Count Lenzheron, who later became the ruler of the southern regions, also marveled at Potemkin’s art. “What kind of magic,” he asked, “can such miracles be generated? - And he tells what kind of magic it was. “It must be said,” he continues, “they were created by violence and fear, and we will destroy several provinces. Of the populated provinces of Malorosei and those that were not followed by the empress, all of them are inhabited were driven into these deserts; thousands of villages were evicted at this time, and all their inhabitants with all their herds were taken to various designated camps. They were forced to hastily build artificial villages on the nearest banks of the DnBpr and the facades of villages in the distance, all these unfortunates were driven back, many died. as a result of such a relocation... Being 30 years later the Governor-General of these guilty people, I could verify the truth of these details, which at first seemed incredible to me.”
MT. KATHERINE'S PREPARATIONS FOR THE WAY.
On January 1, 1787, Catherine wrote to Grimm: “Tomorrow I’m Blue from here to Tsarskoe Selo, and on January 7 I’m calling him to Yuev. Even though I’m already completely cleansed, my three pocket ministers will go with me...”
CATHERINE'
Prince de Ligne was also supposed to take part in the journey. The prince was no less a brilliant companion for Catherine, the Count Segur, whom she loved so much for his kindness. This. was an unforgettable person. "In all European courts," says Segur, "he was received and caressed. He was loved for his good nature and courtesy, for his original mind and vivid imagination; he could revive the most soulless society. He was distinguished by knightly courage in war, had extensive knowledge in military sciences, history and literature, was attentive, affectionate with the elderly, outdid youth with his liveliness, participated in all the fun of his time, in all wars, in all celebrations. At 50 years old *) he retained his courageous beauty. He didn’t get lost, he wrote poems to all the ladies... Another old man with such a carefree disposition would have seemed funny, but de Ligne was so diverse, amiable, witty and, moreover, so good-natured that he liked him even with his shortcomings.”
Catherine wrote to him back in September 1786. "I have finally set the time for my journey to Taurida. I will leave here in early January; I will be on the road for 18 days to Kev, there I will patiently wait for the opening of the Dnieper and those who wish to accompany
*) He was then 52 years old,
NIE
Prince de Ligne.
I'm off to a good start in April. As you can see, I will spend a full two months on this. Then I will take my companions to the country in which, they say, the Nfkogla Ifigenya lived. One name of this country enlivens the imagination; a wide variety of fabrications are being spread about my stay there. What is true is that I will be very glad to see you again; I hope to take there many of your acquaintances and many ministers of the world, in whose presence no battle can take place.” In December, she wrote to him again about her march in the midday region: “Being very far from being like the brilliant image of the sun in my procession, as you put it, we are, on the contrary, taking all possible precautions in order to look very thick clouds, since each of the stars accompanying me stocked up with a good, thick black fur coat of moss.”...
To this, out of modesty, she added: “I wish you don’t get bored with this journey; we are like the head of Medusa, stunning everyone who sees it, we do not make a pleasant company at all.”
[fragment illegible in the scan of the first edition]
"He was in great favor with the empress. As soon as he arrived, she announced to him that she favored him in the Crimea, on the shores of the Black Sea, in the very place where, according to legend, there was a temple in which Princess Ieigenya was a priestess."
“I’ve already been very friendly with de Lin,”
THIS
adds Segur, “and therefore, more than others, he enjoyed the pleasant thought that I would have such a dear comrade on the way.”