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

12FAMILY MEMOIRS.

from a very good source an anecdote, which throws some light on this hitherto incomprehensible circumstance. M. de Ségur, at a time when in great favour with the Empress Catherine, had often amused himself by turning into ridicule the nephew of Frederick the Great, afterwards King Frederick William II.: he used to laugh at his love affairs, and even his person ; and, in accordance with the taste of the time, he had drawn satirical sketches of this prince, and of his favourites, which he had sent in a note to the Empress.

After the death of Frederick the Great, political circumstances having suddenly changed, the Empress a¡ïain sou

Another fact equally curious preceded the arrival of my father at the court of Prussia. It will serve to show the sympathy which the French revolution then excited in the civilised world.

The draught of the treaty of Pilnitz was about being framed, but the allied powers particularly desired to keep France in ignorance of its stipiúations as long as possible. The minutes of the treaty were already in the hands of the King of Prussia, and no French agent had as yet obtained any knowledge of them.

One evening, returning home late and on foot, M. de Ségur observed an unknown person wrapped in a cloak, who appeared closely to follow him ; he quickened his pace, this person did the same ; he crossed