book more richly apparelled th a n in* the morning, and boro
■ ]y- j upon her head a fmall cuown o f diamonds.
Upon her majefty’s appearance the ball was inftantly fuf-
pended; while the great-duke and duchefs, and the moil
confiderafele perfonswho were prefent, haftened to pay theis
refpects to their fovereign: Catharine, having addreffed a
few words-to fome of the principal nobility, attended a kind
of elevated feat; when, the dancing, being again refumed,,
fhe, after a ihort time, withdrew into an inner apartment.
We, in company with feveral courtiers, threw ourfelves into
her majeity’s fuite, anti formed a circle round a table, at
which fhe had fat down to cards. Her pasty confided of
the D u c h e f s of Courland, Countefs- Bruce, Sir James Harris,
Prince Potemkin, Marlhal- Rofomo-ulki, Count Panin, Prince
Repni®, and Count Ivan Tchernichef. The game was
Macao ? the pieces in circulation were imperials'*; and a
player might win or lofe two or three hundred pounds.
In the eourfe of the evening the great-duke and duchefs
prefented themftlves before the emprefs, and flood: by the
table for about a quarter of an hour,during which time her.
majefty occafisnally entered into conveufatiom with them.
The emprefs feemed to pay very little attention: to the cards,
converfed familiarly and frequently with great vivacity, as
well with the party at play,, as with the perfons of. rank'
ftanding near her. About ten her majefty. retired, and.fooivafter
the ball concluded.
On the 6th we had the honour, of being- prefented at a-
private audience to the great-duke and- duchefs; both of
whom converfed with us in the moft affable and condelcend—
ing manner ; according to the etiquette of this court, w&
tiffed her imperial highneffes hand.
* A d im p e r ia l = £ > - ' • ? '•
There
There is a drawing room at court every Sunday-morning,
about twelve o’clock, and on other particular feftivals, at
which the embaffadors are ufually prefent, and which all
foreign gentlemen, who have been once prefented, are permitted
to attend : the ceremony of killing the empreffes
hand is repeated every court day by foreigners in the prefence
chamber, and by the Ruffians in another apartment:
the latter bend their knee on this occalion ; an expreffion
of homage not ex ailed from the former. No ladies, excepting
thofe of the empreffes houlhold, make their appearance
at the morning levees.
On every codrt day the great-duke and duchefs have
alfo their feparate levees at their own apartments in the palace.
Upon particular occafions, fuch as her own and the
emprefies birth day, 8cc. foreigners have the honour of
killing her imperial highneffes hand ; but upon common
days that ceremony is omitted.
In the evening of a court day there is always a ball at the
palace, which begins between fix and feven. At that time
the foreign ladies kifs the empreffes hand, who falutes
them in return .on the cheek. Her majefty, u-nlefs fhe is
indifpofed, generally makes her-appearance about feven;
and, i f the affembly is not very numerous, plays at Macao
in the ball-room ; and the great-duke and duchefs, after
they have danced, fit down to whift. Their highneffes,
after a Ihort interval, rife, approach the empreffes table, pay
their refpedts, and then return to their game. When the
ball happens to be crouded, the emprefs forms her party,
a-s 1 have before-mentioned, in an adjoining room, which is'
open to all perfons who have once been prefented.
The richnefs and fplendour of the Ruffian court furpafles
all the ideas which the moft elaborate deicriptions can fug •
R r r 2 - geft.