a gypsy of transcendent beauty, which may account
for his somewhat Moorish complexion, though, after
all,
that is not of a deeper tinge than I have
seen among many an Englishman. He is himself
one of the noblest looking of God’s creatures.
Both father and mother, however, are now dead.
Since then he has become the favorite of his uncle,
who detained him in England after the emperor had
departed—and, as this uncle is now in the
last stage of infirmity, Mr. Wyndham’s succession
to the vast family estates is inevitable, and probably
near at hand. Meantime, he is anxious for some
assistance in his studies. Intellectually he
stands in the very first rank of men, as I am sure
you will not be slow to discover; but his long military
service, and the unparalleled tumult of our European
history since 1805, have interfered (as you may suppose)
with the cultivation of his mind; for he entered the
cavalry service of a German power when a mere boy,
and shifted about from service to service as the hurricane
of war blew from this point or from that. During
the French anabasis to Moscow he entered our service,
made himself a prodigious favorite with the whole
imperial family, and even now is only in his twenty-second
year. As to his accomplishments, they will speak
for themselves; they are infinite, and applicable to
every situation of life. Greek is what he wants
from you;—never ask about terms.
He will acknowledge any trouble he may give you, as
he acknowledges all trouble, en prince. And ten
years hence you will look back with pride upon having
contributed your part to the formation of one whom
all here at St. Petersburg, not soldiers only, but
we diplomates, look upon as certain to prove a great
man, and a leader among the intellects of Christendom.”
Two or three other letters followed; and at length
it was arranged that Mr. Maximilian Wyndham should
take up his residence at my monastic abode for one
year. He was to keep a table, and an establishment
of servants, at his own cost; was to have an apartment
of some dozen or so of rooms; the unrestricted use
of the library; with some other public privileges
willingly conceded by the magistracy of the town;
in return for all which he was to pay me a thousand
guineas; and already beforehand, by way of acknowledgment
for the public civilities of the town, he sent, through
my hands, a contribution of three hundred guineas to
the various local institutions for education of the
poor, or for charity.
The Russian secretary had latterly corresponded with
me from a little German town, not more than ninety
miles distant; and, as he had special couriers at
his service, the negotiations advanced so rapidly
that all was closed before the end of September.
And, when once that consummation was attained, I,
that previously had breathed no syllable of what was
stirring, now gave loose to the interesting tidings,
and suffered them to spread through the whole compass
of the town. It will be easily imagined that