Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1840 edition. Excerpt: ...her, and when she was so enchanted by the peculiar charm of her conversation and manner as to make that evening the great hinge on which the events of her own future life turned. The grand duchess dropped the fan at the moment of rising to go home, and the princess took it up and presented it to her. The grand duchess, embracing her, begged the princess to keep it as a souvenir of the first evening they had passed together, and which she hoped would prove the beginning of a friendship which would only end with their lives. The impression made on the princess was so deep that she valued this first little gift more than any she received afterwards from the empress, however magnificent; and she had intended to have it buried in her grave. She told me this, and added, with a sort of triumphant affection so peculiar and characteristic, "Now, you must understand, and I will make you to feel what is my love for you--I give you dat which I did intend to bury in my own tomb I" I used occasionally to note down little anecdotes or traits of the princess's mind or character, which appeared in her sometimes very delightful conversation; and on no occasion was it more interesting than when religion became the subject. She was a conscientious observer, both for herself and all the members of her family, of the respect due to the stated forms of the established faith of her country; and although in the free intercourse of private friendship one might easily discover that many of the numerous ceremonies of the Greek church appeared to her as being less of Divine than human origin; and as most of its guardian ministers, uneducated and taken from the lowest classes, were ill qualified to adorn its doctrines; yet I have seen her shed tears during her acts of...
