b o o k Elizabeth faw and fpoke to him without making herfelf'
. ’ ■ known: it is faid that ihe burft into tears at this interview.
On the enfuing day the prince was recondufted to Schluf-
felburgh.
When I viiited Schluflelburgh, I was admitted into the:
fortrefs, but was not fuffered to enter the room in which he
had been confined ; yet as I examined one that was fimilar,,
and have converfed with feveral perfons who have feen it, L
am able to give the following defcription o f it. It is fitu—
ated towards the fartheft extremity o f the corridore, defcribed
on a former occafion*. It is about 2.5 feet fquare,and vaulted :
the walls are o f bare ftone, and the floor is o f brick. The
window was not clofed, like thofe o f the adjacent cells, but
glazed : and the glafs- was Covered with a kind o f plaifter,
which, while it admitted the light, could not be feen:
through- There was no other furniture than a truckle-bed,
a table, and fome chairs. In this difmal apartment he was
immured during the fpace of eight years, excepting when he
was occafionally conducted to the interior fortrefs, which
communicated at top with the ai-r; but in the enjoyment o f
which the apprehenfions of his eicape rendered it impolitick.-
to gratify him as often as humanity could have wiffied.
With refpeft to his intellects, as he had been imprifoned.
from the fecond year of his age, his ideas o f courfe were
very. few, and his knowledge exceedingly limited and,,
though not abfolutely an ideot, he difcovered occafional:
fymptoms o f infinity. He could neither read nor write ;
he fpoke the Ruffian language, and knew a fgw German
Words, which he muft have, learned when almoft: a» child
from his parents : he was rather inarticulate in his fpeech,
and, when agitated,, occafionally ftammered- He was not;
*' VoLI 2> anignorant:
ignorant from whom he was defcended, and that he had c h a p .
once been emperor. He was ftrongly prepoifeifed with th e , .
hopes o f regaining his liberty, and of reafcending the throne;
he ufed frequently to allude to his future behaviour when
that event ihould take place; and whenever he was roufed-
by paffion, would threaten to puniih thofe who provoked;
him.
He was by nature exceedingly choleribk and ferocious
and would rage almoft to madnefs whenever he was intoxicated
: for fome time he was improperly indulged in every
article for his table ; he was ferved in plate, had a great variety
o f diihes, and all kinds o f wine. But afterwards, irn
orderto prevent his frequent exceffes, thefe luxuries were
judicioufly diminiffied, though his maintenance was ftill.
amply provided for by the allowance o f / ’ao. per month.
He had a great number o f clothes, which afforded him a-
eonftant fource o f amufementg he would often change his.
drefs twenty times in the day, and' walk about his room,
admiring himfelf with puerile fatisfadfion.. In regard to his.
religious opinions, he had fome faint knowledge o f the
-Greek perfuaiion; and ufed'frequently to pray in the moft
fervent manner. Once- a year he was accuftomed to confefs,.
and receive the facrament according to the ceremony o f that:
church; and often boafted o f obtaining revelations from the.
angel Gabriel.
He certainly knew that the emprefs Elizabeth was feated'.
upon that throne from which he had been depofed : but it:
does not-appear that he was ever made acquainted with her
deathj and the fubfequent changes. Peter III. foon after h is .
acceffion, came himfelf to Schluflelburgh, accompanied b y
counts Narifkin and Volkof, and baron Korf. Being immediately
received within the- fortrefs, they demanded to fee -
Ivan ^