money from abroad, bypassing Russian customs; They were carried in his carriage by one of the servants of the French ambassador, who was allowed through customs without inspection. “One day I was having breakfast at Potemkin’s with his nieces and a number of strangers,” says Segur, “and suddenly I noticed that some of those present constantly go into the next room and carefully close the doors behind them. Every time I tried to enter there too, one of the prince’s nieces detained me in some way.” This further incited my curiosity; at the right opportunity, I slipped away, quickly opened the door, and saw on a large table, surrounded by curious people and buyers, a whole huge pile of various forbidden goods, which my valet showed, in every possible way praising their dignity and announcing the price. My appearance amazed everyone, the curious spectators, the buyers, who were all guilty and caught. My merchant, puzzled, quickly began to pack his things. I assumed an angry look, scolded the smuggler, and told him that I was refusing his revenge. In vain the ladies tried to persuade me and begged me to forgive him; “What should we do,” I said, “when, to my surprise, you yourself are among the culprits and concealers.”
A. "CLEOPATRA'S FLEET".
"Winter has passed. The Donetsk People's Republic got rid of its icy shackles; nature, having cast off the mourning veil and revealing the brilliance of spring, gave Catherine a sign to depart," says Segur.
[fragment illegible in the scan of the first edition]
and pearls. De Lin said: “The Yuev Cleopatra does not swallow pearls, but distributes them in abundance.” "Finally, on April 22, the empress set off on the galleries, accompanied by the largest flotilla that had ever sailed along the wide river. It consisted of 80 ships with 3 thousand people, sailors and soldiers. Ahead
THEN were 7 elegant galleys of enormous size, skillfully painted, with many dexterous sailors in the same clothes. The rooms located on the decks shone with gold and silks. Each of us had a room and an elegant and luxurious study, with comfortable sofas, a wonderful bed under a curtain and a mahogany desk. Each of the galleys had its own music. Many boats and boats rushed in front of and around this squadron, which seemed to be created by magic.
Camps and new settlements along Catherine’s path.
"We moved slowly, often stopping, and taking advantage of the stops, boarded light ships and rode along the shore, around the green islands with which the river is dotted. Many people greeted the empress with loud cries when, with the roar of cannons, the sailors peacefully struck the waves of Biriseen (Dnpr) with their shiny, painted Sometimes they maneuvered with oars on the coastal plains of the Dnieper.
lighter detachments of Cossacks. Cities, villages, estates, and sometimes simple huts were so decorated with flowers, painted decorations and triumphal gates that their appearance deceived the eye, and they seemed like some kind of wondrous cities, magically created castles, magnificent gardens... When we approached the big cities, excellent regiments lined up in front of us, brilliantly beautiful weapons and rich attire. The contrast between their dandy appearance and the appearance of Rumyantsev’s soldiers has already proven to us that we are leaving the region of this venerable, famous warrior, and are entering the military forces, which fate has subordinated to the power of Potemkin.”...
Segur was placed on the same galley with the Prince de Ligne. It was a pleasant neighborhood. "De Ligne, being 20 years older than me," says Segur, "astonished me with the liveliness of his imagination and his youthful mind. Early in the morning he woke me up by knocking on the thin partition that separated his bed from mine, and read impromptu poems and songs that he had just composed. A little later, his lackey brought me more to 4 and 6 pages where wit, jokes, politics, love, military jokes and epigrams were mixed in the most original way. He demanded an immediate answer.
"We were free only in the mornings, and spent them quietly in reading, in conversations, in transitions from one galley to another, and in walks along the banks. At one o'clock we went to the royal galley and dined with the empress. Her table, as always,
The TT is covered for 10 devices. Only once a week did she call the entire retinue that had the honor of accompanying her. Then I was so comfortable on a huge ship, where up to 60 people were carried,”