b o o k jn drawing room we found a numerous aflembly of
« foreign minifters, Ruffian nobility, and officers in their different
uniforms, waiting the arrival of the emprefs, who was
attending divine fervice in the chapel of the palace, whither
we alfo repaired. Amid a prodigious concourfe of nobles,
I obferved beyond the foremoft the emprefs Handing by her-
felf behind a railing, the only diitin£tion by which her place
was marked. Immediately next to her flood the great-duke
and duchefs; and behind an indifcriminate throng of
courtiers. The emprefs bowed repeatedly, and frequently
croffed herfelf, according to the forms ufed in the Greek
church, with great expreffions of devotion. Before the
conckffion of the fervice we returned to the drawing room,
and took our Ration near the door, in order to be prefented
at her majefty’s entrance. At length, a little before twelve,
the chief officers of the houfhold, the miftrefs of the robes,
the maids of honour, and other ladies of the bed chamber,
advancing two by two in a long train, announced the approach
of their fovereign. Her majefly came forward with
a flow and folemn pace, walking with great pomp, holding
her head very high, and perpetually bowing to the right and
to the left as ffie pafled along. She flopped a little way
within the entrance of the drawing room, and fpoke with
great affability to the foreign minifters while they kiffed her
hand. She then advanced a few fteps, and we were fingly
prefented by the vice-chancellor Count Ofterman, and had
the honour of kiffing her majefty’s hand. The emprefs
wore, according to her ufual cuftom, a Ruffian drefs, namely,
a robe with a fhort train, and a veil with fleeves reaching
to the wrift, like a Polonaife,; the veil was of gold brocade,
and the robe was of light green fills.; her hair was drefled
low, and lightly fprinkled with powder : fhe wore a cap fet
thick ■'7* A ST A .