he countess warned
you of the impending danger? You, like many other honest and innocent
men, would have been sent to Siberia. Your innocence must have remained
untested, and yourself, in the universal opinion, a villain and a
traitor."

Hyndford spoke to me in the same tone, assured me of his eternal
protection, and described London as a certain asylum, should I not find
happiness at Vienna. He spoke of slavery as a Briton ought to speak,
reminded me of the fate of Munich and Osterman, painted the court such as
I knew it to be, and asked me what were my expectations, even were I
fortunate enough to become general or minister in such a country.

These reasonings at length determined me; but having plenty of money, I
thought proper to take Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Holland in my way, and
Barnes was in the meantime to prepare me a favourable reception at
Vienna. He desired, also, I would give him authority to get possession
of the estates to which I was heir. My mistress strongly endeavoured to
detain me, but yielded at length to the force of reason. I tore myself
away, and promised, on my honour, to return as soon as I had arranged my
affairs at Vienna. She made the proposition of investing me within some
foreign embassy, by which I might render the most effectual services to
the court at Vienna. In this hope we parted with heavy hearts: she
presented me with her portrait, and a snuffbox set with diamonds; the
first of these, three years after was torn from my bosom by the officers
in my first dungeon at Magdeburg, as I shall hereafter relate. The
chancellor embraced me, at parting, with friendship. Apraxin wept, and
clasped me in his arms, prophesying at the same time, I should never be
so happy as in Russia. I myself foreboded misfortune, and quitted Russia
with regret, but still followed the advice of Hyndford and Bernes.

From Moscow I travelled to Petersburg, where I found a letter, at the
house of Baron Wolf, the banker, from the countess, which rent my very
heart, and almost determined me to return. She endeavoured to terrify me
from proceeding to Vienna, yet inclosed a bill for four thousand roubles,
to aid me on my journey, were I absolutely bent to turn my back on
fortune.

My effects, in money and jewels, amounted to about thirty-six thousand
florins; I therefore returned the draft, intreated her eternal
remembrance, and that she would reserve her favour and support to times
in which they migh