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Article THE LIFE. OF PRINCE POTEMKIN. ← Page 4 of 6 →
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The Life. Of Prince Potemkin.
introduced a scene of a very extraordinary nature at the Court ot Catharine . Whenever that Princess issued an order , the execution of it always appeared inevitable ; she ever exacted implicit obedience . It was now generally known , that the discarded favourite received orders to travel , and that he was no longer permitted to present himself before the Empress till she should deign to recall him . The lofty OrlofF had himself submitted to that form of dismissal .
Potemkin dared to evade it . On receiving the fatal order he pretended to depart ; but the very next day came , and with the utmost composure , placed himself in front of the Empress , just as she was sitting down to her party at whist , Without uttering the least complaint at the rash disobedience of Potemkin , Catharine advanced hi in a card , told him that he always played happily , and spoke no more , of his dismissal . Potemkin kept his appointments , and reserved his
honours , possessed his influence , and from the lover became her Majesty ' s friend . Zawadoffsky knew the art of pleasing ; but Potemkinhad rendered himself useful ; and his genius , more nearly allied to the genius of Catharine than that of any other of her favourites , still retained his wonted ascendancy over her mind . OrlofF , who had been too suddenly informed of Poterrikiii ' s
disgrace , in the mean time hastened to Petersburg .. Here he found his rival not only in the enjoyment of his Sovereign ' s affection , but still possessed of her confidence . OrlofF flattered himself with being able to resume that confidence , while a youthful lover , totall y ignorant of politics , possessed the heart of Catharine : but he was soon undeceived . Pie appeared at court , kissed her Majesty ' s hand , and seeing Potemkin beside her person , departed immediately for Moscow .
The courtiers who were most observant of the Empress s conduct , were at a loss to divine which was the lover whom she preferred . They could not suppose that Potemkin would renounce his interest in her affections . They did not reflect , that love is silent in the presence of ambition . Although Potemkin ceased to partake of that secret intercourse which was the peculiar enjoyment of Catharine ' s favouriteshe
, still retained a strong hold of her mind . And Catharine knew how to appreciate an understanding , which bore a resemblance to her own . His daring presumption increased his acquisitions of influence . and from the moment of his being advanced to favour-, and admitted to partake of her Majesty ' s secret counsels , he commanded a continuance of the one , and directed the resolution of the other .
Every da } ' some new present from the Sovereign added to the heap of his immense riches ; and ssme new ri ; ie of honour was added to the long list of his dignities . The court , the . army , the navy , all were subject to his controul . He appointed the ministers , he named the generals , he exalted the favourites , or removed them at his p leasure ; his benevolence , his animadversion , were under the direction of caprice .. With all the outward shew of rough and sometimes brutal frank " jiess , Potemkin was an adept in art . He ruled over the Empress
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Life. Of Prince Potemkin.
introduced a scene of a very extraordinary nature at the Court ot Catharine . Whenever that Princess issued an order , the execution of it always appeared inevitable ; she ever exacted implicit obedience . It was now generally known , that the discarded favourite received orders to travel , and that he was no longer permitted to present himself before the Empress till she should deign to recall him . The lofty OrlofF had himself submitted to that form of dismissal .
Potemkin dared to evade it . On receiving the fatal order he pretended to depart ; but the very next day came , and with the utmost composure , placed himself in front of the Empress , just as she was sitting down to her party at whist , Without uttering the least complaint at the rash disobedience of Potemkin , Catharine advanced hi in a card , told him that he always played happily , and spoke no more , of his dismissal . Potemkin kept his appointments , and reserved his
honours , possessed his influence , and from the lover became her Majesty ' s friend . Zawadoffsky knew the art of pleasing ; but Potemkinhad rendered himself useful ; and his genius , more nearly allied to the genius of Catharine than that of any other of her favourites , still retained his wonted ascendancy over her mind . OrlofF , who had been too suddenly informed of Poterrikiii ' s
disgrace , in the mean time hastened to Petersburg .. Here he found his rival not only in the enjoyment of his Sovereign ' s affection , but still possessed of her confidence . OrlofF flattered himself with being able to resume that confidence , while a youthful lover , totall y ignorant of politics , possessed the heart of Catharine : but he was soon undeceived . Pie appeared at court , kissed her Majesty ' s hand , and seeing Potemkin beside her person , departed immediately for Moscow .
The courtiers who were most observant of the Empress s conduct , were at a loss to divine which was the lover whom she preferred . They could not suppose that Potemkin would renounce his interest in her affections . They did not reflect , that love is silent in the presence of ambition . Although Potemkin ceased to partake of that secret intercourse which was the peculiar enjoyment of Catharine ' s favouriteshe
, still retained a strong hold of her mind . And Catharine knew how to appreciate an understanding , which bore a resemblance to her own . His daring presumption increased his acquisitions of influence . and from the moment of his being advanced to favour-, and admitted to partake of her Majesty ' s secret counsels , he commanded a continuance of the one , and directed the resolution of the other .
Every da } ' some new present from the Sovereign added to the heap of his immense riches ; and ssme new ri ; ie of honour was added to the long list of his dignities . The court , the . army , the navy , all were subject to his controul . He appointed the ministers , he named the generals , he exalted the favourites , or removed them at his p leasure ; his benevolence , his animadversion , were under the direction of caprice .. With all the outward shew of rough and sometimes brutal frank " jiess , Potemkin was an adept in art . He ruled over the Empress