ODESSA. 
I 
7 
was raging there with a fury not known for years, and to brave 
it would be madness. Many of the Christian residents in Pera' 
had become its victims, and amongst them a much-lamented son H 
of the Austrian Internuncio. In short, the official reports were i^^u.**** ^ ^ 1 
amply sufficient to deter a more obstinate man than myself from 
following his own inclination; and having as many reasons for 
wishing to reach Constantinople without delay, as to reach it at 
all, to put off going, till colder weather might check the disease, 
would have been to waste time to no purpose; so I even took 
the good counsel of Mr. Yeames, and dispatching my business 
to our ambassador at the Porte, determined on entering Persia, 
via Georgia. 
Count de Langeron (who succeeded the Duke de Richelieu as 
Governor-general of this part of the Russian empire) offered me 
every facility in pursuing my journey by this route ; and having 
received his letters and passports, no time was lost in preparing 
my departure. The Count is the same gallant officer who dis¬ 
tinguished himself so eminently, where all were brave, in the 
Russian campaign of 1812, against Ruonaparte; and to have 
been obliged by such a man, doubled the value of the service. 
His government extends to Kherson, the Taurida, and Yek- 
aterinsloff. 
Odessa is distant from St. Petersburgh about one thousand 
eight hundred and thirty-three wersts ; and though amongst the 
latest planted, is one of the most flourishing cities of the empire. 
It bids fair to realise the views of Peter the Great, in wishing 
to extend the commerce of his country on the side of Asia. 
Katherine the Second, treading in his steps, effectually opened 
the way to riches and to power; and to the rapid civilisation of 
all her subjects near the Rlack Sea, by her victories there, and 
