Page:Autobiography of Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes.djvu/85

59 [ms. torn] seen more beauty as to complex and figure. The [mode] of dress was almost exclusively French, and the Manners of the upper class were more European than Russian. [Of] course, our acquaintance was very limited to the crowds [ms. torn] being distinctly marked as to which they were, the extremes that came under our view, the very high and the very low, that is to say Masters and servants. I do not r[ecol]lect of having seen half a dozen citizens during [ms. torn] stay, all held high rank, most of them high officers under the Government, their names were almost unpronounceable in our language. Some of them were pointed out as those who had distinguished themselves in the civil and military departments but whose fame was confined to Russia. Many spoke french to us and were very affable and polite. French seemed to be spoken and well understood particularly among the fair sex. They were all in the french fashion and extravagantly dressed.

Men appeared [to take] great pride in their equipages though I did not perceive any that were in entirely good taste or keeping. The horses were some of them fine animals, but there was a great task of matching or training. Postilions were in livery, very many of them in green which appeared the court colour. The vehicles were cumbrous and heavy and very strong, generally of the barouche form. We drove around the grounds and finally alighted at the Peterhoff palace. I would designate any as exhibiting much style or keeping in the accoutrements; fine horses were run, but they were generally those that would be designated as ordinary Post Horses. We had a beautiful sail by moonlight across the Bay, and Peterhoff was brilliant with its illumination of the Palace and grounds in many colored lights.

The weather as Octr set in became very cold, and ice formed in the bay and harbour. The Comdre was anxious to effect his departure. Some of the last batch of officers were still in St Petersburg and messages were dispatched to hurry their return; they had stayed beyond their time of leave. Active preparations were made to expedite our departure notwithstanding & the day fixed for departing, I think the 3rd Oct, but several of them were still absent. Word was brought off that they were on shore, waiting to be sent for. Boats had been already dispatched, but, being ordered to return at a certain hour, they came back. An Assistant Surgeon [Nathaniel] Miller and Mid [Joseph M.] Nicholson were the missing ones and had sent off word that they refused to return until a Man of War's boat was sent for them. I was near the Comdr when this message was brought to him through the first Lieutenant. At this he was evidently much vexed, but inquiry having been made if any more boats could be obtained at the landing and being informed in the affirmative, he thus enunciated his peculiar expression, "By Zounds, then they may stay there." The signal for the return of officers had been long flying and ought to have been noticed and obeyed. Orders were given to hoist the boats and up anchor, which was speedily done and the ship left. These officers could be seen by our glasses on the wharf or quay and certainly had it within their power to join the vessel; what their reasons were for so acting, I have never heard,