| Citation |
NHG-P.774.008
4 Feb 1774:21, 22 (902)
Petersburgh, Oct. 12. On Sunday last, the day appointed for
the celebration of the nuptials of their Imperial Highnesses
the four first classes of the nobility assembled in the
Casan Church, and the streets were lined by the guards, and
some regiments of foot; and about noon, upon a signal being
given, the procession set out from the Winter-Palace in the
following order, viz.
A troop of Horse-Guards--an equerry--the Master of the
Ceremonies, in a coach and six--the Second Master of the
Horse with two attendants--the Principal Gentlemen late of
the Great Duke's houshold, and two coaches and six--the
Veneur and the Master, of the houshold, great Cup-Bearer,
and the Members of the Privy-Council, in five coaches and
six--his Excellency Privy Counsellor Betskoy--their Serene
Highness, the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt, and the Two Princes
of Holsten Gottorp--Kettle drums, and trumpets--sixteen
Sergeants of the Guards on horseback--the Marshall of the
court--the Grand Marshal of the Court--the Quarter-Master of
the Court on horseback with eight running footmen, twelve
Court Laquais, [sic] & twenty-four footmen--. . . [32 lines
describing the procession and wedding ceremony]
After the ceremony a sermon was preached by the
Archbishop, and the conclusion of the whole was announced by
a running fire of the Musquetry, when the procession
returned in the same order in which they came. The weather
was remarkably fine, which added much to the splendid
appearance of the equipages and dresses, the magnificence of
which nothing could exceed.
On the Empress's return to the palace, her Imperial
Majesty received compliments of congratulation from the
nobility and foreign ministers, and afterwards dined in
public on the throne with their Imperial Highnesses, the
Landgravine, the Princesses, the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt,
& the two Princes of Holstein. Tables were spread in the
adjoining apartments for the four first classes of the
nobility. A ball in the evening concluded the first day's
festivity.
The next morning their Imperial Highnesses had compliments
of the nobility and foreign ministers, and in the evening
there was a ball and supper at court. . . . [1 line, 10
lines of description]
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