Besankovitch, the Residence of Count Creptovitch, remarkablefor the Characters of its present Owners, and for having been the Head-Quarters of Buonaparte, in his Route to Mbscotu Accidental Detention on the Road Description of a Russian Kabac Meeting icith the Count Romanzojf- MogMoff.
BESANKOVITCH is the residence of Count Creptovitch, a Polish nobleman. Mr. Y. having heard from Count Platoff, that this gentleman had been long in England, and was much attached to the English, and that he was anxiously pursuing an improved system ofagriculture on his estate, he (Mr. Y.) resolved to visit him in passing ; and at the station before he reached Besankovitch, he sent over a servant with a letter to the Count, who returned a very handsome answer written in English, inviting the party to go there, for which purpose he sent us horses the following morning.
From Dubovinka to Besankovitch is twentyone versts. We set off late in the morning, and the road being very bad, it was getting dusk when we came within sight of the Count's residence. Here we again crossed the Dvina ; the descent to it is extremely bad, the road lying below a rock on one side, the other having a perpendicular precipice overhanging the river, and being so very narrow, that our carriage, which was somewhat wider than the rest, was in great danger ofbeing precipitateddown its rocky side ; but having eight or ten men to assist in getting it safe down, they recovered its balance, andwe reached the opposite shore in safety. Here another delay was occasioned by one of the carriages getting set fast, and the ice not being strong enough to bear well, the horses could not draw it out. After much difficulty it was extricated, and at length we reached the chateau of the Count, where we were most kindly and hospitably received by the Count and Countess Creptovitch. The Count appears about thirty, the Countess twenty-four : they have three very fine children. The Countess is one of the most prepossessing* women I have ever seen ; her first appearance bespeaks her a welleducated and polished woman ; and the elegance and softness ofher manners, and the kindness of her disposition, powerfully attach to her all who know her. As a wife and mother, she is very exemplary, devoting herself todomestic pursuits; to the instruction ofher children, and to the comfort of all around her. This was the character given ofher by those who knew her. In her person she is above the middle size, and elegantly formed, with a fine expressive face, light hair and eyes. The Count is well deserving his excellent wife, and they seem to live most happily together, blending the polished acquirements of life with the calm pleasures of retirement. He is very much attached to English habits and manners, and as much as possible introduces them in his house and at his table. They both speak English with the greatest correctness, and having accustomed themselves to use that language to their children, the latter speak it also, andunderstand it, as if itweretheirnativetongue. They are well supplied with English books from Petersburgh ; the Countess herself gives their English lessons, and has a servant brought up in an English familyat Petersburgh to attend them.
The children are also taught Russian, French, and German.
The Count devotes himself much to the improvement and cultivation of his estate, which, under his discriminating care, will doubtless amply repay him. He has a very large distillery, and the gentlemen saw there the process of kilnr drying the corn, previous to threshing it. The house is a very excellent one of two stories, and most admirably heated ; so that with the same degree ofcold wehad at Polotsk, (and foroneday indeed more severe), we felt no inconvenience from it, but satwith the doors open, which communicated with two or three of the adjoining rooms. Several of the apartments had 'English grates in them.
Besankovitch was the head-quarters ofBuonaparte for some days, in his route through this country, and from hence one of his bulletins was dated. The Countess and her family fled from the scene, taking away as many of the valuable paintings, &c. as there was time to remove.