ed to allow us to cross.

Neither bedsteads nor bedding being obtainable, Sir Moses and Lady
Montefiore had a kind of bed prepared on the floor in a very small and
low room, and I had a bundle of straw, in another room, for my couch;
it was, however, so warm there, and the air so very oppressive, that I
was obliged to get up in the middle of the night, and take a walk
outside the house.

_Jamburg, March 30th._--At seven in the morning I crossed the Lugu;
there was not much ice on the river. The officer told me he would have
three boats lashed together to take the carriages over. I returned to
Sir Moses to bring him the good news, and to prepare for our
departure. I had scarcely been at home an hour when the ice came down
the river in great quantities. Sir Moses accompanied me to look at it,
and decided not to cross, as we should have incurred a great risk by
doing so. At last towards evening the officer came and told us that he
would employ soldiers to launch the great barge, and would come for us
when he was ready. We continued in painful suspense awaiting his
arrival till a few minutes before seven, when he came and said "All
was ready." Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore went in their carriage. I
and the rest of the party walked down to the water side. The carriages
were safely put on a large barge, and soon launched into the stream,
but when in the middle it struck on some large stones, and they were
in the greatest peril. The barge remained for nearly an hour fixed to
one spot. Happily, after great exertions on the part of the soldiers,
it was got off.

The officer then conducted us into his own boat, in which, besides Sir
Moses and Lady Montefiore, were also two servants, the officer, and a
gentleman with despatches from the Russian Government, and we were
towed across, though not without some danger from the ice which was
driving down the current in great masses, and which our boatman found
great difficulty in avoiding. Had they struck it must have proved
fatal, but Heaven guarded us, and we landed in safety. We were one
hour in crossing from the house on the west bank to the Post House at
Jamburg, and had more than a hundred men to assist us. The officer was
most civil and attentive, and refused to accept any present.

_March 31st._--We left Jamburg last night with the intention of
travelling through the night, but we found the road so dreadfully bad,
in many places covered with snow and ice and full of ruts, tha