Petersburgh Jan y 20 1784 O.S.

No time was as yet fixed for the departure of the English Courier, who

has been here some months, and by whom I have given you

to expect news from me; but as another is just arrived with

the News of the Change of the Ministry, M r Fitzherbert

dispatches one of them as soon as possible; a small part

only of what I had written in readiness for this opportunity

will be to be sent now as my Circumstances of late

are entirely Changed.

First, I have to tell you that my Love-Affair is entirely

put an end to. General Landskoy, immediately on the death

of the Uncle, without any application on my part to him

has interested himself so much in the Affair as to let

the Aunt and Mother know that the Empress thought

they did wrong to oppose the young Countess's Inclinations

and promised that her Majesty would promote me and

do any thing to give them satisfaction. This only irritated

the Aunt the more. When the Uncle and Father came

She was watched more closely than ever; yet She found

means to write to me frequently, and and every body seem'd

to be in our Interests. She was ill, kept her Room, &

her Bed, and alarmed her Friends, but could not soften

them. She offered to make her escape with me, or

take any Steps which I could point out, could She

but escape the vigilance of her keepers. She offered

Money and Diamonds to one of her Chambermaids

but could not gain her assistance. When things were

in this situation the Parents summoned all their force

against her, and at length, after having her Mother

at her feet "foaming at the mouth through despair,

She, after half an hour's reflection, sate down and

wrote me a Renounce, telling me that all had been tryed