The  Emperor  stopped  his  carriage,  got  out,  and  courteously
inquired  of  them  if  they  belonged  to  the  people  commonly
called  Quakers.  On  receiving  a  reply  in  the  affirmative  he
next  asked  leave  for  himself  and  sister  to  enter  the  house,
which  of  course  was  granted.  They  stayed  some  time,  look-
ing over  it,  taking  refreshment,  and  telling  their  host  and
hostess,  to  whom  it  was  news,  of  their  attending  a  meeting,
and  their  interviews  with  members  of  the  Society,  in  London.
Here  his  favourable  opinion  of  Friends  was  confirmed — ^the
farm  and  the  house  were  well  cared  for  and  orderly ;  and  he
did  not  forget  his  impressions  when  the  time  came  for  making
use  of  them.
Three  years  afterwards,  when,  having  a  little  leisure  for
attending  to  the  affairs  most  pleasing  to  him,  he  decided  on
draining  and  cultivating  the  marsh  lands  round  St.  Petersburg,
he  remembered  his  visit  to  England  and  his  favourable  ideas
of  English  agriculture,  and  he  directed  that  enquiry  should
be  made  for  an  Englishman  to  come  out  and  superintend  the
work,  particularly  requesting  that  he  should  be  a  member
of  the  Society  of  Friends.
