book d a n c e ? : t h e f o rm e r w a s f i in p l e , b u t n o t d e f i c i e n t ill g ra c e ,
. n~ , flnd was accompanied by a molt pleafing air ; the company
flood in pairs; the firft man led his partner round the room
in a kind o f ftep not much unlike that o f a minuet, he then
quitted her hand, made a fmall circle, joined hands again,
and repeated the fame movements until the conclufion. The
iecond couple began as foon as the firft had advanced a few
fteps, and was quickly followed by the remainder, fo that all
the parties glided after one another at the fame time. The
Poles are Very fond o f this dance : although it has little var
ie ty , they continued it .for h a lf an hour without inter-
mifiion, and frequently renewed it during the courfe o f the
- evening. T h e intervals between this national dance were
filled with Englifh country-dances, which they performed
with equal expertnefs, and with no iefs delight. A n elegant
fupper, to which only a feledt party was,invited, agreeably
s concluded the entertainment o f the day.
T h e count politely prefled us to continue fome time at Grodno,
and to take up our abode in. his liou fe; but as we were de-
■ firous o f arriving at Peteriburgh before the commencement
. o f the ’ winter, we declined the invitation, which we ihonkl
otherwife have accepted with the greateft pleafure. Some of
the company, however, had kindly endeavoured to detain
ms by the-following ftratagem : they privately defired the
coach-maker employed in mending our carriage to execute
the commiflion in a dilatory manner ; and although we had
accidentally difcovered this project, yet it was not without
the moft urgent remonftrances that we obtained the neceflary
repairs. In order to fpare our acquaintance the trouble of
making, and ourfelves the pain o f rejecting, any further fo
* licitations, we thought it moft expedient to fteal away in the
night without apprifiiig any one o f our defign.
It was our intention to have proceed to Vilna, but as this c^ p-
was the time of electing nuntios,the poftmafter informed us, »— v— i
that for want of horfes we fhould be delayed upon the road
at fome wretched village without a poffibility of proceeding ;
we therefore, very unwillingly, altered our route, to our
great difappointment, as we wiihed much to have vifited the
capital of Lithuania.
Vol. I. C H A P .