MEMOIRS OF COUNT BORUWLASKI
Introduction:
The Last Court Dwarf
by Armand Leroi
Frontispiece
Portrait of Josef Boruwlaski
DEDICATION.
TO HIS MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, GEORGE THE FOURTH, KING OF
THE
CHARACTER of COUNT BORUWLASKI
BY THE LATE W. BURDON, ESQ. OF
CHAP. I.
Apology -- Birth; Some account of my family -- Visit to the Starostin de Caorlix; cause of my leaving that noble lady, and my
residence with the Countess Humiecka
-- Visit to the Pacha of Hochim -- Arrival at Vienna;
introduction to the Queen of Hungary -- Journey to Munich and Luneville; introduction to Stanislaus, King of Poland --
Visit to the Queen of France at Versailles -- Arrival at
CHAP. II
Departure from Paris for Holland; description of that country.-- Arrival at
the Hague; polite attention of the Stadtholder
-- Journey through Germany to Poland; arrival at Warsaw, and reception there --
Gracious offer of King Stanislaus
II. to bestow an estate upon me -- My affection for Isalina; consequent displeasure of the Countess Humiecka, who dismisses me --
Kindness of Prince Cassimir
-- The King grants me a pension -- My marriage with Isalina -- Pecuniary difficulties oblige me to leave
Warsaw -- Return to Vienna -- Journey through Hungary and part of Turkey.
CHAP. III
Description of the city of Astrachan
-- Journey through Oremburg
and Simbirsk to Kazan –
Description of Kazan; kindness of the Governor and his lady -- Journey to
Lapland and Finland -- Arrival at and description of Archangel -- Voyage to
Nova Zembla; savage state
of the natives -- Journey to Berezowa;
hospitality of its inhabitants -- Arrival at Tobolsk in Siberia, and reception there; generous
behaviour of the Governor.
CHAP. IV.
Departure from Tobolsk
-- Journey to Kamschatka;
arrival at Bolcheretskoi
the capital -- Description of the Volcanoes -- Journey to Behring's Straits;
view of the Frozen Ocean -- Desolate state of the country, and miserable
existence of the natives -- Arrival at Olensk;
improved appearance of the country -- Visit to the city of Catherineburg; politeness and liberality of the Director
of the Siberian mines -- Description of the country around -- Remarkable
incidents.
CHAP. V.
Arrival at the city of Oufa;
description of antique remains in the neighbourhood of that place -- Second
visit to Oremburg -- Digression;
introduction to Voltaire -- reflections -- Visit to Bokhara -- Arrival at Kislaer, the metropolis of the Circassian Tartars; account of a
hot spring there -- Journey through Croatia, Dalmatia, and lower Arabia, to Kamienice, and thence to Buda -- Visit
to Lentz and Munich; introduction to the Elector; interview with the Prince de
la Tour and Taxis, also with the Prince de Wallerstein -- Arrival at Triersdorf; kind attentions of the Margrave and Margravine of Anspach.
CHAP. VI.
Departure for England by Frankfort, Mayence,
Manheim, and Strasburgh --
Introduction to the Princess Christian, aunt to Louis XVIII.-- Arrival at
Ostend -- Storm at sea -- Landing at Margate, and visit of Custom House
Officers -- Tale of a Tub -- Waiter's blunders -- Opinion of a stage coach --
Departure from Margate, and arrival in London.
CHAP. VII.
Descriptive account of medicinal springs and salt mines of Poland -- Wild
men of the woods unknown in that country -- Laughable mistake occasioned by the
ringing of bells -- Introduction to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire;
afterwards to the Prince of Wales -- Visit from the Duke of Gloucester --
Admitted to the presence of the King and Queen -- Attacked by dangerous illness
-- Curious dream -- Visit to Bath, Bristol, and Chester; duped by an impostor
in the latter city -- Arrival in Dublin; invitation from the Lord Lieutenant --
Return to England -- Concert at Leeds -- Visit to Oxford.
CHAP. VIII.
Visit to Blenheim; polite reception from the Duke and .
Duchess of Marlborough -- Count Oginski
patronizes a concert -- Interview with his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales
-- Introduction to the Prince de Mecklenburgh
-- Arrival at Norwich, and concert there -- Invitation to Braken, and kindness of Mrs. Brown -- Treacherous
conduct of a Frenchman -- Description of Cambridge -- Arrival at Bury St.
Edmunds; kindness of the family of Metcalfe -- Journey through York to
Edinburgh -- Eulogium on Scotland -- Departure through England for France --
Arrival at Boulogne and Paris; departure thence to Cherburg and Guernsey. Description
of the island and its inhabitants.
CHAP. IX.
Return to England -- Visit to Hereford and Warwick -- Digression -- Singular
demand at Coventry -- Birmingham -- Imposition of an innkeeper -- Visit to Mr. Boulton's manufactory at Soho --
Eulogy on Freemasonry -- Arrival at Derby; inundation there -- Voyage from
Liverpool to Dublin -- Noble conduct of the captain of the packet -- Serious
reflections -- Melancholy history of a black cat -- Visit to Cork; successful
concert there -- The butcher's lady and the marrow bone -- Excursion to Kinsale; productive and brilliant
concert -- Voyage to Cork, and turbulence of the sea -- Impression made
upon me by a lady's nose.
CHAP. X.
Visit to the lake of Killarney -- Kind reception at Limerick -- Friendly
conduct of the Quakers at Clonmell
-- Methodist Preacher deserted by his flock -- Journey to Tuam and Galway; lucrative benefits at these places
-- Successful expedient to settle a dispute with a landlord, or "A new way
to pay old debts" -- Journey to Sligo -- Doctrine of Rousseau -- Sudden
transition from the meanest to the most comfortable and splendid
accommodations; and kind liberality of an amiable family.
CHAP. XI.
Return to Sligo; relieved from the annoyance of vulgar curiosity by the
opportune frolic of a run-away pig -- Loss and recovery of Miss Janson's ass, the advertising of
which aided my concert -- Arrival at Londonderry, and description of that city;
Count de Tantene and his
book -- Visit to Belfast; kindness of Generals Drummond and Seddon -- Arrival at Portarlington; advantages of equanimity and
cheerfulness of disposition -- Black powder and fasting a sovereign remedy for
lowness of spirits and loss of appetite, exemplified in the case of a lady --
Arrival at Armagh; introduction to General and Mrs Nugent; lucrative benefit.
CHAP. XII.
Visit to Kilkenny -- Invitation to dine with Lord Ormond, who kindly
patronizes a concert; an unexpected discovery or "agreeable
surprise"-- Introduction to Colonel Chapman and other military officers --
Disappointment in consequence of the arrival of a French fleet, and the landing
of General Hoche at Bantry Bay -- Arrival at Longford
-- Journey to Drogheda -- Advance and surrender of General Humbert -- Passage from Ireland
to the Isle of Man -- Hospitable reception at Douglas -- A strange dinner
party, and whimsical duel.
CHAP.XIII.
A more respectable dinner party than that described in the last Chapter --
Cautions and advice respecting our conduct, and those we choose for companions
-- The towns of Douglas and Whitehaven contrasted -- Journey from the latter
place to Newcastle upon Tyne; kind reception and lucrative concert there --
Arrival in Durham; description of its romantic situation and charming scenery --
Humanity and active benevolence of the Clergy -- Character of Dr. Barrington,
the present Bishop -- Introduction to Mr. Smelt, and visit to that gentleman --
Proceeds to Hull -- Series of distressing events -- Quits Hull for London,
intending to proceed to America; is prevailed upon to remain in England;
receives great kindness from the Archbishop of Dublin, the Misses Metcalfe,
Lady Hawarden, and Mr Burdon Hartford.
