book fhalt here mention thofe which I obferved in ufe among,
y perfons of higher rank. The gentlemen bow very low,
-and'the ladies incline their heads inftead ofcurtfymg. Sometimes
the gentlemen kifs the ladies hands as a mark of re-
fnedt, which is ufual in many countries ; if the parties are
well acquainted, or of equal condition, or if the lady is w i l l r
ing to pay a compliment, fhe falutes his cheek while he is-
kiffino- her hand. Frequently, while fhe ftoops to touch his
-eheekt be tabes that opportunity of fainting, hen I have
often obferved this- ceremony performed and repeated, as;
well in the drawing room at court, as-at the different alTem-
blies. If the gentleman is a perfon of very high rank, the
lady offers firft to kMs his-hand^ which he prevents by fidut-
ing her on the cheek. The men,, anffpartieularly relations»,
exchange falutes in this manner, each killing the other’s
hand at the fame inftant,, and afterwards their cheeks.
The Ruffians, in their ufual mode of addrefs,. never prefix
any title or appellation of refpeit to. their names; but
perfons of all ranks, even thofe of the firft diftinffions,-call
each other by their chriftian names, to which they add a.
patronymick. Thefe- patronymicks are formed in fome
cafes by adding Vitch * to the Chriftian name of the father*
in others by Of or Ef the former is applied only to-perfons.
of condition, the latter to thofe of inferior rank.. Thus,
Ivan Iv a n o v itc h lis fe an th e fbn I P e te r Alexievitch \ Peter th e fon o f
Ivan Iv an o f ) o f Ivan» f P e te r A texeof j Alexey.
The female patronymick is Efna, or Ofna, as Sophia Alexeefna,
or Sophia the daughter of Alexey •„ Maria Ivanofna*
or Maria the daughter of Ivan.
* V itch is the fame as our R t z „ a s Rtzherberl,.onthe fon.of.Herbert.
Great
Great families are alio in general diftinguilhed by a fur- chap.
aarne, as the family of Romanof, Galitzin, Sheremetof, 8cc. . -
Any ftranger, who has ever experienced the great polite-
nefs and tafte, which are confpicuous, as well in the behaviour
and manners of the Ruffian nobility, as in their entertainments
and affemblies, mud naturally be furprized
that fcarcely fixty years ago the following regulations ihould
have been thought neceffary by Peter the Great
R egulations fo r Affemblies a t Pe te rflm rgh in 7 19.
“ Afferribly is a French terra, which cannot "be rendered in Ruffian in one w o rd : It
“ fighifies a number o f perfons meeting together, either for di-verfion, or to talk'about
“ their own affairs. Friends may fee each other'oh that occafipn, to. confer together on
“ bufinefs or other, fubjeits, to enquire after domeftick and foreign news, and fo to pafs
“ their time. A fter what manner we will have thofe affemblies kept, may be learned
-“ from’what follows»
I . “ T h e ».perfon, at whofe hoùfe thcaflenrbly is to be in the evening, is to hang out
' 6- a bill or other figny. to give notice to all perfons o f either fex.
II. “ rThe affembly ihall not begin fooner than four or five in the afternoon, nor continue,
later than ten at night.
III. “ Th e raafler o f the houfe is not obliged to go arid meet his guefts, to conduit
“ them out, or to entertain them ; but though himfeif-is exempt from waiting on them,
he ought to find chairs,' Candles, drink, and,all the neceffaries a&ed for, as alfo to
• provide for all forte o f gamkjg, and what belongs thereto,
IV . “ No certain hour is fixed for any b o d y ’ s coming or going ; it-is fufficient i f one
u makes his appearance in the affembly.
V . •“ It is left to every one’ s liberty to fit,' walk, or play, juft as he likes ; nor ihall
any body hinder him, or take exception at what he does, on pain o f emptying tfie
•“ Great Eagle (a bowl filled with wise or brandy). A s for the reft, it is enough to
falute at coming and going.
V I . “ Perfons o f rank, as,, for inftauce, noblemen, and fuperior officers, likewife mer-
*V-bhants o f note, and head-mafters, (by which are underftood fliip-builders), perfons
«V, employed in the Chancery, and their wives and children, fliall have liberty o f frequenting
the affemblies.
V I I . “ A particular place fliall' be affigned to the footmen (thofe o f the houfe ex-
u cepted), that there may be fufficient room in the apartments defigned fo r the affembly.’ *
* Perry’s State o f Ruffia, Vol. I. p. i 84*
T t t a The