In

These led to his promotion; and in 1770, which may be held as the dawn of his military glory, we find him holding the rank of captain, and engaged in services of danger, which called forth great intrepidity of character. Up to 1784 he was occupied, from time to time, in various warlike operations under Potemkin, especially in an action with the Turks, after which he was raised to the rank of major-general. He also took a part in the slaughter at Ismail, under Suvarov. 1791, he was received with high honour by Potemkin at St. Petersburg; and ten years afterwards Alexander noticed him for his high gallantry, and called for his services. He now displayed most intrepid resolution in marching towards the middle of Europe at the head of the Cossacks of the Don. On the peace of Tilsit, in 1807, the order of St. Alexander Nevsky was conferred on him; while the King of Prussia loaded him with honours, and esteemed him worthy of his confidence. But it was after the invasion of Russia by the French that he distinguished himself in such a manner as to excite the attention and admiration of all Europe, and to cause him to be received, on his subsequent visit to England, with absolute enthusiasm. Never shall I forget his upright tall person, masculine form, and weather-beaten countenance; but above all have I reason to recollect him from the impression he made on me, by an affectionate squeeze of the

hand he gave me on my being introduced to him in London; for the compliment was so hearty and energetic, that I actually thought he had crushed the bones of my fingers in his cordial, but iron grasp. After this Platov returned to his native land to enjoy repose during the piping-time of peace, and relate the battles he had won; and his return was hailed with every demonstration of joy and attachment. A stroke of apoplexy carried off the hero on the 3d of January, 1818. Such is a rapid sketch of the military career of one whose memory will be kept alive in the page of history, as one of the bravest of men, faithful to his sovereign, and devoted to his country. His name will be associated with all that is gallant and heroic as a true and steady soldier; but more especially during the latter period of his life, in those highly momentous affairs, which restored peace to suffering Europe, after so many years of bloodshed and oppression.

CHAP. III.

Ravages of the Plague in the year 1770.- Insurrection and murder of the bishop. - Post-office. - New Petrovsksy theatre. Gardens. Donskoi monastery.

church. Burial ground. Markets. the knout. Anecdotes, &c.

English Punishment of

THE city of Moscow has been frequently visited by that "pestilence which walketh in darkness;" and terrible as are the devastations of war, they have proved less destructive than those seasons of mortality. So late as 1770 it was visited by the plague, which had been imported by the Russians after defeating the Turks. The ravages were heart-rending in the extreme, and continued for the space of twelve months. With the view of allaying the apprehensions of the public, orders were issued that the disease should be denominated a fever. The military, who entered the habitations of the dead, became incessantly infected by the contagion. After great woe and desolation, the city was almost totally deserted; and horrible indeed was the fate of those who were left behind, and thus inevitably became victims of death. Their corpses might be seen lying in the public streets; and no fewer than 100,000 were swept away by the pestilence during that period.

62

RAVAGES OF THE PLAGUE, 1770.

This destruction, so emphatically described in the language of inspiration, as that "which wasteth at noon-day," was not confined to the city; but extended itself to the neighbouring villages, where 30,000 human beings fell a sacrifice to its violence; till, as the winter approached, the mortality began to abate.

Yet, even during this dreadful visitation, the inhabitants offered up their petition, not to Him who is a spirit, and ought to be looked up to in spirit, and who is all-powerful to save, but to inanimate objects; in other words, to the pictures of the Virgin, and their saints, under the conviction that relief would be more effectually obtained from them than the Almighty. How melancholy is it to reflect upon such abject idolatry, so inconsistent both with reason and revelation; and so opposed to the warning of an inspired writer, who declares, that men shall cast away "their idols, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and the bats."* Some one was mad enough to

* This cannot be mentioned without adverting to an instance that occurred of the superstition of the Sicilians, which I had from a person of rank in Syracuse: The French fleet having appeared off the place, the inhabitants were thrown into the greatest alarm. What was to be done? — the whole population turned out, and walked in procession to a particular spot, where they invoked the assistance of Sta. Lucia, the tutelary saint of the town, and in consequence she actually saved it, by raising a violent storm, which blew the

to propagate a report that "our Lady's" portrait, in a small chapel at the Varvaskoi Gate, had not due adoration paid it on so urgent an occasion; and that if greater respect were manifested towards it, it might have the effect of quelling the plague. Incredible as the fact may appear, great importance was attached to the intelligence - an uproar was created in the city crowds flocked to the picture; and, it is gravely said, their supplications most effectually arrested the progress of the disease. With the view of restoring order, and dispersing the people, the bishop caused the picture to be removed to the church of the Kremlin; but this change was construed into a heinous offence, both by the mob, and some ecclesiastics, who had derived a handsome profit from the donations made to this image. The military were called out, but overpowered; and the whole city was filled with tumult and alarm. Diligent search was made for the bishop, who, it was discovered, had taken refuge in the Donskoi Monastery, near the town; but neither the acts of devotion he was exercising at the time, nor the

whole fleet from Sicily! Since these pages were written, the king of Naples has passed a decree (June 27. 1827) which actually imposes a punishment of solitary confinement against those who shall blaspheme the images of saints in churches or other places consecrated to divine worship!