Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

freedom of manners and speech should gain a footing at court, where will falsehood and politeness find a refuge ? *

Young is at Petersburg: we meet every

where, and with pleasure ; he is a type of the Frenchman of the present day, but truly well bred. He appears to be enchanted with every thing. This satisfaction is so natural that it becomes contagious,

* Some days after this was written, a little scene occurred at court which will give some idea of the manners of the most fashionable young people among the English in the present day: they have no right to reproach, nor yet any reason to envy, the least polite of our Parisian exquisites : — what a difference between this kind of blackguard elegance, and the politeness of the Buckinghams, the L·auzuns, and the Richelieus ! The empress wished to give a private ball as a mark of attention to this family before their leaving Petersburg. She began by inviting the father, who dances so well with an artificial leg.

" Madame," replied the old Marquis D, " I have been loaded

with kindnesses at Petersburg ; but so many pleasures surpass my powers : I hope that your majesty will permit me to take my leave this evening, that I may get on board my yacht tomorrow morning, in order to return to England ; otherwise I shall die of pleasure in Russia." " Well, theu, I must give you up," replied the empress, satisfied with this polite and manly answer, worthy of the times in which the old lord must have first entered the world ; then turning towards the sons of the marquis, whose stay in Petersburg was to be prolonged : " At least I may depend on you ?" she said to the eldest. " Madame," replied this individual, " we are engaged to hunt the rein-deer to-day." The empress, who is said to be proud, was not discouraged, and, addressing herself to the younger brother, said, " You, at least, will remain with me ? " The young man, at a loss for an excuse, and not knowing what to answer, in his vexation turned to his brother, murmuring, loudly enough to be overheard, "Am I then to be the victim?" This anecdote went the round of the whole court.