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Article THE LIFE OF PRINCE POTEMKIN. ← Page 6 of 8 →
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The Life Of Prince Potemkin.
A singular coincidence cf events gave birth to this man , at a period suited to his character : and brought together and united all the circumstances , which agreed with the features of his mind . ' In his character defects and advantages met in complete opposition . He was avaricious , yet fond of parade ; despotic , but notwithstanding popular ; inflexibleyet beneficent ; haughtyyet obliingpolitic
, , g ; , still confiding ; licentious , yet of a superstitious cast ; bold and timid ; ambitious , but indiscreet ; generous to prodigality among his relations , mistresses , and favourites ; yet frequently careless in paying both his household and his creditors . His consequence always depended
on a woman , and to her he was always faithless . Nothing could equal the activity of his mind , or the indolence of his body . No dangers appalled his courage ; no difficulties induced him to renounce : his projects ; but the success ever disgusted him with the enterprizes lie undertook . ' He wearied the empire by the number of his posts and the extent of iiis power . He was himself borne down with the weight of his
existence ; envious of all that he did not execute , and sick of all that he did . He had no relish for tranquillity , and no enjoyment of his occupations . Every thing with him was irregular ; business , pleasure , temper , deportment . In every company his air was embarrassed , ' and his presence was a restraint on every person . All that stood in awe of him he treated with austerity ; such as accosted him with
familiarity he caressed . ' He was ever promising , but seldom kept his word ; yet never forgot any thing . None had read less than he ; few people were better informed . Pie had conversed with skilful men in ail professions , in all sciences , in every art . No one knew better how lo draw forth and appropiate to himself the knowled ge of others , in a single conversation he would have astonished
a scholar , an artist , an artificer a divine . His acquirements were not profound , but they were very extensive . lie never dived to the bottom of any , but he spoke well on , all subjects . ' The capriciousness of his unequal temper gave an inconceivable oddity to his desireshis conductand his manner of lifeOne while
, , . he formed the project of becoming Duke of Conr / and ; at another he thought ofbestowingo . n himself the crown of Poland . He frequently expressed an intimation of making himself a bishop , or even a simple monk . He built a superb palace , and wanteu to sell it before it was
nnisned . One day he would dream of nothing but war ; surrounded only by officers , Tartars , andKosacs ; the next d . i \ his mind was soiel yoccupied with politics ; he would partition the ' Ottoman empire , and agitate all the Cabinets of Europe . At other times , with his thoughts involved on the Court , dressed in a magnificent suit , covered with ribbons presented him b potentatedisptuwng diamonds
y every , of an extraordinary magnitude and a sinking brilliancy , he was giving superb entertainments without any .-Leaning . ' He was sometimes seen for a month " together " and in the face of all the city , to pass whole evenings at the apartments of a young ; female , seemingly negligent of all business and . ail decorum . Some-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Life Of Prince Potemkin.
A singular coincidence cf events gave birth to this man , at a period suited to his character : and brought together and united all the circumstances , which agreed with the features of his mind . ' In his character defects and advantages met in complete opposition . He was avaricious , yet fond of parade ; despotic , but notwithstanding popular ; inflexibleyet beneficent ; haughtyyet obliingpolitic
, , g ; , still confiding ; licentious , yet of a superstitious cast ; bold and timid ; ambitious , but indiscreet ; generous to prodigality among his relations , mistresses , and favourites ; yet frequently careless in paying both his household and his creditors . His consequence always depended
on a woman , and to her he was always faithless . Nothing could equal the activity of his mind , or the indolence of his body . No dangers appalled his courage ; no difficulties induced him to renounce : his projects ; but the success ever disgusted him with the enterprizes lie undertook . ' He wearied the empire by the number of his posts and the extent of iiis power . He was himself borne down with the weight of his
existence ; envious of all that he did not execute , and sick of all that he did . He had no relish for tranquillity , and no enjoyment of his occupations . Every thing with him was irregular ; business , pleasure , temper , deportment . In every company his air was embarrassed , ' and his presence was a restraint on every person . All that stood in awe of him he treated with austerity ; such as accosted him with
familiarity he caressed . ' He was ever promising , but seldom kept his word ; yet never forgot any thing . None had read less than he ; few people were better informed . Pie had conversed with skilful men in ail professions , in all sciences , in every art . No one knew better how lo draw forth and appropiate to himself the knowled ge of others , in a single conversation he would have astonished
a scholar , an artist , an artificer a divine . His acquirements were not profound , but they were very extensive . lie never dived to the bottom of any , but he spoke well on , all subjects . ' The capriciousness of his unequal temper gave an inconceivable oddity to his desireshis conductand his manner of lifeOne while
, , . he formed the project of becoming Duke of Conr / and ; at another he thought ofbestowingo . n himself the crown of Poland . He frequently expressed an intimation of making himself a bishop , or even a simple monk . He built a superb palace , and wanteu to sell it before it was
nnisned . One day he would dream of nothing but war ; surrounded only by officers , Tartars , andKosacs ; the next d . i \ his mind was soiel yoccupied with politics ; he would partition the ' Ottoman empire , and agitate all the Cabinets of Europe . At other times , with his thoughts involved on the Court , dressed in a magnificent suit , covered with ribbons presented him b potentatedisptuwng diamonds
y every , of an extraordinary magnitude and a sinking brilliancy , he was giving superb entertainments without any .-Leaning . ' He was sometimes seen for a month " together " and in the face of all the city , to pass whole evenings at the apartments of a young ; female , seemingly negligent of all business and . ail decorum . Some-