Page:Account of the dispute between Russia, Sweden & Denmark, and Great Britain.pdf/5

5, who, conjecturing that a round hat might be the national dreſs of the Engliſh, ſaid, that his order had been miſconceived, and next day it was publiſhed in the ſtreets and houſes, that ſtrangers who were not in the emperor’s ſervice, or naturalized, were not comprized in the prohibition.

Another regulation, requiring German harneſſing to be used for horſes, occaſioned ſuch disguſt that the officers came to the parade on foot. One day an officer walking in the ſtreets in a large peliſſe, gave his ſword to his ſervant, intending to put it on, and take off his peliſſe when he came near the palace.—Unfortunately before this took place, the emperor met him, and in conſequence he was reduced to the ranks, and his ſervant made an officer in his place.

One day as Paul was riding through the ſtreets of Peterſburgh, his horſe ſtumbled with him; he alighted immediately, held a ſort of council with his attendants, and the horſe was condemned to receive fifty laſhes with a whip.—Paul cauſed them to be given on the ſpot, before the populace, counting himself the ſtrokes, saying, "There, ſir, that is for having ſtumbled under the emperor."

One day travelling, he recollected ſomething, and ordered the coachman to return, "Presently, your highneſs," ſaid the coachman, the road is here too narrow."—"How raſcal," cried Paul, "turn immediately!" The coachman, inſtead of anſwering haſtened to a ſpot where it was poſſible to comply: Paul however, ordered his equerry to arreſt and puniſh the rebellious coachman—the equerry aſſured him he would turn in a moment; Paul flew into a paſſion with the equerry alſo: "You are a pitiful ſcoundrel like himſelf," ſaid he, "Let him overturn the carriage, let him break my neck, but let him obey me." During the diſpute the coachman ſucceeded in turning, but Paul had him chaſtiſed on the ſpot.

His cowardice was no leſs conſpicuous. When the Britiſh Government ſent admiral Dickson to