Page:Notes upon Russia (volume 2, 1851).djvu/174

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NOTES UPON RUSSIA.

is the town of Grinki, in which came royal messengers to meet us (called Pristavl), who supplied us with provisions, and escorted us to Vilna.

Thence to Grodna, six miles. This principality is comfortable enough, considering the nature of the climate. There is a fortified city, called by the Germans Mumel, situated on the river Nemen, which also flows by Prussia itself. This city was formerly governed by the grand-master of the Teutonic order, but is now held under the title of a duchy by Albert, hereditary marquis of Brandenburg. I think, from the name of the town, that this is the river Cronon. It was there, and in the same house or palace (as they call it) in which I was entertained, that Ivan Savorsinski was slain by Michael Linski. Here also I left the Russian ambassador, whom the king had forbidden to go to Vilna.

Prelai, two miles.

Wolronick, five miles.

Rudniki, four miles.

Vilna, also four miles.

Before arriving at Vilna, some persons of distinction were sent out in readiness to meet me, and to give me an honourable reception m the name of the king, and who escorted me to my hotel in a sledge, or wide carriage, spread with cushions, and with furniture of silk and gold, accompanied on each side by the servants of the king. Then came Peter Tomitzki, who was then Bishop of Premisl, and vice-chancellor of the King of Poland, a man whose distinguished virtue and integrity were acknowledged by all, and who received me most kindly in the name of the king. Shortly afterwards he conducted me, under escort of a great number of courtiers, to the presence of the king himself, who received me most kindly in the presence of a great number of the chief men and nobles of the grand duchy of Lithuania.

At that time, the marriage which the emperor had promoted through my medium as ambassador, between the king