Rambles about Portsmouth. Sketches of persons, localities, and incidents of two centuries: principally from tradition and unpublished documents. By Charles W. Brewster.

THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA. 293
Nearly seventy years since, Capt. Charles Coffin, in connection with Thomas Sheafe, was engaged in the Russian
trade. In one of his voyages he took a black man as a
steward. Soon after the vessel was in port, there was a
grand military display of troops to be reviewed by the
Emperor. The steward requested permission to go on
shore to witness the pageant. He was not aware that a
black man had rarely been seen in Russia, and was surprised
to find that himself and the Emperor became the observed
of all observers. Nor did the Emperor himself overlook
him. The next day a messenger was sent to Capt. C. by
order of the Emperor, asking if the services of the black
man could be obtained for the Royal household. Capt.
Coffin offered to dispense with the steward's services if he
could better his condition, and the black man in due time
became a Royal butler, and being faithful, was distinguished
in his position. A few years after, our informant says, he
saw him in the streets of Portsmouth, with gold-laced dress,
silk stockings, etc., returned to take to Russia his ebony
wife and their dark diamonds, to sparkle in the outer court
of the Autocrat.
The trade to Russia, Sweden, South America, Liverpool,
&c. was then good: iron, hemp, and duck were imported
from Russia and Sweden, as none of these goods were then
of American production; and hides and tallow from Montevideo and Buenos Ayres. The trade to Liverpool and
Bristol was considerable. M Aessrs. Abel & Robert Harris
then owned a ship called the Bristol-Packet, which run
regularly to Bristol with cargoes of flax-seed, pot and pearl
ashes, and some lumber. These men have now all passed
away from us, as well as the trade they prosecuted. Some
of them have left large estates, which we daily see in the
substantial brick buildings and stores built by them.