1 obliged to return the money bad lie not in the interval, become
2 bankrupt, but one of his relatives received the skins and paid me
3 a part of the amount. During the settlement or the ubme
4 transaction, I made an excursion to St. I’etersburgh, of which
5 city 1 had heard so much, and what I saw there exceeded my
6 expectations. I will not mention the delightful situation of this
7 city, nor speak of its magnificent palaces, churches, and public
8 buildings; neither will I depict the imposing aspect of the
9 majestic-flowing waters of the Neva; nor describe the various
10 other external objects which have already been painted by others,
11 f will only mention one particular circumstance, which tendered
12 my stay in the metropolis, although for a very short time, most
13 agreeable. It was the kind reception I. met with among all
14 classes of the inhabitants, from the highest to the lowest;
15 especially among the former. 1 still retain in my memory one
16 angel-like image, which appeared to 'tie in the person of the
17 Grand Duchess Helena. This intellectual and illustrious lady
18 invited me to call on her, when she heard of my arrival, because
19 she had been informed that I hud seen at Lahore Victor
20 .Taquemont, whose correspondence she was thru reading. Her
21 Imperial Highness conversed with me about different matters for
22 two hours. She inquired principally uliout Cabal, Bokhara, and
23 India, their political, physical and moral condition, avid even
24 the* minutest particulars concerning those countries. Neither
25 can I omit here to mention one circumstance, trifling ns it is,
26 for which I feel myself grateful oven now. When I was on the
27 following day on my way to see the Mint, ns my oriental cos-
28 tume made me known everywhere, when I met the carriage of
29 the Grand Duchess, that noble lady saluted me very kindly the
30 instant she perceived me.
31 Being- a native of Kronstadt in Transylvania, I thought it but
32 right while in the vicinity of the Russian town of the same name,
33 to visit it, a desire which must be excused, as ti'at place enjoys a
34 reputation for its nautical im|>ortance; hut it happens very often
35 during life that difficulties oppose our plans, and thus it wa.