e next day in the harbour of Riga. The captain, however, could
not be appeased, but accused me before the old and honourable Marshal
Lacy, then governor of Riga. I was obliged to appear, and reply to the
charge by relating the truth. The governor answered, my obstinacy might
have occasioned the death of a hundred and sixty persons; I, smiling,
retorted, "I have brought them all safe to port, please your Excellency;
and, for my part, my fate would have been much more merciful by falling
into the hands of my God than into the hands of my enemies. My danger
was so great that I forgot the danger of others; besides, sir, I knew my
comrades were soldiers, and feared death as little as I do." My answer
pleased the fine grey-headed general, and he gave me a recommendation to
the chancellor Bestuchef at Moscow.

General Lieuwen had marched from Moravia, for Russia, with the army, and
was then at Riga. I went to pay him my respects; he kindly received me,
and took me to one of his seats, named Annaburg, four miles from Riga.
Here I remained some days, and he gave me every recommendation to Moscow,
where the court then was. It was intended I should endeavour to obtain a
company in the regiment of cuirassiers, the captains of which then ranked
as majors, and he advised me to throw up my commission in the Siberian
regiment of Tobolski dragoons. Peace be to the names and the memory of
this worthy man! May God reward this benevolence! From Riga I departed,
in company with M. Oettinger, lieutenant-colonel of engineers, and
Lieutenant Weismann, for Moscow. This is the same Weismann who rendered
so many important services to Russia, during the last war with the Turks.

On my arrival, after delivering in my letters of recommendation, I was
particularly well received by Count Bestuchef. Oettinger, whose
friendship I had gained, was exceedingly intimate with the chancellor,
and my interest was thereby promoted.

I had not been long at Moscow before I met Count Hamilton, my former
friend during my abode at Vienna. He was a captain of cavalry, in the
regiment of General Bernes, who had been sent as imperial ambassador to
Russia.

Bernes had been ambassador at Berlin in 1743, where he had consequently
known me during the height of my favour at the court of Frederic.
Hamilton presented me to him, and I had the good fortune so far to gain
his friendship, that, after a few visits, he endeavoured to detach me
from the Russian servi