that of Boucharest, and that arose from its proximity to the 
Austrian and Russian dominions. It appears, that while these 
two provinces were held by Russia, they furnished both corn and 
cattle, including horses, not only to that power, but to Austria; 
and Moldavia, particularly, made those traffics most abundantly. 
The consequence was, a great influx of wealth. But on Russia 
making peace with the Turk, and evacuating these provinces, 
