AND THESE PRINCIPALITIES. 
801 
at least all west of the Prout, the doors of this commerce were 
closed; and, though now living in all the splendour of their 
lately acquired taste and departing means, the nobility, finding 
no markets for the produce of their estates, have overflowing 
granaries, rotting for want of consumption, and their plains eaten 
up by an over-stock of cattle. Indeed, I heard them daily sigh, 
and wishing for any change of circumstances that would make 
them again masters of their own property. In fact, I was not 
always left to guess what those circumstances were, they so 
earnestly invoked Heaven to recall. 
Yassy is a well-built city, intermingled with gardens and 
planted courts ; which, in the usual style of these eastern towns, 
much extend its dimensions, and add greatly to its pleasantness, 
and air of consequence. It possesses between sixty and seventy 
churches, and the metropolitan one is a very imposing structure. 
It is dedicated to St. Stephen. Within, all is gloom and painted 
legends of saints, male and female, while it boasts one particular 
shrine of great notoriety,—that of a holy virgin called Para-Skiva; 
whose remains are inclosed in a silver coffin, and worshipped 
by trains of pilgrims, coming every year to invoke her influence. 
Not far distant from the saint’s tomb, appears one of black 
marble, bearing an inscription which informs the reader that 
beneath its simple slab lie the inurned bowels of the great Prince 
Potemkin ; he who had brought the empire of his imperial 
mistress to the borders of the Black Sea. The principalities 
have each their metropolite. That of Valachia is in the gift of 
the prince, or hospodar of the province, as are also the other 
bishoprics ; and he derives income from a share in the revenues 
of these clergy. But the metropolite of Moldavia is elected by 
the native nobility, though he pays part of his receipts to the 
5 K 
VOL. II. 
