B ix° K 0n our arrival at Horfens we waited upon the principal officer
— y— j attendant on the Ruffian princes, and requefted to have the honour
of being prefented to their highneffes. We received a favourable
anfwer; but when we expeited that our requeft would
be complied with, we were put off with feveral excufes; firft,
that one of the princes was indilpofed; another time, that as
they could fcarcely fpeak any language but the Ruffian, they
were embarraffed with ftrangers. We did not know, until we
were informed by Mr. Guldberg, whom we had the honour of
feeing at Aarhuus, that by fpeeial orders from the court of Denmark
no foreigners are permitted to be prefented to them.
When the emprefs had determined to fet them at liberty, ffie
fent a Livonian lady, who accompanied them from Kolmogori- to
Flatftrand. They embarked at Archangel, and were three
months at fea in their paffage to Berghen in Norway. The night
after they landed at Flatftrand on the coaft of Jutland, they were
received at Aalberg by Count Often, governor of that place, where
they remained five days. From thence they proceeded by eafy
journies to Horfens. They were only accompanied by a Ruffian
lady, and a prieft and his wife. From their ignorance of any
language but the Ruffian, and their inability to converfe with
moft of thofe who were placed about them, on their firft arrival
at Horfens they appeared even to regret their prifon at Kolmogori.
But they were loon reconciled, and became quite delighted
with the change in their fituation.
They are ftill a kind of Hate prifoners, though, in comparifon
with
with their former fituation, may be faid to enjoy perfeft liberty.
They never go out without attendants, and have not yet been
permitted to vifit any family in the town. The gates of their
houfe or palace, as it is now called; are carefully clofed in winter
at ten, and in fummer at eleven. They amufe themfelves with
reading, playing at billiards, cards, riding, and walking. They
walk much about the town, and in the environs, and drive out
in carriages ; the princes frequently ride, and particularly Alexey,
who is very fond of that exercife, and is faid to be expert. They
not unfrequently pay vifits in the country, and dine with the
neighbouring familes.
The. names of thefe illufirious defcendants of the imperial family
of Ruffia,. are, Catharine, born July 26, 1741 ; Peter, born
March 31, 1745 ; Alexey, born March 7, 1746, of whom Anne
died in childbed. This prince is fince dead. Elizabeth, the
youngeft lifter, was a woman of high fpirit and elegant manners.
On being releafed ihe wrote a letter of thanks to the emprefs, fo
well expreffed, as to excite admiration how ihe could have obtained
fufficient inftruftion during her long confinement. Her
father is faid to have inftructed her j but Ihe likewife obtained
confiderable information from feveral officers who were her
guards, and whom Ihe conciliated by her captivating manners.
On her arrival at Horfens ihe poffeffed portraits of her father and
mother, and even contrived to procure a rouble of her brother
Ivan, ftruck in his ihort reign. It is difficult to conjecture how
Ihe could obtain a coin, the poffeffion of which was more than
oncer