MON CHER Baronet J'ai reçu, comme un gage d'un souvenir qui m'est bien precieux, et la lettre que vous m'avez fait l'honneur de m'écrire, en date du 14. Mars dernier, et les exemplaires dont vous l'avez accompagnée, de l'avis bien intéressant que vous avez publié, sur la situation politique de l'Europe. Je me suis conformé a vos intentions à l'égard de ce dernier, en le communiquant aux personnes qui sont le plus en état ici d'apprécier la valeur des observations que vous y exposé. On ne sauroit méconnoitre l'homme qui s'occupe depuis si longtemps, et avec tant d'utilité, des affaires publiques. y J'ai toujours vivement desiré, Monsieur, de visiter votre patrie, mais les circonstances ont toujours contrarié l'accomplissement de ce vou. J'éspere cependant ne pas mourir avant de l'avoir satisfait. Parmi les objets de contentement que je m'en promets, je compte pour beaucoup, je vous prie de le croire, la satisfaction de renouveller personnellement votre connoissance, et de vous offrir l'assurance de la très parfaite consideration avec laquelle je suis, Monsieur, votre très humble et très obéissant serviteur, A St. Petersbourg, le 2. Mai 1804. MY DEAR Baronet, LE COMTE DE MARCOFF. * Translation. I have received, as a mark of remembrance which is truly dear to me, both the letter you did me the honour to write to me, dated the 14th of March last, and the publications which accompanied it, with the interesting hints therein contained, which you have given to the public, on the political state of Europe. I have fulfilled your intentions respecting the latter, in communicating it to the persons who are best able here to appreciate the merit of the observations you have stated. One cannot but discover in this work the man who has employed his attention for this long time past, and with so much utility, on public affairs. I have always, Sir, anxiously desired to visit your country; but circumstances have hitherto counteracted the fulfilment of my wishes. I hope, however, before I die, to put them in execution. Amongst the objects of satisfaction which I promise to myself on this occasion, I highly value, and request you will be assured of it, the pleasure of renewing our personal acquaintance, and make you a tender of every assurance of the most perfect consideration with which your most humble and most obedient servant, St Petersburg, May 2. 1804. am, Sir, LE COMTE DE MARCOFF. 3. COMPTE gregoire orloff The ancestor of the Orloff family, it is said, was a Strelitz, whom Peter the Great was going to put to death with his own hands, for aiding his sister Sophia, but who showed such magnanimity on the occasion, that Peter pardoned and advanced him. The father of the present Orloffs had a considerable fortune for a Russian, amounting to 10,000 rubles, or L.1800 per annum ; but, according to the custom of that country, his fortune, at his death, was equally divided among his children; and he left five sons, who were thus placed in very indifferent circumstances. Prince Orloff, the eldest son, and Chesminskoy, the third, had a principal hand in the revolution, which deprived the Emperor, Peter III. of his throne. The history of the elder brother, Prince Orloff, is well known. He was long the Empress's favourite; but neglecting her, and attaching himself to other women, fell into disgrace. It is said that he got some horrid potion, which drove him mad, in which state he continued for some time before his death. The Empress was very liberal, not only to him, but to the whole family, and distributed among them, at different times, above two millions sterling. The second son, Jwan or John, was a plain, heavy-looking, but an intelligent country gentleman, fond of business, and who kept the affairs of all the family in order. The character of the third, Alexis, called Chesmenskoy, from his naval victory over the Turks at Chesme, shall be afterwards given. The fourth brother, Feodor or Theodore, were he not so indolent and lazy, is capable of any thing. The fifth, whom I did not see, is, I am told, the ablest of them all, but prefers domestic happiness, and lives very comfortably with his family, which is a very large one, in the country. The Orloff family, it was supposed, were not likely * Author of a valuable work, entitled, "Mémoires Historiques, Politiques "et Litteraires, sur le Royaume de Naples," published at Paris, an. 1819. to engage again in public business; but would always be much respected, particularly while the present Empress reigned, who accounted them real friends, and the surest supports of her throne. All the Orloffs who were living, when I visited Moscow, resided there or in its neighbourhood. That capital was the general receptacle of all the discarded favourites, the discontented courtiers, and the independent nobility of Russia, who lived there in society together, and with more freedom, than could well be supposed, under so despotic a government. Some of these proud nobles are so impatient of controul and restraint, that if the Court comes to Moscow, they retire into the country. When the Empress was there, anno 1785, Count Sheremetof, who has 120,000 peasants on his estate, pretended that he was not well enough to stir abroad, and the Empress actually went to pay him the first visit, which he condescended to return the next day. He gives his physician 2000 rubles, or L.330 of salary per annum, and there are two or three others of the nobles that do the same. The Orloffs are particularly infected with the pigeon-mania, which still prevails in Russia. They have, in that country, a species of the pigeon, which fly in a spiral or circular manner, upon one wing; and after ascending out of sight, come down in the same way, and alight upon the very same spot, or perhaps upon the same finger from whence they mounted. A first-rate pigeon of this sort is worth L.300 sterling. They fly best in hot weather, and Count Feodore assured me, that he has spent a whole morning, with the greatest satisfaction, in seeing them exhibit. The Orloff family are supposed to have laid out L.20,000 sterling in this amusement. A merchant who had some famous pigeons of this kind in his possession, demanded 20,000 rubles for a house and pigeon-house he had to dispose of. Including the pigeons, (said one of the Russian nobles), I would give you 14,000 rubles (or L.2330) for your property, but without them, not 2000 ru 66 bles, (L.330)." Thus valuing the pigeons at about L.2000 sterling. I had frequently met with Count Gregoire Orloff in London, and we had formed a very cordial friendship. Among the various letters I had received from him, the following are selected, from the friendly style in which they are written : DEAR SIR JOHN, Your kind letter of the 8th of December reached me only few days ago. That is the very reason why I could not answer sooner, and express you all the feelings of my gratitude, for the continuation of your constant friendship. We left London the 11th December, and we came to Paris the 16th. We had a very boisterous passage with the steam-boat, and with a contrary wind, notwithstanding we came in four hours. The Countess has been very unwell, and every one who was on board, excepting myself. We have the most charming and mild winter I ever saw. No frosts or snow till this moment. Letters from Russia announce a very mild winter, and they could not go in sledges till January. I will be very happy to see you again in Scotland next summer, but for a longer stay. My visit, as short as it was, had for me great many pleasant remembrances, being so well received by every body in Edinburgh, and particularly by yourself and your family. The Countess's health has not made any progress since we left England. She is still in the same state. She wishes to be remembered to you and your ladies. I regret very much that we did not meet with Archy, nor in Scotland nor in England. There is no news which are deserving to be mentioned to you. The two Houses of the Parliament are being with the laws of the liberty of the press, which the Government does not like. In the House of Commons, the laws proposed by it has been accepted with a great majority. It is probable that the same will be adopted in the House of Lords. They have very little ideas of the representative government in this country; and I am afraid will never have. The French character is too violent, too passionate, and particularly too changeable. Remember me kindly, Dear Sir John, to all your friends, who I had the pleasure to meet with you, and particularly to your good ladies; and believe me sincerely and truly your servant, Paris, 5. Rue d'Artois, the 20th of February 1822. DEAR SIR, ORLOFF. Brighton, the 15th of October 1823. I don't know when I can flatter myself with the idea that I am still in your memory. You have been so kind to me six years ago, that I dare to write you this few lines. I was in hopes to find you in London, but I was quite disappointed in hearing that you are now in Scotland, and in this late season it is a rather too long a journey. I had the displeasure not to meet with our friend Archibald Macdonald, who was just gone from Brighton few days before we arrived. Pray let me know about yourself, and how you are in health and spirits, and when you are still going with the improvements in the agriculture. I had the pleasure of writing to you from Paris last year; but as I never had any answer, I suppose my letter did not reach you. Since I have seen you, I have been in Italy, Russia and Germany. I saw in my own country a great improvement in a very interesting branch of industry, the establishment of a very large flocks of merinos, and the great consequence that they go on as well in the north as in the south part of the empire. As now the permission is granted to export |