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TRAVELS

INTO

POLAND, RUSSIA, SWEDEN,

AND

DENMARK.

INTERSPERSED WITH HISTORICAL RELATIONS
AND POLITICAL INQUIRIES.

ILLUSTRATED V/ITH CHARTS AND ENGRAVINGS.

By WILLIAM C O X E, A.M. F.R.S.

PELLOW OF king's COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE; AND CHAPLAIN TO
HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOLUME THE FIRST.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY J. NICHOLS,
FORT, CADELL, IN THE STRAND,

M DCC LXXXIV.

T O T H E

C 'te

V. I

Right Honourable Lord HERBERT.

MY LORD,-

AS the advantages which I enjoyed from accompanying
your Lordlliip upon your travels enabled me to col-
le6t the materials for the following work, it cannot be in-
fcribed to any other perfon with fo much propriety as to
your Lordfliip. You, I flatter myfelf, will recolledl with
pleafure the refult of thofe inquiries to which you were
particularly attentive ; and I am happy in this publick op-
portunity of exprefling the grateful fenfe which I enter-
tain of being honoured with your Lordfhip's friendQiip ;
and of declaring the fmcere regard and attachment with
which I am,

My Lord,

Your Lordihip's mofl faithful

And obedient fervant,.

WILLIAM COXE,.

King's College, Cambridge^
April 2, 1784.

[ y ]

RE F A C E.

TH E following pages contain the refult of that intelligence
which I collected, and thofe obfervations which occurred,
during my travels through the Northern kingdoms of Europe ; and
it is neceffary to apprize the reader upon what foundation the
principal facts are fupported.

In regard to Poland, I was honoured with information from per-
fons of the higheft rank and authority ; and fortunately obtained
poffeffion of fome original letters written from Warfiw, before and
during the Partition, which liave enabled me to throw a confiderable
light over that interefting period. I prefume, therefore, that the
account of Poland comprehends many particulars which have not
been hitherto prefented to the publick.

With refpeft to Ruffia, as the Emprefs herfelf deigned to anfwer
fome queries relative to the flate of the publick prifons*; this
gracious condefcenfion In fo great a fovereign could not but facili-
tate mv further inquiries.

To this I muft add, that the late celebrated hiftoriajitj Mr. Muller^
favoured me with various communications on fome of the mofl im-
portant and intricate parts of the Ruffian annals, and pointed out
to me the moft approved writers on this empire.

The nature of the Swedifh government rendered the fources of
information cafy of accefs ; and, fmce my return to England, feverai

* See Vol. II. p. 84, the order of St. Vladimir, has, in refpeft

t Mr. MuUcr died in the latter end of to his memory, coni'errtd a penfion on his

ijSj. The Emprefs, who, in confideralion v;idow, and ennobled his fon.

of his great merit, had honoured him u ith

c Swedifli

[ vl ]

Swcdifti gentlemen, well verfed In the conftitution of their country,
have fuppHed nnuch additional intelligence.

As the materials which I acquired in Denmark were lefs extenfive
than thofe colleded in the other parts, the account of that kingdom
is confined to thofe circuraftances which I was able to afcertain, it
having been my invariable refolution never to adopt uncertain ac-
counts, but to adhere folely to thofe fafts which appeared to me
to be derived from the moft unqueftionable authorities.

In the hiftorical relations I have had recourfe to many Englirti
and foreign authors, and particularly feveral German writers of un*
impeached veracity, who were refident for a confiderable time in
fome of the Northern kingdoms, and from whom I have drawn
many anecdotes not known to the Englifli reader.

Throughout this work I have fcrupuloufly cited the authors
whom I have confulted, and have fubjoined in the Appendix to the
firft volume a lift of the principal books employed on this occafion,
with an explanation of the references by which they are diftiu-
guiftied.

I cannot clofe this preface without exprefling my obligations to
Mr. Wraxall, Mr. Pennant, and Dr. Pulteney, for their refpedive
afliftance, acknowledged in the courfe of the work. Colonel Floyd
alfo claims my fincereft thanks for communicating his accurate
Journal of our Tour, to whofe obfervations and defcriptions, befide
the extra£ls in the following pages, I gratefully confefs myfelf in-
debted for many interefting particulars.

LIST

C vii ]

O F

SUBSCRIBERS.

THE KING.

STANISLAUS AUGUSTUS King of POLAND.
His Serenity PAULO RENIER Doge of VENICE.

Earl of Aylefbury

Bilhop of St. Afaph

Right Hon. Lady Amherft

Captain Affleck

Mrs. Allanfon,Studley Park, Yorkfhire

Mifs Afhby

Edmund Antrobus, Efq;

Mr. Auguftin, Counfellor of State to

the King of Denmark
William Adair, Efqi A. M. Lin-

coln's-lnn
George Atwood, Efqj A. M.

Duke of Bedford

Dutchefs of Buccleugh

Marquefs of Blandford

Earl of Briftol

Earl of Bute, K. G.

Countefs Bathurft

Lady Frances Burgoyne

Montagu Burgoyne, Efq;

Mrs. M. Burgoyne

Hon. William Henry Bouverie M. P.

Hon. Edward Bouverie

Hon. Bartholemew Bouverie

Sir Peter Burrell, M. P.

Stephen Beckingham, Efq;

Rev. William Barford, Prebendary of
Canterbury

Rev. Thomas Balguy, D. D. Preben-
dary of Winchefter

Alexander Bayley, Efq;

William Bell, Efq;

John Berens, Efq;

Jofeph Berens, Efq;

Jacob Bryant, Efq; 5 copies

Launcelot Brown, Efq; M. P.

Stamp Brookfbank, Efq;

Biddle, M. D. Senior Fellow of

King's College, Cambridge

Edward Barnard, El'q; Fellow Com-
moner of St. John's Col. Cambridge

John Barnard, Efq;

Bentinck, Efq; Fellov/ Com-
moner of Queen's Coll, Cambridge

Rev. Henry Bathurft, LL.D. Canon
of Chrift Church College, Oxford

Rev. Broad, D. D. of South-
wick, Northamptonfhire

John Thomas Batt, Efq;

c z

Benet

VIU

SUBSCRIBERS.

Bcnet Colli ge, Cambridge

Rev. Frederick Browning, A.M. late

fellow of King's College, Cambr.
Thomas Blachford, Efq;
TVIr. Brownell, St. James Street
Rev. Francis Barnes, M. A. Fellow of
' King's College, Cambridge
Bull's Circulating Library, Bath, 2
copies

The ArchbilTiop of Canterbury
Blarquis of Carmarthen, Secretary of

State for the Foreign Deparment
Earl of Chatham
Lord John Cavendifh
Lord Frederick CavendiHi
Lord George Cavendifh
Bp. of Carlide, (Dr. Edmund Law)
His Excellency Mr. de Claeffow of

Copenhagen
Sir John CuUum, Eart.
John Crawford, EfqjM. P.
Jofeph Cradock, Elq;
John Crooke, Efq;
Rev. William Cooke, A.M. Fellow of

King's College, and Greek ProfelTor

in the Univerfity of Cambridge
Rev. William Cooke, D.D. Dean of

Ely, and Provoft of King's College,

Cambridge
Edward Coxe, Efq;
Mr. Peter Coxe
Rev. George Coxe, A. B.
I\Jrs. Cc-;ce
Mifs Coxe

r.khard Trench Chifwell, Efq-,
Fienry Crokatt, Klq;
George Curling, liic;
Edward Chamberlayr.e, Efq;
RfV. William Col man, Mailer of

Benet College, Cambridge
p-ev. William Cole, A.M. late Fellow

of King'b CuUege, Cambridge
Mr. Clay, A. B. St. John's College,

Cambridge
Chcilcr Publick Library

Rev. Thomas Chamberlayne, A. M.
Fellow of Eton College

D.
Duke of Devonfliire, K. G.
Duchefs of Devonl'hire
Duke of Dorfet, Embaffador to France
Earl of Derby
Lord Dacre

Right Hon. Lady Dacre
Sir William Draper, K. B.
Rev. Thomas Dampier. D. D. Dean

of Rochefter
Rev. Johrt Douglas, D. D. F. R. S.

F. S. A. Canon Refidentiary of St»

Paul's
Rev. John Difney, D. D.
Edward Darell, Elqv
Robert Darell, Efq-,
l\Irs. D'Aranda, Putnev, 2 copies
Mrs. H. E. D'Arar.da, Putney
Francis Douce, Ffq;-
Rev. Philip Duval, D.D. of Windfor
Rev. Dive Downes, D. D.
Rev. Mr. Davidfon, Fellow of King's.

Collep;e, Cambridoie
Mr. B. Diemar, Cambridsre
The Dean and Chapter of Durham .

Earl of Egrcmor^t

Bifhop of Elv, (Hon. Dr. James.

Yorke, D. D.)
Eton College

Earl Fitzwilliam
Vifcount Fitzwilliam
Lord Foley
Vifcountefs Folkeftone
Right Hon. Charles James Fox
Right Hon. Richard Fiizpatrick-
\r\ illiam Fawl'.ner,. If-lq;
James Fiiher, Elq;

Rev. John FiQler, A. M. Preceptor to
Prince Edward

Brigg

SUBSCRIBER S.

Briajg Fountain, Efq; Narford, Nor-
folk

Rev. William Forftcr, A.M. Fellow
of King's College, Cainbridgc, and
Chaplain to the Prince of V/ales

The. Forreft, Eiqi

Duke of Grafton, K. G. Chancellor
of the Univerlity of Cambridge

Giralomo Afcanio Giuiliniani, Knight
of the Golden .Fleece of Venice

Earl of Glandore

Hon. Thoulas Greuville

Right Hon. William Wyndhaai
Grenville, M. P.

Sir Henry- Gough, Bart. M. P,

Edward Gibbon, Efq; M. P.

Robert Glynn; M.D. Senior Fellow
of King's Colk-ge, Cambridge, and
Fellow of the College of Phyficians

Richard Gough, -Rfq; F. R . and A. SS.

llcy. Dr. Gooch, Prebendary of Ely

Colonel Goldiworhy

Thomas Gataker, Efq;

Vicary Gibbs, Efq; A. M. Fellow of
King's College, Cambridge

■ Greenwood, Efq; Fellow Com-
moner of Trinity College, Cam-
bridge :

Rev. Mr. Goo eh

(jeorge Gur.ning, Efq;

Fraiicis Grc^.'g, Efq;-.

Rev. EdA'ard Gregory, A; M. Redtor
of Langar, Nottmghamlhire

Daniel Gregory, Efq;

Rev. Mr.Gdbanke, A. M. Fellow of
Trinicy College

Mr. Gocdall, ArS.- Fellow of Ki.ng's
College, Cambridge

Henry William Guyon, Efq;;

Earl of HarJwicke, F.R.S. High
Steward of the Univeifity of Cam-
bridge

Vifcount Howe

Lord Herbert

Sir Carnaby Haggerftone, Bart.

Lady Harris-

Henry Hoare, Efq;

Colt Hoare, Efq;

William Heberden, ^f.D.

James Hare, Efq; M. P.

John Howard, Efq;

Rev. Edward Flawtrey, A. M.

Rev. Benjamin Heath, D. D. Mafler
of Harrow School

John Hey wood, Efq;

Rev. Samuel Highmore, A.M. Fel-
low of King's College, Cambridge-
Mrs. Holroyd, Bath-
Rev. Thomas Hayter, A.M. Fellow-
of King's College, Cambridge

Buficlc Harwood, El'q;

George Herring, Efq;

Robert Heron, Efq; PellowCommoner '
of St. John's College, Cambridg^e^

Peter Hammond, Efq;

J-
Hon. John St. John

Sir William Jones, one of the Judges

at his Majcity's Supreme Court of '

Judicature at Fort William in Ren--

Sir Willi.Tm Jerningham, Bart.
Rev. Jolin Jeffries, 1). I). Canon Re-

fidentiary cf St. Paul's
Rev. Henry Ingles, , A.M. Late Fel-
low of King's College,- Cambridge, ,
2 copies

Johnfon, Efqi Stamford.

Honghton J.imes, Elq; ,
Jofcph Patrich, Efqt

Ja'rrit, FAq; F'ellow Commoner ■

of Sr. lohn's College, Cambridge
Revv "i iibmas James, A.M. Head-^

Ma!tcr of Rugby School
St. Joim's College, Cambridge
Mfb. J. Johnfon, liath
J.fus College, Caaibiidge

Edward

SUBSCRIBERS.

Edward Ind, Efq; Cambridge

Sir Charles Kent, Bart. M. P.
Mils Keene
Benjamin Keene, Efq;
King's College, Cambridge

Lord George Lenox,

BiOiop of Landaff, (Dr. R. Watfon),
F. R. S. Regius Profeflbr of Divi-
nity in theUniverfity of Cambridge

Lord Lucan

Sir John Fleming Leicefter, Bart.

Mrs. Lawrence, of Kirby Fleetham,
Yorkfhire

William Lawrence, Jun. Efq;

Rev. Mr. Lowth, A.M. F. R. S. Pre-
bendary of Winchefter

Wilfred Lavvfon, Efq; Fellow Com-
moner of St. John's Col. Cambridge

Ewan Law, Efq;

Edward Law, Efq; A. M.

Simon Le Bbnc, Efq-, LL. B.

Dudley Long, Efq; M. P.

Thomas Lewis, Efq;

William Lee Antonie, Efq; Fellow
Commoner of Jefus College, Cam-
bridge

Hugh Leycefter, Efq; LL. D. Fellow
of King's College, Cambridge

John Lavie, Efq;

Duke of Marlborough, K. G.

Dutchefs of Marlborough

His Excellency Count Molke, Co-
penhagen

Right Hon. Frederick Montagu

Hon. Mrs. Marfham

Hon. Charles Marfliam, M. P.

Hon. Charles Monfon

William Melmoth, Efq;

James Mansfield, Elq; A.M. M. P.
.Sfnior I'ellow of King'i College,
Cambridge, and King's Counfel
4

Mrs. Montagu

Montagu, Efq;

G. M. Macaulay, Efq;

John Monro, M. D.

Arnold Mills, Efq; 2 copies

John Mortlock, Efq; Cambridge, M. P.

Rev. Mr. Martin, A. M. Profeflbr of

Botany in the Univeriity of Camb.
Thomas James Mathias, Efq; A. M.
Meflrs. J. and T. Merril, Bookfellers,

Cambridge

N.
Earl of Northington, K. T.
Frederick North, Efq;
Richard Neville Neville, Efq;
Richard Aldfworth Neville, Efq; M. P.
Rev. Nowell, D. D. principal

of St. Mary Hall, Oxford
Rev. Mr. Note, A. M. Prebendary of

Winchefter
Charles Norris, Efq; A.B.
Rev. Mr. Newbolt, A. M. Winchefter
Newark Book Society
Nottingham Book Society

Earl of Orford

Earl of Upper OlTory

Right Hon. Tho. Orde, M. P.

John Ord, Efq; M. P. F. R. S. Mafter
in Chancery

Rowland Okeover, Efq; Oldbury,
WarwickOiire

Mellrs. Ogle and Smith, Leeds

John Ofborn, Efq; late Envoy Ex-
traordinary to the Court of Saxony

Rev. John Oglander, D. D. Warden
of New College, Oxford

Rev. John Ord, Farnham, Suffolk

Earl of Pembroke

Countefs of Pembroke

Right Hon. William Pitt, FirftiJord

of the Treafury and Chancellor of

the Exchequer

Hon.

SUBSCRIBERS.

Hon. John Jefferies Pratt, M. P.
Lord of the Admiralty

Hon. Philip Pufey, 3 copies

Sir Lucas Pepys, Bart. M. D. Phyfi-
cian Extraordinary to the King

William Weller Pepys, Efq; A. M.
Mafter in Chancery

General Philipfon, M. P.

Charles Pelham, Efq; M. P.

Thomas Pennant, Efq;

Daniel Pulteney, Efq. M.P.

Roger Pettiward, Efq;

John Peachy, Efq; M. P.

Col. St. Paul

Henry Penton, Efqv M. P.

John Pybus, Efq;

Charles Pybus, Efq; Fellow Com-
moner of St John's Col. Cambridge

Rev. PointZj D. D. Prebendary

of Durham

Rev. Edmund Poulter, A. M.

Thomas Potts, Efq;

"William Putland, Efq;

John Purchas, Efq; Cambridge

Pembroke Hall, Cambridge

Mifs Mary Pelham

Phipps, Efq; Lincoln's Inn

William Porter, Efq;

Richard Porfon, Efq; A.B. Fellow of
Trinity College, Cambridge.

^ .

Queen's College, Cambridge

Duke of Rutland, K. G. Lord Lieu-
tenant of Ireland

Duchefs of Rutland

Earl of Radnor

Lord Romney

Right Hon. Richard Rigby, M. P.

Hon. Dudley Rider

Sir Peter Rivers Gay, Bart.

Lady Rivers Gay

Lady Rumbold

James Rivers, Efq;

Rev. William Hayward Roberts.D.D.
Provofl of Eton College

Captain Raines

William Raikes, Efq;

Matthew Rc^Jcr, Efq;

Thomas Richarfon, Efq;

William Richardfon, Efq;

Rev. Mr. Richardfon, late of King's
College, Cambridge

William Rofe, LL. D. Chifwick

Rev. Edward Reynolds, A. M. Fel-
low of King's College, Cambridge

Rev. Richard Relhan, A. M. Coii-
dudt of King's College, Cambridge

Francis Randolph, Efq; A. M. Fellow
of King's Cambridge

Earl Spencer

Lady Caroline Spencer

Lady Elizabeth Spencer

Lady Charlotte Spencer

Lady Anne Spencer

Lord Henry John Spencer

Lord Francis Almeric Spencer

Lord Robert Spencer

Vifcount Sackville

Bifhop of Salilbury

Mr. de Suhm, Chamberlain to the
King of Denmark

Lady Frances Scott

Lord Sheffield

Hon. George Sutton, M. P.

John Strange, Efq; Rt-fident at Ve-
nice, F. R. S. andF.S. A.

Robert Stev.ait, Efq; M. P. of Mount
Stevi^art, la-land

John Symonds, Efq; LL.D. Profcfibr
of Modern Hiftory in the Univer-
fity of Cambridge

Rev. John Sturgcs, LL.D. Archdea-
con and Prebendary of Winchcftcr

Richard Stainforth, Efq;

John Smithman, Efq; Weft Coppice,
Shropfhire -r

E. B. Sumner, Efq;

Rev. Humphrey Sumner, D. D.

George Sav;;gc, Efq; A. M. Fellow of
King's Coik"e, Cambridge

Henry

SUBSCRIBERS.

Henry Stepple, Efq-,

John Ch.riilopher Smith, Efq; Bath

Mrs. Smith

John William Steers, Efq-,

John Swale, Elq; A. M.

Thomas Charles Shairp, Efq;

Alexander Shairp, Efq;

Henry Poynter Standley, Efq; Paxton

Place, Iluntingtonfhire '
George Steevens, Efq; A.M. F.R.S.
Peter Stapel, Efq;
Charles Steers, Efq;
John Simpfon, Efq;
"Richard Stonehewer, Efq;
George Smith, Efq;
llichard Sumner, Efq;
John Sargent, Efq;
Rev. John Skinner, A. M. Redor of

Eailon, Northamptonlhire
Sydney College, Cambridge
Swaffham Literary Society
Mifs Sampfon

Earl Temple

Countefs Temple

His Excellency Count Thctt, of Co-
penhagen

Hon. John TownHiend, M. A. M.P.

Mr. Trefchow, Counfcllor of State to
to the King of Denmark

Charles Townfliend, !{l"q;

Hon. J ihnThomasTownfliend, A.M.

Lieutenant General Tryou

Charles TciiTier, F f];

Stephen 'leifiier, Elq;

Samuel Toriano, Elq;

S.Tiithfon Tenant, Elq; Fellow Com-
moner of Chriil College, Cambridge

ProfcfTor Trefchow, Chaplain to the
Garrifon at Copenhagen

Rev, Mr. Turner, A. M. Fellow

of Peirbroke College, Cambridge

Thomas Trollop, Efq; Fellow Com-
moner of St. John's Coll. Camb.

Edward Taylor, I'A'q; Inner Tem[!e

Mrs. Tate, Burleigh, LciceilerOiire

Mifs Tate

Henry Topping, M.D. Colcheflcr,

Fellow of King's College, Cambr.
Thomas Tyers, Efq;
Henry Tuckfield, Efq;
Richard Thomfon, Efq;

Sir Watkin W. Wynne, Bart. M. P.

The Hon. Horace Walpole

Hon. Horatio Walpoie, M. P.

Hon. Lewis Watlon

Sir Thomas Wroughton, K. B. His
Majefty's Envoy Extraordinary and
Minittcr Plenipot. at Stockholm

Hon. Charles Wyndham

Nathaniel W. Wraxall, Efq; M.P.

Mifs \^'inder. Putney

Daniel Wray, Elq; F. U.S. & F. A. S.

Mrs. Wray

Winftanley, Efq;

Rev. Charles Wefton, A.M. Pre-
bendary of Durham

Samuel Whitbread, Efq; Jun. A. B.

Roger Wilbraham, Efq; iVJ. P.

George Woodrofte, Elq; A. M. Lin-
coln's Inn, Fellov/ of King's (.'ol-
lege, Cambridge

Richard Warren, i\L D. Phyfician in
ordinary to the King.

Charlton By am Woollaflon, Efq-,

Ralph Willctt, Efq;

Martin WhiHi, Efq;

Winchefter Cathedral Library

George Zachary Wolff, Efq;

William Warfon, M. D. F. R.S. Bath

Hon, John Yorke
1 he Hon. Mr.s. Yorke
Lady Elizabeth Yorke
Philip Yorke, Eft], M. P. z copies
Charles Yorke, Efq; A.M. Lincoln's
Inn, St. John's College, (Cambridge
Jokph Yorke, Eiq; St. Petcrlburgh
Varuiouth Book Society

C O N-

[ xui ]

CONTENTS of VOLUME I.

Dedication p. iii

Preface p. v

Lijl of Subfcriben p. vii

BOOK I.

TRAVELS into POLAND.

Ch. L Origin and progrefs of the Poli(h government .—Gra-
dual diminution of the royal prerogative, and ejiabli/h-
ment of a monarchy wholly ele^Iive, p. 3

Ch. IL Eledlion 0/" Staniflaus Auguftus. — Hijlory of the Dif-
Jidents, — Rife of the civil commotions. ?• 1 7

Ch. in. Attempt to affaffmate the king of Poland. — His ad-
ventures and miraculous ejcape, P« 29

Ch. IV. On the Partition of Poland. P- 43

Ch. V. Account of the Permanent Council. P- 58

Ch. VI. General diet. — Liberum Veto. — Diets of confederacy y
eleBion, and convocation. P* 93

Ch. VII. Finances. — Commerce.^ — Military ejiablipjment.

p. 109

Ch. VIII. Of the nobles and gentry. — Clergy. — Burghers. —
Peafants, — State of vaffalage.^-Jews. — Population.

p. 121

B O O K II.

Ch. I. Auftrian Poland.— Z)f/irn/'//c« 0/ Cracow, Sec. p. 139

Ch. II. Salutation and drefs of the Poles. — Salt-mines of

Wielitlka. — Journey to Warfaw. p. 1 6 a

Vol. 1. d Ch. III.

XIV

CONTENTS.

Ch. III. Warfaw. — Court. — Palace, ^^ Entertainments. -~>
Fete Champetre, &'c. P« 170

Ch. IV. Villanovv. — jiccotmt of John Sobiefki and bis fa-
mily. P- 185

Ch. V. General Jiate of learning. — 1^1' etched adminiftration
ofjujlice. ?• 199

Ch. VI. BiaUiftock. — Dutcby of Lithuania. — Grodno.

p. 207

Ch. VII. Journey through Lithuania. — Remarks on the Plica
Polonica* p. 226

BOOK in.
TRAVELS into RUSSIA.

Ch. I. Journey /(? Smolenlko. — Defcription o/Smolen/ko.—
Journey to Mofcow. p. 240

Ch. II. Defcription of Mofcow. — Hofpitality of the Ruffian
nobles. — Account of Mr. Muller. — Amiiverfary of St.
Alexander Nevlki. — Entertainments at Count Alexey
Orlof's, Mc. p. 260

Ch. III. Gejieral defcription of the churches. — Of an enormous
bell. — Principal buildings in the Kremlin. — "Tojnbs and
char abler s of the tzars. — Genealogical tables, p. 291

Ch. IV. fombs of the Ruffian patriarchs. — Account of the pa--
triarchs Philaretes and Nicon. P« 31 1

Ch. V. Ruffian archives. — Correfpondence between YXiz^^odh.
queen <?/ England, and Ivan Vaffilievitch II. — -Rife of the
titles of tzar and emperor. — Univerfity. — Matthaei's ca-
talogue of the Greek Manufcripts. — Hymn to Geres attri-
buted to \\oxx\tx. p. 329

Ch. VI. Market for the fak of houfes. — Foundling bofpital. —

Excurjion to the monafiery of the Holy Trinity. p. 347

4 Ch. VII.

CONTENTS, XV

Ch, VII. Hi/lory of the tzar who reigned under the name of
Demetrius. — Grounds for fuppojing him to be the real
Demetrius. p. 366

Ch. VIII. Of the princefs Sophia Alexiefna^^r 0/ Peter the
Great. P* 394

B O O K IV.

Ch. I. Departure from Mofcow. — Tver. — Journey towards
Peterfburgh. p. 419

Ch. II. Novogorod. — Continuation of the journey to Peterf-
burgh. p. 444

Ch. III. Defer iption 0/ Peterfburgh. — Inundations of the Neva.
Piatt for a bridge of a fingle arch acrofs the Neva. —
Colojfal flatue of Peter the Great. — Precautions againjl
the cold. — Ice hills. — Annual fair upon the Neva. —

P- 459
Ch. IV. Prefentation to the emprefs. — Court. — Orders of

knighthood.-^Hofpitality of the R u fTi an nobles, ^c. p. 4 8 7

Ch. V. Fortrefs. — Cathedral. — Tombs andcbaraSlersofVeicv

the Great and of the Imperial family. — Hijlory of the boat^

called the Little Grandiire, which gave rife to the Ruffiaa

navy upon the Blzck Sesi. - p. 509

Ch. VI. Sarfko-Selo. — Oranienbaum. — Prince Menzikof. — -

Peterhof. — SchhifTelburgh. P- 53^

Ch. VII. 0/ Catharine I. p* 549

Cb. Vlll. Account 0/ Alexey Petrovitch and of his zvife Ch:ii'''

lotte Chriftina Sophia /)ri«^^ o/Brunfvvick. P* 57©

APPENDIX.

Catalogue of books, ^c. P« 5 S 9

d 3 List

[ xvi ]

l^isT of the Charts, Plans, and Engravings, of Vol. I.
with Diredions for placing them.

The map of Poland is taken principally from the general
map of that country, publifhed at Warfaw, by which
the Hmits of the difmembered provinces were at firft
regulated ; 'and from the particular maps publifhed in
Ruffia, Auftria, and Pruflia, afcertaining the refpedlive
boundaries, to front p. 3

Map of European Ruffia, from the general map publiflied
by the Imperial Academy of Sciences in 1776, to front

P- 239
Plan of Mofcow, from a plan publifhed in that city in 1736,

to front p. 266
Plan of St. Peterlburgh, publifhed in that city in 1776,

P- 459
Polifh Gentleman to front p. 1 62

Head of Staniflaus Auguflus the prefent king of Poland,

from a print engraved at Warfaw after an original pid:ure

painted by Bacciarelli, p. 171

Engraving of the Parus Pendulinus p. 218

Ruffian Gentleman in a winter drefs p. 479

Ruffian Peafant p. 482

Head of the Emprefs of Ruffia, from an original painting by

Brumpton, in the pofTeffion of the Earl of Orford, p. 488

TRAVELS

T R A V

Ljt o

INTO

P O L A N

Vol. I.

HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT

O F

POLAND.

BOOK

CHAP. I.

Refearcbes into the origin and progrefs of the Polifli govern-
ment. — An inquiry into the caufes of the gradual dimi-^
nut ion of royal prerogative, and ejlabli/hment of a monarchy
wholly ekSlive, — Licentious poiver and conduct of the nobles.
— Bad effedls of arijiocratical authority.

IT is a matter of extreme difficulty to iiiveftigate in any chap,
country the origin and progrefs of its conftitution ; as ^'
well becaufe the beginning of all hiftories is involved in ob-
fcurity and fable ; as becaufe that body of laws and ufages,
which form the effence of every government, is not created

B 2 at

SKETCH OF THE

at once, in any particular period, or by a fingle event, but
eenerallv refults from a feries of circumftances, many of
them fcarce feparately difcernible. In Poland, however, the
political obferver has this fingular advantage, that a fuccef-
fion of accurate hiftorians * (fome of whom flouriflied foon
after the aera, when the moft important branches of the Po-
lilh conftiiiition were afcertained) have developed with un-
common precifion and care the various occurrences and in-
ftitutions, from which the extraordinary form of government,
at prefent fubfifting in that kingdom, was gradually derived.
By means of their authentic narratives we are enabled to trace,
in what manner, and from what concurrence of circum-
ftances, a monarchy nearly abfolute, funk in the courfe of a
few centuries, without any depofition of the prince or violent
convulfion, into a ftate of almoft total arirtocracy.

A brief inquiry into the principal incidents which pro-
duced this remarkable conftitution, accompanied by fuch
political reflexions as the progrefs of the detail fuggerts, will
not, I flatter myfelf, prove uninterel^ing ; and will properly
introduce a view of Poland in its prefent ftate.

The fovereigns of Poland are ufually ranged into four
claffes. I. Of the houfe of Leflco. II. Of Piaft. III. Of
Jaghellon. IV. Of different families. Thefe claflTes divide
the hiftory of Poland into four correfponding periods.

I. The firft t period is allow^ed by the heft PoIiHi hifto-
rians to be entirely fabulous ; they therefore generally com-
mence thch" narratives at the fecond ?era.

* Dtugoflins, the father of PclKli liiftory, f Qyat dc Lecho ejufqiie fucceflbribus ad

was horti irv 1415, only 45 years alter the Piaftum ulque ct ultra memorantur, fiint

dcmife of Calimlr the Great, from whnfe obtcura, fabuloft, et falfa, quire filentio

reign Poland dates her wr.tten laws. He trandviittimiu , ne variis uarra:uinlbus im-

begins his hiftory from the e:uliert period of niorea.v.r ; are the word' of Lcngnicfv»

the Polilh antials,and cariies it down to the Hift. Polon. p. 2. The fabulous ftory of

year 1480. . Lelko is as. follows : Upon the death of

1 Lt'iko

POLISHHISTORY. ,

II. The earliefl part even of this fecond ei:)Och has an air of chap.
romance ; and the account of Piaft, who gave his name to , ' _ ,
a line of kings, and from whom all the natives of Poland
who have alcended the throne are to this day called
Piaft, is little elfe than a feries of fidtions. By fome he
is faid to have been a wheelwright, by others a common
peafant, and by all to have gained the crown through
the vifible interpolition of two angels. Nor indeed can
we expe(5t any faithful accounts of a people buried in bar-
barifm, wholly without letters, and immerfed in Pagan fu-
perftition. We cannot therefore date the authenticity of
the Polifli annals earlier than the acceffion of Miciflaus II. a. d,
the fourth fovereign of the line of Piaft : from his reign ^
Poland began to be connedled with Germany, the hiftorians
of which country, as well as thofe of Sweden and Denmark,
throw a confiderable light upon Polifli affairs prior to the
exiftence of native hiftorians*

Some writers have obferved, that during the whole of
the fecond period the monarchy was always elective, and the
fovereign limited in his power; others, on the contrary,
have affirmed, that the crown was hereditary, and its autho-
rity abfolute : but this controverfy may be eaflly reconciled ;
the crown feeraed hereditary from its continuance in
the fame family, and had at the fame time an eledive ap-

Lefko 1. d-ike of Poland, a rare was ap- candidates, and msftc known to the people ;
pointed on horfeback, and the vidor was to the latter role, maff.iored Lefzec, and pro-
be nomin.itcd fovereign. Lvf;zec, one of the claimed the othtrdnke, who alt'aiiied :lie
candidates, in order to Itcure the victory, name of Leiko 11. The sera in which this
jlre^ved j)art of the couife with nails, leav- Lefko reigned is fo uncertain, that fome
Mig a clear pafiage for h:s own horfe. This hiftorians refer it to the 6th, others the 7rh,
fbaiagem wts difcovertd by another cf the and even the yth century,

pcarance.

6 S K E T C H O F T H E

BOOK pearance, becaufe, upon the death of the king, his fucceiTor
. I" ■ was formsJly ••■ nominated and recognized in an affembly of

the nobiUty and clergy of the realm. With refpedl to the
extent of the king's authority, his power, as in the gene-
rality of feudal governments when exercifed by an able and
enterprifing prince, triumphed over all controul ; but, in the
hands of an incapable Ibvereign, was eafily deprefled by
the privileges of a licentious and warlike nobility.
'347. Towards the clofe of this fecond period, Calimir the Great
retrenched the turbulent and opprefiive authority of the
principal barons ; and granted certain immunities to the
nobles and gentry. This great monarch was aware, that no
other expedient could introduce order into this kingdom,
except a limitation of the vaft influence poffelTed by the t Pa-
latines or principal nobility : if he had been fucceeded by a
Line of hereditary monarchs, it is probable that the barons
would never have recovered their former afcendancy ;
and that the feudal fyftem would have been gradually anni-
hilated in Poland as in other parts of Europe.

But his nephew Louis, king of Hungary who fucceeded
him, being a foreigner, was obhged, in order to enfure the
poffelfion of the throne, to fubfcribe certain conditions, which
infringed the power of the Ibvereig'n, and gave frefii vigour
to that of .the barons and inferior .nobles. The principal
conceffions made by Louis were, not to impofe any
additional taxes by his mere regal authority x^ithout the

* Memoiati ergo prinripes, non per ejiif- grcderenMir.
modi eleftiontm, qiia'.is hodie celebr.itur, Lengnicli, Jus Publicum Regni Poloniae

ud rcgnum pervenerunr, fed eleiftio quani V. I. p. 58.

paffirr! nominant Icriptort-s, revera erat de- f Palatinorurr. et judic.im infinita po-

claratio procermii ic nobilium, qux priEce- tefias eoercitajeft, &c. Sarniiius, p. 1141.
dcbat, antetjusm rc<fimwi novi principes in-

confent

POLISH HISTORY,
confent of the nation ; and that in cafe of his demife with- chap.

out male heirs, the privilege of appointing a fovereign fliould ^
revert to the nobles at large *.

In confequence of this agreement, "Louis was allowed to
afcend the throne without oppofition ; and having *no fons,
he, with a view of infuring the fucceffion to his fon-in-law^-
the Emperor Sigifmund married to his eldeft daughter
Maria, promifed, in addition to all the former grants, to
diminifli the taxes, to repair the fortreffes at his own ex-
pence, and to confer no dignities or offices upon foreigners t.

III. The third period begins upon the death of Louis, '3S2
when the Poles very politically let ailde Sigifmond, who
would have been formidable to their newly acquired
immunities ; and eleded for their king Ladillaus Jaghellon
duke of Lithuania, in confequence of his fully confirming
all the ftipulations of Louis, and efpoufingHedwige youngell
daughter of the deceafed monarch.

As, by the renunciation of Louis, the kings of Poland
were divefled of the right to impofe taxes without confent
of the nation, Ladiflaus afiembled the nobles-J in their-
refpe6live provinces in order to obtain an additional tribute..
Thefe provincial affemblies gave birth to the dietines ; which,
however, no longer retain the power of raifmg money in
their feveral diftridls, but only elecfl the nuntios or repre-
fentatives for the general diet.

Ladiflaus III. fon of Ladillaus Jaghellon, purchafed his
nomination to the fucceffion, during the life of his father,
by a confirmation of all the privileges above enumerated,
which he folem.nly ratified at his acceffion.,

* DUigoffius, Lib.IX. p. 1102, &c. J Prelatorii;n, Baroniini-et Militarium..

^ See Lengnich, Pac. Con. Aug.. III. Leiignich, Jus Pub. vol, II. p. 3 j.
Pref. p. 5.

7 Under

B SKETCHOFTHE

BOOK Under Cafimir III. * brother and fucceflbr to Ladiilaus

, ^" ^ III, feveral further innovations were introduced into the

original conftitution, all unfavourable to regal prerogative.
One of the principal changes which took place in this
reign, and which laid the foundation of ftill more important
revolutions in the Polifli government, was the convention
of a national diet invelted with the fole power of granting
Aipplies. Each Palatinate or province was permitted to fend
to this general diet, befide the Palatines and other principal
barons, a certain number of nuntios or reprefentatives,
chofen by the nobles and burghers t. This reign is there-
fore confidered by the popular party as the aera, at which
the freedom of the conftitution was permanently eftablilhed.
Cafimir was engaged in feveral unfuccefsful wars, which
exhaufted the royal treafures ; and as he could not impofe
any taxes without the confent of the nation, he was under
the neceflity of applying repeatedly to the diet for fubfidies :
almoft every fupply was accompanied with a lift of griev-
ances, and produced a diminution of prerogative.

In Poland, as in all feudal governments, the barons, at
the head of their vaflals, are bound to fight in defence of
the kingdom : before the reign of Cafimir III. the king
could require fuch military, or, as they were called, feudal
fervices ; but this monarch, in compenfation for fome pe-
cuniary aid, gave up that privilege, and renounced | the
power of fummoning the nobles to his flandard ; he like-
wife agreed not to enadl any laws without the concurrence
of the national diet.

* Sometimes called Cafimir IV. que terrigenas ad bellimi moveri mandaret,

f See chap. Vlll. for proof that the abfque conventione communi in fingulis

burgheis were permitted to fend reprefen- terris iniiituenda.

tatives. Couft. To!, v, 1. p. 186.

X Quod nullas conllitutioncs faceret, ne-

John

T O L I S H K I S T O Pv 1' . ^

John Albert, fecond Ton of Cafimir, being eleiled in pre- cfiap.
ference to his elder brother Ladiflaus king of Hungary and
Bohemia, alTented without helltation, as the price of this
partiality, to all the immunities extorted from his prede-
ceiTors ; and fwore to their obfervance in a general '■' diet
held at Petrikau, 1496.

Alexander, brother and fucceffof of John Albert, declared,
in 1505, the following limitations of fovereign authority to
be fundamental laws of the kingdom, i. The king cannot
impofe taxes. 2. He cannot require the feudal fervices ;
5. nor alienate the royal domains; 4. nor enacft laws; 5.
nor coin money ; 6. nor alter the procefs in the courts of
juftice,

Sigifmond I. fucceeded Alexander: one! of the Polifli
hiftorians, fpeaking of his reign, exclaims with much
indignation, " The king is almoft wholly deftitute of power;
*' he cannot procure any fublidy on the moft prefling emer-
*' gency, for carrying on war, or for the portion of his
" daughters, without increaling the privileges of the no-
" bility."

Notwithftanding, however, this exclamation, we cannot
forbear to remark, that the power of levying taxes at difcre-
tion is the moft dangerous prerogative that can be lodged
in the hands of a fovereign, and the moft formidable engine
of defpotic authority : the acquifition of it by the monarchs
of France finally fubverted the liberties of that kingdom ;
and it was made the firft obje^il of refiftance by the affertors
of freedom in our own country.

* Praeclarorum Baroniim ac nuntiorum fonim confilio ac voluntate, &c. Conft. Pol.
de fingulis terris hie congreffonim univer- v. I. p, 294. f Orichovius.

Vol. I, C If

lo SKETCHOFTHE

If indeed we were inclined to point out any particular pe-
riod, at which the Polifli conftitution attained its moft perfe<^
ll:ate,we fhould perhaps fix on the reign of Sigifmondl. when
the perfon and property of the fubje(5t were fecured by ample
provifions ; and the crown ftill retained confiderable influ-
ence. But the time was arrived, when an inordinate paflion
for liberty led the nobles to render the throne wholly
ele<5live ; and at each eledlion to continue their encroach-
ments upon the regal authority, until the king was reduced
to a mere pageant. The firft public attempt towards efta-
blidiing this favourite objedt of the Poles, a free election of
the king, was brought forward in the reign of Sigifmond
Auguftus, fon and fucceffor of Sigifmond I. who was con-
ftrained in 1550 to agree, that no future king fliould fuc-
ceed to the throne, unlefs he was freely eledled by the nation.

The death of Sigifmond Auguftus without ifliie gave effi-
cacy to this conceffion, which might otherwife have been
counteraded by the popularity and influence attendant on a
claimant by hereditary fucceffion. For it may not be
improper to remark, that, during the Jaghellon line, the
fovereigns upon their acceflion, or election, although form-
ally raifed lo the throne by the confent of the nation, ftill
refted their pretenfions upon hereditary right, as well as
upon this confent ; always ftyling themfelves heirs of the
kingdom of Poland. Sigifmond Auguftus, in whom the
male line of the Jaghellon family became extinct, was the
laft who bore that title *.

IV. The fourth period begins upon the demife of Sigif-
mond Auguftus, in 1572, when all title to the crown
from hereditary right was formally abrogated, and the moft

* Lengnjch, Jus Pub. V. L p. 59.

abfolute

POLISHHISTORY. ii

abfolute freedom of election eftablifhed upon the moft per- chap.
manent bafis. At this aera a charter of immunities was '
drawn up at a general diet, a ratification of which it was
determined to exadt from the new fovereign, prior to his
election. The ground- work of this charter, termed in the
PoUfh law FaSia Conventa, was the whole body of privileges
obtained from Louis and his fucceflbrs, with the following
additions : i . That the king fhould be ele(5live, and that his
fucceflbr fliould never be appointed during his life. 2.
That the diets, the holding of which depended folely upon
the will of the kings, fliould be aflembled every two years.
3. That every* noble or gentleman in the whole realm fhould
have a vote in the diet of election. 4. That, in cafe the king
fliould infringe the laws and privileges of the nation, his
fubjeds fhould be abfolved from their oaths of allegiance.
From this period the FaBa Conventa^ occafionally enlarged,
have been confirmed by every fovereign at his coronation.

Henry of Valois, duke of Anjou and brother of Charles
IX. King of France, was the firfl fovereign who afcended the
throne after the conflitution had been thus new-modelled.
He fecured his elecftion, as well by private bribes to the no-
bles, as by a flipulation to pay an annual penfion to the Re-
public from the revenues of France. His example has been
neceffarily followed by each fucceeding fovereign, who,
befide an unconditional ratification of the FaBa Conventa^
has been always conflrained to purchafe the crown by a
public largefs and by private corruption ; circumftances
which endear to the Poles an elective monarchy.

Under Stephen Bathori, the regal power was flill further
abridged by the appointment of fixteen refident fenators,

* See the Definition of a Noble. Ch.VIII.

C 2 chofen

i» S K E T C H O F T H E

BOCK chofen at each diet, to attend the king, and to give their opi^
nion in all matters of importance, fo that he could not ilTue
any decree without their confent*. Another fatal blow was-
alfo given to his prerogative in 1 5 7 8, by taking from him the
fupreme jurifdiiflion, or the power of judging in the laftrefort*
the caufes of the nobles, excepting fuch as arife within a fmall
diftance t of the fovereign's place of relidence : it was
enatied, that without the concurrence of the king each pa-
latinate or province fhould ele(St in their dietines their own-
judges, who fhould form fupreme courts of juftice, called
I'ribunalia Reg?iiX ; and that in thefe courts the caufes of the'
nobles fliould be decided finally and without appeal ; a.
mode of judicature which i^i'evails to this day.

The turbulent reign of John Gaiimir was marked by the
introdudron of the Liber um Veto % or the power which each-
nuntio claims and exercifes of interpofing a negative, and in-
confequence of that interpofition of breaking up the diet j^-
a privilege which the fovereign himfelf does not poffefs, and
which has contributed more than any other innovation to
deftroy the due balance of the Polifli conftitution.

But the king was ftill the fountain of honour : he con-
ferred the principal dignities and great offices of the repub-
lic ; and beftowed the Staroflies, or Royal fiefs, whi<:h are
held during the -life-time of the poffeffor. Hence he ftill
maintained «Teat influence in the councils of the nation ;
but this laft folitary branch of royal prerogative was wrefted-

* This appointnient was made, ill 15.73, p_e;'fon, but th_ls ceafed to be the c-uftoin

under Henry, but did not abfolutely take from tbe time of Auguftus II. and the Gre^t

place till the reign of Stephen. Lengnich, Chaijcellor now exercifes, in his Majeflv's

Ju« Pub. v. I p. 344. II. 44. name, that br.inch of royal property.

■j- The courts exercifmg juftice in the \ Lengnich, Jus Pub. v. II. p. 536.

king's name within this diftrift are callsd )| I'or an account of the Liberum Veto,

Aflefforia Regni. Until the death of John fee cliap. VI.
SobiefKi, the kings judged frequently in

7 from

P O L I S H H I S T O R y. 13:

from his prefent Majefly at the eftablifbment of the Perma- chap.
Hent Council "•'■.

Thus it appears, that, from the time of Louis to the pre-
fent period, the nobles have continued without interruption'
to diminifli the regal authority, and to augment their own'
privileges. Many of the conceilions which they obtained
from the fovereigns of the Jaghellon line, were juft and
reafonable, and aimed only at an equitable degree of free-
dom. When, however, an abfolute right to difpofe of fo '
tempting an obje6l as the crown gave them repeated oppor-
tunities of prefcribing unconditional terras to every candidate'
for the throne, they were no longer content with that equal
diftribution of power, wJiich is the excellence of a limited
monarchy ; but afpired to and nearly attained a diredt arifto--
cracy under a regal title and form.

From this general review of the revolutions in the con-
liitution of Poland, we may eatily infer, that, notwith-
ttanding their fo much boafted liberty, the Poles are by no
iTieans equally free. Indeed their hiftorians, howeverthey may
differ in other points, unanimoufly agree in reprobating their'
aiFedtation of liberty, the fliadow rather than the reality of
freedom; which is in fact merely a turbulent fyftem of
Ariftocratic -licentioufnefs, where a few members of the •
ijommunity are above the-controul of law, v/hile the majo--
rky are excluded from its prote<Slion. We fhould fuppofe, .
that, if in any inftance they were free, it would be in" the '
ej^dlion of a king, one of their moft vaunted privileges ; and
yet Sarhifki addrefles the Poles with great truth in' the fol--
Iqwing words : " Turn over your annals, and you will '■

* A delineation of the Permanent Coun- bliflied it, is given in chapter V. .
sU_in the woulj of the qdirt v.hi:li efta-

' " fcarcely

L4 SKETCHOFTHE

BOOK « fcarcely find a fingle example of a free eledlion *." An-
other Polifli hiftorian of great note, the celebrated Staniflaus
Lubienfki billiop of Plotfko, juftly contends that the Poles,
free as they pretend to be, are abfolutely in a ftate of flavery,
to which they have been reduced by an inconfiderate paflion
for liberty t.

In a word, it is evident beyond the poflibility of doubt,
from the hiftory of this country, that the Poles were more
free at home, and more independent and flourifliing abroad,
when the fovereign had more authority, when the nobles
aflifted at the diets without the privilege of diffolving them;
and when they fubmitted themfelves and their peafants to
the jurifdi(5lion of the king. The proof of this aflertion is
founded on the following fails.

I. The prefent wretched ftate of the towns compared
with their former flourifliing condition, during the reigns of
the Jaghellon family, when the burghers even poffefled a
right of fending nuntios to the diets l, forms a ftrong con-
trad to their former profperity ; and attefls the melancholy
efFeils of ariftocratical defpotifm.

II. The wretched condition and ix)verty of the peafants,
whofe increafe of oppreflion has kept pace in an equal pro-
portion with the increafe of the power of the nobles ; for
when the king loft his weight in the conftitution, this moft
numerous and ufeful order of fociety loft a patron and pro-
teAor.

• Revolvite annales veftros vix ullum ex- redegit ut Uherl pejjimo cuique ferviamus.

cmplum libera: eleftionis invenietis. Nulla legum reverentia, nulla poteftatis

f Expendamus paululum ftatum reipub- verecundia : tantum quifque audet, quan-

licae : inconfultus libertatis amor dum iidem turn habet virium. Dudum jam agricolas

leges ferunt, qui poenis obnoxii funt, et im- miferos afpero fen'itutis jugo preflimus, &c.

punitatis defiderio, juris, quo tot fasculis p. 194.

patria fletit, convellunt fundamenta, nos ';o % See Chap. VIII.

III.

P O L I S H H I S T O R Y. ,5

III. A total confufion introduced into the adminiftration <^hap.
of public affairs ; and a if ate of anarchy, which prevents '— ^1— »
deliberation, and delays the adoption of neceflary meafures
even in times of the moft preffing emergency.

IV. The declenfion of the importance, and contra6tion of
the territories of the republic. During the reigns of the kings
of the Jaghellon family, before the nobles had acquired a
decided preponderancy in the ftate, the kingdom of Poland
was far more powerful and extenfive than it is at prefent :
fince the changes in the conflitution, and the introdudion of
anarchy falfely called liberty, the Poles have not only made
no conqueft except what they have been forced to relinquiili ;
but have feen even their original territories gradually
mouldering away, and at laft confiderably reduced by the
late partition. A kingdom with more than twelve millions
of inhabitants, if well regulated, would never have fell fo eafy
a prey to the ambition of its neighbours : its internal
ftrength, aflifted by its natural alliances, would have been
fufficient to have protracted, if not prevented, its difmem-
berment. Nor are the fatal effeils of the evils inherent in
the conflitution yet fully exhauiled : the fame incapacity of
refifting the encroachments of neighbouring powers, which
made the Poles fo tamely accede to the late divifion, will ren-
der them equally fubmiffive, whenever any future claims
fliall be urged by a combination of the neighbouring Hates ;
and compel them to acquiefce under any pretenfions, how-
ever chimerical, or however unjuft.

Anarchy, in fhort, and confufion are not only tolerated,
but are even fuppofed by the nobles, who reap the benefit of
thofe evils, to be abfolutely necelTary for the fupport of the
conflitution ; fo that there is a proverb, which implies
that Poland fubfifts by anarchy. In oppofition to this abfurd
4 ideaj

:t$ SKETCH OF THE

BOOK j(^eaj an hiAorian, v> hom I have before mentioned, advifcs
his countrymen no longer to luffer the repubhc to be go-
verned by chance, or to fubmit to the caft of the die the ad-
miniflration of affairs, on which their very exiltence as a
nation depends '•■■•'.

King Stanillaus Letzinlki and the Abbe Konarfki are the
moft celebrated of the modern PoUfli authors, who have ex-
pofed in the ftrongelf colours the diforders of the govern-
ment, and the exorbitancy of privileges poiTefled by the no-
bles ; but what avail the reprefentations of hift orians againft
laiStions, againft a tumultuous nobility, or againit the cabals
of neighbouring powers. It is hardly poffible to fvippofe
that Poland, without an army,- without money, without
fortrefles, without refources, and without good government
the fource of all the other calamities, will ever emerge from
her prefent lituation : her misfortunes will not only conti-
nue, but will gradually increafe, notwithftanding the remon-
(Irances of a few real patriots ; until by flow progrefs, or
fome violent revolution, Poland either fublides into an here-
ditary monarchy, or a well-ordered republic ; or, which is
more probable, is totally fwallowed up by the neighbouring
powers.

. * Non condemnetis (fays Sarnifki, in the virorum corifilia ; nee finatis amplius cafu

flriking paffiige to which I allude, and of rempublicam regi, nee pennittatis dubitt

which it is impoflible to preferve the fpirit ak^e res, in quibiis vita et mors, falus et ill-

iP- a tranflation) quxfo piudentiffimorura teritus, ad limen fedent.

CHAP.

GENEALOGICAL TABLE.

*iS^

Ladiflaus, called I. Loketcc, died 1533.
y*s_

Cafimir II. the Great, b. 1510; d. 1370,
aged 60 ; in him ended the male line of
the Houfe of Piaft.

, ^ .

Elizabeth, mar.
Bogiflasduke of
Pomerania.

Anne, tn. Wil-
liam count of
Cilly.

Elizabeth, mar. Carobart fon of
Charles II. kmg of Naples and.
king of Hungary.
A

Anne, mar. Ladiflaus Jaghellon.

U,3

Louis, k. of Hungary 1342 ;
of Poland 1370 ; died 1381,
aged 56; mar. i. Margaret
daughter of the emperor
Charles IV. 2. Elizabeth
daughter of Stephen gover-
nor of Bofinia.

Andrew, m. Joan I',
queen of Naples, af-
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CHAP.

PRESENTREIGN. ^7

CHAP. II.

EleBion of Staniflaiis^iiguftus. — His excellent regulations
oppojed by the neighbouring pozvers. — Hijlory of the Dijft*
dents — their privileges abolijhed by the diet of 1766.-—
Confederacies in their favour fupported by the Ernprefs of
Ruflia. — Rejlored to their rights by ti^ diet of Y'^^i^.—'-
Froceedings of that diet. — Rife of tlfecivil commotions.

UPON the demife of Auguftus II. Staniflaus Auguftus, chap.
fon of Count Poniatowlki the friend and companion
of Charles XII. was fupported in his pretenfions to the crown
by the Ernprefs of Ruffia, and the King of Pruffia ; their af-
fillance, joined to that of a ftrong party among the nobles who
had declared in his favour, and aided by his great perfonal ac-
complifhments, raifed him to the throne of Poland. Five
thoufand Ruffian troops flationed at a fmall diflance from the
plain of Vola, wherein the diet of elecSlion was aflembled,
fecured good order and overawed the violence of the oppo-
lite party. The practice of cantoning a body of foldiers near
the plain where the Polifli kings are eledted, has been adopt-
ed by different foreign powers for near a century ; a mode
of proceeding, which, however galling it may appear to the
licentious nobility, prevents the effufion of blood that for-
merly deluged thefe popular alfemblies.

Staniflaus was in the 32!d year of his age when he
afcended the throne in 1764, and feemed calculated by his
virtues and abilities to raife Poland from its deplorable ftate ;
if the defedts of the conftitution had not fettered his exertions

Vol. I. D for

i8 SKETCH OF THE

BOOK f-Qj. tj^g public good. The faireil hopes were conceived of
< — r — ' his future reign ; but thefe flattering prefages at firft realifed,
were foon difappointed by the factions of a turbulent people,
fomented by the intrigues of the neighbouring powers : thus
the reign of the moil amiable among the Polifli fovereigns
was doomed to experience the dreadBR effedls of that excef-
five liberty, which is almoft inconliftent with the exillence of
government.

The firft afts of his Majefty's reign were highly adapted to
introduce order and regularity into the interior adminiftration,
and to refcue his country from her dependence upon foreign
powers. The tendency of thefe excellent regulations to in-
creafe the power and confequence of Poland gave umbrage
to the adjacent ftates ; and were likewife vigoroufly oppofed
by a ftrong party Mdthin the kingdom : at this crifis too re-
ligious difputes blending themfelves with political cabals, the
flame of civil difcord burft forth with a violence which had
not hitherto raged even in Poland.

The body of Polifli religionifts, termed Diffidents, make a
principal figure in the fubfequent commotions ; their con-
cerns being the real or pretended object of attention in every
material tranfadion. The hiftory of this party is thus
Iketched by the Polifh hiftorians.

The reformation made its way into Poland under Sigif-
rnond I. who perfecuted its followers : their number how-
ever gaining ground, his fon Sigifmond Auguftus ••• not
only indulged them in the moft liberal exercile of their
worfhip ; but admitted them together with the Greeks,
and all other fed:s then fubfifting in Poland, to a feat

* Sigifmond Auguftus gave fuch evident to change his religion, " ut etiam de ipfo
marks of favour to the pioteftant confeflion, "rumor eflet ac fi avita facra renuntiare
that he was even fulpcfted of being inclined " vellet." Lengnich, Jus Publ. II. p. 554.

PRESENT REIGN.

in the diet, and to all the honours and privileges before ex- chap.
clufively confined to the catholics. Thefe maxims of iin- v — ^ — ,
limited toleration were fo generally adopted by the nation at
large, that the members of the diet, which aflembled upon
the deceafe of Sigifm^d Auguftus, being of different per-
fuafions, determined on a reciprocal indulgence of their
refpedtive tenets : in order to avoid any hateful diftinilions,
they called themfelves indifcriminately " diilidents in reli-
" gion ■•■•," a phrafe intimating, not, according to our notions,
feparatifts from an eftabliflied church, but limply perfons
holding a diverlity of opinions in religious matters. It was at
the fame time enafted, that this difference of religious fenti-
ments fhould create no difference in civil rights ; and accord-
ingly in the Pa^aConvenia formed by the diet, the following
claufe was inferted as part of the coronation oath to be ten-
dered to the new fovereign. " I will keep peace among the

* This remarkable'decree is as follows :
'* Et quoniam, aiunt ordines, in nofti'i Re-
" publ. non parum eft diflidium in caufa
" Religionis Chriftianse, occiirrendo ne ex
" hac caufa inter homines damnola quasdam
" feditio oriatiir, mi in aliis Regnis clare
" videmus, fpondemus hoc nobis invicem,
" pro nobis & fucceflbribus noflris, in per-
*' petuum, fub vinculo juramenti, fide, ho-
" nore & confcientiis noftris quod, ijui fu-
" mus dijpdentcs dc reUg'ione, pacem inter
" nos confervare, & propter diverfam fideni,
" & mutationes in eccleliis, fanguinem non
" effundere, neque multare pecunia, infa-
" mia, carceribus & exilio, & fuperioritati
" alicui aut officio ad ejufmodi procelfum
" nullo modo auxilium dare : quin inio, li
" quis fanguinem efFundere voluerit, ex ifta
" cauffa opponere nos omnes erinjua ob-
♦' ftrifti, licet etiam id alioquin fub pras-

D a

" textu decreti, aut alicujus proceffus judi-
" ciarii facere voluerit a Pafta Conventa
" Augufti III." p. 20.

We need not be furprized at this general
fenfe of the diet, fo contrary to the ge-
neral principles of the catholics, when we
confider that the catholic nuntios were in-
ferior in number to thofe of the other per-
fiiafions,fo that the former were well fatisfied
to obtain an equality with the others. The
protell^ant party in the nation was at this
period fo ftrong, that it was even taken into
confideration to eleiSl for their king aPolifli
nobleman, who had embraced the reformed
religion. " Cum in fenatu fi non niajorem,
" parem tamen catholicis partem efficerent,
" inter equites autem praevalerent." Leng-
nich, JusPub. V II. p. 555. See alfo Lind's
Letters on theStateof Poland, p. 82.

« diffi-

io SEETCflOFTHE

BOOK c( difiidents *." This claufe Henry of Anjou fwore to ob^
•— ,^ — ' Jferve, before he was permitted to afcend the throne.

In procefs of time, however, the Roman cathohcs, having,
under the protecftion and influence of fucceffive fovereigns,
acquired a confiderable afcendency, ventured to appropriate
the expreflion of diffidents to all tlrote who diffented from
the catholic religion. This alteration in the life of the title
was attended at firft with noincroachmentson the privileges
of the other fe£ts ; and the term diflidents, though now con-
veying the idea of a feparation from the ellablifhed worfliip,
was not yet regarded in an obnoxious light. The diflidents
indeed ftill continued in fuch unqueflioned pofTeflion of all
rights civil and religious, that, when it was agreed by both
catholics and proteftants to perfecute the arians, it was
thought neceflary, prior to their perfecution, to expel then\
from the body of diflidents.. In confequence of this ex-
clufion, the arians, in the reign of John Cafimir, were
firft rendered incapable of being eleited nuntios, afterwards-
deprived of their places of worlhip, and finally baniflied
from Poland t.

* *• Paceni inter diffidentes fervabo." *• Port mortem Uladiflai IV. catholic! de--

Henry, who objefled to this univerfal tole- 'f.clarabant, non effe diffidentes iiili qui tri-

ration, tried to withhold his confcnt ; upon *' uniim Deum colercnt.

which one of the Polifli envoys c.iied out, " In comitiis 1658, rex nuntium, quia

" Unlefsyour Majefty confirms this article, "^ fe£lK arianorum erat, ad manus olculum.

" you cannot be king of Poland," nifi earn " admittere nolebat ; et nuntii inter le con-

coiiditionem approbaveris, Rex Polonis non " ftitutbant, nc ipioiiim conclavi arianis

cris. Pac. Con. Aug. 111. p. 19. " locus tlVet." Jus Pub. II. 567 Si feq.

t The following quotations from Leng- For the extiipation of the arianfeit, John

nich prove the truth of thefe fadts : Cafimir was dignified by the pope with the

♦♦ Credebant ariani fe ad diffidentes per- title of orthodox, as if orthodoxy confided

** tinere, verum neqne diffidentes ilios in i.T perfecution.

*' eorum nuniero eflc voluerunt, Tantaenje animis c»leflibus ira !

This

P R E S E N T R E I G N. ai

This perfeciition of the arians, inadvertently affented to by chap.
the proteftants and Greeks, was only a prelude to that which " — .— »
tliey in their turn fufFered from the catholics : for, as the catho«
he party became the moft powerful, the term diffidents, now
confined only to perfons profeffing the proteif ant * and Greek
religions, began to grov^of a lefs inoflfenfive import, and to
convey an idea of non-conformity. The fedtaries diftin-
guiflied by the appellation of diffidents, perceiving the in^-
tention of the catholics to undermine their privileges, ftipu-
lated and obtained, that they fliould not be blended with
the arians,, or fall under the penal laws ena6led againft
that fe(5t. But thefe promifes were infenfibly eluded, their
privileges were gradually diminillied ;. in the courfe of a
few years they were fubjeded to a variety of difqualifica-
tions, and at length, in 17339 formally incapacitated from
fitting in the diet t. An old law of Ladillaus II.
againit heretics, as well as the penalties levelled, againft the
arians, were revived, andoccafionaily put in force againft the
diffidents.

Thefe continued perfecutions greatly diminiflied the
number of diffidents, and rendered of courfe their reraon-
flrances ineffedual. The catholics, who now took the lead
in the diet, went fo far as to declare it high treafon in the:
diffidents to feek the reftoration of their immunities by the.
interceffion of foreign powers ; although many of thefe fo-
reign powers were guarantees to the treaty of Gliva, in which

* Namely, the Lutherans and Calvlnifts ; fecnting I:uvs enacted ag.iinft the arians are

sU other proteltant fefts, the Men:- in full force agatnll them. Puc.Con. Aii'r.,

Donites, anabaptiiis, and qnakers, being not III. p. 28, zg.
included among the diffidents : and tiieper- f i-i^ngnHh, Hifl. Pol. p. 376.

li^ SKETCHOFTHE

BOOK it ^vas flipiilated, that the rights of the diflidents fliould be
maintained in their full latitude ■■••.

Such was the fituation of the diflidents at the acceffion of
his prefent majefty ; who, though himfelf ftrongly inclined
to toleration, was yet obliged to concur with the general fenl6
of the diet ; and to confirm in thefr full extent all the laws
which had been promulgated againft them. The diflidents
applied to the courts of London, PeterflDurg, Berlin, and Co-
penhagen, as the mediating powers in the treaty of Oliva ;
who warmly fupported their caufe, and prefented memorials
to the enfuing diet, demanding a refl:oration not only of their
religious efl:ablifliments, but alfo of all their ancient privi-
leges feciired to them by the abovementioned treaty. The
diet of 1766, however, was not of a temper to accede to thefe
propofals.

The enemies of toleration contended, that the privileges
alluded to were become obfolete, having been repeatedly
aboliflied in various diets ; and that the diflidents had no
well-founded claim either to the reflitution of their civil im-
munities, or to the toleration of their worfliip: the bifliopof
Cracow, the moil bigotted of the catholics, even propofed a
law againft: all who fhould abet the oppoiite party. Violent
altercations arofe in the aflembly, when the Pruflian and
Ruflian memorials were read ; and as an immediate tumult
was apprehended, the king retired from the diet without
proroguing it, as ufual, to the following day. The primate
likewife refufed to continue the fitting, and the members fe-
parated in great diforder. On the fubfeqnent day the fpirit
of intolerance was in no degree abated ; the moderate party

* For the account of the Diflidents, fee Lcngnich, Pac. Con. Aug. III. 16 — 30. and
Jui Publ. fparfim.

was

PRESENTREIGN. 23

was over-ruled, and the ads againft the diffidents were con- chap.
firmed without referve. But, in order to concihate the mp- . ' ,

diating powers, the bench of bilhops, by command of the
diet, drew up nine articles in favour of the diffidents, relative
to the free exercife of their worfhip. Thefe conceffions not
being thought fufficientfy favourable, while the exception-
able laws remained unrepealed, the Emprefs of Ruffia re-
monllirated againft the proceedings of the diet ; and the dif-
fidents began to form confederacies in different parts of the
kingdom. They were joined by many difcontented catho-
lics, and affifted by a large body of Ruffian troops, who en-
tered Thorn, where the firft and principal confederacy took,
its rife. All the mediating powers, Great-Britain, Denmark,
Pruffia, and Sweden, teftified their approbation of thefe con-
federacies. Thedifputes foon began to embrace other objects
befide religion ; political grievances were like wife brought
forward ; and feveral confederacies ftarted up in different
parts of the kingdom among the catholic nobles ; all of
whom affeiled to be advocates for toleration, and declared
their intentions of fupporting the caufe of the diffidents.
Prince Radzivill, who had fignalized himfelf in oppofing the
king's election, was appointed marllial to all the catholic con-
federacies, united in one formidable alTociation under the ap-
pellation of malecontents. The coalition of this catholic
confederacy, with that of the diffidents, foon after took place
in the palace of prince Radzivil at Warfaw. Mean while the
king convoked an extraordinary diet, as the only probable
means to prevent a civil war, and to appeafe the Emprefs of
Ruffiia, whofe troops were advanced within a fmall diil:ance
of Warfaw. The diet, however, which was fummoned for
the i)urpofe of reconciling the oppofite parties, failed in pro-
ducing the intended effedt : the bifhop of Cracow and his
4 partifans

SKETCH v">F THE

BOOK partifans inveighed with fuch bitternefs againft the preten-
» ,' > lions of the diffidents and againft the interference of foreign
powers ; tliat he, together with the bifliop of Kiof and a
few others, the moft violent of their party, were arretted in
the night by a corps of Ruffian troops, and fent, without
further trial, to Ruffia, where they experienced a rigorous
imprifonment •'••.

The

* The biftiop of Cracow and his aflbci-
ates were arrefted on the 15th of OiStober,
1767; they were detained in priion above
five years, not being releafed before the be-
ginning of 1773. They were fiill; confined
at Smoleniko, and afterwards at Kaluga.
Thefollowingextra£ts from feme manufcript
letters in ray poifelfion give fome account of
their imprifonment, and of the bifliop's re-
turn :

" At firft their confinement was very ri.
" gorous, and particularly in their journey
♦' to Smoleniko; for although they were
*• condufted together, and then imprifoned
" at the fame place, yet they were never
" permitted to fee each other during the
" firft fix months. Afterwards they were
♦' lefs rigorouily treated. They were re-
" moved from Smoleniko on fufpicion of a
" correfpondence between the bifliop of
" Cracow and his partifans in Lithuania ;
" and although this fufpicion was not
■" founded, yet it occafioned the reiolution
'• adopted by the court of Peterlburg to
" tranfport them to Kaluga." Warfaw,
1 5 February, 1773. " The bifliop of Cracow
'' IS already arrived: he had difpatched an
" exprcfs from Minik to the Great han-
" cellor of the crown to announce his rc-
" turn on the 14th. The exprefs came on
" Thurfday afternoon, and was followed by
" another the next day with the news, that
*' the bifliop himl'elf was on his route ; and
" in cifed he arrivtd at five in the after-
♦' noon. In the luburhs of Praga, being
■" met by the p> pe's nuntio, t-'gciher with
" the biftiops of Cujavia and Pofnania, he

" quitted his own carriage, and got into
" that of the bifliop of Pofnania, into wliofe
•' palace he alighted at Warfaw. He was
" accompanied by perfons of the firft dif-
" tinvftion, and followed by a crowd of peo-
" pie, huzzaing as he palTed the ftreets ;
" fome out of affcdion, others from imita-
" tion, or excited by fecret emiflaries. The
" doors of the palace being open to all who
" chofe to enter, the apartments were im-
" mediately filled with perfons of all ranks,
" bi(lioj)s, fenators, minifters and officers of
" ftate, nobles, priefts, citizens, together
" with the lowed of the populace, and even
" beggars, all huddled together pell-mell,
" eager to behold, liften to, and applaud the
" bifliop, who had fo unexpeftedly made
" his appearance. He fpoke for a confi-
" derable time, and related the hiftory of
" his imprifonment, which he alTured them
" had not made any alteration in his fenti-
" ments of religion and liberty, ' I have
" been twice,' added he, ' arrelled by the
" Ruilians, the firif time with the primate
" Potolki, the feci nd at my late confine-
" ment, and perhaps I may yet be caft into
" prifon a third time.'

" He propoles to retire in a Ihort time
" to his diocefe, and it is report-;d that he
" intends to forbid the priefls from wearing
" wigs andrulfles : he himfelf wears neither.
" His hair is grown grey fince his confine-
*' ment, and he looks coniiderably older :
*' he covers his head with a red cap which
" he made himfelf.

" Yeflerday he had an audience of the
" king, with whom he remained a full hour,

" namely,

PRESENT REIGN.

The diet, intimidated by the fate of their leading mem- chav.
bers, and being no longer inflamed by their eloquence, ap- < — w —
pointed, though not without fome altercation and tumult, a
grand committee to adjnft the affairs of the diffidents in con-
jundlion with the mediating powers, and then broke up. This
grand committee expreffed the molt favourable difpofition
towards the diflldents, and propofed that all the laws enabled
againfl: them fhould be repealed, and their antient privileges
reftored. Thefe refolutionsbeinglaid before the extraordinary
diet, which was convened the beginning of the following year,
1768, werq ratified almoll without oppofition. This ready
and unanimous acquiefcence of the diet in regAilations, to-
tally repugnant to the fentiments of the majority, can only
be accounted for by the dread of the Ruffian troops quartered
in Warfaw, and the influence of bribes judicioufly diftributed
by the Ruffian minifter. The operation of the fame caufes
rendered the diet equally compliant in other particulars;
and induced them to eftablilh feveral- civil regulations,

*' nnmelv, from eleven to twelve. lie ad-
" di'cfled his majefly with great decency
"and refpeft; and, among other things,
" begged pardon, if, before his arreft, he
" hadexpreflfed himfelf either in a manner
*' or in terms which were difpleafing, af-
" fiiring him at the lame time of his attach-
" nient, fidelity, and zeal for the fervite of
" hi> king, and the good of his country.
" After the .audience he atteirded mafs, and
" prcfented his majefly wirh the New Tef-
" lament, acquitting liiraltlf of that cere-
" uioiiy with ])ropriety and decorum.

" I'he bidiop of Kiof having feparated
" horn the bifliop of Cracow on the other
" llde of Mind;, will not be here for fojiie
*' time. The palatine of Cracow and his
<' ion continue between Smolenfko and Ka-
" liign, the place of their confinement, .in
■" order to attend upon Colonel Bachmatou,
" .their condudor, who was taken ill upon

Vol. I. E

*' their journey. The palatine, willing to
" repay with gratitude and humanity tl.£
" attention which he received from the
" colonel during liis confinement, could
" not be prevailed upon to quit him in
" his illnefs ; and as he h;is fome kiiow-
" ledge of phyfic, he is in hopes of com-
" pleting his cure."

* Thefe n^gulations, which refpeft chiefly
the eftablifliing in perpetuity of the elec-
ti'.'e monarchy, of the Liberum Veto, arid
of >inanimity in all matters cjf ftate, are
all detailed in the articles of the diet of
1763, publiftied at Warfaw 1 the princijj.-:!
claufes are the fame as are mentioned ia
the fourth chapter of this book relative to
the changes made in the conftitutioii ia
i;7i; ; the reader will find them amply nvir,-
tioned and accompanied with fome judicious
remarks, in Lind's Preient State of F^<! v^J.
Letter IIL

tending

26 SKETCH OFTHE

BOOK tending to perpetuate the defects of the conflitution, and
< — / > which had no other recommendation except their fubfervi-
ency to the Ruffian defigns upon Poland.

The nation at large feemed at this jundure to have caught
the fubmiffive fpirit of the diet; and received the new edi6ls
with every fymptom of cordiality. Poland feemed to enjoy
for a moment an univerfal tranquillity ; but it was that
fullen tranquillity which precedes a tempeft, and an-
novmces to the intelligent obferver the moft violent com-
motions.

During thefe tranfailions, the king, without influence,
and confequently without a fliadow of authority, was one
while hurried down the popular current ; and the next mo-
ment forced by the mediating powers to accede to all the
conditions which they laid before him : a wretched fituation
for a prince of his fpirit and magnanimity, and below which
it is fcarcely poffible for any fovereign to be reduced. But
more grievous fcenes yet awaited the unfortunate monarch ;
he was doomed to behold his country torn to pieces by the
moft dreadful of all calamities, a religious war ; to be fre-
quently deprived almoft of common neceflaries ; and to be
indebted for his very fubfiftence to the voluntary contributi-
ons of his friends : to be little better than a ftate prifoner in
his capital ; to be carried off and nearly affaffinated ; to fee
his faireft provinces wrefted from him ; and, finally, to de-
pend, for his own fecurity and that of his fubje<fl:s, upon the
protedlion of thofe very powers, who had difmembered his
empire.

ThePolifli malecontents could certainly alledge feme very
plavifible caufes of diffatisfadion. The laws palled at the laft
diet bore a greater refemblance to the abfolute mandates of a
Ruffian viceroy, than to the refolutions of a free affi:mb]y.

4 The

PRESENT REIGN.

The outrage committed upon the bifliop of Cracow and chap.
his adherents entirely fubverted all Uberty of debate. While
the authoritative manner, in which the mediating powers
of Berlin and Peterfbvirg flill continued to interfere in the
affairs of Poland, threatened a more grievous fubjeilion.
Thefe fpecious grounds of difguft, joined to an ill-timed fpi-
ritof difcontent which had gone forth throughout the nation
againft the king, occafioned the inteftine commotions that
foon reduced Poland to the moft dreadful Itate of defolation.

The diet had not long been diffolved, before the indul-
gences granted to the diffidents firft excited a general dif-
content among the Roman catholic party : feveral confede-
racies made their appearance towards the frontiers of the
Turkifli empire in defence of the facred catholic faith ; they
carried ftandards before them highly calculated to inflame
the zeal of the populace ; upon feme of thefe ftandards
images of the Virgin Mary and the infant Jefus were deli-
neated ; upon others the fpread eagle of Poland, with the
mottos " Conqueil or Death," " For religion and liberty *."
Some banners bore as a device a red crofs, under which was
infcribed " the fymbol of victory. " The private foldiers of
the confederacy, like the crufaders of old, wore a crofs in-
terwoven in their clothes. One party 'of thefe infurgenrs
feized upon the fortrefs of Bar in Podolia, and another got
poiTeffion of Cracow. The royal troops, who vv'ere fent
againft them, were either routed or prevailed upon to join
them. In this dreadful crilis of affairs the fcnate petitioned
the embaflador from the court of Peterfburg not to with-
draw the Ruffian troops from the kingdom, as they afforded
the only fecurity againfl: the confederates : the requefl was

* Aut vincere aut mori. — Tro religione et libertatc.

E 2 readily

28 SKETCHOFTHE

BOOK readily complied with, and Poland became a fcene of blood-
> ^' . flied and devaitation. In the various conflidls between the
two parties, the fuperiority of Ruffian dilcipline generally
prevailed. The confederates, however, at firft fecretly en-
couraged by the houfe of Auflria, affifted by the Turks, and
fupplied with money and officers by the French, were able
to protract hoftilities from the dilTolution of the diet in 1 768,
to the divjfion of Poland in 1773. To enter into a detail of
military operations falls not within the defign of this work.
From the various adts of cruelty and revenge which diftin-
guifh and difgrace this part of the Poliih hiftory, I fhall
fele£t only one event too remarkable to be omitted ; I al-
lude to the attempt made by the confederates to aflaffinate
the king.

The following circumftantial account of this jfingular oc-
currence was communicated to me by my ingenious friend
Nathaniel Wraxal Efq; whofe name is well known in the
literary world ; and who, during his refidence at Warfaw,
obtained the moft authentic information upon fo interefting
a tranfa6lion : as he has obligingly permitted me to enrich
my work with this narration, I am happy to lay it before the
reader in his own w^ords.

CHAP.

PRESENTREIGN. 29

CHAP, III.

Attempt to ajfajfmate the king of Poland. — His majejly at-^
tacked by the confpirators in thejlreets of JVarfaw, wounded,,
and carried off. — His adventures and miraculous ejcape. —
Return to War Jaw. — Account and fate of the principal:
confpirators.

IN the midfl of thefe turbulent and difaftrous fcenes, tHe chaf..
" confederates (who ever confidered the king as un- , ^^^'
" lawfully eledted, and who imputed to his fatal elevation
" and direilion, or approbation, all the various ills under
" which the kingdom groaned from the Ruffian oppreffion).;
" planned and executed one of the moft daring enterprizes
" of which modern hiftory makes mention. I mean the at-
'< tempt to affaffinate the king. It is fomewhat remarkable,,
" that in an age fo human ifed, {q free from the enormous
'* and flagitious crimes common in barbarous centuries, fo
*' enlightened as is the prefent, this is the third attempt on
*^ a crowned head in my remembrance. Louis XV. Jo-
" feph I. of Portugal, and Staniflaus Auguftus, all narrowly-
" efcaped aflaffination. As the attempt on his Polifli ma--
" jefty was perhaps the moft atrocious, and his efcape cer-
" tainly the moft extraordinary and incredible of the three,.
" I fliall be as minute as poffible in the enumeration of all
" the principal circumftances which led to, and which at-
" tended this remarkable event.

" A Polifh nobleman, named Pulafl<.i, a general in the
** army of the confederates, was theperfon who planned the

" atrocious

((

((
<;
((

SO S K E T C H O F T H E

" atrocious enterprize ; and the confpirators who carried it

" into execution were about forty in number, and were

" headed by three chiefs, named Lukawlki, Strawenfki, and

" Kofinfki. Thefe three chiefs had been engaged and hired

*' to tliat purpofe by Pulafki, who in the town of Czetfcho-

" kow in Great Poland obliged them to fwear in the moft

" foleran manner, by placing their hands between his, either

*' to deliver the king alive into his hands, or, in cafe that was

" impoflible, to put him to death. The, three chiefs chofe

thirty-feven perfons to accompany them. On the 2d of

*' November, about a month after they had quitted Czefto-

chow, tbey obtained admiffion into Warfaw unfufpecSled

or unrlifcovered by the following Ih^atagem. They dif-

guifed themfelves as peafants who came to fell hay, and

" artfuhy concealed their faddles, arms, and cloaths under

<' the loads of hay which they brought in waggons, the more

" effedfually to efcape detecflion.

" On Sunday night, the 3d of September, 1771, a few of
" thefe confpirators remained in the fkirts of the town ; and
" the others repaired to the place of rendezvous, the ftreet of
" the Capuchins, where his majefty was expedted to pafs by
*' about his ufual hour of returning to the palace. The king
" had been to vifit his uncle prince Zartorifki, grand chancel-
** lor of Lithuania, and was at his return from thence to the
*' palace between nine and ten o'clock. He was in a coach,
*' accompanied by at leait fifteen or fixtcen attendants, befide
*' an aid-de-camp in the carriage : fcarce w^as he at the dif-
" tance of two hundred paces from prince Czartoriflvi's pa-
*' lace, when he was attacked by the confi)irators, who com-
" manded the coachman to ftop on pain of inlfant death.
" They fired feveral Ihot into the carriage, one of which
*' paired through the body of a heyduc, who endeavoured to
2 " defend

PRESENTREIGN. 3»

** defend his mafter from the violence of the afTafilns. Ai-
" moft all' the other perfons * who preceded and accompa-
" nied his noajefty were difperfed ; the aid-de-camp aban-
" doned him, and attempted to conceal himfelf by flight.
" Mean while the king had opened the door of his carriage
" with the defign of efFe6ting his efcape under flielter of the
" night, which wa& extremely dark. He had even alighted,
*' when the affaffins feized him by the hair, exclaiming in
" Polifli with horrible execrations, ' We have thee now; thy
" hour is come.' One of them difcharged a piftol at hirn fo
" very near, that he felt the heat of the flalli ; while another
" cut him acrofs the head with his fabre, which penetrated
" to the bone. They then laid hold of his majefty by the
" collar, and, mounting on horfeback, dragged him along
*< the ground between their horfes at full gallop for near five
" hundred paces through the ftreets of Warfaw t.

^'■Allwas confufion and diforder during this time at the
'< palace, where the attendants who had deferted their mafter
" had fpread the alarm. The foot-guards ran immediately
" to the fpot from whence the king had been conveyed^ but
" they found only his hat all bloody, and his bag : this in-

* " It is incredible that fuch a number " Every part of the clpaths which his ma-

"•of perfons asvverewith his Polifli majefty " jefty wore on tiiat night are earefiiilypre-

" on. that memorable night, flvoQld all fo " fervcd. It is no lefs wonderful, that

" bafely abandon him, except the Tingle " when the afiaffins had feized on the Icing,

♦' heyduc who was killed, and who fo " they fliould carry him throngh fuch a

" bravely defended his mafter. This man " number of ftreets without being flopped.

•' was a proteftairt ; he was not killed on " ARuffian centinel did hail them; but, as

" the fpot, but expired next morning of his " they anfvvered in Rnlfian, he allowed them .

"wounds. The king allows a penfion to " to pafs, imagining them to be a patrole of

" his widow and children." " his nation. This happenedatfomc dift mce

t " It is aftonifliing, that, in the number "from the place where they had carried off

" ofballswhichpaffedthrough the carriage, " the king. The night was befides exceed.

" not one (hould hurt or wound the king. "• ingly dark, and Warfaw has no lamps.

" Several went through liis pciijjc, or fur "All thefe circumftances contribute to ac-

" great-coat. 1 have feen this cloak, and «' count for this extraordinary event."
•' the holes made ia it by the piftol bullets.

** crcafcd

32 SKETCHOFTHE

BOOK " creafed their apprehenfions for his hfe. The whole city
. I' . " was in an uproar. The affaflins profited of the univerfal
*' confufion, terror, and confternation, to bear away their
" prize. Finding, however, that he was incapable of foUow-
*' ing them on foot, and that he had already almoft loft his
*' refpiration from the violence with which they had dragged
" him, they fet him on horfeback ; and then redoubled
*' their fpeed for fear of being overtaken. When they came
*' to the ditch which furrounds Warfaw, they obliged him
** to leap his horfe over. In the attempt the horie fell twice,
" and at the fecond fall broke its leg. They then mounted
" his majefty upon another, all covered as he was with dirt.
" The confpirators had no fooner crofted the ditch, than
" they began to rifle the king, tearing off" the order * of the
Black Eagle of Praftia which he wore round his neck, and
the diamond crofs hanging to it. He requefted them to
■** leave him his handkerchief, which they confented to : his
*' pocket-book efcaped their rapacity.

" A great number of the affaffins retired after having
" thus plundered him, probably with intent to notify to their
" refpecftive leaders the fuccefs of their enterprife ; and the
" king's arrival as a prifoner. Only feven remained with
'^' him, of whom Kolinfl^i was the chief. The night was
^' exceedingly dark ; they were abfolutely ignorant of the
" way ; and, as the horfes could not keep their legs, they
*' obliged his majefty to follow them on foot, with only one
^' flioe, the other being loft in the dirt.

♦ «' It was Lukawflci, one of the three " the order of the Black Eagle to Pulaiki

•*' chiefs of the band, who tore off the rib- *' and the confederates, to prove to them

•* bon of the Black Eagle, which his Pruffi.in " inconteftibly tiiat the king was in their

" majefty had conferred on the king when " hands, and on his way. Lukawlki was

■*' he was Count Poniatowfki. One of his " afterwards executed."
■^' motives for doing this, was by fliewing

7 ^* They

PRESENT REIGN.

** They continued to wander through the open meadows,
^ without following any certain path, and without getting

* to any diftance from Warfaw. They again mounted the

* king on horfeback, two of them holding him on each fide
' by the hand, and a third leamng his horfe by the bridle.
' hi this manner they were proceeding, when his majefty,
' finding they had taken the road which led to a village called
' Burakow, warned them not to enter it, becaufe there were
' fome RufiTians ftationed in that place who might probably
' attempt to refcue him *. Finding himfelf, however, in-
' capable of accompanying the affalfins in the painful pof-
' ture in which they held him kept down on the faddle, he
' requefted them, fince they were determined to oblige him
' to proceed, at leaft to give him another horfe and a boot t:
' This requeft they complied with ; and continuing their
' progrefs through almoft impaflable lands, without any
< road, and ignorant of their way, they at length found
' themfelves in the wood of Bielany, only a league diftant

* from Warfaw. From the time they had paflTed the ditch

*" This intimation, which the king gave debtee! for thefe favours in the following

•' to his affaffins, may at firft fight appear words :

" extraordinary and unaccountable, but was ♦' As I was in the hands of the affaffins,

" really dictated by the greateft addiefs and •' I heard them repeatedly aflc John Kutfma,

" judgment. He apprehended with reai'on, " if they fiiould not affaffinate me, but he

" that, on the fight of a Ruffian guard, they " always prevented them. He was the firft

"would inftantly put him to death with " who perfuaded them to behave to me with

" their fabres, and fly ; whereas by inform- " greater gentlenefs ; and obliged them to

" ing them of the danger they incurred, he " confer upon me fome fervices which I then

" in fome meafure gained their confidence : " greatly wanted ; namely, one to give me

" in effeft, this behaviour of the kingfeemed " a cap, and a fecond a boot, ■ivhich at that

" to foften them a little, and made them " time were no trilling prcfcnts : for the

" believe he did not mean to efcape from " cold air greatly affected the wound in my

" them." " head ; and my foot, which was covered

t The king, in his fpeech to the diet on " with blood, gave me inexpreffible torture,

the trial of the confpirators, interceded " which contiaued every mometit incrcaf-

fl;rongly for Kofin&i, or John Kutfma, to " ing."
whom he gratefully expreffi^s himfelf in-

Vol. I. F " they

SKETCH OF THE

BOOK it they repeatedly demanded of Kofinfki their chief, if it was
' — ^ " not yet time to pvU the king to death ; and thefe demands
" were reiterated in proportion to the obflacles and difficulties
'* they encountered.

" Meanwhile the confufion and confternation increafed at
** Warfaw. The guards were afraid to purfue the confpi-
" rators, left terror of being overtaken fhould prompt them
** in the darknefstomaflacretheking; and on the other hand,
" by not purfuing they might give them time to efcape with
" their prize, beyond the poffibility of affiftance. Several of
" the firft nobility at length mounted on horfeback, and fol-
" lowing the track of the afTaffins, arrived at the place where
" his majefty had paffed the ditch. There they found his
'' peUJfey which he had loft in the precipitation w'ith which
" he was hurried away : it was bloody, and pierced with
*' holes made by the balls or labres. This convinced them
" that he was no more.

" The king was ftill in the hands of the feven remaining
" aflaffins, who advanced with him into the wood of Bielany,
*' when they were fuddenly alarmed by a Ruffian patrole or
*' detachment, hiftantly holding council, four of them dif-
" appeared, leaving him with the other three, who com-
** pelled him to walk on. Scarce a quarter of an hour after
" a fecond Ruffian guard challenged them a-new. Two of
" the aflaffins then fled, and the king remained alone with
'* Kofinfki the chief, both on foot. His majefty, exhaufted
" with all the fatigue which he had undergone, implored his
" conductor to ftop, and fuffer him to take a moment's repofe.
*' Kofinfki refufed it, menacing him with his naked fabre ;
" and at the fame time informed him, that beyond the wood
" they ffiould find a carriage. They continued their walk,
** till they came to the door of the convent of Bielany. Ko-

" finfki

PRESENT REIGN.

" finfki appeared loft in thought, and fo much agitated by chap.
" his reflexions, that the king perceiving his diforder, and '
" obferving that he wandered without knowing the road,
*' faid to him, * I fee you are at a lofs which way to proceed.
*' Let me enter the convent of Bielany, and do you provide
" for your own fafety. * No,' repHed Kofinfki, * I have
** fworn.'

" They proceeded till they came to Mariemont, a fmall
** palace belonging to the houfe of Saxony, not above half a
** league from Warfaw : here Kofinfki betrayed fome fatis-
*' faftion at finding where he was, and the king fl:ill de-
** manding an inftant's repofe, he confented at length. They
*' fat down together on the ground, and the king employed
" thefe moments in endeavouring to foften his conductor,
" and induce him to favour or permit his efcape. His ma-
*' jefty reprefented the atrocity of the crime he had commit-
*' ted in attempting to murder his fovereign, and the invali-
*' dity of an oath taken to perpetrate fo heinous an a6lion :
*' Kofinfki lent attention to this difcourfe, and began to be-
*' tray fome marks of remorfe. * But,' faid he, * if I fliould
" confent and recondudt you to Warfaw, what will be the
" confequence ? — I fliall be taken and executed !'

" This rcfledlion plunged him into new uncertainty and
** embarrafsment. * I give you my word,' anfwered his ma-
" jefty, ' that you fliall fufFer no harm ; but if you doubt
" my promife, efcape while there is yet time. I can find
" my way to fome place of fecurity : and I will certainly di-
*' redl your purfuers to take the contrary road to that which
" you have chofen.' Kofinfki could not any longer contain
" himfelf, but, throwing himfelf at the king's feet, implored
" forgivenefs for the crime he had committed ; and fwore to
" protedl him againft every enemy, relying totally on his

F 2 . " generofity

6 SKETCHOFTHE

BOOK u generofity for pardon and prefervation. His majefty rei-
i " terated to him his alTurances of lafety. Judging, however,
" that it was prudent to gain fome afyhim without delay,
" and recolle(Sting that there was a mill at fome confiderable
" diftance, he immediately made towards it. Kofinfki
" knocked, but in vain ; no anfwer was given : he then
" broke a pane of glafs in the window, and intreated for
*' fhelter to a nobleman who had been plundered by robbers.
" The miller refufed, fuppofing them to be banditti, and
" continued for more than half an hour to perfift in his de-
" nial. At length the king approached, and fpeaking
" through the broken pane, endeavoured to perfuade him to
*' admit them under his roof, adding, ' If we were robbers,
" as you fuppofe, it would be very eafy for us to break the
" whole window, inftead of one pane of glafs.' This argu-
" ment prevailed. They at length opened the door, and
*' admitted his majefty. He immediately wrote a note to
" General Coccei, colonel of the foot guards. It was lite-
" rally as follows : * Par une efpece de miracle j€ fuis fauv6
" des mains des affaffins. Je fuis ici au petit moulin de
" Mariemont. Venez au plut6t me tirer d'ici. Je fuis bleil^,
" mais pas fort *.' It was with the greateft difficulty, how-
" ever, that the king could perfuade any one to carry this
" note to Warfaw, as the people of the mill, imagining that
" he was a nobleman who had juft been plundered by rob-
" bers, were afraid of falling in with the troop. Kofinfl^i
" then offered to reftore every thing he had taken ; but his
" majefty left him all, except the blue ribbon of the White
" Eagle.

* " By a kitui of miracle I nm efcaped " as poffible, and take me from hence. I
*• from the hands of affaffins. I am now at " am wounded, but not dangeroufly."
*' the mill of Mariemont, Corae as foon

" When

PRESENT REIGN.

" When the meflenger arrived with the note, the aftonifh- chap.

" ment and joy was incredible. Coccei inftantly rode to the > ^1_

" mill, followed by a detachment of the guards. He met
*' Kofinfki at the door with his fabre drawn, who admitted
" him as foon as he knew him. The king had funk into a
" fleep, caufed by his fatigue ; and was flretched on the
" ground, covered with the miller's cloak. Coccei imme-
*' diately threw himfelf at his majefty's feet, calling him his
" fovereign, and kiffing his hand. It is not eafy to paint
" or defcribe the aftonifliment of the miller and his family^
" who inftantly imitated Coccei's example, by throwing.
" themfelves on their knees •••■. The king returned to War-
** faw in, General Coccei's carria.ge, and reached the palace
" about five in the morning. His wound was found not to
** be dangerous, and he foon recovered the bruifes and in-
" juries, which he had fuffered during this memorable night,

" So extraordinary an efcape is fcarce to be paralleled in
** hiftory, and affords ample matter of wonder and furprife.
*' Scarce could the nobility or people at Warfaw credit the
" evidence of their fenfes, when they fav»' him return. Cer-
" tainly neither the efcape of the king of France from Da-
*' mien, or of the king of Portugal from the confpiracy of the
" Duke d'Aveiro, were equally amazing or improbable, as
" that of the king of Poland. I have related it very minutely,
" and from authorities the higheft and moft inconieftible.

" It is natural to inquire what is become of Kolinlki, the
" man who faved his majefty's life, and the other confpira-.
*' tors. He was born in the palatinate of Cracow, and of
" mean extraction : having affumed the name of Kofinfkit,

* " I have been at this mill, rendered " miller to the extent of his vviflies in build--

'« memorable by ib Angular an event. It is " in him a mill upon the Viftula, and allow-

" a wretched Polifh hovel, at a diltance from " ing him a fmall penfion."
" any houfe. The king has rewarded the f His real name was John Kutfma,

" which .

38 SKETCHOFTHE

" which is that of a noble family, to give himfelf credit.
" He had been created an officer in the troops of the confe-
*' derates under Pulafki. It v/ould feem as if Koiinfki began
" to entertain the idea of preferving the king's life from the
** time when Liikawfki and Strawenfki abandoned him; yet
** he had great druggies with himfelf before he could refolve
*' on this conduct, after the folemn engagements into which
" he had entered. Even after he had condudled the king
" back to WarfaWj he exprefied more than once his doubts
*' of the propriety of what he had done, and fome remorfe
*» for having deceived his employers.

" Lukawfki and Strawenfki were both taken, and feveral
" of the other afTafiins. At his majefty's peculiar requeft
" and intreaty, the diet remitted the capital punifliment of
*' the inferior confpirators, and condemned them to work for
" life on the fortifications of Kaminiec, where they now are,
" By his interceffion likewife with the diet, the horrible pu-
" nifhment and various modes of torture, which the laws of
" Poland decree and infli<5l on regicides, were mitigated ; and
" bothLukawfki and Strawenfki were onlyfimply beheaded.
*' Kofinflci was detained under a very ftridt confinement,
*^ and obliged to give evidence againft his two companions.
** Aperfon of diflindlion, who faw them both die, has afTured
" me, that nothing could be more noble and manly than all
** Lukawfki's conducSt previous to his death. When he
** was carried to the place of execution, although his body
was almoft extenuated by the feverity of his confinement,
diet, and treatment, his fpirit unfubdued raifed him above
" the terrors of an infamous and public execution. He had
■*' not been permitted to fliave his beard while in prifon, and
" his drefs was fqualid to the greateft degree ; yet none of
•" thefe humiliations could deprefs his mind. With a grandeur
4. " of

P R E S E N T II E I G N. 39

" of foul worthy of a better caufe, but which it is impofTible chap.
*' not to admire, he refufed to fee or embrace the traitor > — . — •
" Kofinlki. When conducted to the fcene of execution,
" which was about a mile from Warfaw, he betrayed no
" emotions of terror or unmanly fear. He made a fliort
*^ harangue to the multitude affembled upon the occafion,
" in which he by no means expreffed any forrow for his pail
** condu6t, or contrition for his attempt on the king, which
" he probably regarded as meritorious and patriotic. His
** head was fevered from his body.

" Strawenfki was beheaded at the fame time, but he nei-
** ther harangued the people, or fliewed any figns of contri-
** tion. Pulaiki, who commanded one of the many corps
" of confederate Poles then in arms, and who was the grea^
" agent and promoter of the affaffination, is ftill alive -''v
** though an outlaw and an exile. He is faid, even by the
" Ruffians his enemies, to poflefs military talents of a very
** fuperior nature ; nor were they ever able to take him pri-
*' foner during the civil war.

" To return to Kolinilii, the man who faved the king's
" life. About a week after Lukawfki and Strawenfki's ex-
" ecution, he was fent by his majelly out of Poland. He
** now rehdes at Semigaliia m the papal territories, where he
*' enjoys an annvial pendon from the king.

*' A circumftance almoft incredible, and which feems to
" breathe all the fanguinary bigotry of the 1 6th century, 1
" cannot omit. It is that the papal nuntio in Poland, in-
" fpired with a furious zeal againll: the diffidents, whom he •
" believed to be protected by the king, not only approved

* After the conclufion of thefe tro\ibles, American fervice, and was liiUed in forcing
Pulafki eicaped from Poland, and repaired the Britilh Lines at the fiege of Savannah in
to America : he diftinguiflied hinifelf in the i/?^).

« the

SKETCH OF THE

BOOK it ^i^Q fcheme for aliUlTinating his majefty, but blefled the
v_-J__> " weapons of the confpiiators at Czeftochow, previous to their
" fetting out on their expedition. This is a trait indifputa-
" bly true, and fcarcely to be exceeded by any thing under
*' the reign of Charles IX. of France, and of his mother Ca-
" tharine of Medicis."

In addition to Mr. VVraxall's account I am enabled to add
the following circumilances :

Upon General Coccei's arrival at the mill, the firft queftion
which his majefty afked was, whether any of his attendants
had fuffered from the affaffins ; and upon being informed
that one of the heyducs was killed upon the fpot,and another
dangeroufly wounded, his mind, naturally feeling, now ren-
dered more fufceptible by his late danger, was greatly af-
fected ; and his joy at his own efcape was confiderably dimi-
niflied.

Upon his return to Warfaw, the ftreets through which he
paffed w^ere illumined with torches, and crouded by an im-
menfe concourfe of people, who followed him to the palace,
ci')'ing out incelTantly " The king is alive." Upon his en-
tering the palace, the doors were flung open, and perfons of
all ranks were admitted to approach his perion, and to felici-
tate him upon his efcape. The fcene, as I have been informed
by feveral of the nobility who were prefent, was aftefling
beyond defcription. Every one ftruggled to get near him,
to kifs his hand, or even to touch his cloaths : all were fo
tranfported with joy, that they even loaded Kofinlki with
careires, and called him the faviourof their king. His ma-
jefty was fo affedled with thefe figns of zeal and afFedlion,
that he exprefted in the moft feeling manner his ftrong fenfe
of thefe proofs of their attachment, and declared it was the
happieft hour of his whole life. In this moment of rapture

PRESENTREIGN. ^t

he forgot the dangers he had avoided, and the wounds he had chap.
received ; and as every one feemed anxious to learn the cir- ^ ,'_■
cumftances of his efcape, he would not fuffer his wounds to
be infpe<5ted and drefled before he had himfelf fatisfied their
impatience, by relating the difficulties and dangers he had
undergone. During the recital, a perfon unacquainted with
the language might have difcovered the various events of the
ftory from the changes of expreffion in the countenances of
the byftanders, which difplayed the moft fudden alterations
from terror to compaffion, from compaffion to aftonifhment,
and from aftonifhment to rapture; while the univerfal filence
was only broken by fighs and tears of joy.

The king having finiflied the account, again repeated his
afTurances of gratitude and afFe6tion for the unfeigned proofs
they had given of their love and attachment ; and difmifled
them, by adding, that he hoped he had been thus miracu-
loufly preferved by Divine Providence, for no other purpofe
than to purfue with additional zeal the good of his country,
which had ever been the great objedt of his attention.

Being now left alone, his majefty permitted the furgedns
to examine the wound in his head. Upon cutting away the
fkin, it appeared that the bone was hurt, but not dangeroufly ;
from the quantity of clotted blood, the operation of dreffing
was tedious and painful, and was fubmited to by the king
with great patience and magnanimity. The furgeons pro-
pofed at firil: to bleed him in the .foot; but they laid afide
this intention upon finding both his feet fwollen confider-
ably, and covered with blilters and bruiies.

The family of the heyduc, who had faved the king's life
by the lofs of his own, was amply provided for: his body was
buried with great pomp ; and his majefty erected an hand-

VoL. I. • G fome

THE PRESENT REIGN.

J300K fome monument to his memory, with an elegant infcription
expreflive of the man's fideUty and of his own gratitude.

I faw the monument : it is a pyramid ftanding upon a
farcophagus, with a Latin and Pohfli infcription; the former
1 copied, and it is as follows.

" Hie jacet Georgius Henricus Butzau, qui regem Stani-
" flaum Auguftum nefariis parricidorum telis impeditum,
" die I r I Nov. 1771, proprii pectoris clypeo defendens,
" geminatis icSlibus confofflis, gloriofe occubuit. Fidelis
" fubditi necem lugens, Rex pofuit hocce monumentum il-
" lius in laudem, aliis exemplo *."

* "Here liesGeorge Henry Butzau, who, " woiinds, and glorioufly expired. The

" on the 3d of November, 1771, oppofing " king, Limenting the death of a faithful

*' his own bread to fliield Staniflaus Au- " fubjert, ereded this monument, as a tri-

" guftus from the weapons of nefarious " bare to him, and an incentive to others."
*• parricides, was pierced with repeated

CHAP.

[ 43 3

CHAP. IV.

Account of the plan and progrefs of the partition o/ Poland. —
Proje&ed by the king of Vxn^\?^,~->- Adopted by the emperor
(?/Germany, a?id finally acceded to by the emprefs of Ruffia.
— 'The confent of the king and diet 0/ Poland extorted after
great oppojit ion. — Changes in the government introduced by
the partitioning powers, — Spirited^ but fruitlejs^ rejiflance
of the Polifli delegates. — Fate of the diffident s.

E are now arrived at that remarkable event of the chap.
prefent reign, the partition of Poland ; which was ^^'

planned with fuch profound fecrecy, that it was fcarcely fuf-
pected before it was carried into execution. Poland had long
derived its principal fecurity from its peculiar fituation be-
tween three great powers, each equally interefted to prevent
the others from acquiring any increafe of ftrength, or addi-
tion of territory : the union of thefe rival potentates was
confidered as a circumftance nearly impoffible ; and fliould
fucli an unexpedled union take place, it was thought incre-
dible that the other princes of Europe would pallively fub-
mit to a material alteration in the balance of power.

Treaties upon treaties, and negotiations upon negotiations
had guarantied to Poland the pofTeffion of her territory ; and
the very three powers w^ho difmcmbered her provinces, had,
at the prefent king's acceffion, folemnly renounced all right
and title to any part of the Polifli dominions. But treaties
and guaranties are in general only adhered to until theycan be
broken with fafety : the only effe<5tual method for any ftate

G 2 to

44 PARTITIONOFPOLAND.

BOOK to fecure its dominions, is to make itfelf refpedlable by its
• — , — • ilrength and unanimity, and to be prepared againft any at-
tacks. When a powerful people impute national difafters,
which a proper vigour andtbrefight might have prevented,
to the perfidy of foreign liates, they only bear teftimony, in
more fpecious terms, to their own indolence, negligence, or
weaknefs of government. Nor is that fyftematical jealoufy,
which modern nations profefs to entertain for the balance of
power, to be depended on as a more efFeftual fafeguard to
any particular flate, than the faith of treaties. This principle,
though founded on the moft obvious and judicious policy,
and though at times productive of the moft beneficial effeds,
is unluckily liable to be countera<51:ed and defeated by an al-
moft innumerable variety of contingencies. Where a com-
bination of different powers is requifite to give efficacy to this
principle, thofe powers may want unanimity and concert ;
v/here again the exertion of only a fingle ftate is fufficient,
that ftate may, by the temporary fituation of affairs, or the
cafual interefts of its governing party, be rendered incapable
of afting with proper fpirit. In a word, the anxiety of
European ftates for the prefervation of the balance of power
is, by no means, an invariable pledge of prote<51;ion to any
fingle nation. Venice was brought to the verge of ruin by
a reliance on this principle ; Poland received from it no fub-
'ftantial protecflion ; nor did England, thotagh ftruggling
fingly againfi: a hoft of enemies, reap, in her late contelf, the
• flighteft benefit from its influence.

The natural ftrength of Poland, if properly exerted, would
have formed a more certain bulwark againft the ambition of
her neighbours, than the faith of treaties, or an attention, in
the other European nations, to the balance of power. It is
extremely worthy of remark, that of the three partitioning

powers,

PARTITION OF POLAND.

powers, Pruflia * was formerly in- a ftate of vaffalage to the ^]1^^*
republic ; Ruffia t once favv its capital and throne poffeffed > — , — -
by the Poles ; while Auftria, fcarce a century ago, was in-
debted to a fovereign | of this country for the prefervation
of its metropolis, and almoft for its very exiftence.

A kingdom, fo lately the mailer or protedlor of its neigh-
bours, would never have been fo readily overwhelmed by
them, without the molt glaring imperfe<flions in its govern-
ment. Poland, in truth, formerly more powerful than any
of the furrounding ftates, has, from the defedls of its con-
ftitution, declined in the midft of general improvement ;
and, after giving law to the north, is become an eafy prey
to every invader.

The Partition of Poland was firft projected by the king of
Pruflia. Polifli or Weftern Pruflia had long been an objedl
of his ambition : exchifive of its fertility, commerce, and po-

♦ In the 13th century, all Pniflia belonged
to the l(nights of the Teutonic order. In
1454 that part, fince denominated Polifli or
Weftern Pruffia, revolted to CafimirlV, and
was afterwards incorporated into the domi-
nions of the republic ; at the fame time the
knights were conftrained to hold the remain-
ing part, called Eaftern Pniifia, as a fief of
thecrown of Poland. In 1525 Eaftern Pruf-
fia was erefled into an hereditary duchy,
r.nd given to Albert of Brandenburg as a
Polifli fief. Upon his death it fell to his
fon Albert Frederic, who being impaired
in his faculties, the adminiftration was veiled
firft in Joachim Frederic eleftor of Branden-
burg, and afterwards in Joachim's fon John
Sigifmond, who had married Albert's daugh-
ter. Upon the demife of Albert, without
ir.ale heirs, John Sigiimond, whoJucceeded
to the duchy of Pruffia, did homage for that
duchy as a vaffalof the republic. His grand-

fon Frederic V/illiam, the great Eleftor, was
the firft duke of Pruflia releafed from this
badge of feudal dependence by John ^afimir;
Eaftern Pruffia being declared a fovereign,
independent, and hereditary duchy.

Frederic, fon of Frederic William the
Great, affumed the title of King of Pruffia,
which however the Poles never acknow-
ledged, until 1764, at the acceffion of. Sta-
niUaus Auguftus. His prefent majefty Fre-
deric II. by ihe partition treaty now poffefles
borh Weftern and Eaftern Pruffia.

t Under Sigifmond III. whofe troops got
polTeffion of Mofcow, and whofe fon Ladif-
laus was choftn great duke of Mufcovy by
a party of the Ruffian nobles.

X John Sobieiki, who compelled theTurks
to raife the fiege of Vienna, and delivered
the houfe of Auftria from the greateft dan.
gers it ever experienced.

pvilation,.

'46 P A R T I T I O N O F P O L A N D.

Booic .pulation, its local fituation rendered it highly valuable to
'^ — . — ' that monarch ; it lay between his German dominions and
Eallern Pruilia, and while poflelTed by the Poles, cut off, at
their will, all communication between them. During the
courfe of the laft general war, he experienced the moft fatal
effects from this disjoined ftate of his territories. By the ac-
quifition of Weftern Prullia, his dominions would be ren-
dered compacft, and his troops in time of war be able to
march from Berlin to Koningfburgh without interruption.
The period was now arrived, when the fituation of Poland
ieemed to promife the attainment of this favourite object.
He purfued it, however, with all the caution of an able
politician. On the commencement of the troubles,
lie fliewed no eagernefs to interfere in the affairs of
tliis country ; and although he had concurred with the
emprefs of Pvuflia in railing Staniflaus Auguftus to the
throne of Poland ; yet he declined taking any ad:ive part in
his favour againil the confederates. Afterwards, when the
v/hole kingdom became convulfed throughout with civil
1769. commotions, and defolated likewife by the plague, he,
under pretence of forming lines to prevent the fpreading of
the infedtion, advanced his troops into Polifli Pruffia, and
occupied that whole diftriil.

Though now completely mafler of the country, and by
no means apprehenfive of any formidable refiftance from
the difunited and diftraded Poles, yet, as he was well aware
tliat the fecurity of his new acquifition depended upon the
acquiefcence of Pruffia and Auftria, he plannetl the Partition
of Poland. He communicated the proJeiSt to the emperor,
cither upon their interview at Neifs in Silefui, in 1 769, or
6 in

P A R T I T I O N O F P O L A N D. 4;

in that of the following year, at Neuftadt in Auftria ; from chap.
whom the overture met with a ready concurrence. Jofeph,
who had before fecretly encouraged the confederates, and
even commenced a negotiation with the Porte againll Ruflia,
now fuddenly altered his meafures, and increafed his army
towards the Poliili frontiers. The plague prefenting to him,
as well as to the king of Pruffia, a fpecious motive for itati^
oning troops in the dominions of the republic ; he gradually
extended his lines, and, in 1772, occupied the whole terri-
tory, which he has fince difmembered. But, notwithftanding
this change in his fentiments, his real views upon Poland
were at firft fo effedually concealed, that the Polifli rebels
conceived that the Auflrian army was advancing to a6t in
their favour ; not fuppofing' it poffible, that the rival courts-
of Vienna and Berlin could ad: in concert.

Nothing more remained towards completing the partition,
than the acceffion of the emprefs of Ruffia. That great prin~-
cefs was too difcerning a politician not to regard with a jealous
eye the introdudtion of foreign powers in Poland. Poflefling
an uncontrouled afcendancy over the whole country, fhe
could propofe no material advantage from the formal acqui-
fition of a part ; and mull purchafe a moderate addition to
her territory by a confiderable furrender of authority. The*'
king of PrufTia, well acquainted with the true intcrefts of'
Ruffia in regard to Poland,, and with the capacity of the
emprefs to difcern thofe interefts, forbore (it is faid) open--
ing any negotiation on the fubjed; of the partition, until flie
was involved in a TurkiHi war. At that crifis he difpatched:
his brother Prince Flenry to Peterfburg, who fuggefted to the-
emprefs that the houfeof Auftria was forming jin aUiance with.^
the Porte, which, if it took place, would create a moll: formi-
dable.

48 PARTITIONOFPOLAND.

^°P^ dable combination againft her; that, neverthelefs, the
• — ^ friendfhip of that houfe was to be purchafed by acceding to
the partition ; that upon this condition the emi^eror was
willing to renounce his connexion with the Grand Signior,
and would fuffer the Ruffians to profecute the war without
interruption. Catharine, anxious to pulli her conquefts
againft the Turks, and dreading the interpolition of the
emperor in that quarter ; perceiving likewife, from the
intimate union between the courts of Vienna and Berlin,
that it would not be in her power, at the prefent juncture, to
prevent the intended partition, clofed with the propofal,
and fele6led no inconfiderable portion of the Polifli territories
for herfelf. 1 he treaty was figned at Peterfburg in the
beginning of February, 1772, by the Ruffian, Auftrian,
and Pruffian plenipotentiaries.

As the troops of the three courts were already in pof-
feffion of the greateft part of Poland, the confederates,
hemmed in on all fides, were foon routed and difperfed;
and Europe waited in anxious expedation what would
be the iffiie of this unexpedled union : yet fuch was
the profound fecrecy with which the partitioning powers
proceeded, that for fome time after the ratification
of the treaty, only vague conjedlures were entertained
even at Warfaw •■■ concerning their real intentions ; and
the late lord Cathcart, the Englifli minifter at PeterfiDurg,

was

* I have' a coUeftion of MS. letters writ- " On cache aViennfeles vrais motifs et le

ten from Warl'aw before and after the par- " but de la prochaine entree des troupes en

tition : the following paflages from thofe " Pologne," Sec. May 6, 1772.

letters will fliew the myfterious conduft of All the letters fpeak of the apprehenfions

the three courts, and the uncertainty of the of difmemberment ; but the firft ^vhich

Poles concerning the difmemberment. mentions it with any certainty is dated May

'9,

PARTITION OF POLAND.

was able to obtain no authentic information of its lignature, chap.
until two months after the event. v__, —

The firft formal notification of any pretenfions to the Po-
lifh territory was in the month of September, 1772, an-
nounced to the king and fenate affembled at Warfaw, by the
hnperial embaflador ; which was foon followed by the memo-
rials of the Ruffian and Pruffian courts, fpecifying their re-
fpe^tlive claims. It would be tedious to enter into a detail of
the pleas urged by the three powers in favour of their feveral
demands ; it would be no lefs uninterefting to lay before
the reader, the anfwers and remonilrances of the king and
fenate, as well as the appeals to the other ftates which had
guarantied the poflTeffions of Poland. The courts of London,
Paris, Stockholm, and Copenhagen, remonftrated againft the
ufurpations ; but remonftrances without affiftance could be
of no effect. Poland fubmitted to the difmemberment, not
without the molt viol entftruggles, and now, for the firft time,
felt and lamented the fatal efFecSls of faction and difcord.

A diet being demanded by the partitioning powers, in or-
der to ratify the ceffion of the provinces, was, after fome
delay, convoked by the king in the following fummons :
" Since there are no hopes from any quarter, and any further
" delay* will only tend to draw down the moft dreadful cala-
*' mities upon the remainder of the dominions which are left
" to the republic; the diet is convened for the 19th of April,
" 17735 according to the will of the three courts : neverthe-

19, which relates, that one of the king of " dent lii deflus ne peucvent, pas etre fur

Prulfia's officers, palling through Marien. " de vaiiies imaginations etconje(Stures,"&c.
burgh, even faid, that the neighbourhood of Auguft 13. " La bombe va crever, on

that town had fallen to the king by the " acheve le traite de partage," &c.
partition. Aiiguft 24. " C'en eft fait, le traite cbaii,.

May 30. " On croit de plus etpliis qu'on " che au mois de Fevrier vient de prendre

•• nous partagera, tant d'avis qui s'accor- " confiftence," &c.

Vol. I. H « lefs,

50 PARTITION OFPO LAND.

BOOK a lefg^ in order to avoid all caufe of reproach, the king, with
" the advice of the lenate, again appeals to the guaranties of
*' the treaty of Oliva."

The diet met at the appointed time; and fuch was the fpi-
rit of the members, that notwithftanding the deplorable fitu-
ation of their country, the threats and bribes of the three
powers, the partition-treaty was not carried through without
much difficulty. For fome time the majority of the nuntios
appeared determined to oppofe the difmemberment, and the
king firmly perfifted in the fame refolution. The embalTa-
dors of the three courts enforced their requifitions by the
moft alarming menaces ; and threatened the king with depo-
fition and imprifonment. They alfo gave out by their emif-
faries, that in cafe the diet continued refractory, Warfaw
fliould be pillaged. This report was induftrioufly circulated,
and made a fenfible impreffion upon the inhabitants. By
menaces of this fort, by corrupting the marflial of the diet,
who was accompanied with a Ruffian guard ; in a word, by
bribes, promifes, and threats, the members of the diet were
at length prevailed on to ratify the difmemberment. In the
fenate however, or upper houfe, there was a majority of
only fix ; in the lower houfe, or affembly of the nuntios,
but one finple vote in favour of the meafure *. An adl was
then paffed to limit the feffi-ons of the diet to the term of a
few days, and delegates were a})pointed, with full powers to
adjvift, in concert with the embaffadors, all the terms of the
difmemberment^ The commillioners, or delegates, on the
breaking vip of the diet in May,, immediately entered upon
their office ; and, by the month of September, finally coa-
cluded the treaty of the partition in conformity to the dic-

• By 54 againft es-
tates

PARTITIONOFPOLAND. 3^

tates of the three courts. At this juncture, feveral nobles chap.
were bold enough to iflue manifeftos and remonftances in ^y* ,
various parts of the kingdom, againft the ceffion of the pro-
vinces, and to reprobate the conduit of the partitioning pow-
ers ; but fuch remonrtrances were totally difregarded, and
may be confidered only as the lart convulfions of an expiring
nation.

Of the difmembered countries '■•, the Ruflian province is
the largeft, the Auftrian the molt populous, and the Pruffian
the molt commercial. The population of the whole
amounts to near 5,000,000 of fouls; the firft containing
1,503,000, the fecond 2,500,000, and the third 860,000.
Weftern Pruffia was the greateft lofs to Poland, as, by the
difmemberment of that province, the navigation of the Vif-
tula entirely depends upon the king of Pruffia ; by the lofs
confequently of this diftritft a fatal blow was given to the
trade of Poland ; for his Pruffian majelty has laid fuch heavy
duties upon the merchandize paffing to Dantzic, as greatly
to diminifli the commerce of that town, and to transfer a
coniiderable portion of it to Memmel and Konigfburgh.

Although the limits of Poland were fettled by the treaty
of Partition, yet the Aultrians and Pruffians continually ex-
tended their frontiers : the emperor feized uponCalirair, and
even avowed an intention of taking poffeffion of Cracow and
Kaminiec ; while Frederic alledged thefe ufurpations of the
emperor as a j aftification for fimilar incroachments on his
part ; urging, that he could not, confiitent with his own i'e-
curity, fee the emperor increafing his dominions without fol-
lowing his example, and affiaming an equivalent.

* The reader, by confulting t)ie map of bercd provinces. For nn account of the
Poland (prefixed to this work), will dee the Auftrian province, fee Book II. chap. I.;
fiiu.ition and extent of the three dil'meni- of the Ru.Tmn, Book III. ch. I.

II 2 Catharine

PARTITION OF POLAND.

BOOK Catharine was forced for a time to connive at thefe en-

<■ ,J croachments ; but no fooner was peace * eftabliflied with

the Turks, and the rebellion of PugatchefFcruflied, than fhe
immediately turned her whole attention to Poland ; and it
is owing to her fi^irited remonftrances, that both Auftrians
and Pruffians have relinquiihed their ufurpations ; and con-
fined themfelves to the limits marked by the treaty of par-
tition.

The partitioning powers did lefs injiiry to the republic
by difmembering its faireft provinces, than by perpetuating
the principles of anarchy and coufufion, and eftablifhing on a
permanent footing, that exorbitant liberty +, which is the
parent of faction, and has proved the decline of the republic.
Under pretence of amending the conftitution, they have con-
firmed all its defeds, and have taken effe(5\ual precautions
to render this unhappy country incapable of emerging from
its prefent deplorable ftate.

The delegates, who ratified the treaty of partition, were
alfo empowered by the diet to concert with the three courts
any alterations in the conftitution which might appear benefi-
cial to the kingdom ; in conlequence of thefe full ]X)wers, the

* The peace between the Emprefs and And in another, dated Sept. 14, 177J,
the Turks was figned on the 21ft of July, *' The king of Pruffia has written to the
1774, in Marflial RomanzoPs camp near " emprefs of Ruilia a letter in a moft en-
Bulgaria; and in a letter from Warfaw, "chanting ftyle. After much praife, he
dated Auguft29, of thefame year, it is faid, "adds, that notwithftanding the jultice
" The Emperor and King of Pruffia conti- " of his claim upon thofe parts which he
" nued encroaching upon the Polifh terri- " has annexed to his former acquifitions,
" tories, and enlarging theirfrontiers which " he fliail make no difficulty in facrificing
" were marked by the trcty of Peterlburg. " them, as a proof of his readinefs to oblige
*' But upon the conclufion of the peace, the " her Imperial majefty ; provided the houfe
" Auftrian and Pruffian troops retired with- " of Auftria will alfo reftore what flie has
•• in their refpeftive lines. Behold already " taken."

•' the good effei!^s of this glorious peace ! f " Our liberty," faid a Pole, " is like a

" What would have become of us, if the " two-edged fword in the han<I of an infant,

" arms of the Ottoman empire had prof- " and for that very reafon our neighbours

" pcrcd according to the wifliss of many." " are anxious to preferve it entire."

4 delegation

PARTITIONOFPOLAND. 53

delegation continued fitting from May 1773 to March 1775, ^fy^'
during which period the convocation of the ordinary diet was ' — . — '
poflponed, until the naembers of the delegation had agreed
to all the innovations propofed by the embaifadors ; and un-
til every part of the government was finally arranged. Not-
withftanding the wretched condition of Poland, and the re-
fiftlefs power of the three courts, yet the king and the majo-
rity of the delegates long with-held their confent to the
propofed alterations.

Some idea of the fpirit of the delegates may be formed
from the following account of one of the meetings, when the
proportions relating to the change of government were firft
produced in September, 1773. Prior to the appearance
of the three embafladors in the aifembly, much was faid,
and with great vehemence, againil the projeded inno-
vations ; many reproaches were thrown out againft
the authors of that plan, for facrificing the public advan-
tage to their private ambition, refentment, and interefts.
At the entrance of the three erabaffadors, a dead filence
took place for fome minutes, until the fecretary of the Rufr
fian embafly began to read the plan for new-modelling the
conftitution ; then a general murmur fpread through the
whole aflembly, and, as he proceeded, increafed to fuch a
degree as almott to drown his voice ; nor was it without
frequent interruptions, that he was permitted to finilh its
recital. He had fcarcely concluded, when the whole body
of delegates loudly demanded the treaties of partition and
alliance: the embaffadors anfvvering, that many points could
not be adjufted without farther inltrucflions from their re-
fpedive courts : it was replied, that in the mean time they

might

PARTITION OF POLAND.

BOOK t^iight enforce the treaty of commerce, which they were
' — v^^ — ' autlioriled to conckide. At all events, it was urged, the
jpropofal concerning the change of government is prema-
ture ; a revoUition of fuch extreme importance demands
the moft deUberate examination, and ought not to be hur-
ried through, as if it was a circumftance of no concern to
the nation. One of the delegates, who was molt violent
in his oppofition, delivered his lentiments with a freedom
which ailonilhed the aflembly; and when the embafiadors,
who did not underftand the Polilh idiom, applied to a Caf-
tellan for an explanation of what was faid, the latter ex-
cufed himfelf, under pretence of not being qualified for
the office of interpreter, as having but an imperfecSl know-
ledge of the French language. When, at lail, one of the
Palatines, who was of the embaffador's party, acquainted
them with the contents of the fpeech ; the orator ven-
tured to thank him for explaining the purport of his
harangue in fo able a manner; while the praifes which,
in a fine tone of irony, he affected to bellow upon the
Palatine for his readinefs to oblige, as well as for his inde-
pendent fpirit, occafioned much mirth in the affembly.
The undifguifed approbation given by the greateft part of
the members to this orator, convinced the embafPadors that
this was no time to obtrude their refolutions upon the de-
legates ; they accordingly l)roke up the meeting, and polt-
poned the bufinefs to a future opportunity *. The next
feflion, however, was not more favovirable to their wifhes,
nor did the patriotic zeal of the delegates feem to abate.

* The follow.jng pafia'ge in one of my " continues to be read ; itftill excites con-

MS. letters, dated lb late as Nov. 13, 1774, " tinual debates, and more will arife ; but

will (hew the .ditHciilty of fettling with the " all will be finifhcd according to the will

ilslegates. '♦ of the nainifters.''

♦* The plan for the permanent council

The

PARTITIONOFPOLAND. ^^

The oppofition of the delegates to this meafure conti-
nued fo violent, that more than a year elapied before the
embaffadors were able, by the influence of threats, bribery,
and promifes, to obtain a majority ; at length, the dele-
gates, terrified or feduced into compliance, formally ac-
ceded to the change of government. This important point-
being obtauied, the delegation was diffolved on the i 3th
of April, 1775, and all the articles were confirmed by the
general diet.

The following note, delivered by the three embafladors to..
the delegates on the 13th of September, 1773, will give the
beft general idea of the changes made in the conftitution,
" The courts are fo interefted in the pacification of Poland^.
" that, while the treaties are getting ready to be ligned and
*' ratified, the miniftcrs cannot lofe any of that valuable time, Co
" necelFary for the re-ettablifliment of order, and the tran-
*' quillity of this kingdom. We now, therefore, deliver to-
*' the delegation a part of thofe cardinal laws, to the ratifi-
" cation of which our courts will not fuffer any contradicftion.

I. " The crown of Poland fliall be for ever eledlive, and
*-' all order of fuccefTion profcribed : any perfon who fliall.
** endeavour to break this law, fliall be declared an enemy
** to his country, and liable to be puniflied accordingly.

II. " Foreign candidates to the throne being the frequent
" caufe of troubles and divilion, fhall be excluded ; and it
*•• fiiallbeena(5ted,that, for the future, no perfon can be chofen
** king of Poland, and great duke of Lithuania, excepting
*' a native Pole, of noble* origin, and poflefling land within
** the kingdom. Thcfon,orgrandfon, of akingof Polandcan-
** aot \i^ elected immediately upon the death of their father or

* That is, any gentleman.

" grand father; J;

56 P A R T I T I O N O F P O L AN D.

BOOK li grandfather ; and are not eligible, excepting after an in-
« — y, — '" terval of two reigns.

III. " The government of Poland fliall be for ever free,
** independent, and of a republican form.

IV. " The true principle of the faid government confift-
" ing in the ftridt execution of its laws, and the equilibrium
" of the three eftates, namely, the king, thefenate, and the
" equeflrian order, a Permanent Council fliall be eftabliflied,
" in which the executive power fliall be veiled. In this coun-
" cil the eqiiefl:rian order, hitherto excluded from the admi-
*' niflration of affairs in the intervals of the diets, fhall be
" admitted, as fliall be more clearly laid down in the future
" arrangements."

Thefe arrangements having been carried into execution, I
fliall make a few remarks upon the feveral articles.

By the firft, the houfe of Saxony, and all foreign princes,
who might be likely to give weight to Poland by their here-
ditary dominions, are rendered incapable of filling the throne.
By the fecond, the exclufion of a king's fon or grandfon,
excejJting after an interval of. two reigns, removes the
fainteft profpeft of an hereditary fovereignty, and entails up-
on the kingdom all the evils infeparable from that mofl:
wretched form of government, an eledlive monarchy. By
the third article, xXiQliberwn veto,znCi all the exorbitant privi-
leges of the equeftrian order, are confirmed in their utmoft
latitude ; and by the laft, the prerogatives of the crown, be-
fore too greatly reduced, are flill farther diminiflied, as will
be more minutely difplayed in the enfuing chapter.

Before the conclufion of this chapter, it will be proper to
mention the fate of the diflTidents. Their pretenlions were
finally fettled between the republic and the mediating powers,

PARTITION OF POLAND,

at the laft meeting of the delegates. The cathoHc party op- chap.
pofed ia fo violent a manner the reftoration of their antient > — ,^—,
privileges, that, by the confent of the foreign courts, they
continue excluded from the diet, the lenate, and the per-
manent council. In return, however, the diffidents enjoy
the free exercife of their religion; are permitted to have
churches without bells ; fchoolsand feminaries of their own ;
they arc capable of fitting in the inferior courts of juftice, and
in the tribunal appointed to receive appeals in matters of
religion, three of their communion are admitted as afleflbrs.

In confequence of this toleration, the diffidents have con-
ftrutted churches in different parts of the kingdom; one
built upon this occafion by the Lutherans at Warfaw, has
the following infcription :

" Has aedes Deo T. O. facras
" Coetus Varfovienfis in Auguft. ConfefT. ex confenfa Sta-

*' niflai Augufti Regis et Reipublicge flruere coepit^

*^ Aprilis 24, 1777."

Vol. L I GHAP.

58 GO V E R N M E N T OF POLAND.

;€ H A P, V.

Government 0/ Poland. — Legijlathe authority poffejjed by the
dkt. — Executive power vejied iji the permanent council. —
Ai5i for tbeejlablifhnient oj that council. — Article I. Arrange^
ment of the permanent council. — Co?iJlituent parts taken
from the three eflales^ the king^fenate^ and equeflrian order^
' — EleBion of the members. — Prerogatives of the king.—-'
Limitations of his authority, — Primate. — Marfjjal of the
equeflrian order. — Article 11. Mode of proceeding. — Its
five departments. — Foreign affairs. — Police. — // ar. —
Juflice. — T'he T'reafury. — Article III. Power and duties.
— Article IF. Limits of its authority. — Detail of the Jive
departjncitts.

BOOK ^ I "^HE government of Poland is With great propriety ftyled
•*- a republic, becaufe the king is fo exceedingly limited
in his prerogative, that he refembles more the chief of a
.commonwealth, than the fovereign of a powerful monarchy.
The fupreme legiflative authority of this republic refides
in the three eftates of the realm, the king, fenate, and equef-
-trian order, affembled in a national diet •••. The executive
power, which was heretofore entrufted to the king and fe-
nate, is now, according to the new form of government, vefted
in the permanent council.

* for an account of the diet, fee the next chapter.

c ^ The

PERMANENT COUNCIL. 3^,

The adt for the eftablifliment of the permanent council, chap.
by the diet of 177 5, is thus worded. . ' ^

Since the former exiftence of the council ad latus noflrum
in the republic is proved from the antientconflituvions which
mention it, and nominally from the lixth article in the con-
firmation of king Stephen, as well as from the conffcitutions *
of 1576, 1590^ 1607, 164T, 1669, 1677, and of 1678 :
We therefore eftablifli a national council, ad latus nojlrum^-
compofed of the three orders, namely, of us the king, the
fenate, and of the equeftrian order, to a^it in the manner pre=
fcribed as follows.-

Article I.
Arrangement of the Permanent Council.

I. This council fhall bear the title of Supreme Permanent'
Council. It fliall be compofed of the three eftates of the re-
public, namely, of the king,, the fenate, and the equeftrian
order, which fliall be for ever infeparable, excepting during
an interregnum, or in the king's abfence, for which a provi-
llon is hereafter made.-

The firft" eftate, the king, as- chief of the natron, is never "
changed; but the other two eftates fliall be elefted, every
two years, at the ordinary diet, by themajority of fecret votes, •
in the following manner,-

I. All fenators and-minifters are candidates of coiTrfe, buf
the members of the equeftrian order fliall addrefs themfelves
to themarftial of the laft diet ; and, in cafe of his death or
abfence, to the ftrft nuntio of the province from which the
marflial was taken, three days before the diet, either in per- -
fon, or by memorials figned by themfelves, and fealed vritli '
their own coats of arms.

* The laws of Polnnd are caller! confti- of 1576, i Jgo, &;c. as paffed in 'the' diets
tutions, and are denominated conftitutions v/hich afl'embled iu'thcle ycarj.

I 2 2, The

GOVERNMENT OF POLAND.

BOOK 2. The marflial of the diet being eleded, all the ceremo-
> nies ill the chamber of the nuntios being properly performed,
and after the jundion of the two houles according to the
conftitution of 17 68, the lilts of the candidates fliall be read;
that of the fenators and minilfers by one of the principal fe-
cretaries ; and that of the candidates of the equeltrian
order by the fecretary of the diet. No perfon lliall be
excluded from being a candidate, who can prove that he
pjireHes the necelfary conditions and qualifications, fuch
as are hereafter deicribed. And if any perfon fo qualified
is omitted, the great fecretaries fliall be anfwerable to the
fame diet for the omiirion of fenators and minifters, and the
marllial of the diet for that of the members of the equeftrian
order; and if they are convidfed of having defignedly been
guilty of the omiflion, they fliall be deprived of their charges.

3, A printed lift of the candidates lliall, the fame day, be
given to each member of the diet, to be taken into conlide-
ration.

4. The enfuing day each member of the diet fliall fecretly
mark the names of as many perfons in the printed lift as are
neceftary to fill the permanent council.

This ceremony fliall be performed in a corner of the fe-
iiate-houfe. The fenators invited by the great marflials, or,
in their abfence, by thofe who perform the office of marflials,
and the nuntios fummoned by the marlhal of the diet, fliall
receive from the fecretaries the printed lift of the candidates,
ftamped with the arms of the republic, fimilar to that which
was diftributed the preceding day. With thefe lifts they
fhall repair in order, one after the other, to a fmall table fur-
rounded with curtains, upon which table they fliall fecretly
draw a line under the names of the perfons whom they fa-
vour ; and every one fliall put his lift into a vafe ftanding

upon

PERMANENT COUNCIL. (5r

iipDn a table in the corner of the hall, which vafe flikll chap.
be previoully opened in the fenate-houfe by the raarflial, « — „— <
who is firiV in rank, in order to fliew that it is emi^ty.
The vafe fliall be provided with three different locks, the
keys whereof Ihall be given, one to his majefty, a fecond
to the great marflial, or to him who Hands in his place,
and a third to the marlhal of the diet. At the fame time
nine deputies fliall be chofen, three from the fenate by
the king, and fix by the marflial of the diet from the equef-
trian order. As foon as all the lifts have been delivered,
thefe deputies, being fworn, fliall bring the vafe into the
middle of the fenate-houfe, and having, in the face of the
whole allembly, opened it with the three keys, fliall compare
the number of lifts with the members of the diet who are
prefent, count the fufirages, and the firft in rank among the
deputies fliall openly proclaim the names of thofe who have
the majority.

5. Each eledlor muft underline in the printed lift fo many^
and fuch perfons as are required ; that is, among the perfons
eledted Ihall be the third of the members in the late per-
manent council, to the number of twelve, namely, fix from
the fenate and miniftry, and as many from the equeftrian
order, equally chofen from each province.

All the lifts, in which this rule is not obferved, and in
which there are more or lefs perfons nominated than the ne-
ceffary number, fliall be confidered as null, and be rejecfted
by the deputies.

6. Thofe who have the plurality of fuffrages fliall be ad-
mitted into the council ; and it is only in cafe of an equal
number of votes for any candidate or candidates, that the
king fliall have the cafting voice,

I The

62 GOVERNMENT OF POLAND.

BOOK i[^Q neceflary qualifications, which entitle a member of

|L-_y! ' the equeftrian order to become a candidate for a feat in the

council, are to have belonged to any of the four jurifdiilions
of the republic, (of the marflial, of war, of the aireffo-
rium *, and of the treafury), to have been deputy in any
tribunal, nuntio of the diet, or minifter to a foreign court.
Thofe who fhall be elected during the diet, before they enter
upon their office fhall take the following oath.

*' I do fwear, in the name of the Almighty, that I will
" be faithful to youStaniflaus Auguftus, my gracious mafler^
" and to the republic of Poland ; that, in the exercife of my
" office as counfellor of the permanent council, I wiU execute
** with zeal all which the laws relative to the permanent
" council ordain : that I will not fulfer myfelf to be fur-
" prifed either by prefents or menaces ; that in giving my
*' advice I will not be biafTed by any perfon, but will ait in^
*' obedience to the laws, and in conformity to juftice will
*' confult the good of my country ; that if I fee or know any
" thing which may be either ferviceable or detrimental to
" my country,! will faithfully acquaint his majefl:y,my mofl
" gracious mafler, and his permanent council, and will give
" my fuffrage in the manner I think mod likely to prevent
" the evil. I will not reveal the fecrets which may be en-
" trufted to me by his majefly and his council.. And lb
" help me God."

The council fliall be compofed of the following perfons :

1. The king as chief and prefident.

2. Three bifliops, among whom the primate of his own
right, fhall prefide during two yejirs, but ihall have no feat
the two following years.

* Court of Jiiflicc, hiving cognizance within a certain diftance of the fovereign's place
of refidence. See p. 12. note -f.

3. Nine

PERMANENTCOUNCIL. 6:

3. Nine lay-fenators, two of whom may be eledled either chap.
from the minifters or fenators. ^ — ,, —

4. Four from the miniftry of the republic, nameh^, one
from each department ; of thefe eighteen members of the
fenate, fix mult be taken from each of the three * provinces.

5. The marflial of the equeftrian order, and, in cafe of his
death or abfence, the firll counfellor of the equeftrian order,
according to the turn of the provinces.

6. Eighteen counfellors of the equeftrian order, including
the marihal.

7. The fecretary of the permanent council (liall be elected
from the Referendaries t, and national notaries, Sec.

Of the Pensions.

The primate, bifliops, and minifters, enjoying very confi-
derable revenues derived from their charges, fhall have no
penfions.

Lay-fenators of the crown, and of Lithuania, fliall annu-
ally receive each 14,000 florins I, =^388. iSs.

The marflial of the equeftrian order, as member of the
permanent council, 30,000 florins, -£8^^. 6s. 8d.; and,
during his refidence at Warfaw, fhall be allowed a guard of
fifteen men, with an officer, from the army of the crown.

Each counfellor fliall have 14,000 florins per annum,
= ^388. i8x.

The fecretary of the council fliall receive the fame fum.

* Great Poland, Little Poland, and Li. «' majefty's anfwer : they have a place in

thuania. «» any of the king's courts of juftice." Con.

t " Referendaries are a kind of mailers nor's Poland, v. II. p, 77.
*' of Requefts, vvhofe office is to receive peti- f 3(5 Polifli florins = a pound fterling.
** tions made to the king, and to give his

Explanation

64 GOVERNMENT OF POLAND.

BOOK Explanation of the duties and prerogatives of the perfons
who compofe the Permanent Council.

His majefty the king our molt gracious mafter, as chief of
the nation, and the lirft eftate, reprefenting the majefty of
the repubhc, fliall, according to ufual pradice, convoke by
circular letters, and at the time prefcribed by the laws, the
Oidhiary diets ; he muffc always confult the permanent
council upon the matters to be laid before thofe alTembhes,
in ih£ fame manner as he before took the advice of the fenate,
which from henceforth fliall no more be convened. His
majefty Ihall in like manner fummon the extraordinary
diets, either of his own accord, or at the inilance of the per-
manent council, which the king cannot refufe if the majo-
rity demand it.

All the laws and conftitutions of the diet, decrees, privi-
leges, and pubHc ad:s fliall be ifliied in the name of the king,
as it has been hitherto prailifed.

He fliall fign all the difpatches pafled by order of the
council, not having it in his power to put a negative upon
them, if they are carried by a majority.

He fliall give p-ublic audience to em bafl^adors and foreign
minifters, to envoys or refidents, fliall treat with them, but
cannot conclude without communicating the whole to the
council, and following the advice of the majority.

The king, on his part, cedes the following royal preroga-
tives :

I. For. the election of bifliops, palatines, caftellans, and
minifters, the council fliall nominate by ballot three candi-
dates, one of whom tlie king fliall appoint to the vacant
office *.

» The, king >\ad. before tl^e fole difppfal of thefe.ofSces. See p. 13. .

2;,. The

P E R M A N E N t C O tJ N C I L. -6^

2. The power of appointing to all other ecclefiaftical and chap.
-civil offices fhall continue, without any diminution, verted • — , — >
in the king, excepting the coramiffioners of war, of the
treafury, thofe in the department of the marflial, and in the
affeflbrium regni : all thefe commiffioners were before ac-
cuftomed to be named by him in the intervals between the
diets ; but his majefty now confents, that from henceforth

the council fliall ele£l three candidates, to be prefented in
the fame manner as in the laft mentioned article relative tb
the nomination of the fenators and minirters.

3. With refped: to military ranks, his majefty fliall ap-
point the captains in the Polifli companies, and the officers
of the four companies, which are upon the Polifli footing,
and bear his name.

Excepting thefe, all other military promotions fhall he
conferred according to feniority.

Neverthelefs, his majefty may jiropofe candidates for
military promotion, chofen among the young officers in the
national fervice, to be fecretly balloted for with that perfon
who has the right of feniority ; provided, at the fame' time,
•the great general delivers to his majefty his recommendation
in writing, with his reafons for the faid recommendation.

4. His majefty renounces the right to difpofe of the royal
demefnes and ftarofties, with this clauie, that the propri-
etors of both fexes be contimied during their lives in pof-
feffion of the faid eftates, which, from this prefent time,
fliall never be granted to any perfon w hatfoever, under the
appearance of recompence or any other pretext ; but they
fhall be employed for the public good, to the great advan-
tage of the country, and with the confcnt of the king.

Vol. L K 5» Four

66 GOVERNMENTOFPOLAND.

BOOK ^^ Four regiments of guards fliall be reftored to the com-
^ ,' _■ mand of the great general, as in the time of Auguftus III.
that is, while they preferve the name and rank of guards,
they do not bind themfelves by any new oath ; and with this
difference, that whereas formerly the great generals pof-
feffed alone the military power in their hands, at prefent
they fliare that power with the committee ; which com-
mittee, as well as the great generals, depend, in virtue of the
prefent law, upon the permanent council.

hi return, the king fhall receive an annual fum fufficient
to keep in pay two thoufand troops, who lliall depend folely
upon his majefty ; but this fum lliall not be included in the
additional revenues granted to his majefty, in compenfation
for thofe loft by the difmemberment of the provinces.

6. Reciprocally the re})ublic ftipulates on its part, once for
all, that all the other royal prerogatives (thole excepted
which the king has gracioully pleafed to renounce) lb all
remiiin in full force, and be for ever inviolate..

The Primate.

The primate, during, his office*, muft attend the perma-
nent council at leaft fix months in the year.

The antient laws which fecure the preroiratives of tlic
primate during the interregnum remaining in force, he
Ihall t prcfide in the council, even fhould it not be his turn,
for fitting in the council.

During the interregnum, tl'ic permanent council, keeping
its power and authority, fiiall maintain, in the ufual forms,,
the tribunals, ami all the jurifdi61ions of the republic, ac-
cording to the conftitution of 1768, in all things not contra-
didcd by this new arranoemenr.

- o

* That is, during the two years in uliich he fits in tlie co iikiI.
-f Namely, as viccrov during the intciiegti'im,

q The

r E R M A N E N T C O U N C I L. g.

The primate, during tlie two years of liis fundion, figns chap.
his name after the king to all the a6ls of the permanent ^
council ; and, in cafe of the king's abi'ence, or during an
interregnum, he has two ••'• votes, in order to decide in cafe
of equality of fuffrages. In the primate's abfence, the firft
fenator in rank, who is member of the council, fupplies his
place.

The Marshal of the Equeftrian Order.

The equeftrian order fliall have its marflial in the perma-
nent council, vi'ho is the firft in rank among the members of
that order.

He fliall be eledled every two years at the ordinary diet by
fecret fuffi'ages, always from each of the three provinces by
rotation, according to the form prefcribed for the election of
the counfellors.

No fenator or minifter is capable of being cle6led marflial
unlefs he before-hand refigns his charge.

He fliall take the following oath before the fame diet in
the fame manner as the other counfellors.

I fwear before Almiglity God, that I M'ill be faithful to
you Staniflaus Auguftus my gracious mafter, and to the re-
public of Poland ; that in the exercife of my office of marflial
of the permanent council, I will execute with zeal all which
is ordained by the laws cftabliflied by the council ; that in
giving my advice, and voting, I will take for the rule of
rny conduifl the written laws, and the good of my
country, from which I will never fwerve, neither induced
by intreaties, promifes, friendfliip or hatred, or any other
fpecies of corruption or perfonal attachment whatfoever;
that I will never divulge the fecret deliberations of the coun-

* That is, 1 fiippofe, one vote as ufnnl, ?ncl the cafting vote in cafe of equality.

K 2 cil;

68 GOYERNMENTOFPOLAND.

BOOK cil ; that I will caft up the votes, and faithfully declare the
majority of fuffrages. So help me God.

The marflial of the equeilriaii order in the permanent
council cannot be chofen marllial or nuntio of the next diet,,
nor be rc-ele<ftcd marflial of the permanent council, except-
ing after an interval of four years.

His office. He,, as well as each of the counfellors, may.
remonftrate againll: the ill-execution of the laws, and lay
before the council thofe matters of whiclx it has the cogni-
zance. It is the dvity of the whole council to watch over
the fecurity and maintenance of the eltabliflied government,.
and the prefent conftitution ; and the marllial, as well as
each member, ought to have at heart the prefervation of the
prerogatives of the three eftates ; but more particularly the
chancellor, who is a member of the council, and the marflial
fhall take care that the papers fliall be kept in order, and
the inlpcdor of the ads and archives of the permanent
council fliall depend upon the permanent council in pleno.

The marflial) as well as each counfellor, may prefent can-
didates for fubaltern places in the permanent council, who
fliall be accepted, if the council is unanimous,, and, in cafe
of any oppofition, fliall be elis6led by the majority of fuf-
f rages.

The marflial and chancellor fliall take care that the faid
fubalterns perform their duties, recommending to the per-
manent council to reward or punifli them according to their
deferts.

The marflial diftributes the votes to the members of the

equeftrian order, draws the balls or the billets from the vafe,

in prefence of two deputies from the fenate and two from the

equeftrian order, chofen by the plurality of voices, counts the

6 number

PERMANENT COUNCIL.

Oil

number of fufFrages, and declares the majority.. The Teal chap.
of the permanent council, together with the arms of the two '
nations, fliall remain in the poffeffion of the firft among the
chancellors, who are members of the council.

Themarflial lliall lign next to the king and primate, or,,
in the latter's abfence, next to the fenior fenator, all the ads
and refolutions of the permanent council, and lliall the fame
day difpatch each ad: to its refpedive department.

At the ordinary diet he fliall take his feat at the left hand
of the marflial of the diet, and after his jufiification he fliall
depart from the aflembly, together with all the members of
the equertrian order in the late council.

If he exceeds his power, the. permanent council may cite
him, as well as each counfellor, before the tribunal of the
diet, according to the form prefcribed by law.

The Secretary of the Council.

He can only give his opinion, but has no vote in the
souncil.

He lliall deliver gratis to the petitioners the refolutions*
and anfwers of the permanent council, and lliall counterfigti
all the dlfpatches.

He lliall receive from the fecretaries of the departments-
(who fliall depend upon him as far as relates to reports which
are to be dehvered) the reports of all that palTes in the fit-
tings of the different departments, and what is inferted in
the regifters ; he fhall acquaint the permanent council with
the contents, and lliall form a regiiler of all the operations
according to the decifion of the diet.

He fhall be obliged to report to the permanent council
every thing that comes to his knowledge, which may be
either advantageous or. detrimental to the republic.

During;

GOVERNMENT OF POLAND.

During his abfence, the permanent council fliall elecH:, by
a majority of futfrages, another peribn, who iliall perform
Ihe duties of his office until he returns.

The archiviit fliall be elected in the permanent council
bv the majority of fuffi*ages,in the fame manner as the above-
mentioned fubalterns, and he Ihall be informed of all by the
Secretary.

1 he extrafts, as well from the archives of the permanent
council, as from the departments which appertain to the
.council, fliall be delivered gratis.

The fecretary fliall take an oath, fimilar to the fore-going
one, with the addition of the following claufe : "I fwear
*^ that I will not entruft, or give to any perfon, the papers
^' which are configned to me, without the permilTion of the
" council."

The inftigators * of the two nations t (their ancient duties
remaining in force) fliall depend upon the permanent coun-
cil, and fliall not make their appearance in it without being
fummoned.

They fliall take the ufual oath, with the addition of the fol-
lowing claufe : " We fwear that we will not abandon any perfon
*' for prayers, threats, promifcs, or perfonal confideration,
*' nor indidt but at the inflance of the permanent council."

The nomination of the fecretarics for the departments, the
keeper of the archives, and fcribes (all of whom muft be
natives and nobles) as well as the appointment of their du-
ties, Ihall depend upon the permanent council.

The Interpreters.
There fliall be two for the Eaflern languages, and one
for the Ruffian tongue : they fliall depend upon the per-

* Officers of the crown who profecute in cafes of hl^h treafon.
f Poland aod Lithuania.

manent

PERMANENT COUNCIL,

manent council, and particularly upon the department for chap.
foreign affairs. « — ,__j

The members of the permanent council fhall not be ex-
empted from appearing in the courts of juftice, &c.

If, in criminal affairs, a counfellor incurs any punilliment,
he Ihall fubmit to it according to the laws and the nature of
the crime, without deriving any benefit from his office, Sec.

Article II.
Arrangement, divifion, and mode of procedure in the

Permanent Council.
The Permanent Council is divided into five departments..

1. For foreign affairs.

2. Police,.-

3. War.

4. Juftice.

5. Treafury.

In the department for foreign afTliirs there fliall be only
four members, and eight in each of the other departments,,
amounting in all to thirty-fix perfbns. The eledion of thefe
members ihall be made by the permanent council alTembled
in a body, either unanimoufiy, or by a majority of open fuf-
frages. The prefenre of three perfons in each department
flvall be deemed fuificient to proceed upon bufinefs. The
miniltcrs •■• (who are of the councif Ihall prefide in the de-
partments belonging to their refpedlive charges, and if any
accufation fiiall be brought againft them, they lliall retire
from the permanent council, not having a vote in fuch cafes.

The members of each department fliall receive the me-
morials and repovts which concern their refpeilive depart-
ments : having examined and made extradls, they fiiall add.

* Namely, one of the great treafurers in the Ciepanment of the treafury ; one of t'as
great generafvin thxt of war, &c..

their

-a "GO V E R N M E N T OF POLAND.

BOOK ^|-,gjj. Q^yj-j opinion upon each matter, and fliall then lay the
' — ^ ^^ hole before the permanent council for its final decifion.

In the department, when there fliall happen to be no mi-
nillcr, the feuior fenator fliall prefide. Each prefident has,
'beflde his common vote, a cafting voice, in cafe of an equa-
lity of fuftrages. hi all the departments, as well as in the
council in p/e/JOy the lowefl: member in rank fliall give the
firft vote.

The council fliall aflTemble in p/eno, as often as neceflity
requires, in prefence of the king, when he is pleafed to be
prefent ; and in his majefty's abfence, the primate during
his tarn fliall prefide ; and in his abfence, the iirft fenator.

The king fliall firft propofe whatever he thinks proper,
and the queflion fliall be decided, if not unanimoufly, by a
plurality of voices, hi all cafes, when the king is not pre-
fent, the primate, or, in his abfence, the firfl: in rank, fliall
have the power of propoling.

Afterwards, the marflial of the equeftrian order, and then
each counfellor, fliall fuccefliively have the liberty of pro-
pofing.

Then the fecretary of the council fliall read the regijfters
of the five departments, that the affairs which they treat
may be finally decided by the permanent council in p/eno,
or returned to the department from which it was delivered
for. more exadl infoirmation. When the king is not prefent
in the council, the firfl fenator and the marfhal of the
equeftrian order, fliall, in the name of the council, make re-
ports of the affairs in agitation to the king. The king,
havingM-eceived them, fliall, if he pleafes, give his two votes
jin writing, which fliall be as valid as if he had been prefent.
If the king gives no vote before the next meeting, the quef -
'iJon fliall be decided by the majority ; and, in cafe of an

equality,

PERMANENTCOUNCIL. 73

equality, the firft in rank who prefides in the council fhall chap.
have the cafting voice.

If the king is abfent from Warfaw with the permiflion of
the council, the council muft repair to the place where he
refides ; but if his majefty quits Warfaw of his own accord,
the eledion of the candidates, and the diftribution of the
charges, fliall be fufpended two months ; at the expiration
of which term, one of the members of the department for
foreign affairs fliall attend his majefty, to the end that a cor-
refpondence be preferved between the king and the council.

The memorials, in all public matters cognizable by the
council, may be prefented to any member of the council,
or even to the fecretary ; but in all private affairs equally
cognizable by the council, the memorials mufl be prefented
by thofe perfons whom they concern.

The member who prefents a memorial, having firft figned
it, fhall fend it to the fecretary of the council, and the latter,
having made extracts from it, fhall read them to the council
at the next meeting, bringing with him, however, the
original to be examined in cafe of neceftity.

But if the counfellor, who fends a memorial to the fecre-
tary, perceives it to be of fuch great importance as to deferve
the infpedion of the council, he fliall add after his name
the following words, " This memorial admits no delay."
But fliould a memorial be of fuch a nature as to require fe-
crecy, and to be laid before the council in the firft refort,
then the counfellor, to whom it has been given, fhall him-
felf, without fending it to the fecretary, lay it before the
council.

In all queftions, if the members of the council are not
unanimous, the firft in order, whoever he be, marflial, mi-
nifter, or member of the council, fliall diftribute, in the

Vol. I. L manner

GOVERNMENT OF POLAND.

BOOK manner above-mentioned, the votes to the fenators, and the
J.

marlhal of the equeftrian order to the perfons of that order,

and the majority fliall be collected with the greateit exadl-

nefs. The majority may be afcertained by two modes of

decifion ; either by fecret, or by open votes, when the perfoa

who afients, faying " I permit,'' the fuflfrages fliall be in-

fcribed in the regifter by each voter.

The "Turnus can never be employed in plenOy excepting the
members of the council are fifteen in number; and before
the turnus is made ufe of, the perfon who lays any propo-
fition before the council ought to alk the members if they
confent ; the anfwer, that they confent, or filence, announces
unanimity ; but if any member fliould oppofe and demand
the turnus, then they fliall proceed to open voting.

Each propofition may be the fubjedt of deliberation during
three days ; but if any one member objet51:s to that delay, he
may propofe to determine, by ballot, whether the affair fhall
be taken into conlideration, or be immediately decided.

The turnus, once begun, fliall be continued without inter-
ruption until the fubjetSt in agitation fliall be finally de-
cided, &c.

In all queflions, the decifion by ballot may be infiftedoii
by any one member, but it muft be ufed in the following
points. I

1. In ele(ftion of vacant offices referved to the council.

2. In extraordinary expences iflued by the treafuryof the
republic, not warranted by law.

3. In matters of high treafon, flate crimes, diflurbance of
the public tranquillity, and conventicles contrary to law.
The votes by ballot fliall be colledted with the greatefl: pre-

j caution and fidelity, and with every mirk of necefiTary fo-
leninity. For this purpofe, a table fliall ftand in the middle

PERMANENT COUNCIL.

of the apartment, furrounded with curtains about the height chap.
of a man, which may be drawn and undrawn to admit the. ^['
counfellors ; upon this tnble fliaU be placed a vafe, having
two openings with infcriptions afhrmative and negative, into
which the balls fliall be put; thefe openings fnall be only
big enough to admit the balls, and not to receive the whole
hand. The vafe Ihall be alfo clofed with a lock, the key
whereof fliall be placed upon the council table until all the
members have given their fuffrages, and the balls are to be
counted. The vafe being opened, the marflial minifter, and
the marfl.ial of the equeftrian order, fliall firfl; hold it up
and invert it to fliew tliat it is empty ; after which, it
fliall be fealed by the two marflials, and covered with the
curtains. Next, the fecretary fliall diftribute ivory balls to
all who have a vote in the council; and every member, ac-
cording to his rank, fliall approach the table, and, firll hold-
ing up his hand to fliew that he has but one ball, fliall put it
into one of the openings, permitting^ or not permitting^ as
he fliall think proper, and according to his confcience ; and
in this manner he cannot fee how the others give their votes,
nor be feen himfelf.

If there are many candidates, the fecretary fliall diftribute
to each member billets, all written in the fame hand, con-
taining the names and furnames of the candidates ; each
member fliall then put into the vafe the billet containing
the names and furnames of the candidates whom he favours,
and fliall burn the other billets, a candle being ready for
that purpofe.

hi cafe of equality of fuffrages, the king has the cafting
vote ; and, to the end that each member may folicit the
vacant charges in the gift of the permanent council, they

L 2 my^-

76 GOVERNMENT OF POLAND.

BOOK j^ay ^\i piopofe themfelves, as well as recommend others,
• — I ' giving in their petition to that purpofe in writing.

The fecret balloting being finifhed, the marflial of the
equeftrian order, and the marfhal minifter, fhall break each
his feal and open the vafe; and then, in conjundion with the
two deputies from the fenate and two from the eqneftrian
order, fhall declare the number of balls or billets.

After which, the marflial of the equeftrian order fliall read
aloud the names of the candidates, and the number of votes
in favour of each candidate, and fliall declare for whom is
the majority, which the fecretary fliall immediately regifter.

The king has the privilege of convening an affembly of
the permanent council; and, in his abfence, the firft in rank ;
neither of whom can refufe to fummon a meeting upon the
requeft of any one member, reprefenting the neceffity of
difcuffing an affair of great importance. Each member of the
council has the liberty of delivering his opinion in a decent
manner ; but whenever any affair, relative to any member,
is in agitation, that member iliall have no vote.

Two perfons of the fame family, and even of the fame
furname, cannot be eletfted into the council, at the fame
time, as members of the fame eftate, namely, two fenators,
or two perfons of the equellrian order; but only one perlon
for each eftate.

All the decrees of the permanent council Ihall be ifTued
in the name of the king, without any payment for the
affixing of the feal, in the following manner : " We the
*' king, with the advice of the permanent council."

In order to prevent too frequent interrviptions, no member
of the council fhall be abfent more than fix months in the

year,

PERMANENT COUNCIL.

year, either at one or at different intervals, but with the con
lent of the permanent council granted by the majority.

The members who exceed their leave of abfence Ihall lofe
a proportionate part of their falary ; the fame lliall be un-
derftood of thofe who, being at Warfaw, do not attend the
fittings of the council ; excepting, in both cafes, perfons em-
ployed in other public offices, or thofe who produce proof
of ficknefs.

The deduction of the falaries from the abfent members
Ihall, at the end of the year, be divided among thofe who
have affiduoufly performed their duty.

The members of the permanent council cannot be fent
beyond the frontiers as minifters to foreign courts : a perfon
may decline being eledled a member ; but, when once ad-
mitted, he cannot refign upon any pretext.

At each ordinary diet, when the council expires, a third of
the members of the laft permanent council, namely, fix from
the fenators, and the fame number from the equeftrian or-
der, fliall be continued, by ballot, members for the followin^j-
years ; and this is done to the end that the council may al-
ways contain perfons experienced in bufinefs.

At the next ordinary diet, a particular place in the fcnate-
houfe fhall be afTigned to the council, to anfwer any com-
plaints which may be brought againft it, and to receive a
public tellimony to be inferted in the conftitut ions of the diet ;
either that the diet received no complaints againft the per-
manent council ; or that, having received them, they were
proved upon examination to be ill-founded ; or that, having
acknowledged their validity, juftice v;as accordingly infliiled.
The fenators and minifters in the council fhall have their
ufual places in the fenate. In the ordinary diets, the coun-
fellors of the equeftrian order lliall fit next to the minifters.

None

78 GOVERNMENT OFPOLAND.

BOOK None of the counfellors, either fenators, minifters, or thofe
'of the equeftrian order, Ihall be prefent at the dietines, or
at the opening of the tribunals.

No counfellors fliall accept any other public charges
than thofe which appertain to th^ir office.

No member of the council fliall oppofe the fignature of
jnivileges, refokitions, or a6fs decided by the majority ; and
if either the king, the fenior fenator, or the marflial, fliould,
refufe to fign, in that cafe, each member Ihall fubfcribe for
himfelf, and the names of the majority Ihall render the a6t
valid.

In cafe of death, the vacancy fliall be filled up within the
fpace of ten weeks by ballot, in the manner above-menti-
oned. If the deceafed be a bifliop or lay-fenator, his fucceffor
Ihall be taken from the bidiops or lay-fenators ; if a minifter,
from the boards of the faid minifter's office ; if a perfon of
the equeitrian order, either from the candidates preiented
at the laft diet, or from thofe propofed upon this occafion.

Article III.
Power, authority, and duties of the Permanent Council.

1. Without enjoying the leaft authority, legiflative or
judici-al, the council orders the execution of the laws ; and,
being the center of public affairs, as well foreign as domeftic,
is bound to determine according to the laws of its prefent
eilablilhmcnt.

2. It fliall ifTue affignmcnts for the payment of funis re-
ferved to the public treafury, and Ipecified in the general
table of expences unprovided for in extraordinary circum-
11:ances ; and the members of the council cannot, during the
holding of their office, partake of the faid affignments.

3. It

FERMANENT COUNCIL, 79

5. It fhall receive all projects beneficial to the ftate, decide chap,
upon the admiffion of thofe which are confonant to law, <— .J_i
and muft lay thofe which appear advantageous, but which
have not the fan6tion of law, before the firft diet for the de-
termination of the ftates.

4. It fhall form plans for the reformation of the laws, and
ihall prefent them before the next diet : it fliall frame
a new code of laws, pvibhc, civil, and criminal, to be ap-^
proved by the diet.

5. It fliall fend embaffadors and minifters to foreign courts
from the perfons nominated by the king. The permanent
council fliall give them the necelTary inftrudlions, excepting
in all cafes referved for the diet.

6* The permanent council fholl appoint, by ballot, in the
manner above-mentioned, three candidates for the vacant
charges, excepting thofe which are in the king's gift, or are
chofen by the nobility in the Palatinates.

7. It fliall take the molt efFecftual methods to preferve the
alliances and treaties of the republic.

Article IV.
Limits of the Permanent Council's authority.
The council has no power in all matters referved to the
Hates alfembled in diet, and can ena<5t nothing contrary to
any liberties and prerogatives juftly conferred.

It mull not ufurp to itfelf the legillative or judicial power,
nor in any degree take into confideration thofe aflairs whofe
decifion is referved to the diet alone..

If the council fliould exceed its power, the members fliall

be liable to be cited and tried at the diet for high trealbn,

an(', if guilty, tobe puniflied according to the antient laws

edabhflied upon this article. The permanent council Ihall

2, remain

6o P E R M A N E N T C O U N C I L.

liooK remain in full authority for two years without interruption,
'—C—^ even flioukl one or more extraordinary diets interfere ; and
at the ordinary diet until a new council Ihall be eledled in
its place, according to the prefcribed form: then theantient
council fliall lay before the diet the fituation of affairs, and
give an account of its whole adminiftration.

The permanent council can only ad: according to the laws
in being, or carry the faid laws into execution.

In all cafes, not exprefsly mentioned by the laws, the per-
manent council cannot decide ; but in all fuch circumflances
it may prepare any propofals for new laws, and publifh them
in the circular letters for the convocation of the diet,

Department I.
Of foreign affairs in the Permanent Council.

The department of foreign affairs fliall be compofed of
four members, amongil: whom fliall be one from the duchy
of Lithuania, one of the chancellors, and two counfellors of
the equeflrian order.

To thefe fliall be added one of the national fecretaries,
who fliall have no vote : he fliall infpedl and expedite all
foreign affairs, and fhall take the ufual oath, 8cc.

This department fliall affcmble as occafion may require.
When the king is not prefent, a chancellor fliall prefide ;
and, in the latter's abfence, the firlt fenator. The national
fecretary fliall make a report of all the letters diredled to him,
and, if required, fliall lay them before the members of the
laid department : he fhall not fend any anfwers without
their approbation.

He fliall read at the meetings the letters and memorials
to the department, which fliall deliberate upon the anfwers :
he fliall write down the refolulions, and fliall expedite the
difpatches accordingly.

'4 In

P £ R M A N E NT C O U N C I L. 5»

In all cafes of public moment, fvich as letters from the chap.
king to foreign courts, ftate affairs which require any expla- >— vw
nation, memorials and declarations, the department fliall draw
them up, and lay them before the council in plejw^ for its de-
termination.

Whenever any information is to be given to the Polifti
minifters at foregn courts in the ordinary courfe of aftairs»
the prelTdent of this department, having firft heard the oh^
fervations of each member, Iliall form the refult.

All inftrudions for foreign minifters fhail be firft drawn
up in this department, and then prefented to the permanent
council for its decifion. If any member of this department
dies, the permanent council fliall, without delay, ele^Sl one
of its counfellors in his place. The fecretary of this depart-*
ment fliall be nominated by the king from the national fecre-
taries, or notaries. He fliall maintain the correfpondence
with the foreign minifters of the republic, and to him
fliall be addrefled all letters and memorials. In the fame
manner as the fecretary, the fubalterns in this department
fliall be chofen by the king. ,

Department II.

Committee of the marflials of Poland and Lithuania.

I. The great marlhals fliall a<5l according to the conftitu-
tion of 1768, reftraining however the aflbciation of the af-
feflbrs * in the following cafes.

In criminal affairs.

* Before 1768, the great marlhals were " di(f^ion of the great mardial : they (hall

fole judges in all criaiinal caufes cog- ''beeleded in each ordinary diet; they

oizabie by their tribunals ; but in the " fliall judge all caufes in conjunftion with

diet of 1 768 the following claufe enafts, that " the great marflial ; and fliall decide by

" fixafleflbrs (lull be added to thejurif- " the majority."

Vol. I. M In

iz GOVERNMENT OF POLAND.

In all taxes - upon provifions and merchandize only ia
the place of the king's refidence, excepting corn,, and the
produdions belonging to the nobility.

In all cafes of debt or borrowings, only ex vi infcriptl
fori^ when one of the parties appeals from the firft inftance^
andthefum exceeds 500 florins - £io,. 17 j. ^d.

All appeals from the firft inftance, relative to the non-
payment of taxes, fliall be brought before the tribunal
of the marfhal with his affeflbrs, in the prefence of the judge
or the notary, neither of whom fliall have a vote. In this-^
and fimilar cafes of appeal, the opinion fliall be given openly,,
and then finally decided by ballots

1. The committee of the marflials Ihall be compofed of the
great and little marflials (or of their colleagues the marflials
of the crown), of two fenators, and four perfons of the
equeftrian order. Thefe fix afleflbrs fliall be chofen at the
ordinary diet, according to the form above prefcribed for
the election of the members of the permanent council.

3. The marflials fliall be bound to fix months refidence-
near his majefty, and each of the afTeflbrs to four months, tOr
the end that there may always be the complete number of five
perfons, including the marflials, requifite to form a fitting.

4. No member of this committee can be ele<5ted a nuntio
for the next diet ; but the nuntios may be appointed mem-
bers of this committee ])y ballot, and half of the antient afr-
fcflbrs, both fenators and nobles of the equeftrian order, may
be continued in their office for the two following years.

5. Solely in the cafes of denegati judicii et corruptionis ju-
dicis, pcrjurii et oppreJJiorJs civis liberi, complaints againft the

* The great marfiial iifed before, of his prefents and bribes to augment their pro-
own authority, to impoie ]>iiccs on nner- iit. Connor's Hill, of Fol, v. II. p. 69.
chants wares, who generally made him great

a decifions

PERMANENTCOUNCIL. S3

decifions of this committee can be brought before the per- chap.
manent council ; and caufes of this nature Ihall be tried by ^—J~j
the permanent council, in the manner prefcribed by the law
concerning the denegatum judicium^ et corruptionem judicis
et perjurium.

6. Each month the great marlhal fliall lay, before the per-
manent council, the report of his deciiions, made in conjunc-
tion with the affeffors.

7. In cafe the marilial fliould difobey the laws in any of
thefe articles, the permanent council may remonllrate ; and
if he perfiits in infringing them, he fhall be liable to be cited
before the diet as guilty of high treafon.

8. In all other points, not contrary to thefe articles, the
antient prerogatives of the marfhals (liall continue in force.

Department of the Police in the Permanent Council.

1 . When the great marlbal fliall be a member of the per-
manent council, he fliall prefide in the department of the
police ; and in his abfence the firft fenior in rank, who is
member of the faid department.

2. If any complaints fliall be urged againft the great or
little marflials, for rion- performance of the duties fpecified
in the articles of the " committee of marflials and their de-
" pendence on the permanent council," the plaintiffs, if
members of the council, Ihall not be prefent at the refolutions
paffed under fuch circumllances.

3. If this department fliall have occafion for the regifter
of the committee of marfhals, it fliall be communicated.

M 2 Depart-

8^ GOVERNMENT OF POLAND.

Department III.
The Great Generals of the Two Nations.

I . Befide the troops, commanded by the marfhals of the
two nations and by the treafurers, ftationed at Warfaw, there
may be quartered in that capital 3000 foldiers, namely, 2000
from the army of the crown, and 1000 from that of Li-
thuania.

The difcipline of the Lithuanian corps fhall depend upon
the great general of Lithuania ; the chief command Ihall
devolve upon the great general of the crown. If the king
fliall refide in Lithuania, a proportionate number of troops
from the army of the crown fliall be ftationed in that duchy,
in the fame manner as the Lithuanian corps is quartered at
Warfaw with the crown foldiers.

The great generals fliall be obliged to change the garrifon.
of Warfaw at the requeft of the permanent council.

1. Whenever the great general fliall find it expedient to
raife nev/ fortifications, they fliall prefent the plan to the per-
manent council, and the latter to the diet.

3. The permanent council fhall make known to the great
general, when he fliould order the abfentees to rejoin their
regiments.

4. The permanent council, in concert with the great ge-
nerals, fliall regulate the number of foldiers to be furniflied
by the regiments for the purpofe of making high roads,
cleanfing rivers, and other public works, a reprefenration
being previouily made, and a plan prefcribed, by the com-
mifiioners of the trealury : it fliall in the fame manner
fix the pay of the faid Ibldiers, to be affigned from the
public fund defined for extraordinary cafes, with this ex-
ception, that the troops Ihall i)e exempted from fuch fer-

viccs,

PERMANENTCOUNCIL. 85

rices, during the months in which they are exercifed or chap.
encamped. » — , — '

5. In cafe the great generals lliouid aft counter to thefe
articles, the permanent council fliall firfl remonftrate, and if
that fliould have no efFe61:, may accufe them of high treafon
before the diet ; if, during the intervals of the ordinary diet,
it Ihould be thought neceffary to call them to account, the
permanent council fliall aflemble an extraordinary diet for
that purpofe.

6. The lift of extraordinary expences fliall be communi-
cated, by the great generals, to the permanent council, be-
fore it is laid before the ordinary diet.

7. The difclpline, fubordination, exercife, and clothing of
the troops, the appointment of the fpots for the encampment
of the divinons, (with this provifo, that never more than one
divifion fliall encamp in the fame place) in a word, the
chief command of the troops lliall be vefted in the great
generals.

8. The nomination and creation of the officers and fub-
alterns, belonging to the committee of war, (liall reiide in
the great generals.

9. In other points, the generals retain all their antient
rights and privileges, not contradivfted by thefe articles.

Explanation and changes of the Conftitution of 1768, rela-
tive to the Committee of War of both nations.
I. The committee of war fliall be compofed of fix com-
mifiioners, as enjoined by the diet of 1768, one half to be
taken from perfons in the civil line, and the remainder from
officers rot em})loyed.

Among the three military commiffioners fhall be included

of t ovrfe the generals of the artillery, but without receiving

I .. the

S6 GOVERNMENT OF POLAND.

BOOK ti^e falarv of commiflioners. Three commiffioners are fuf-

< .! ' ficient to make a board; and if only two Ihould meet,

then the notaries of the committee of war of the crown
fliall alTume the place of the abfent commiifioner, and have
a vote ; but when there is a requifite number, then the
notaries fliall only have a deliberative voice.

2. This committee of war fliall keep in order, and have
the direction of, the military archives.

3. Twice a year it Iliall receive the reports of the troops
relative to the difcharge of their pay, and fliall fend them to
the permanent council.

4. Since the troops cannot fubfift without pay, nor fufFer
the leaft delay in that article, it is enadled, once for all, that
the committee of the treafury fhall be obliged to employ, for
the payment of the faid troops, the lirft money which it re-
ceives, and which fhall be regularly delivered to the troops
every year on the ill of April and the ift of Oclobet. If it
happens, that this payment fliall not be made at thefe ftipu-
lated times, the great general and the council of war fliall be
bound to acquaint the permanent council with this delay ;
and the permanent council fliall immediately authorize the
great general and the council of war to procure the fums
deftined for the pay of the troops.

5. The committee of war fliall have the care of the mi-
litary cheft, and fliall pay all the troops according to the
eftabliflied calculation. The chell fliall be provided with
three keys ; one whereof fliall be kept by the great general,
or, in his abfence, by the prefident of the council of war ;
the fecond by one of the commiffioners of war ; and the
third by the cafliier.

6. The

PERMANENT COUNCIL.

6. The commiffioners of war fhall judge, as well all caufes chap,
between foldiers according to the military articles, as all pro- ^ / .
celTes brought by the citizens againft a Ibldier in his military
capacity : but in cafe a foldier in his military capacity lliould
aggrieve a citizen, then the plaintiff fli all apply to the com-
mander for redrefs ; and if he obtains none, he may cite

him before the court of juiHce of the place where the alTault
was committed, referving the appeal to the committee of
war.

7. No member of the faid committee can be capable of
being eleded nuntio at the next diet ; but the commiffioners
may be taken from the nuntios of the diet, or from other
nobles, promifcuoufly.

A third part of the commiffioners may be continued for
the next two years, if they have the plurality of ballots in
their favour. The fame holds good in refpe6t to the fena-
tors : and thofe, who are thus confirmed in their feats for
two more years,, camiot be eleded the third time for the two
next years.

8. hi other points, not contradidory to thefe articles, the
committee of war of both nations are maintained in their
antient rights.

Eftabliffiment of the Military Department in the Perma-
nent Council.

1. The military department in the pennanent council
fliall receive, twice a year, from the great genera], the lift
of the army,, to be examined and inferred in the adts.

2. The great general, having a feat in the council, fiiali'
prefide in the military de[v.utraent, or, in his al>fence, the
lenior of the faicl department,.

88 G O V E R N M E N T O F P O L A. N D.

rooK 2. If any compldints fliall be urged againft the great or

. little generals for not fulfilling the articles prelcribed under

the title of " The great generals of both nations," the ac-

cufed, if members of the permanent council, fliall not be

prefent at the difcuflion of the faid complaints.

Department IV.
The Great Chancellors of both Nations.

I. Each great chancellor, or his colleague the vice-chan-
cellor occupying his place, ihall have a committee compofed
of two fenators, and four perfons of the equeftrian order, to
be chofen during the fitting of the diet by ballot, according
to the form prefcribed in the permanent council, See.

1. Each of thofe minifters fliall be bound to at leaft fix
months refidence atWarfaw, upon the aflignmentof falaries,
and each commiffioner or affeiror to at leaft four months ;
that the requilite number of three perfons, including the
great chancellor, or vice-chancellor, may be prefent at each

meetmg.

Thefe afleiibrs fliall receive each 6ooo florins per annum^
= jCi66. 131. \d. and thefe falaries fliall be divided between
the afleflx)rs who attend.

3. No member of the equeftrian order in this committee
can be eledled nuntio of the next diet, &c.

4. Every month the chancellors fliall fend to the perma-
nent council a lift of all the privileges which have pafled the
feal.

5. The feals fliall remain in the hands of the great and
vice-chancellors. The chancellor and vice-chancellor of
the crown fliall feal, as before, the privileges referved to the
king, and thofe of Lithuania fhall, in the fame manner, feal
the privileges of that duchy, See.

6. The

PERMANENTCOUNCIL. 89

6. The great chancellors and vice-chancellors, in cafe of chap.
non-compliance with any of thefe articles, fliall be liable to . ' .
be cited by the permanent council before the diet.

7. In all other points the chancellors are maintained in
their antient privileges, not contradi(Story to thefe articles
juit enumerated.

Department V.
Great Treafurers of both Nations.

1. The department of the treafury, compofed of mem-
bers of the permanent council, fliall receive from the com-
mittee of the treafury of the crown the lifts of the ordinary
expences, &c. and fliall take care that the receipts and ex-
penditures are authorized by the laws.

2. Every month the great treafurer of the crown, and the
great treafurer of Lithuania, fliall fend a report of all the
tranfa(5lions of this department to the permanent council, &c.

q. Whenever one or both the ereat treafurers are eledled
members of the permanent council, the firft in rank fliall
prefide in this department, compofed of the members of the
permanent council.

4. The commiffioners of the treafury fliall receive, and,
upon proper deliberation, admit or rejecft all memorials and
plans relative to commerce, the augmentation of the reve-
nues, the eftablifliment of manufadlures, cleaning rivers,
cutting canals, forming harbours, making bridges and high
roads, ereding buildings, and all other public works, Sec,
always under the controul of the permanent council.

5. The commiftioners of the two nations Ihall pay from
the public funds, deftined for that purpofe, the extraordinary
■expences and gratifications, in compliance with the refolu-
tions of the permanent council in p/eno, 8cc.

Vol, I. N 6. The

GOVERNMENT OF POLAND.

6. The clerks in the committees of the treafury of both
nations fliall provide for themfelves proper fecurities. The
appointment of thele clerks fhall belong to the great trea-
furer ; but the examination of their qualifications, the ap-
probation or rejecflion of their fecurities, fliall wholly rell:
with the committee. The qualifications are,

I. That they are gentlemen.

a. That they find proper fecurities.

3. That their characters are not infamous^

4. That they are able to write.

5. That they are able to caft accounts.

In cafe thefe clerks fliould difcover any notorious in-
capacity, the committee fliall have it in their power to de-
prive them of their charges.

7. All the writings, decrees, and circular letters, iiTued by
the committee, fliall be figned by the treafurers alone ; or,
in their abfence, by the firft in rank. In cafe the treafurers
refufe to put the feal to any refolutions palTed by the com-
mittees, it fliall be efteemed valid, if figned by the firit in
rank next to the treafurer, even in the prefence of the latter ;
and complaints may be urged againit the treafurer, for re-
fufing to fign fuch refolutions.

8. If the great treafurers remove from the place where
the committees aflemble, they fliall be accompanied in their
route by fifteen of the treafury troops, provided that no ex-
traordinary expence on that account be incurred by the trea-
fury, and that no damage be fuffered by the inhabitants.

9. The troops of the committee of the treafury fliall con-
tinue in the fame obedience to the great treafurer, and
the committee, as enjoined by the diet of 1768; and
if any of the oflicers, appointed by the king's patent,

fliall

PERMANENT COUNCIL.

fliall deferve punifliment, he fliall be judged by a court ^'^'^'^•
martial, compofed of the officers of the lame corps, according ' — ^- — i
to the miUtary articles, and the fentence fhall be fent to the
committee of war. The number of this corps fliall not ex-
ceed 500 men, and the fum appropriated for their fupport
Ihall not furpafs that which is fettled by the conftitution of
1768.

ID. If the treafurers difobey any of thele articles, the
permanent council is bound to remonftrate, and, in cafe of
Hill further difobedience, to cite them before the diet as
guilty of high treafon.

1 1 . In other points, the great treafurers are maintained in
their antieiit privileges.

■Changes and Explanation of the Conilitution of 1768,

relative to the eftabliflniient of the Committee

of the Treafury of both Nations.

>T. The commiffioners of the treafury of the crown fliall

be compofed of the great treafurer c^ the crown, and of nine

comm.iffioners, three fenators, and fix from the equeftriaii

order, &c.

2. The great treafurers fliall be bound to at leaft four
months refidence, under pain of lofing their falaries propor-
tionable to the time of their abfence, and thefe dedudlions
fliall not be divided among the commiflloners who are pre-
fent, but fliall be left in the chefl:. The commiflloners are
equally bound to four months refidence, in order that there
may be always prefent five commiflloners (including one or
both treafurers), the requifite number for holding a board.
The deda6tions of the falaries for the abfent commiflloners
fhall be divided amongfl: thofe who are prefent.

N ^ 3. None

GOVERNMENT OF POLAND.

3. None of the commiffioners of the equeftrian order can
be eledted a niintio for the next diet, &c.

4. From this time there fliall be a regifter apart for thofe
decrees of the committee, which relate to foreign affairs,
commerce, and notes of exchange.

What caufes fliall be brought before the Committees of the

Treafury.

1. Thofe relative to the unpacking of merchandize which
occafion any delays of tranfport.

2. Imports of all forts payable by the nobility, clergy,
and towns.

3. Of contrails of merchants.

4. Of letters of exchange, which fliall be further ex-
plained in a law apart.

5. Of debts of merchants and workmen.

6. Of weights and meafures.

7. Of damages caufed to the treafury, or of thefts and
negligences of the fubalterns, &c.

In all other points, the committees of both nations fliali
be maintained in all their antient privileges, not contradictory
to thefe articles above-mentioned.

CHAP*

[ 93 }

CHAP. VI.

Supreme authority rejides in the diet. — Origijt of the Diet,
— Place and time of afj'embling. — Ordinary and extraordi-
nary. — -Convoked by the king. — Conjiituent parts. — King^
fenate, and nuntios. — Proceedings. — Liberum Veto. — Hif'
tory and caufes of its introduSion. — Its dreadful effects. —
How remedied. — Diet of confederacy. — T'he plain of Vola
where the kings are ele&ed. — Account of the diets of convO'
cation and eleSlion.

THE general diet of Poland enjoys, as I have before ob- chaPo
ferved, the fupreme authority : it declares war, makes ^ ^^'
peace, levies foldiers, enters into alliances, impofes taxes,
enadts laws, in a word, it exercifes all the rights of abfolute
fovereignty.

Some Jiiftorians place the earlieft diet in the reign of Ca-
iimir the Great ; but it is very uncertain whether it was firfl
convened in his time ; and ftill more doubtful, of what
members it confifted. Thus much is unqueftionable, that
it was not until the reign of Cafimir III. that this national
aflembly was modelled into its prefent form -••''.

The place of holding the diets depended formerly upon
the will of the kings ; and Louis even fummoned two in
Hungary. In thofe early times Petricau was the town in
which they were moll frequently affembled ; but in 1569,
at the union of Poland and Lithuania, Warfaw was appointed 1

» See p. 8,

til§

GOVERNMENT OF POLAND.

BOOK '^i^Q place of meeting ; and in 1673, it was enaded, that of
three fucceffive diets, two lliould be held in this capital, and
one at Grodno * in Lithuania. This regulation has been
generally followed, until the reign of his prefent majefty,
when the affemblies have been uniformly fummoned to
Warfaw t.

Diets are ordinary and extraordinary ; the former are
convened every two years, the latter as occalion requires.
In 17 17 the ufual feafon for the meeting of the ordinary
diets was fixed for Michaelmas ; but during the prefent
reign it has been occafionally changed to the month of Oc-
tober or November.

The king, with the advice of the permanent council, con-
wokes the diet, by means of circular letters ifllied to all the
Palatines in their ref[x;clive provinces, at leaft lix weeks be-
fore the time appointed for its meeting : thefe letters are ac-
companied with a Ihort fjvetch of the bufinefs to be agitated
in the diet.

The conftituent parts of the diet are the three eftates of
the realm, namely, the king, the fenate, and the nobles or
gentry, by their nuntios or reprefentatives.

1. The king, confidered in his capacity of prefident, is
•only, as it were, the chief of the diet ; he fubfcribes all a<51:s;
figns all decrees agreed to by the affembly ; iffues out all or-
dinances in his own name, and that of the republic, without
enjoying the right of a .negative in any of thefe particulars.

In all queftions he has no vote, excepting upon an equa-
'lity of fuffrages ; but is at liberty to dclivec his fentiments
upon any queftion. His prefent ma^erty is efteemed one of
the moft eloquent among the Polifli orators: ^he has an

-■*

Lengnich, Hift. Pol„p, 262. * See Book U. Chap. VI. Art. Grodno.

6 agreeable

GENERAL DIET.

agreeable tone of voice, and nriuch flvill in fuiting and vary-
ing his cadence to the fubje^ls of his difconrfe ; heharangues
with great energy of ftyle and dignity o»f manner; and his
fpeeches always make a confiderable imprefiion upon the
members of the diet.

When he is dilpofed to fpeak, he rifes from his feat, ad-
vances a few fleps, and cries out, " I fummon the minifters
" of ftate to the throne." Then the great officers of tlie
crown, wlio are fitting at the lower end of the fenate-houie,
come forward and Hand" near the king. The four great
marfliais ftrike the ground at the fame time with their ItafFs
of office ; and the firft in rank fays, " The king is going to .
" fpeak;" after which his majeily begins.

2. The fecond ellafe, or the fenate, is compofed of fpiri-
tual and temporal fenators.

1 . The bifliops or fenators fpiritual have the precedence
over the temporal fenators. The archbilliop of Gnefna is
primate and chief of the fenate, and is viceroy in cafe of an
interrejmum.

2. The temporal are Palatines, Caftellans, and the great
officers of itate.

The palatines are the governors of the provinces, who
hold their offices for life. In time of war, when the army
of the republic is fummoned, the palatines levy and lead the
force of their palatinates into the field, according to the
tenure of feudal fervices ; in time of peace they convoke
the affemblies of the palatinates, prefide in the county courts
of juftice, and judge the Jews within their refped:ive jurif-
di<5lions, &c.

The Caftellans are divided into Grand and Petty Caftellans :
their office, in time of peace, is merely nominal ; but when

the

§6 GOVERNMENT OF POLAND.

BOOK t|-^g niilitary or feudal fervices are required, they are the
?— V — ' lieutenants of the palatines, under whom they command the
'troops of the feveral dilkiils in the palatinates.

The great officers of the republic, who fit in the fenate,
are ten in number, namely, the two great marflials of Po-
land and Lithuania, the two great chancellors, the two vice-
chancellors, the two great treafurers, and the two fub-mar-
flials.

All the fenators w^re formerly appointed by the king ;
but by the late change of government, his majefty's choice is
reftricted to one of three candidates prefented by the per-
manent council *■. The fenators, once nominated, cannot be
deprived of their charges, excepting by the diet.

3. The third eftate is formed by the nuntios or reprefen-
tatives of the equeftrian order. 1 hefe reprefentatives are
chofen in the dietines or aflembles of each palatinate, in
which every noble or gentleman, at the age of eighteen,
has a vote, or is capable of being elected. There is no qua-
lification in point of property required, either for the electors,
or ele^led ; it is only neceflary that the nuntio lliould be a
noble, that is, a perfon not engaged in trade or commerce,
pofTeffing land himfelf, or the fon of a perfon polfeffing land,
or of an antient family which formerly pofTeffed land t.
Each nuntio mufl be twenty-three years of age.

The general proceedings of the diet are as follow : The
king, fenate, and nuntios firft meet altogether in the cathe-
dral of Warfaw, and hear mafs and a fermon. After fervice,
the members of the fenate, or upper-houfe, repair to the

* See p. 64. freres, et autres qui font reconnus pour

•^ Eft aureiii nobilis qui patre nobili natus avoir leurs pofleffions et etre de race anci-

iniuis pofleirionibus vivcns juribus nol i'.ium enne et noble Loix et Cons, dc la D'iete

utitur, Leng. J. P. v. II. p. 8. Les nobles dc 176S. p. 62,

tjui ont des ttnes, leurs cnfansmales, leus

5 fenate-

G E N E R A L t> 1 E t, jj

Cenate-hoiife ; and the nuntios,*or lower-houfe, to their c^^-?*
chamber, when the latter choofe, by a majority of voices, a
marflial, or fpeaker, of the equeftrian order : in order to
preclude unneceffary delays, the eledion is required to take
place within three days after their meeting *. Two days
after the choice of their fpeaker, the king, fenate, and nun-
tios,afremble in the fenate-houfe, which is called thejundion
of the two houfes. The nuntios then kifs the king's hand,
and the members of the diet take their places in the follow-^
ing order.

The king is feated, in regal ftate, upon a raifed throne^
under a canopy at the upi^er end of the apartment. At th&
lower end, oppofite the throne, lit in armed chairs the ten
•officers of ftate. The bifliops f , palatines, and Caftellans,
are ranged in three rows of armed chairs, extending from
the throne on each fide ; and behind thefe are placed the
nuntios upon benches covered with red 'cloth. The fenators
have the privilege of wearing their caps, but the nuntios
remain uncovered.

All the members being feated, the PaHa Conventa are
read, when the fpeaker of the equeftrian order, as well as

* Foi-merly, it being ftipuhted that the In order to remedy this inconvenience, r

«lti.'\ion of the marfhal flioiild take place was enafted in 1690, that the marflial mufl

as foon as polTible, in moft diets much be chofen on the firft day of the meeting ;

lime elapfed before a marflial was chofen j but in 176S, the time allowed for the elec-

aiid as tlve fitting of the national aflembly tion was extended to three days. SeeLeng.

is confined to fix weeks, it fometimes hap- J. P. II. p. 322. andLoix et Confl. do 176?,

■pened, that the nuntios could never agree p. 52.

in the choice ; and feveral diets broke up f Including the archbiflicps of Gnefna

without tranfaifling any bufinefs. Connor, and Vilna, each at the head of hi$ refpec-

who vifited Poland in John Sobiefki's reign, live fufFragans.

•fays upon this head, " He that dcfigns to The reader will find a print which gives

" be elected marflial, muft treat the gentry a faitlrful reprefentation of the diet in Con-

" all the whik, otherwife he would have no noi's Hift. of Poland, v, II. p. 82. One

" vote for hirti ; and commonly they pro- trifling error muft be correftcd : the feats

" long the election, that they may live the marked 11 11 are for the miniftcrs of flate,

" longer at the candidates charges." v. 11. when not "flanding near the throne.
p. 93.

Vol. I. O each

58 GOVERNMENTOFPOLAND.

BOOK ea^.]^ nuntio, is empowered to interrupt the perufal by re-
monftrating againft the infringement of any particular ar-
ticle, and demanding at the fame time a redrefs of griev-
ances. Then the great chancellor propofes, in the king's
name, the queftions to be taken into confideration ; after
wiiich, his majerty nominates three fenators, and the fpeaker
fix nuntios, to prepare the bills. The diet, by majority of
voices, chufes a committee to examine the accounts of the
treafury.

The members * of the permanent council are eledled in
the manner mentioned in the preceding chapter.

Thefe preliminary tranfudions muft be difpatched in the
fpace of three weeks ; at which period the two houfes fepa-
rate : the nuntios retire into their own chamber, and all the
bills undergo a feparate difcuffion in both houfes. Thofe
which relate to the treafury are approved or reje<fted by the
fentiments of the majority. But in all flate-matters t of the
higheft importance no refolution of the diet is valid, unkfs
ratified by the unanimous aflent of every nuntio, each of
whom is able to fufpend all proceedings by his exertion of
the Lib e rum Veto,

The diet muft not fit longer than fix weeks : on the firft
day, therefore, of the fixth week the fenate and nuntios

* The equeftrian members of the laft ation of nobility. 6. Reduftion of thecoin.

peniiancnt council are permitted to be pre- 7. Augmentation or diminution in the

fcnt in this alFembly, without having any charges of the tribunals, or in the aiitho-

vote, until the refolutions of the council are rlly of the minifters of peace and war. 8,

approved by the diet. The fenators, who Creation of places. 9. Order of holding

have a fi;at in the council, are prefent of the diets or dietines. 10. Alterations in the

courfe. tribunals. 1 1. Augmentation of the pre-

t Matters of flate are thus defined by the rog;.tives of the fenatus-coufulta. 1 2. Per-

conftitution of j;68. i. Increafe or alte- miflion to the king to purchafe lands for

ration of the taxes. 2. Augmentation of his fucceflbrs. 13. Arrier-ban, or lum-

the army. 3. Treaties of alliance and peace raoning the nobles to arms,
with the neighbouring powers. 4. Dtcla- Tn all thefe cafes unanimity is requifite.

ration of war, 5. Naturalization and ere- Set L.oix et Court, de la diete de 1768, p. 46.

meet

GENERAL DIET.

meet again in the fenate-lioufe. The ftate-bills (provided chap.

they are unanimoufly agreed to by the nuntios, an event , y
which feldom happens in a free diet) are paffed into laws ;
but if that unanimity be wanting to them, they Itand re-
jected ; and the bufinefs relating to the treafury, which has
been carried by a majority, is read and regiftered.

While the bills are debating in the lower houfe, the king,
fenate, and eighteen nuntios, form a fupreme court of judi-
cature, by which all nobles accufed of capital crimes are
tried ; and all appeals from inferior courts determined in
the laft refort. The majority decide?, and the king gives
fentence.

At the conclufion of the llxth week the laws, which have
paffed, are figned by the fpeaker and nuntios, and the diet
is of courfe diffolved.

The extraordinary diets are fubjeil to the fame regula-
tions as the ordinary diets, with this difference, that they
cannot, by the conffcitutions of 1768, continue longer than a
fortnight. The fame day in which the two houfes aliemble
in the fenate-houfe, the queftions are to be laid before them ;
and the nuntios return immediately to their own chamber.
On the thirteenth day from their firft meeting, the two
houfes are again united ; and on the fifteenth day, after the
laws have been read and figned, the diet breaks up as ufual.

The moft extraordinary characTteriftic in the conftitutioii
of Poland, and which feems peculiarly to dillinguifli this go-
vernment from all others, both in ancient and modern times,
is the Liberum FeiO) or the power which each nuntio enjoys
in a free diet •••'•, not only like the tribunes of ancient Rome,
of putting a negative upon any law, but even of diff)lving

* A free diet, in which unanimity is confederacy, in which ;U1 bufniefs is carried
recjuifite, is diftingulfhed from a diet of by the majority.

O 2 the

jjpo- G O V E R N M- E N T ^ ? F t A N D.

BOOK the aflembly. That every member of a numerous fociety-
.. J ■ lliould be invefled with llich a dangerous privilege, in the
riiidft of the moll: important national tranfadlions, is a cir--^
cumftance in itfelf fo incredible,, as to delerve a minute en-
quiry into the cauies which introduced a cuftom fo preg-.
nant with anarchy, and {o detrimental to public welfare.

The privilege in queftion is not to be found in any period
of the Polifli hiftory antecedent to the reign of John Cafimir.
It was under his adminiftration, that in the year 1 652, when
the diet of Warfaw was debating upon tranfa^lions of
the utmoft importance which required a fpeedy deter-
mination, that Sicinfki*, nuntio of Upita in Lithuania,
cried out, " I ftop the proceedings," Having uttered thefe-
words, he quitted the aflembly, and, repairing imme-
diately to the chancellor, protefted ; that as many a6ts had
been propofed and carried contrary to the conll:itution of the
republic, if the diet continued to lit, he fliould coniider it a$
an infringement of the laws. - The members were thun-
derilruck at a proteft of this nature, hitherto unknown..
Warm debates took place about the propriety of conti-
miing or diirolving the diet : at length, hov/ever, the venal;
and difcontented fadlion, who fupported the protefl, ob-.
tained the majority; and the afiembly. brok,e up in great:
confufion.

This tvanfac^ion changed entirely the ccnftitution of Por
land, and gaye an unlimited fcope to m.ifrule and fadlion,.
The caufes which irduced the Poles to acquiefce in efta--
Uliihing the Liberum VetOy thus cafiuvlly introduced,, were;
probably the following.

I. It was the interelt of the great officers of ftate, particu-.
.larly. the. great general, the great treafurcr, and great marflial,

* Leng. Jiis.Pub. V, II ' p 21^,

L I BE a U M V E T a loi

in whofe hands were veiled the adminiilration of the chap.

army, the finances, and the pohce, to abridge the fitting of . ' ^
the diet. Thefe great officers of ftate, being once nomi-
nated by the king, enjoyed their appointments for hfe,
totally independent ot his authority, and liable to no con-
troul during the intervals of the diets, to which alone they
were refponlibie. This powerful body accordingly flrongly
efpoufcd \ht Liberum Feto, conidow^ they could eafily, and
at all times, fecure a nuntio to proteft ; and by that means-
elude all enquiry into their adminiilration.

2. By a fundamental law of tlie republic, all nobles ac-
Gufed of capital crimes can only be brought to trial before
the diet ; and as, at the period juft mentioned, many per-
fons flood under that defcriptioin, all thefe and their adhe-
rents naturally favoured an expedient tending to difiblve the
only tribunal, by which they could be convi<^ed and punifiied.

3. The exigences of the Hate, occafioned by the continual
wars in which Poland had been engaged, demanded, at this
particular crifis, an impoii'don of fsveral heavy taxes:- as
the fole power of levying all pecuniarv aids rellded in the
diet ; all the nuntios, therefore, who oppofed the railing of
additional fubfidieSj^^econded the propofai for fliortening the ;.
duration of that alTembly..

4. But the principal reafon, which carried througli, and
afterwards fupported the power of diirolving diets, is to be
derived from the influence of fume of the great neighbouring
powers, interelled to foment anarchy and. confullon in the
Polilh counfels. Before this period, if they wilhed to form
a. cabal, and to carry any point in the national alTembly, they
were obliged to fecure a majority of votes : under the new
an"an2;emeutth€y were able to attain their end on much eafier

terras.

102 G O V E R N M E N T O F P O L A N D.

BOOK terms, and to put an end to any diet unfriendly to their
' — J — ' views, by the corruption of a fingle member.

The bad effects of the Liberum Veto were foon felt by the
nation to fuch an alarming degree, that all the members in
the diet of 1670 bound themfelves by an oath not to exert
it, and even palfed a refolution, declaring its exertion entirely
voidof effe6t in thecourfe of that meeting. Notwithftanding,
however, thefe falutary precautions, one Zabokrzifki, nuntio
from the palatinate of Bratlau, interpofing his negative,
brought this very diet to a premature diffolution ••••.

This Liberum Veto^ indeed, has been always confidered
by the moft mtelligent Poles as one of the principal caufes,
which has contributed to the decline of their country. From
the aera of its eftablifliment public bufinefs has continu-
ally fuffered the moft fatal interruption ; it abruptly broke
up feven diets in the reign of John Cafimir ; four under
Michael ; {qvqw under John Sobiefki ; and thirty during the
reigns of the two Augufti : fo that, within the fpace of 1 1 2
years, 48 diets have been precipitately dilTolved by its ope-
ration ; during which period Poland has continued almoft
without laws, without juftice, and, excepting the reign of
John Sobiefki, with few fymptoms of military vigour.
Yet fo ftrongly did the motives above difplayed attach the
Poles to this pernicious privilege, that in the aet of con-
federacy, framed in 1696 after the deceafe of John Sobiefki,
the Liberum Veto is called the deareft and moft invaluable
palladium of Polifli liberty t.

The Poles, however, having fatally experienced the dif-
orders arifing from the Liberum Veto, would certainly have

* Zawodchi Hift. Arcann. -j- Unicum et fpecialilTimiim Jus Cirdinale.

4 aboliihed

LIBERUM ^^ETO.

£33

abollQied it, if they had not been prevented by the parti
tioning powers : and it ftill exifts in its full force *.

I ought not to omit obferving, that neither the king or
the fenate, but only the nuntios, enjoy the power of inter-
pofing this negative upon the proceedings of the diet t.

It will naturally ftrike the reader, that if every reprcfen-
tative poffefles the hiberum Veto^ how can any tranfadtion
be carried on ? or how is it poffible that any one bill
fhould pafs into a law ? for no motion can be conceived
which is not liable to be oppofed by the intrigues of
party, or the jealoufy of the neighbouring powers. In or-
der, therefore, to avoid the anarchy attendant upon free
diets through the operation of the Liberimi Veto, the Poles
have lately had recourfe to diets by confederacy ; which,
though compofed of the fame members, ;ind held under the
fame exterior forms as free diets, differ from them in the
effential circumftance of allowing bufmefs to be determined

* It' would appear, at firfl: fight, as if,
by the following regulation, eftp.bliflied by
the diet of 176S, the exertion of the h'lhc-
rum Veto was in feme inftances reflrained.
*' The abfence of a nuntio, who has intcr-
" rupted the proceedings of the diet, fliall
" be no hindrance to the tranfa<ftion of
*' treafury matters." Loix er Conft. de la
dlete de Varfovie, 1768, p. 56. But this ra-
Ihiflion of the LihcrumVctc, in cfFeft, is
of no validity,

For among the cardinal laws eftabliflied
by the fame diet, it is enafted, " thu mat-
" ters of flate cannot be palTed but by a
" free diet and unanimous confent;" p, 18.
And again, " that after the treafury biifi-
" nefs, matters of flate fliall be brought
*' forward, when the oppofition of a fingle
" nuntio (hall flop all proceedings ;"'p. 56.
And in another place, it is decreed, " that
" in free diets, the Libeium Veto fliall hold
"good ia all matters of Hate;'' p. 44.

When we recoUeifl the definition of flats
m, liters (p. qS, note f), we cannot bat per-
ceive, that the power of interpofing a ne-
gative ftill effeiftually exills. To abate its
exertion in fmall points, and to eflahliih it
in the moft important afiairs, Ir- no real
prevention of the evil.

In fat^, as a proof that it continues in its
full force, we may obferve, that lince tho
year 1768, no free diet has bee 1 co ivcned ;
I mean before I vifited P.-land. An account:
of what has pafl'ed, iuice I quitted the coun->-
try, does not fall undermy phiii. ] recolleift.
indeed to hive feen, in Ibme foreign Ga-
zette, that a free diet had been lately af-
fembled, but- that nothing material had
been tranfaifled in it.

t Lengnich fays, that the Ton itors have
the power of breaking up the di:t ; but he
adds, that they never make ufe of this pri.
vilcgc ; Juf. Pub. II. p. 4.6. which amounts
io ths.fame as their not having it.

rc4 G O V E R N M E N T O F P O L A N D.

BOOK by the plurality of votes. Thcfe diets have long been known
to the conllitution, and have at times been ufed upon extra-
ordinary emergencies ; but within thefe ten years they have
been regularly held at the ftated time for fummoning ordi-
nary diets. Inde€d, according to the true principles of the
PoUili government, no confederacy ought to be entered into
excepting upon the following occasions : in defence of the
king's perfon, upon any foreign invafion or domettic confpi-
racy ; and during an interregnum at the diets of convoca-
tion and eledfion '•■'. But as no other means has been found
to prevent perpetual anarchy, the nation is obliged to fubmit
to an infringement of the conftitution, which operates for
the gener:il good t.

Diet of Election.

During my continuance at Warfaw I vifited the fpot
where the kings of Poland are chofen. I was fo fortunate
as to be accompanied by a nobleman of the fenate, who
obligingly explained all the forms and ceremonies of the
eledlion, and anfwered all the queftions which my curiofity
fuggeiled to me upon the occalion. Immediately upon my
return to Warfav/, while my memory was yet warm, I noted
down the following account of the place and mode of elec-
tion : I was more circumftantial than ufual, as well becaufe
the fubjedt is intereliing, as becaufe moft of the defcriptions
whi'ch I have read of this ceremony abound with errors.

The fpot, which is fettled by the conftitution for the place
of ele61ion, is the plain of Vola, about three miles from the

* But as it is enafted by the diet of 1768, laws, or repealing old ftatutes.
that all matters of Hate niuft be carried + It is decreed, however, by the code of

unanirr.cufly in free diets, I prefume that 1768, that in every diet of convocation all

the diets by confederacy only tranfaft the flate matters muil pafs unaninsoufly, p. 58.
commou bulineis, without making any new

capital

DIETOFELECTION. 105

xapital. In the midft of this plain are two enclofures of chap.

ground, one for the fenate, and the other for the nimtios.
The former is of an oblong fliape, furrounded by a kind of
rampart or ditch ; in the midft of which is eredled, at the
time of eledion, a temporary building of wood, c-^Wed fzopa,
covered at top and open at the fides. Near it is the other
enclofure for the nuntios, of a circular fhape, from which
it derives its name of kola or circle, within which there
is no building ereded, the nuntios affembling in the open
air. When the two chambers are joined, they meet within
the kola^ the fenators chairs and the benches for the nuntios
being ranged in the fame regular order as in the fenate-
houfe at Warfaw, while the feat of the primate is placed in
the middle. Th^fzopa is always pulled down at the con-
clufion of the eledion ; fo that I could only trace the fite of
the iiiclofures, the ramparts of earth remaining in the
fame ftate. I had an opportunity, however, of feeing a
painting reprefenting the /so/>(? and v/hole fcene of election,
w^hich, as I was informed, was perfe6lly accurate,

But before I defcribe the eledion, it may be necefTary to
give a fliort detail of the principal occurrences which precede
that ceremony.

Upon the king's demife the interregnum commences:
the regal authority is then vefted in the archbifhop of
Gnefna primate of Poland, as interrex or regent. He an-
nounces the death of the king by circular letters, convokes
the dietines and diets of convocation ; and, in a word", per-
forms all the fun6tions of royalty during the vacancy in the
throne.

The diet, which is firft convened upon the fovereign's
deceafe, is called the diet of convocation, and is always held
at Warfaw, previous to the diet of eleilion, which affemoles

Vol. J. P in

io« GOVERNMENT OF POLAND.

BOOK jn the plain of Wola. The fovereign authority refides in

»— J > this affembly, in the fame manner as in thofe which are fum-

moned while the throne is filled. The primate prefides like
the king, with this difference, that he does not place him-
felf upon the throne, but fits in an armed chair flationed in
the middle of the fenate-houfe. The diet iffues out adts or
ordinances, arranges or changes the form of government,
fettles the Pa£ia Conventa, and appoints the meeting of the
diet of ele<5tion. The interval between the death of the
king and the nomination of his fucceffor is uncertain ; its
longer or fhorter duration depending upon the intrigues and
cabals of the candidates, or the pleafure of thofe foreign
powers, who give law to Poland. It is always a ftate of
turbulence and licentioufnefs ; the kingdom is divided into
endlefs parties and fa(5lions ; juftice is in a manner fuf-
pended ; and the nobles commit every diforder with im-
punity.

Unanimity * being requifite in all matters of ftate, it is
eafy to conceive the delays and cabals, the influence and cor-
ruption, employed to gain the members in tbe diet of con-
vocation. As foon as all the points are adjufted, whether
the a<Sts have paffed unanimoufly or otherwife, the members,
previous to their feparation, enter into a general confederacy
to fupport and maintain the refolutions of the diet.

At the appointed day the diet of ele(Stion is affembled,
during which Warfaw and its environs is a fcene of confu-
-fion, and frequently of bloodfhed. The chief nobility have
large bodies of troops in their fervice, and repair to the diet
attended by their numerous vaffals and a large retinue of

* This unanimity, in fa£t, does not exift ; cation ftate queftions could only be carried

for tbe ftrongeft fide forces the weaker to ac- unanimoufly. Several diets of convocation

cede or to retire. Yet in the diet of i;68 have been frequently alTembled before all

it was ena£ted, that in the diets of convo- the affairs could be finally arranged.

A domeftics :

DIETOFELECTION. 107

domeftics ; while each petty baron, who can afford to main- ^^^p.
tain them, parades about with his retainers and flaves.

On the day in which the diet of eledlion is opened, the
primate, fenate, and nobility, repair to the cathedral of War-
faw, to hear mafs and a fermon ; from whence they proceed
in due order to the plain of Wola. The fenators enter the
fzopa, and the nuntios take their places within the kola ;
while the other nobles are ftationed in the plain. The fenate
and the nuntios, after having paffed their refpedlive refolu-
tions, as in the ordinary diets, affemble together in the kola^
when the primate, feated in the middle, lays before them
the objedls to be taken into confideration ; the PaSIa Con-
venta, fettled at the diet of convocation, are read and ap-
proved, all neceffary arrangements made, and the day of
ele<5lion appointed. The diet then gives audience to the
foreign minifters, who are permitted by recommendation to
interfere in the choice of a king, and to the advocates of the
feveral candidates. All thefe affairs take up feveral days ;
and would perhaps never be terminated, as unanimity is
requilite, if the alTembly was not overawed by the foreign
troops, who are always quartered near the plain of eledlion.

Upon the day appqinted for the eledlion, the fenate and
nuntios aflemble, as before, in the kola, while the nobles are
ranged in the open field in ieparate bodies, according to their
feveral palatinates, with flandards borne before them, and
the principal officers of each diflridl on horfeback.

The primate, having declared the names of the candi-
dates, kneels down and chants a hymn ; after which the
fenators and nuntios join the gentry of their refpedtive pa-
latinates : then the primate, on horfeback, or in a carriage,
goes round the plain to the different boclies of the gentry
as they are ftationed according to their palatinates ; and,

P 2 having

io8 GOVERNMENT OF POLAND.

BOOK iiaviiig coUedled the votes, proclaims the fuccefsful candi-
• — J — ' date. Each noble does not give his vote feparately, for that
would be endlefs ; but when the primate goes round, the
coUedted body of each palatinate name the perfon they
efpoufe. At the conclufion of this ceremony the aflembly
breaks up.

On the following day the fenate and nuntios return to the
plain ; when the fuccefsful candidate is again proclaimed, and
a deputy difpatched to acquaint him of his ele61ion, as no
candidate is allowed to be prefent. After the proclamation,
the gentry retire ; and the diet, having appointed the diet of
coronation, is dilTolved.

All elections are contefted ; but for fome time they have
always been unanimous upon the fpot, from the terror of a
neighbouring army. In cafe of an oppolition, the party who
will not accede retire from the plain, and remonftrate
again ft the eleiftion ; and, if they are fufficiently ftrong, a
civil war enfues. If it w^ere not for the interference of fo-
reign troops, the confulion, dilbrder, and bloodlhed attend-
ing fuch a popular eledlion fas was formerly the care),wouId
be better conceived than defcribed : and thus the country
draws fome advantaj^e from an evil, which is conlidered by
the Poles as the difgrace and icandal of every cle<5lion,.

C H A P.

[ 109 3

CHAP. VII.

/. Finances and taxes of Poland. — Revenue of the hng.—^

II. Commerce. — General exports and imports. — Caujes of
the lo%v Jlate of trade. — Failure of the plan of opening the
navigation of the Dniejler. — Navigation of the Notez. —

III. Military ejlabl'i/hmtnt . — Corps of Ulans, — State of the
army. — Confederacies,'^— ^\\^\zx\ troops,

I. Finances and Taxes of Poland.

THE following extract from the proceedings of the diet chap.
of 1768 will ferve to fhew the annual receipts and ^^^- ,
difburfements of government before the difmemberment :
" The annual revenues of the treafury of the crown *,
" amount to 10,748,245 florins =^("298, 562. ']S. i^d. The
" expences to 17,050,000 =^^473, 611. zs. i\d. It would
*' be neceffary, therefore, to increafe the revenues, fo as to
*' anf'.ver the excefs of the expences above the receipts,
*' namely, 6,301,755 florins =^175,048. 15^-. but as a
" part of the antient revenues muft be abohlhed,. the new
*' taxes muli yield 10,236,737 florins =^('284,35 3. 13 j".4fl'.
" The treafury of Lithuania produces the annual fum of
" 3,646,628 = jTio 1,295. A^' 6«'. the expences amount to
'* 6,478,142 = ^179,948. 7J. (>d. The revenues ought
*' therefore to be augmented 2,831,514 =^78,653. y. ^d^
" But as fome antient imports miifl: be aboliflied, the new
" taxes muft yield 4,250,481 =^^118, 068, \%s. ^d.-\'"'

* Poland, exclufive of Lithuania. ■\ Loix et Conll. de la Diete de 176K, p. 70.

Polandj,

iio REVENUESOF POLAND.

BOOK Poland, by the late difmemberment, loft nearly half of
• — ^ her annual income ; namely, that part arifmg from the fta-
rofties now occupied by the partitioning powers, from the
duties * upon merchandize fent down the Viftula to Dantzic,
and particularly from the profits of the fait mines in Auftrian
Poland. Thofe of Wielitfka t alone amounted to 3,500,000
Poliih florins, or ^("9 7,22 2 fterling, which was nearly equal
to a fourth part of the government revenues before the par-
tition.

In order to fupply this deficiency, it became neceffary to
new-model and increafe the taxes. Accordingly, in the diet
of 1775, a few of the old taxes were abolifhed, fome were
augmented, and others were added, fo as to make the neat
revenues as high as they were before the difmemberment.

The principal taxes are as follow :

Poll tax of the Jews. Each Jew, both male and female,
infants and adults, pays three Polifli florins, or about is. Sd,
per ajinum ; this impofition, which is of very old ftanding,
was augmented in 1775 a florin per head.

A fourth of the ftarofties. Thefe are the great fiefs of
the crown, in the king's gift, holden by the poflellbrs during
life. The ftaroll enjoys, befide large eftates in land, terri-
torial jurifdi6tion ; the fourth of his revenues arifing from
the land is paid into the treafury of the republic. By the
late change of government thele ftarofties, after the demife
of the perfons now enjoying them, and of thofe who have
the reverfion, are to revert to the public, and their whole
amount to be appropriated to the expences of government]..

Excife of beer, mead, and fpirituous liquors diftilled from
corn. This article muft not be inconfiderable, confidering

• The greateft part of thefe duties are J See the account of the Permanent
now paid to the king of Pniffia. Council, p. 65.

t See Book 11. Chapter II.

the

COMMERCEOFPOLAND. m

the quantity of corn grown in Poland, which, for want of chap.
external commerce, cannot be exported, and the propenfity ^ , ' ■
of the people to fpirituous liquors.

Monopoly of Tobacco. Different Duties upon Importa-
tion and Exportation. Formerly all the nobles were per-
mitted to import and export foreign goods and merchandize
free of duty, a privilege which efFedtually diminillied, and
almoft abforbed, the profits of the tax in queftion. In 1775
this right was abolifhed ; and all imported and exported
commodities now pay duty without any diftindion. Con-:
fidering the great quantity of foreign manufa<5lures intro-
duced into Poland, and chiefly for the ufe of the nobility, .
this alteration muft make a confiderable addition to the re-
venues of government.

Tax upon Chimnies. Before the partition, this tax
exifted only in Lithuania; in 1775 it was rendered ge-
neral and confiderably augmented ; it is the moft pro-
fitable of all the taxes, but lies very heavy \ipon the
common people and peafants. Each chimney is affelTed
in the following proportion. In palaces, or houfes of the
chief nobility, at 16 PoliHi florins per nnn. = about
8 J", i^d. ; houfes of the principal merchants in Warfaw
at 15 = 7 J. jd.; other brick houfes from 10 to 14 =
from 5^. y\d. to ys. 3;^^:/. ; wooden houfes from 6 to
8 = from 3^. 4*/. to 41. G^d. ; heft houfes in other large
towns 12 = 6s. Sd. ; in the fmall towns and villages from 6
to 8 = 3^. ^d. to 41. 6W' ; peafants cottages from 5 to 7 =
as. g\d. to 4J. The peafants pay no other tax to govern-
ment ; and indeed, confidering their poverty, and the op-
preflion of their lords and great nobility, this addition is
more than they can well fupport.

All

tit -REVENUESOFPOLAND.

All thefe feveral impofts amount to 11,628,461 Poliili
florins, or /'323,oi2 fterling.

The king received before the partition a neat revenue of
7jOoo,ooo Poliih florins, or jTi 94,500, which arofe from
the royal dcmefnes and the profit of the falt-works. hi order
to indemnify him for the lofs of the falt-works, and the
royal eftates fituated in the difmembered provinces, he draws
from the public treafury 2,666,666 Polifli fiorins, or
^("74,07 4. ilerling ; which, in addition to the remaining royal
demefnes, and fome ftarofties granted for his ufe, make his
prefent income the fame as before the diimemberment.
Out of this income he only pays his houfliold expences and
menial fervants ; the falary of the great officers of Itate,
and the other general expences, being fupplied from the
public fund. The whole revenue of government, including
the royal demefnes and ftarofties lately granted to the king,
amount to 15,961,795 Polifli florins, or ^("443,938 ; and
by extradting the 7,000,000 florins appropriated to the
king's privy purfe, there remains for the fupport of the
army, the falaries of the great officers of flate, and other
general charges, only 8,961,795 florins, or ^{"248,938. u.
a fum fo fmall, that it hardly feems in any wife equal to
the purpafes for which it is defigned. And yet it is nearly
adequate to the ordinary current expences : for the regular
army is flnall, the great officers of flate receive little or no-
thing from the public treafury, being amply rewarded with
the royal fiefs which are fo numerous and profitable ; each -
palatinate pays its own officers from its private treafury ;
while the feveral judges, juftices of the peace, and other civil
officers who enjoy territorial jurifdidfion, may enrich them-
felves fufficiently by extortions and opprefflons without any
falary.

5 II. Com-

COMMERCEOFPOLAND. u^

II. Commerce of Poland.

Poland contains feveral navigable rivers, which flow^
through its dominions in all diredions, and convey its ex-
ports to the havens of the Baltic. By means of the Viftula
and the rivers falling into it, the produdions of the palati-
nates of Cracow, Lublin, and Mafovia are fent to Thorn,
and from thence to Dantzic and Konigfburg. By the Nieraen
the commodities of Lithuania are tranfported to Memmel ;
and by the Duna thofe of Eaftern Lithuania and White
Ruflia to Riga. The chief exports of Poland are all fpecies
of grain, hemp, flax, cattle, marts, planks, timber for fhip-
building, pitch and tar, honey, wax, tallow, pot-afli, and
leather : its imports are foreign wines, cloths, ftufFs, manu-
factured filks and cotton, line linen, hardware, tin, copper,
filver and gold, glafs ware, furs, Sec.

From the various produClions and great fertility of Po-
land, its trade might be carried to a confiderable height ;
but the following caufes tend to fupprefs the fpirit of com-
merce.

I. The nobles are degraded if they engage in any kind
of traffic.

a. The burghers of the large towns are not rich enough
to eftablifli any manufactures ; and either through want of
induftry, or through dread of excellive extortions from the
principal nobility, leave almoft all the retail-trade in the
hands of foreigners and Jews. The inhabitants of the fmall
towns, who are expofed to greater oppreflions, are ftill more
difqualified from purfuing any branch of commerce.

3. The peafants being flavcs, and the property of their
mailer, cannot retire from the place of their nativity without
his confent. John Albert, obferving that commerce could

Vol. I. Q never

114 COMMERCEOFPOLAND.

BOOK never flourifli while this reftriclion fubfifted, enafted, that
I.

i one peafant in a family (liould be permitted to quit his vil-
lage, either for the purpofe of trade or literature ; but the
clauie, which ordered them to requeft and obtain the confent
of the lord, frultrated the purpofe of this excellent law, anti
rendered it abfolutely nugatory ■•••■.

As the Poles are oblige<l to draw from foreign coimtries
the greateft part of the manufadtured goods neceflury for
their interior confuniption, the fpecie which is exportetl
exceeds the imported more than 20,000,000 Poiifli florins,

Poland has been called the granary of the North, an ap-
pellation which it feems to deferve rather from its former
than from its prefent fertility. For its lands not being fiif-
ficiently cultivated, asv/ell on account of the flavery of the
pcafants, as the unequal diltribution of property, the expor-
tation of corn is by no means anfwerable to the general
nature of the foil, or the extent of its provinces, which, if
properly improved, would be capable of fupplying half Eu-
rope with grain.

Several palatinates in Poland, and more particularly Pc>-
dolia and Kiovia, are extremely adapted to the production of
grain : though many parts of thefe provinces remain uncul-
tivated, yet the portion which is in tillage yields a greater
fupply, than is necefTary for the confumption of the inhabi-
tants.

The only method of employing the overplus is to extratft
from it a fpirituous liquor. But an ingenious Polifli author t
has fhown, that the provinces in queftion might undoubt-

* Stat. Reg. Pol. p. 169. of this worlc, is written in the Polifli Lin-

+ Mr. de WiebitJki, a i'olifli gerttlciTian guage, and called Patriotic Letters, .-jd-

of great le.irning .ind inforni.uion. The drtiled to ti.e Chancellor 'Aiiiioilki.

treiuiic alluded to in this aad other places

cdly

COMMERCE O F P O L A N D, n.

edly fend their grain down the Dniefter through Turkifli chap.
Moldavia ; and open an intercourfe with the ports of the « , ' i
Black Sea. This jprojed; was formerly in agitation.

During the reign of Sigifmond Auguftus, Cardinal Com-
mandon, in travelling through Podolia, being much ilruck
with the fertility of that province, firiT: fuggefted the mea-
fure ; and Sigifmond, having obtained the concurrence of
the grand feignor, adtually difpatched feme Poles down, the
Dniefterj to explore the Itate of the river. But the perfons
employed on this occafion, happening after a few days voy-
age to meet with fome impediments from rocks and 'fand
banks, declared, without any further examination, that the
Dniefter was not navigable ; and although Commandon re-
prefented to the king, that the obllacles pointed out might,
without any great difficulty, be furmounted ; yet the projedt
was pofl:poned, and never again revived *.

The judicious author above-mentioned t, intoviching upon
this fubjed, laments the ignorance of his countrymen ; and
ridicules the precipitation with which they abandoned a
plan fo favourable to the improvement of their commerce.
He fliows, that the inattention of the Poles to the natural
advantages of their country has been exemplified in an-
other inllance of a fimilar kind. By means of the Notez, a
river of Great Poland, which falls into the Oder, the Poles
might have conveyed grain into Silefia, and from thence
down the Oder into other parts of Germany. But they
never attempted the navigation of the Notez, from an ill-
founded perfuafion of its not being practicable. No fooncr,
however, had the king of Pruffia acquired the countrv
through which that river takes its courfe, than it was

* Vie de Commandon. -j- Mr. de Wiebitiki.

Q 2 infban-

ii6 ARMY OF POLAND.

BOOK inftantaneouily, and without undergoing the leaft alteration,
' — , — > covered with veffels.

III. Military Establishment.
The king has a corps of 2000 troops in his own pay,
and entirely dependent upon himfelf. Thefe troops confiil
chiefly of Ulans or light horfe, who furnifli alternately the
cfcort which accompanies his majefty. We faw a fmall
party, about thirty, who were encamped near his villa, and
had afterwards an opportunity of examining them more
minutely. The Ulans are chiefly Tartars, many of them
Mahometans, and are greatly to be relied on for their fide-
lity. The corps is compofed of gentlemen and vaflals :
they all form in fquadron together, but are differently armed;
they both indifcriminately carry fabres and piftols, but the
gentlemen only bear lances of about ten feet long; iuftead
of which, the others are armed with carabines. Their drefs
is a high fur cap, a green and red jacket, pantaloons of the
fame colour, which cover the boots as low as the ankle ; and a
petticoat of white cloth defcending to the knee. Their heads
are all fliaved after the Polifli manner •'■'■. Their lances, at the
end of which is fafleneil a long fwal low-tailed flag of black and
red cloth, are Ihorter and weaker than thofe of the Auftrian
Croats, but they carry and ufe it much in the fame manner,
and with no lefs dexterity. The men were of different lizes,
and Teemed fine and well-grown, but were greatly disfi-
gured with their petticoats and pantaloons. The horfes on
which they were mounted were about fourteen hands high,
of remarkable fpirit, with great ffrength of flioulder. Poland
is much efteemed for its breed of horfes ; and the king of
Pruffia procures his light cavalry from this country. The

» See Book 11. Chapter II.

4 breed,

ARMYOFPOLAND. ,i^

breed, however, has been almoft ruined during the late civil chap.
wars, and the nobility are now chiefly fuppUed fromTartary. , "" "

The armies of Poland and Lithuania are independent of
each other, being feparately commanded, and under the di-
rection of the refpedive great generals. In time of war
the king in perfon may lead the forces of the republic.
Formerly the power of thefe great generals was uncon-
trouled, excepting by the diet, to which they were only
amenable for their adminiftration. Their enormous autho-
rity, however, underwent fome limitation in 1768, by the
appointment of a committee of war, of which they are per-
petual preiidents ; and was ftill further circumfcribed by the
ertablilhment of the military department in the permanent
council, whofe office has been already defcribed '•'•.

In 1778 the following v/as the ftate of the Polifli army.
Troops of Poland.

Complement. Effeftivc men. AVanting.

Staff officers 27 27

Cavalry 4997 4708 289

Infantry, including artillery 7286 6703 583

Total of Poland 123 10 11438 872

Army of Lithuania.

Staff officers 25 25

Cavalry 2670 2497 173

Infantry, including artillery 4770 44^5 305

Total of Lithuania 7465 6987 478

Total of the Polifli and Lithuanian troops,

, 19775 58425 1350

See p. S4.

The

ii3 ARMYOFPOLAND.

The {landing army of Poland being fo inconfulerable, the
defence of the country, in cafe of invafion, is left to the
gentry at large, who are affembled by regular fummons
from the king with the confent of the diet. Every pala-
tinate is divided into diftrid:s, over each of which proper
officers are appointed ; and every perfon pofleffing free
and noble tenures is bound to military fervice, either fingly
or at the head of a certain number of his retainers, according
to the extent and nature of his poiTeffions. The troops thus
affembled are obliged only to ferve for a limited time, and
are not under the neceffity of marching beyond the limits
of their country.

The mode of levying and maintaining this army is ex-
actly fimilar to that pradifed under the feudal fyftera. A*
prefent, though it is almoft totally unfit for the purpofes
of repelling a foreign enemy, it is yet a powerful inllru-
ment in the hands of domeftic facftion : for the expedition
with which it is raifed under the feudal regulations, facili-
tates the formation of thefe dangerous confederacies, which
fuddenly ftart up on the contefted eledlion of a fovereign,
or whenever the nobles are at variance with each other.

There are two forts of confederacies.

The firft are thofe formed with the confent of the king,
fenate, or e(;[ueftrian order, affembled in the diet; by which
the whole nation confederates for the good of the country.

The fecond are the confederacies of the fl veral palatinates,
which unite for the purpole of redreffing any grievances,
or remonftrating againft encroachments of the fovereign
power. Thefe may be particular, or general, and are ufually
the forerunners of a civil war. The general confederacy,

which

ARMYOFPOLAND. 119

which is always in oppofition to the king, is called Rokoz, chap.
and is formed by the union of the particular confederacies.

As every Polilh gentleman has a right to maintain as
many troops as he chufes, it may eafily be conceived, that
each palatinate is the fcene of occalional difputes and petty
contentions between the principal nobles, and fometimes
even between their refpe(£live retainers. In fuch a dreadful
ftate of anarchy, it is a wonder that the whole kingdom is
not a perpetual fcene of endlefs commotions, and that the
nation is compofed of any thing elfe but lawlefs banditti. It
redounds, therefore, greatly to the honour of the natural
difpofition of the Poles, that amid all thefe incentives to
confufion, a much greater degree of tranquillity, than could
be well expedled, is maintained.

As I am now dehneating the miHtary eftablifliment, I
muff not omit the Ruffian troops, which have been fo long-
quartered in this country, that they may almoft be confidered
as forming part of the national army. The whole kingdom
is entirely under the proteftion, or, in other words, under the
power of Ruffia, who rules over it with the fame unbound-
ed authority as over one of its provinces. The king is in
effect Uttle more than a viceroy ; while the Ruffian embaf-
fador has the real fovereignty, and regulates all the affairs of
the kingdom according to the diredlion of his court. The
emprefs maintains within the country about 10,000 fbldiers.
Every garrifon is compofed of Ruffian and native troops ; a
thoufand of the farmer are fhitioned at Warfaw ; and each
gate of the town is guarded by a Rufhan and Polifh centinel.

In a Vv7ord,the RulTian troops hold the nobles in fubjeiflion,
and for the p;efent keep under internal feuds and commotions.
But when Poland (if ever that event fliould happen) is again

lio A R M Y O F P O L A N D.

1300K left to herfelf, the fame fury of contending parties, now
■ / ■ fmothered, but not annihilated, will probably break out with
redoubled fury; and again generate thofe difturbances
which have long convulfed this unhappy kingdom : and to
what a wretched ftate is that country reduced, which owes
its tranquillity to the interpofition of a foreign army ?

CHAP.

C 121 ]

CHAP. VIII.

Wretched Jlate of Poland. — Div'tfton of the inhabitants into
I. Nobles or Gentry ; //. Clergy ; ///. Burghers ; IV. Pea-
fants. — State ofvaiffalage. — Its fatal efJ'eSis. — hijiances of
afeuo nobles who have given liberty to their peafants.—'Ad''
vantages refulting from that pra^ice. — F. Jews, — Popula-
tioti of Poland.

IConfider Polifli liberty the fource of Poliili wretchednefs ; chap.
and Poland appears to me, as far as I can judge by the . ^"^'
fpecimens which fell under my obfervation, of all countries
the moft diftrefled. Nor indeed do the natives themfelves
attempt to palliate or deny this melancholy fa6l. Upon ex-
prefling my furprize at one inftance of the abufe of liberty,
to which I had been myfelf a witnefs, to a perfon well verfed
in the laws of the country, he returned for anfwer, " If you
" knew the confufion and anarchy of our conftitution, you
*' would be furprifed at nothing : many grievances necef-
" farily exift even in the beft regulated ftates ; what then
" muft be the cafe in ours, which of all governments is the
*' molt deteftable ?" Another lamenting the dreadful fitua-
tion of his country, faid to me, " The name of Poland Hill
" remains, but the nation no longer exiils : an univerfal cor-
" ruption and venality pervades all ranks of people. Many
■*' of the firft nobility do not blulh to receive penfions from
** foreign courts. One profeffes himfelf publicly an Auftrian,
" a fecond a Pruffian, a third a Frenchman, and a fourth a
-" Ruffian."

Vol. I. R The

m INHABITANTS OF POLAND.

The prefent fituation of the PoHfli nation imprefled my
mind with the moft pathetic ideas of fallen greatnefs ; and I
could not confider, without a mixture of regret and fympa-
thy, a people, who formerly gave law to the North, reduced
to fo low a ftate of infignificance and domeftic mifery.

The nation has few mannfadures, fcarcely any com-
merce ; a king almoft without authority ; the nobles in a
Itate of uncontroiiled anarchy ; the peafants groaning under
a yoke of feudal defpotifm far worfe than the tyranny of an
abfolute monarch. I never before obferved fuch an ine-
quality of fortune, fuch fudden tranfition from extreme
riches to extreme poverty ; wherever I turned my eyes,
luxury and wretchednefs were conrtant neighbours. In a
word, the boafted Polifli liberty is not enjoyed in the fmalleft
degree by the bulk of the people, but is confined among the
nobles or gentry. The truth of thefe remarks will beft
appear from the following account of the inhabitants.

The inhabitants of Poland are nobles, clergy, citizens,
and peafants.

I. The Nobles are divided into two clafTes ; the members
of the fenate, and of the equeftrian order. Having, upon a
former occafion *, defcribed the powers which fenators enjoy
in their colledtive capacity, it will be unneceffary to repeat
them in this place.

We fliould be greatly deceived if we were to underftand
the word noble in our fenfe of that term. In the laws of
Poland a noble is a perfon who poffelTes a freehold t eilate,

■* See p. gj. free and noble, and are always diftinguifhed

t Some citizens have the right of pof- from the freeholds of tlie nobles ; the lattjr

feffiug lands within a league of the town are called in the ftatute hw terrigenae, or

which, they inhabit ; but thefe lands are not earthborn, free to live where they plealc, to

dillinsuifli

NOBLES.

123

or who can prove his defcent from anceftors formerly pof- chap.
fefling a freehold, following no trade or commerce, and at x y.L
liberty to choofe the place of his habitation. This defcription.
includes all perfons above burghers and peafants. The
members of this body below the rank of fenators are called,
in a coUedive ftate, the equeftrian order ; and in their indi-
vidual capacities nobles, gentlemen, freemen, or land-
holders, which appellations are fynonymous.

All the nobles or gentry are, in the llridl letter of the
law, equal by birth ; fo that all honours and titles are fup-
pofed to add nothing to their real dignity t. By means of
their reprefentatives in the diet, they have a fliare in the le-
giflative authority, and in fome cafes, as in the eledlion of a
king, they aflemble in perfon, when each noble is capable of
being eledted a nuntio, of bearing the office of a fenator, and
of prefenting himfelf as a candidate upon a vacancy in the
throne. No noble can be arrefted without being previoufly
convicted, except in cafes of high treafon, murder, and rob-

dirtinguifh them from perfons necefiarily in- " infigniuntur, vocabula funt, qua: ftatum

habiting towns, " Quos leges nominant " non immutant, & qui illis gaudent, non

" terrigenas, non alii funt, quam nobiles ; "alio, quam nobilium jure, fua tenent.

" exprimitque prius vocabulum, polonicum " Neque Polonia alias Principum, alias

•' Ziemimin, quo in agris fibi et fuo jure " Marchionum, alias Comitum, alias Equi-

" vivens^intclligitur, qus nobilium in Po. " turn leges novit ; fed omnibus una nobi-

•' Ionia eft conditio, qui non civitatis & op- " lium lex fcripta ell:. Inde in conclavi

" pida,fedfua praedii habitantes, vitam fuo " Nunciorum Principum & Comitum no-

" arbitrio difponunt." Leng. Jus Pub. I. " minibus fulgentes, ceteris permixtos vi-

297. a true feudal diftim'tion. They are " demus. Nullum ibi inter modici agelli

alfo %led indigenre or natives, and concives *' & paucorum jugerum, ac aliquot oppi-

or fellow-citizens of the republic. " dorum multorumque vicorum domiiium,

-f- It is particularly ftipulated, that titles " obfervatur difcrimen. Pra;ccdiint alii,

give no precedence ; which is called in the " alii f^jquuntur non ex titulis familiarum,

PnftaConventa of AugullusIlJ. "Jus .-equa- " fed ad palitinatuum terrarumque, ex qui-

" litatis inter cives regiii," &:c. upon which " bus nuntii milTi, ordinem. Eadem in fe-

Lengnickmakesthefollowingremark,"Om- " natu ratio. AlTignat loca, muneris non

" nis hxc nobilitas naturaell aqualis, quod " llemmatis dignitas. Et qui fenator non

*' omnes ex ilia, ad eadem jura, in eandem " princeps, non comes, prxceditprincipcni,

*' fpem nafcuntur. Tituli Principum, Mar- " ac comitem, non fenatorem." Pac. Con.

" chjonumj Comitum, quibus alii prx aUis p. 31.

R a bery

124

INHABITANTS OF POLAND.

BOOK ]3gj-y on the highway, and then he muft be furprized in the
fait, nor can he be capitally punilhed but by order of the
diet.

The definition of a noble being thus apphed not only to
perfons acftually pofTeffing land, but even to the defcendants
of former landholders, comprehends fuch a large body of
men, that many of them are in a ftate of extreme indigence ;-
and as, according to the Polifli law, they lofe their nobility if
they follow trade or commerce, the moll needy generally de-
vote themfelves to the fervice of the richer nobles, who, like
the old feudal barons, arc conftantly attended by a large
number of retainers. As all nobles, without any diftin<5lion,
enjoy the right of voting, as well for the choice of nuntios,
as at the election of a king, their poverty and their number
is frequently produftiveof great inconvenience. Hence the
king, who has juftly conceived a great veneration for the
Ennlifh conftitution, wiflied to introduce into the new code
a law limilar to ours relating to county ele6lions, that no
perfon Ihould be intitled to a vote in the choice of a nuntio
but thofe who polTeiTed a certain qualification in land *. This
propofition, however, has been received with fuch marks o-f
diffatibfadion, that we may conclude it will never be allowed
to pafs into a law.

II. The Clergy. Micifiaus, the firfi fovereign of Poland
who embraced Chriflianity, granted leveral immunities and

His fucceflc)rs and the rich nobles fot--

A. T>.

ertates to the clergy.

* Ci'tinor ancntions a fimilar attempt of " b'.it f.;ch only a' li.itl at lenil two hiindrcd •

John C'afimir, vvliich failed of liicccls. " crouiis a year, uhereiipon the palatine nf

* rUng Cafimir obreivlng the gieat abufes " I'ofnaiiia, offering to pin this law in exe-

* that fpriag from every iittie gentleman's *' cution in his province, was not only af-
' pre tended privilege to fit in the little "fronted, but alio narrowly efcaped wirh

(ticis, ordered that none fnoiild have a " his life." Hift, of I'olawl, v, II, p. 104.
' wole there, iu cltitiiig a deputy or nunt.o^

lowed

CLERGY.

125

lowed his example ; and the riches of this body continued chap.
increafing as well from royal as private donations, until the, ^^"*
diet, apprehenfive left in procefs of time the grcateft part of
the eftates fliould pafs into the hands of the clergy, forbad
by different Jaws, and particularly in i 669, the alienation of
lands to the church, under penalty of forfeiture : and under
the prefent reign fevcral eftates have been confifcated which:
had been beftowed upon the clergy fince that period.

From the time of the firft eftablifliment of the catholic
religion by Cardinal vEgidius, nuntio from Pope John XII. the
bifliops have been admitted into the fenate as king's counr-
fellors. They were uiually appointed by the king, and
confirmed by the pope ; but, lince the creation of the per-
manent council, they are nominated by his majel^y out of.
three candidates chofen by the council : a bifliop, the mo-
ment he is appointed, is of courfe entitled to all the privileges
of a fenator. The archbifliop of Gnefna is primate, as we
have before obferved, the firft fenator in rank, and viceroy-'
during an interregnum.

The ecclefiaftics are all freemen, and,. in fome particular
inftances, have their own courts of juftice, in which the
canon law is pra61iled. Ofthefe courts of jufiice peculiar to
the clergy, there are three ibrts ; I. The confiftorial, under
the jurifdidlion of each l)ifhop in his diocefe ; If. The me-
tropolitan, uiider the primate, to which an appeal lies from
thebifhop's court ; III. That of the pope's nuntio, which is
the fupreme ecclefiaftical judicature Vv'ithin the kingdom, to
which an appeal may be made both from the deciiion of the
primate and of the biftiop. In cafes of divorce, difpenfations
tor marriages, and in c'her inftances the parties, as in all ca-
tholic countries, muft apply to the pope, by which means no
iinconfiderabJe degree of money is ablbrbed by the fee of
Rome.

c In

126 INHABITANTS OF POLAND.

BOOK jj^ j^y{^ civil affairs the clergy are judged in the ordinary
< — ,! — 'courts of juftice. In criminal caufes, an ecclefiaftic is firft
arretted by the civil powers, then judged in the confiftory,
and, if convidfed, he is remitted to the civil power, in order
to undergo the penalty annexed to the crime of which he has
been found guilty.

One great ecclefiaftical abufe, which has been aboliflied in
moft other catholic countries, ftill exifts in this kingdom :
when the Pope fends a bull into Poland, the clergy publifli
and carry it into execution, without the confirmation or
approbation of the civil power.

Before 1538 ecclefiaflics were allowed to hold civil em-
ployments ; but in that year priefls were declared incapable
of being promoted to fecular offices. They were alfo ex-
empted from paying any taxes; but this exemption has been
wifely taken off, and they are now rated in the fame manner
as the laity, with this difference, that their contributions are
not called taxes, but charitable fublidies.

III. The next clafs of people are the burghers, inhabiting
towns, whofe privileges were formerly far more confiderable
than they are at prefent.

The hiftory of all countries, in which the feudal fyftem
has been eftablifhed, bears teflimony to the pernicious policy
of holding the lower claffes of men in a ftate of ilavifli fub-
jeftion. In procefs of time a concurrence of caufes * con-
tributed gradually to foften the rigour of this fervitude with
regard to the burghers, in feveral of the feudal kingdoms.
Among other circumftances tending to their protedfion, the
moft favourable was the formation of feveral cities into bo-

*■■ It does not enter into the plan of this in a View of the State of £iitope, prefixed
work to defciibe thefe cajfes : the reader to Dr. Robertfon's Hiftary of Charles V.
■will find them amply and ably illuflrated

4 dies

BURGHERS.

127

dies politic, with the privilege of exercifing municipal jurif- chap.
di<Slion. This inftitution took its rife in Italy, the firft country > — ^
in Europe which emerged from barbarifm ; and was from
thence transferred to France and Germany. It was firft in-
troduced into Poland about 1250, during the reign of Bolef-
laus the chafte, who being inftrudted in the Teutonic or
German laws by Henry the bearded duke of Wratiilaw,
granted firft to Cracow, and afterwards to feveral other
towns, the privileges polTefTed by the German cities : this
body of rights is called in the Statutes of Poland Jus Mag-
deburgicum et Teutonicum ; and the caufe affigned for its in-
trodu(5tion is, that no city could flourifh and increafe under
the Polilli or feudal laws •'••. In the 13th and following cen-
turies the kings and great barons built feveral towns, to all
which they granted a charter of incorporation, conceived in
the following terms t : " I'ransfero banc villam ex jure PolO'
" nico in jus I'eutonicumr The beneficial tendency of this
political regulation foon appeared : by a fudden increafe of
population and wealth, the burghers of fome of the prin-
cipal free towns acquired fuch a degree of importance and
confideration, as to give their alfent to treaties, and fend de-
puties to the national alTembly : a noble was not degraded
by being a burgher, and a burgher was capable of being an
officer of the crown. A treaty % which Cafimir the Great
entered into with the knights of the Teutonic order, was not
only figned by the king and the principal nobles, but alfo by
the burghers of Cracow, Pofin, Sandomir, and other towns ;
and under the fame monarch Wiernefk §, burgomafter of
Cracow, was fubmarfl,:ial and treafurer of the crown.

The

* Leng. Jus Pub. p. 524.

f Chromer.

\ Dlugoflius L, IX. p. 1067,

* This Wiernefk was fo rich, that in 1363,
whep the emperor Charles IV. married at
Cracow Elizabeth granddaughter of Cafi-

nxi;-.

I2g INHABITANTS OF POLAND.

The burghers enjoyed the privileges juft mentioned dur-
ing the Jaghellon hne, as appears from the different ad:s ol-
Sigifmond I. and his fon Sigilmond Auguftus. During the
reign of the former the nobles endeavoured to exclude the
deputies of Cracow from the diet; but that monarch not
only confirmed the right of that city to fend reprefentatives,
but even decreed, that the citizens were included within the
clafs of nobles*.

When the crown became wholly elective, the burghers
fufiered continual encroachments on their privileges at every
nomination of a new fovereign ; they loll the right of pof-
iefling lands, excepting within a fmall dirtance of their
towns, of fending deputies to the diets, and were of courfe
excluded from all Ihare of the legiflative authority, ' The
•principal caufe of this exclufion was, that as the burghers
were not obliged, by the nature of their tenures, to march
againft the enemy, but were only under the necefTity of fur-
nifhing arms and waggons for the ufe of the army ; they
incurred, therefore, the contempt of the warlike gentry,
who, in the true fpirit of feudal arrogance, confidered all
occupations, but that of war, as beneath a freeman, and all
perfone, not bound to military ferviccs, as unqualified for
the adminiliration of public affairs.

The burghers, however, flill enjoy a confiderable portion
of freedom, and poilcfs the following immunities : they
ele6t their own burgomafter andcouncil ; they regulate their
■interior police, and have their ov»'n criminal courts of juflice,

.mir, he gave a moft I'uniptuons enterrain- bride. Chromer, p. 324,

mcnt to his fovereign, to-the emperor, kings * Confiiles Cracovienfes, &c. dcberc ct

.ot Hungiry, Denmark, Cyprus, and othtr pcffe on.nilms confiliis, qiiihus alii niiiitii

princes, who were prefent at the marriage: tcrrc(lii.s aderiint, &c. more folito conlnl-

-J)i:lide other magniticent gifts which he ha- tari. Statiita I'ol. p. 8. Cracovia eii incor-

.ftovved upon the company, lie prtleiited Ca- porata et unira nobilitati ; ih. terrarumqiic

.|;:iuj- 5V1U1 a luui equal to the portion of the civitatnmqus uuntio, p. 3C3.

wliick

PEASANTS.

129

Which decide without appeal. A burgher, when plaintifT chap.
againft a noble, is obliged to carry the caufe into the courts <_.v-^
of juilice belonging to the nobles, where the judgement is
final : when defendant, he muft be cited before the ma-
giftrates of his own town, from whence an appeal lies only
to the king in the aiTeflbrial tribunal. To this exemption
from the jiirifdidlion of the nobles, though only in one fpe-
cies of caufes, the burghers owe whatever degree of inde-
pendence they ftill retain ; as without this immunity they
Would long ago have been reduced to a flate of vaflalage.

IV. The peafants in Poland, as in all feudal governments,
are ferfs or Haves ; and the value of an eftate is not eitimated
fo much from its extent, as from the number of its peafantSj
who are transferred from one mafter to another like fo many
head of cattle.

The peafants, however, are not all in an equal flate of
fubjeoHon : they are diftinguifhed into two forts ; i . Ger-
man ; 2. Natives.

I. Daring the reign of Boleflaus the Charte, and more
particularly in that of Cafirair the Great, many Germans
fettled in Poland, who were indulged in the ufe of the
German laws*; and their defcendants flill continue to
enjoy feveral privileges not poffcffed by the generality of
Polifli peafants. The good effec^ts of thefe privileges are
very vifible in the general ftate of their domeftic oeco-
nomy ; their villages are better built, and their fields
better cultivated, than thofe \vhich belong to the native Poles;
they poflefs more cattle, pay their quit-rents to their lords
with greater exadlnefs ; and, when compared with the others^
are cleaner and neater in their perfons.

* Lubienlki, p. ie8. Florus Pol. p. 118. Chromer, 319.

Vol. I. S C5. The

130

INHABITANTS OF POLAND.

BOOK 2. The flavery of the Polifli peafants is very antienf, and
' I ._• was always extremely rigorous. Until the time of Cafimir the
Great, the lord could put his peafant to death with impunity,
and, when the latter had no children, confidered himfelf as
the heir, and feized all his effects. In 1347 Cafimir pre-
fcribed a fine for the murder of a peafant ; and enacfled, that,
in cafe of his deceafe without ilTue, his next heir fliould in-
herit -••'". The fame fovereign alfo decreed, that a peaHint was
capable of bearing arms as a foldier, and that therefore he
ought to be confidered as a freeman. But thefe and other
regulations, by which that amiable monarch endeavoured to
alleviate the miferies of the vafTals, have proved ineffedlual
againft the power and tyranny of the nobles, and have been
either abrogated or eluded. That law, which gives the pro-
perty of a peafant dying without ifiiie to the next of ki[i,
was inilantly rendered nugatory by an old Polifli maxim,
" That no flave can carry on any procefs againft his mafter;"
and even the fine for his murder was leldom levied, on
account of the numerous difficulties which attend the con-
vi<5lion of a noble for this or any other enormity. So far
indeed from being inclined to foften the fervitude of their
vafTals, the nobles have afcertained and eftablilhed it by
repeated and pofitive ordinances. Ah able Polifh writer, in
a benevolent treatife t addrelTcd to the chancellor Zamoifki,
obferves, that in the Statutes of Poland there are above an
hundred laws unfavourable to the peafants, which, among
other grievances, eredt fummary tribunals fubje(51; to no ap-
peals, and impofe the fevereft penalties .upon thofe who quit
their villages without leave. From thefe numerous and ri-
gorous edicts to prevent the elopement of the peafants, the

* Stat, Pol. I. p. 24, f Patriotic Letters.

fame

PEASANTS.

»3»

fame humane author juftly infers the extreme wretchednefs chap.

VIII.

of this oppreffed clafs of men, who cannot be detained in the ■ , ' >
place of their nativity but by the terror of the fevereft pu-
nifliment.

The native peafants may be divided into tvi'o forts :
I. Peafants of the crown ; 2. Peafants belonging to indivi-
duals.

1 . Peafants of the crown are thofe who are fettled in the
great fiefs of the kingdoms, or in the royal demefnes, and
are under the jurifdictions of the llarofts. If the crown-
peafants are oppreffed by thefe judges, they may lodge a
complaint in the royal courts of jullice ; and iliould the fta-
roft endeavour to obftru6l the procefs, the king can order
the chancellor to iffue a fafe condudl, by which he takes the
injured perfon under his projedlion : and although in moft
cafes the corrupt adminiftration of juftice, and the fuperior
influence of the ftarofts, prevent a complainant from ob-
taining any effectual redrefs even in the king's courts ; yet,
the very poflibility of procuring relief is fome check to in-
juftice, and fome alleviation of diftrefs.

2. Peafants belonging to individuals are at the abfolute
difpofal of their mailer, and have fcarcely any pofitive fecu-
rity, either for their properties or their lives. Until 1768
the Statutes of Poland only exacted a fine from a lord who
killed his flave ; but in that year a decree paffed, that the
murder of a peafant was a capital crime ; yet, as the law in
quellion requires fuch an accumulation of evidence * as is
feldom to be obtained, it has more the appearance of pro-
ted:ion than the reality.

* The murderer muft be taken in the taken in the fail, and there are not the
faft ; which muft be proved by two gentle- above-mentioned nuiviber of witnefles, he
men or four peafants j [and if he is not only pays a fine,

S 2 How

INHABITANTS OF POLAND;

How deplorable miift be the flhte of that country, when a.
law of that nature was thought requifite to be enadled, yet is.
found incapable of being enforced. The generality, indeed^^.
of the Polifli nobles are not inclined either to eftablifli or give
efficacy to any regulations in favour of the peafants, whom
they fcarcely confidcr as entitled to the common rights of
humanity *■■•. A few nobles, however, of benevolent hearts
and enlightened undcrftandings, have acfted ui)on different
principles, and have ventured upon the expedient of giving
liberty to their vaflals. The event has fliowed this projedt
to be no lefs judicious than humane, no lefs friendly to their
own interefts than to the happinefs of their peafants : for it
appears that in the diftritfts, in which the new arrangement,
has been introduced, the population of their villages is confi-.
derably increafed, and the revenues of their eftates augmented
in a triple proportion.

The firft noble who granted freedom to his peafants was,
Zamoifls.!, formerly great chancellor, who in 1760 enfran-.
chifed iix villages in the palatinate of Mafovia. Thefe vil-
lages were, in 1777, vifited by the author of the Patriotic
Letters, from whom I received the followinG; information :

On infpecling the parilh-regifters of births from 1758 to
1768, that is, during the ten years .of flavery immediately
preceding their enfranchifement, he found the number of
births 434; in. the firil: ten years' of their freedom, from,
1760 to 1770, 620 ; and from 1770 to the beginning of,
1777) 585 births. By thefe -e'xtt-a6ts it appeared that
Baring the firltperiod-there^wcrconly 43 births"^

fecond period 6z each year,

third period 77 J

* ZnmoifKi, in his new code of la-ws, has tfnt code, and confirm decrees, .th'oii'jh ,

w.armly fpoken in favour of the peafants ; formed upon the coniriion and nnnual liglita

but fuch arc the national prejudices, that it .of niankind.
is uncertain whether the diet will receive

I If

PEASANTS. J,

If we fuppofe an improvement of this fort to take place chap.
throughout the kingdom ; how great would be the incrcafe v__^J_
of national population !

The revenues of the fix villages, fince their enfranchife-
ment, have been augmented in a much greater proportion
than their population. In their itate of vaiTalage Zamoilki
was obliged, according to the cuftom of Poland, to build
cottages and barns for his peafants, and to furnilh them with
feed, horfes, ploughs, and every implement of agriculture ;
llnce their attainment of liberty they are become fo eafy in
their circumftances, as to provide themfelves with all thefe
neceffaries at their own expence ; and they likewife cheer-
fully pay an annual rent, in lieu of the manual laljour,
which their mafter formerly exacted from them. By thefe
means the receipts of this particular eflate have been nearly
tripled.

Upon figning the deed of enfranchifement of the fix vil-
lages, their benevolent mafter intimated fome apprehenfions
to the inhabitants, left, encouraged by their freedom, they
fhould fall into every fpecies of licentioufnefs, and commit
more diforders than when they were flaves. The fimplicity
and good fenfe of their anfwer is remarkable, " When wc
"had no other property," returned they, *' than the ftick
" which we hold in our hands, v/e were deftitute of all
" encouragement to a right condu6l ; and, having nothing
'' to lofe, aded on all occafions in an inconfiderate manner ;
*' but as foon as our houfes, our lands, and our cattle, are our
" own, the fear of forfeiting them will be a conftant re--
*' ftraint upon our a6lions." The finccrity of this affertion.
was manifefted by the event. While they were in a ftatc
etf fervitude, Zamoiiki Vv-as occafioaally obliged to pay fines

for,

134

INHABITANTS OF POLAND.

I300K fQY eliforders ■- committed by his peafants, who, in a flnte of
drunkennefs, would attack and fometimes kill paflengers :
fince their freedom he has feldom received any complaints
of this fort againft them. Thele circumftances decifively
confute the ill-grounded furmifes entertained by many Poles,
that their vaflals are too licentious and ungovernable not to
make an ill ufe of freedom. Zamoifki, pleafcd with the
thriving ftate of the fix villages, has enfranchifed the pea-
fants on all his eftates.

The example of Zamoilki has been followed by Chrep-
towitz, vice-chancellor of Lithuania, and the abbe Bryzo-
towflci, with fimilar fuccefs. I was informed by a perfon
who had vilited the abbe's eftate at Pawlowo near Vilna, that
the happy countenance and comfortable air of thefe peafants
made them appear a different race of men from the wretched
tenants of the neighbouring villages. The peafants, pene-
trated with a fenfe of their malfer's kindnefs, have eredted,
at their own expence, a pillar with an infcription expreffive
of their gratitude and affedtion.

Prince Stanillaus, nephew to the king of Poland, has
warmly patronized the plan of giving liberty to the peafants.
His own good fenfe and natural humanity, improved during
his refidence in England by a view of that equal liberty
which pervades every rank of men, have raifed him
above the prejudices too prevalent among his countrymen :
he has enfranchifed four villages not far from Warlaw, in
which he has not only emancipated the peafants from their
flavery, but even condefcends to dire6l their affairs. I had
the honour of holding feveral convcrfations with him upon
this fubjeit ; he explained to me, in the moll fatisfadlory

Called, in the Polifli law, Pro iiicontinentiA fiibditorum,

manner,

JEWS. ,35

manner, that the grant of freedom was no lefs advantageous chap.
to the lord than to the peafant, provided the former is will-
ing to fuperintend their conduit for a few years, and to put
them in a way of a6ling for themfelves ; for fuch is the ig-
norance of the generality among the boors, arifing from the
abjedt flavery in which they are held, and fo little have they
been ufually left to their own difcretion, that few at firft are
equal to the proper management of a farm. From a con-
vi(5lion of thefe fails, the prince, whofe knowledge and be-
nevolence I fhall ever revere, continues his attention to their
concerns ; he vifits their cottages, fuggefts in"iprovements in
agriculture, inftru6ts them in the mode of rearing cattle and
bees, and points out the errors into which ignorance and in-
cajiacity occafionally betray them.

The example of this prince, great by his rank, but ftiU
greater by his humanity, can fcarce fail of producing its due
effedt, efpecially as he intends giving to the public his ar-
rangements and regulations, and will fhow how much he
has increafedhisellate and the happinefs of his peafants. Still
however the condition of thefe peafants is not permanent;
for though a lord grants their freedom, yet he cannot entail
it upon them, as his fuccelibr may again reduce them to
their original (late of vaflalage. It is, however, in agitation
to fecure the perpetuity of their liberty, when they are once
rendered free : but this attempt is of fo delicate a nature,
that it muit be introduced with great caution, and can only
be the work of time.

V. In giving an account of the different clafles of men
who inhabit this country, I ought not to omit the Jews, as
they form no inconfiderable part of its prcfent inhabitants.
This people date their introduction into Poland about the

time

136 INHABITANTS OF POLAND.

BOOK tii-Qe of Cafimir the Great, and as they enjoy privileges whicl\
they fcarcely poffefs in any other country excepting England
and Holland, their numbers have furprizingly increafed.
Lengnich,whom I have often quoted, fays of them, that they
" monopolize '••• the commerce and trade of the country,
*' keep the inns and taverns, are flewards to the nobility, in
*' fliort, they fcem to have {o much influence, that nothing
" can be bought or fold without the intervention of a Jew."
Under John Sobieiki they were fo highly favoured, that his
adminillration was invidioufly called a Jewifli junto : he
farmed to the Jews the royal demefnes, and put fuch confi-
dence in them as raifed great difcontent among the nobility.
After his death, an antient law of Sigifmond I. was revived
and inferted in the Pac^a Cowventa of Auguftus II., that no.
Jew or perfon of low birth fliould be capable of farming the
royal revenues.

In fome towns, as at Cafimir, Pofen, Sec. the Jews are pei-^
mittcd to fettle, but in other places they are only allowed to
refide during the time of fairs, or when the dietines are af-
fembled ; but the laws are feldom put in force againft them.
I endeavoured to obtain a j^robable account of their number,
but I found this to be no eafy matter, although all Jews, as
well male as female, pay an annual poll-tax, and therefore
muft be regiflered. According to the lafl capitation there
were 166,871 Jews in Poland, exclufive of Lithuania, who
paid that tax ; but this cannot be their full complement, as
it is their interefl to diminifli their number ; and it is a w' ell-
known fa£t, that they conceal their children as much as
poffible.

* Pic. Con. Aug. HI. p. 128.

Perhaps

POPULATION. ,3^

Perhaps the following calculations will alTift us in this ^hap.
refearch. Of 2,580,796 inhabitants in Auftrian Poland, '^_-,^
144,200, or about an eighteenth, were Jews *. The eigh-
teenth of the prefent population of Poland will give near
500,000 : allowing, therefore, for omiffions in the capita-
tion, as well as for thofe who migrated into Poland from the
Ruffian difmembered province +, we may fairly eftiraate the
number of Jews at 600,000.

Before the late partition Poland contained about
14,000,000 of inhabitants |. As far as I could collect from
various converfations with feveral intelligent Poles, its pre-
fent population amounts to 9,000,000.

While I am giving my principal attention to the hiftory
and conftitution of Poland, 1 cannot but remark, that the
feudal laws, formerly fo univerfal, and of which fome traces
are ftill to be clifcovered in moll countries, have been gradu-
ally abolhhed in other nations, and given place to a more
regular andjuft adminiftration ; yet in Poland a variety of
circumflances has concvirred to prevent the abolition of thofe
laws, and to preferve that mixture of liberty and oppreflion,
order and anarchy, which fo ftrongly charaderized the feu-
dal government. We may eafily trace in this conftitution
all the ftriking features of that fyftcm. The principal are,
an eledive monarchy with a circumfcribed powder; the great
officers of flate poHeffing their charges for life, and inde-

* See Compend. Geog. Sclavonia?, Gal- fSccular 18,369^

lica.', &:c. p. 66. Ecclefiaftics % Regular 10,1891 31,137
t Jews are not tolerated in Ruffia. ^Niin? 2,5793

X Biii'ching gives the following ciliniate ■, ^ f Males 300,612]

of the population of Tohnd fincc the par- -''^^'' M Females 300.867} ^°''479

tition

Males 4,396,969 Total number of inhabitants 9,327,668

Females 4,298,083 See Biifching, His. M:igazin. v, XVl. p. 28.

Vol. L T pendent

I3S INHABITANTS OF POLAND.

BOOK pendent of the king's authority ; royal fiefs; the great nobility
» — J — ' above controul ; the nobles or gentry alone free and poflef-
fing lands, feudal tenures, military lervices, territorial jurif-
di(5tion ; commerce degrading ; oppreffed condition of the
burghers ; vaffalage of the peafants. In the courfe of this
book I have had occafion to make mention of moft of thefe
evils as ftill exifting in Poland, and they may be confidered
as the radical caufes of its decline ; for they have prevented
the Poles from adopting thofe more ftable regulations, which
tend to introduce order and good government, to augment
commerce, and to increafe population.

T R A-

RAVELS

INTO

O L A N D.

BOOK IL

CHAP. I.

Entrance into Auftrian Poland. — Limits of the dijmemhered
province. — Its population and produ&ions .—-Arrival at
CracoW: — Defcription of that city. — Univerjity. — Palace.
— Citadel occupied by the confederates in the late troubles.
— Hiflory of that tranfaSlion. — Cathedral, — I'ombs and
characters of fever al Poliili fovereigns^ &c.

JULY 24, 1778. We entered Poland juft beyond Bilitz, chap.
having crofled the rivulet Biala, which falls into the «— J— /
Viftula, and purfued our journey to Cracow through the
territories v/hich the houfc of Auftria fecured to itfelf in the
late partition.

The diftri(5t claimed by the emprefs of Germany in her
manifefto is thus defcribed : " All that tracfl of land Iving-
<' on the right fide of the Viftula from Silefia above Sando-

T 2 *' mir

I40 TRAVELSINTO POLAND.

KooK «4 jj^ij. to the mouth of the San, and from thence by Frane-.

' / ■ « pole, Zamoifc, and Rubieflbw, to the Bog. From the Bog
*' the limits are carried along the frontiers of Red Ruflia to.
" Zabras upon the borders of Volhynia and Podolia ; and,
" from Zabras in a fl:raight line to the Dnieper, where it re-
" ceives the rivulet Podhorts, taking in a fraall flip of Po-
" dolia, and laftly, along the boundaries feparating PodoHa
*^ from Moldavia."

A remarkable circumliance attended the taking poftelTion
of this diftridt, which will fliew with what uncertainty the
limits 'were at firft traced. The partition being made ac-
cording to the map of Zannoni, the river Podhorts was,
taken as the eaftern boundary of this difmembered province;
but when the Aulirian commiffioners vifited the fpot, where
according to Zannoni the Podhorts flowed into the Dnieper,
they found no river known to the inhabitants which
anfwered to that name. They advanced, therefore, the
frontiers flill more eaftwards, and adopting the Sebrawce or
the Sbrytz for the boundary, called it the Podhorts. This
ceded country has, fince the partition, changed its name;
and is now incorporated into the Aurtrian dominions under
the appellation of the kingdoms of Oalicia and Lodomeria,
M'hich kingdoms fome antient diplomes rcprefent as fituated
in Poland, and fabjed to the kings of Hungary : the molt
convincing proof that there ever exiltcd inch kingdoms,
that they depended upon Hungary, and ought, by virtue
of an licreditary though dormant title, to revert to the em-
prefs as fovereign of Hungary, was derived from the Auftrian;
army ; for what people can refift an argument backed by
aoojooo troops, unlefs.they can defend their fide of the
qucllion bv an e(}ual numb'^r ?

1. TM-

TRAVELS INTO POLAND.

141

The importance of this acquifition to the houfe of Aufliia chap,
•will beft appear from the number of inhabitants, which, , ^^
according to the numeration made in 1776 *, amounted to
2,580,796. The mountainous parts of Galicia and Lodo-
meria produce fine pafture ; the plains are moftly fandy, but
abound in forefts, and are fertile in corn. The principal
articles of traffic are cattle, hides, wax, and honey. Thefe
countries contain mines of copper, lead, iron, and fait, of
which the latter are the moft valuable.

We crolTed only a narrow flip of Auftrian Poland of about
86 miles in length from Biiitz to Cracow, leaving on our
right hand a chain of mount Crapak, or the antient Carpa-
thian 'mountains. The country we paffed through was at
firft fomewhat hilly, but afterwards chiefly plain, covered
with forefts. The roads were bad, the villages few and
wretched beyond defcription ; the hovels all built of wood
feemed full of filth and mifery, and every thing wore the
appearance of extreme poverty.

July 25. About noon we arrived at the Viftula, the
limits of the Auftrian dominions, which reach to its fouthern
banks. According to the partition treaty, this river was
marked as forming the limits between the Auftrian and Po-
1i(h territories : the houfe of Auftria at firft conftrued tlie
Viftula to mean the old channel of that river now dry, called
the Old Viftula ; and by force of this ftrained interpretation
included Cafimir in the difmembered province ; but not
long afterwards the emprefs of Germany reftored Cafimir to
the Poles ; and accepted the Viftula as it now flows, for the
boundary of her dominions.

Having crofted the Viftula by a bridge, at one end of
which v/as an Auftrian foldier and at the other a Poli'fti cen-

* Comp. Regn. Sclavonic, Galicia, Lodomerix, &c. p. 66, note m.

tinel,

r4i TRAVELSINTOPOLAND.

BOOK tinel, into Cafimir, we paffed the above-mentioned dry chan-
«^ — . — ' nel, termed the Old Viftula, by a fecond bridge, and entered
Cracow.

Cracow is a curious old town : it was formerly the ca-
pital of Poland, where the kings were viedted and crowned,
and was once almoit the center of the PcJifli dominions, but
is now a frontier town ; a proof how misch the power of this
republic has been contracted !

Cracow ftands in an extenfive plain, watered by the Vif-
tula, which is broad but iliallow : the city and its fuburbs
occupy a vaft track of ground, but arefo badly peopled, that
they fcarcely contain t 6,000* inhabitants. The great fquare
in the middle of the town is very fpacious, and has feveral
well-built houfes, once richly furnilhed and well inhabited,
but moft of them now either untenanted, or in a ftate of
melancholy decay. Many of the ftreets are broad and hand-
fome ; but almoft every building bears the moft ftriking
marks of ruined grandeur : the churches alone feem to
have preferved their original fplendour. The devaftation of
this unfortunate town was begun by the Swedes at the com-
mencement of the prefent century, when it was befieged and
taken by Charles XII.; but the mifchiefs it fuffered from
that ravager of the North were far lefs deftruftive than thofe
it experienced during the late dreadful commotions, when it
underwent repeated lieges, and was alternately in poffeffioii
of the Ruffians and Confederates. The eifecls of cannon,
grape, and muflcet-fliot are ftill difcernible on the walls and
houfes. hi a word, Cracow exhibits the remains of antient
magnificence, and looks like a great capital in ruins : from
the number of fallen and falling houfes one would imagine

* The city, exclufive of the fuburbs, contained in 177S only 8894. fouls.

CRACOW. 143

it had lately been facked, and that the enemy had left it chap.
only yefterday. « — /— ^

The town is furrounded with high walls of brick, ftrength-
ened by round and fquare towers of whimlical fliapes in the
antient ftyle of fortification : thefe walls were built by
Venceflaus * king of Bohemia during the fliort period in
which he reigned over Poland.

In Cracow there was a Ruffian garrifon of 600 men, who
were flationed at the guard-houfe in the center of the town :
at all the gates a Ruffian centinel flood on one fide, and a
PoliQi centinel on the other. The citadel was entirely oc-
cupied by Ruffian troops.

I did not omit vifiting the univerfity founded and endowed
by Cafimir tlie Great, and improved and completed by La-
diflaus Jaghellon. The librarian told me that the number
of fi:udents amounted to 600. I went over the library,
which was neither remarkable for the number or rarity of
its books. Among the principal objedls of attention, tlie
librarian pointed out a Turkilli book, of no intrinfic value,
but efteemed a curiofity becaufe found among the Ipoils at
the battle of Chotzim, and prefented by John Sobiefl^i to the
univerfity, as the memorial of a vi6lory which faved his
country from defolation, and raifed him to the throne of
Poland. The univerlity of Cracow was formerly, and not
unjullly, called the mother of Polilh literature, as it prin-
cipally fupplied the other feminaries with profeflbrs and
men of learning ; but its luftre has been greatly obfcured
by the removal of the royal refidence to VVarfaw, and ftill
more by the late inteftine convulfions.

* Cracovhm muro circumdedit. Ltngnich, Ilifr. Pel. p. :o.

• In

144

TRAVELS INTO POLAND.

In this city the art of printing was firft introduced into
Poland by Haller; and one of the earheft books was the
conftitutions and ftatutes compiled by Cafirair the Great,
and afterwards augmented by his fucceffors. The cha-
radlers are Gothic, the fame which were univerfally \ifed
at the invention of printing : the great initial letters are
wanting, which fliews that they were probably painted
and afterwards worn away. The year in which this com-
pilation was printed is not pofitively known; but its pub-
lication was certainly anterior to 1496, as it does not con-
tain the llatutes palTed by John Albert in that year.

The moft flourifliing period of the univerfity was under
Sigifmond Auguftus in the fixteenth century, when feveral
of the German reformers fled from the perfecutions of the
emperor Charles V. and found an afylum in this city. They
gave to the world feveral verlions of the facred writings, and
other theological publications, which diffufed the reformed
religion over great part of Poland. The protccftion which
Sigifmond Augullus afforded to men of learning of all de-
nominations, and the univerlal toleration which he extended
to every fe<5t of Chriftians, created a fufpicion that he was
fecretly incUned to the new church, and it was even reportetl
that he intended to renounce the catholic faith, and publicly
profefs the reformed religion ''-.

Towards the fouthern part of the town near the Villula
rifes a fmall eminence or rock, upon whofe top is built the
palace, furroiuided with brick walls and old towers, which
form a kind of citadel to the town. This palace owes its
origin to Ladillaus Jaghellon ; but little of the antient
flrudure now appears, as the greatell; part was demolilhcd

• See p. 18.

C R A C O \\^.

by Charles XII. in 1702, when he entered this town in tri- chap.
umph after the battle of Cliffow. It has been fince repaired : '
the remains of the old palace confift of a few apartments,
which are left in their ancient ftate as they exifted in the lail
'century. The walls of the firft of thefe apartments
are decorated with paintings of tilts and tournaments ;
thofe of the fecond with a reprefentaticn of the coronation
of a king of Poland, affirmed, by the perfon who fhewed the
palace, to be that of Ladiflaus the Firft, and to have beei\
drawn in his time j but the ftyle of the painting befpeaks
it of a more modern date. The cieling of the third apart-
ment is divided into different compartments, ornamented
with carved heads of extraordinary lliapes and grotefquti
appearances. All the rooms in the palace are of fine di-
menfionsj containing feveral remains of antient magniii-
cence, but totally without furniture.

This palace was formerly the refidence of the kings of
Poland, who, from the time of Ladiflaus Loketec, have been
crowned at Cracow. The Polifli and German hiftorians
differ concerning the time when the title of king was firft
claimed by the fovereigns of this country ; but the mofl pro-
bable account is, that in 1295 Premiflaus afTumed the regal
title, and was crowned at Gnefna by the archbifliop of that
diocefe. He was fucceeded by Ladiflaus Loketec, who, of-
fending the Poles by his capricious and tyrannical conduit,
was depofed liefore he Was crowned ; and Venceflaus king
of Bohemia, who had married Richfa daughter of Premiflaus,
being eledled in his ftead, was in I300 conlecrated and
crowned at Gnefna. Ladiflaus, after flying from his country,
and undergoing a feries of calamitous adventures. Was at
length brought to a fenfe of his mifcondu<5t. Having re-

VoL. I. U gained

J46 TRAVELSINTOPOLAND.

BOOK gained the affedlion of his fubjedls, he was reftored, in the
« — ^ Ufe-time of Venceflans, to part of his dominions ; and he
recovered them all upon the demife of that monarch in the
year 1305: he governed, however, for fome years without
the title of king; but at length in 1320 was crowned at
Cracow, to which place he transferred the ceremony of the
coronation ; and afterwards enacted, that for the future his
fuccelTorsiliould be inaugurated in the cathedral of this city*.
Since that period, the laws of Poland have exprefsly en-
joined that Cracow fliould be the place of coronation ; and
fuch has been the fuperftitious attachment of the Poles to
this ufage, that when John Sobiefki was defirous of being
crowned at Leopold, on account of its vicinity to the army,
which he was to command againft the Turks at the time of
his eledion, the Polifli patriots ftrongly oppofed any inno-
vation t ; and that monarch was under the neceflity of re-
pairing to Cracow for the performance of the ceremony.

Since Ladillaus, all the fucceeding fovereigns have been
crowned at Cracow X, excepting the prefent king. Previous
to his eledlion a decree was ilTued by the diet of convo-
cation, that the coronation fliould be folemnized for this
turn at Warfaw, without prejudice in future to the antient
right of Cracow ; a provifo calculated to fatisfy the popu-
lace, but which will not probably prevent any future fo-
vereign from being crowned at Warfaw, now become the
capital of Poland, and the refidence of its kings. The crown
and other regalia ufed at the coronation are ftill kept in
the palace of Cracow, under fo many keys, and with
fuch care, that it was impoflible to obtain a fight of them.

* Dlugcffnis, lib. IX. p. 971. Lengnich, who was crowned at Warfaw, becaufe he

Hill. Pol. p. 19 — 22. was only a temporary fovereign, ami was,

t Lengnich, Jus Publicum. fooii obliged to retire from Poland,
J I do net ir.entioa Stauillaus Letzinfkr,

From

CRACOW.

147

From the apartments of the palace we commanded an chap.

extenflve view of the neighbouring country, which is prin- < l~^

cipally a large fandy plain. We obferved particularly two
very large mounds of earth, or barrows, one of which is by
tradition called the burial-place of Cracus duke of Poland,
who is fuppofed to have built the town of Cracow in the year
700; the other is called the fepulchre of his daughter
Venda, who is reported to have drowned herfelf in the
Viftula, that flie might not be compelled to marry a perfon
for whom fhe had entertained an averfion.

The whole hiftory of Cracus and Venda is involved in
impenetrable darknefs, and thefe barrows, which are com-
mon in different parts of Europe, were probably anterior to
the Chriftian sera. The pra6tice of railing barrows over
the bodies of the deceafed was almoft univerfal in the earlier
ages of the world. Homer mentions it as a common pradtice
among the Greeks and Trojans ; Virgil alludes to it as ufual
in Italy in the times treated of in the vEneid ; Xenophon
relates that it obtained among the Perfians ; the Roman
hiftorians record that the fame mode of interring took place
among their countrymen ; and it appears to have prevailed
no lefs among the antient Germans, and many other uncivi-
lized nations. In general, popular tradition allows feme fa-
vourite chara6ters in natural hillory, like Cracus and Venda,
to ufurp the honour of being buried under the molt con-
fpicuous of thefe monuments.

At fome diitance from Cracow we noticed the fortrefs of
Landflcron filuated upon a rock, which the confederates pof-
felTed during the late troubles ; and from whence they made
excurlions as occafion offered againft the Ruffian and Polifli
troops in the fervice of the king. By a detachment of troops
from this fortrefs, the citadel of Cracow was taken by fur-

U 2 prize ;

1:43 T R A V E L S. I N T O P O L A N D.

BOOK pi-'i'ie; a gallant exploit,, and which merits a particular de--
Icription. The perfon who fliewed us the palace was him--
felf prefent, when the Polifli troops iflued from afubterrane-
ous paflage, and furprized the Rullian garrifon, confifting of
87 troops. About four in the morning a party of 76 con-^
federates, all of whom were Poles, led by a lieutenant *■,.
whofe name was Bytranovvlki, entered the palace through a
common fewer, without being difcovered, and repairing
to the main-guard inftantly fell upon the Ruffians : the
latter were fo confounded with the fuddenncfs of the
aflault, that they all yielded themfelves prifoners without
the leaft refiftance, and the Poles became mailers of the ci-
tadel. Two or three Ruffians were killed at the firll onfet,
^nd the rem.ainder were confined in a dungeon. One foldier
however found means to efeape by climbing the wall of the
citadel, and alarmed the Ruffian foldiers within the town ;.
thefe without delay attacked the caftle, but, receiving a warm
fire from the confederates, they imagined the enemy to be
Hiore numerous than they really were, and deliiled from the-
affault. This event happened on the 2d of February, 1772*
The fame evening Monfieur de Choify,.in the lervice of the
confederates of Landikron, being made acquainted with the
fuccefs. of the enterprize,. advanced towards Cracow at the

* Li mofl of the accounts publiJlied of fokiier, wns not confined with the garrifon .
this tianfaftion, it is fa id that the confede-. in the d.iinijcon : he had, therefore, every
rates were led. by a French officer, and that opportHnitv of beiug informed of the truth:
tiiere were feverai Frenchmen aiiiongft them, at the fame time it is pofTiblc, that his par-
1 have related fimply the account which I ti^lity to his countrymen might have indnced
received from the ftewar-d ofihs palace, who hiiiK to give the wliole honour to the PoL s,
repeatedly afTured me, that there was not Mpnlieur Viofmcni! is. tht. French offitci,
ope Frenchman amongft thciu ; that they generally mentioned as leading this enter-
were led by a Polifli lievirenant, vvhofc name prifing band of confederates through the
^•as Bytranowlki. The tteward was himfelf fubterraneous palTage.

jxr^fe^it at the, trjuifactionj ancj as hc.was. 119 .

he.ad ^

CRACOW. i^^

laead of 800 confederates (amongft whom were 30 or 40 chap.
Frenchmen, moft of them officers), and, having defeated a , ^' ^
detachment of 200 Ruffians, was received into the citadel.
But the Ruffian garrifon in the town, which before confifted:
of only 400 men, being likewife reinforced, the confederates
in the citadel underwent a regular fiege : they defended'
themfelves with the moft undaunted fpirit for the fpace of
three months ; and at length capitulated upon the moft ho-
nourable terms.

I examined the fubterraneous pafTage through which the
7-6 confederates introduced themfelves into the palace : it is
a drain which conveys all the filth from the interior part of
the palace to a fmall opening without the walls near the Vif-
tula. They entered this fmall opening, and crawled upon'
their hands and knees a confiderable way, one behind an-
other, until they came out through a hole in the walls of the
palace; fo that if the Ruffians had either been apprized of.
their attempt, or had over-heard them in their paifage, not
one perfon could have.efcaped : the dauger was great, but it.
ffiows what fpirit and perfeverance will etFe6t.

Having viewed the palace, we vifited the adjoining cathe-
dral, which ftands within the walls of the citadel. In this-
cathedral *, all the fovereigns, from the time of Ladiflaus-
Loketec, have been interred, a few only excepted, viz. Louis ^
and Ladiflaus III. who were kings of Hungary as well as of
Roland, and whofe bodies were depofited in Hungary;;
Alexander, who died and was buried at Vilna;. Henrv of
Valois, interred in France;: and the late monarch Auguftus
III. The laws of Poland are as exprefs-and minute in re-
gulating the burial as the ele<ftion and coronation of the

*-Lengnich, Jus Publ, .

kiogsj;

I50 TRAVELSINTO POLAND.

BOOK kings ; and, as many curious circumftances attend their in-
i ' . ferment., I fliall take this opportunity of laying the cere-
mony before the reader.

Since Warfaw has become the royal refidence, and the
X^lace for the elecftion of the kings of Poland, the body of
the deceafed prince muft be carried firft to that city, where
it remains until the nomination of the new fovereign has
taken place ; it is then tranfported in great ftate to Cracow,
and, two days before the day appointed for the ceremony of
the coronation, the king eledl, preceded by the great officers
of itate, with their rods of office pointing to the ground,
ioins the funeral proceffion as it pafTes through the ftreets,
and follows the body to the church of St. Staniflaus, where
the burial fervice is performed : the remains are then de-
pofited in the cathedral adjoining to the palace. It is pecu-
liar to the laws of Poland, that the funeral of the deceafed
monarch fliould immediately precede the coronation of the
new fovereign ; and that the king elecSl fliould be under a
neceffity of attending the obfequics of his predeceflbr. Hif-
torians have fagely remarked, that this fingular cuflom was
inftituted, in order to imprefs the new king with the uncer-
tainty of human grandeur ; and to remind him of liis duty,
by mixing the horrors of death with the pomp and dignity
of his new ftation ; yet we cannot but obferve, that this pre-
caution has not hitherto been produdive of any vifible ef-
fects, as it does not appear that the kings of Poland have go-
verned with greater v, ifdom and juftice than other potentates.
But it is moll probable, that this cuftom took its rife from
the habits of exterior homage, which the Poles affe6l to pay
to their fovereign in compenfation for the fubftantial dignity
Mhich they withhold from him : this fpirit of mock-reve-
rence they extend beyond the grave ; and while they fcarcely
4 allow

CRACOW.

i5'i

allow the reigning king the fliadow of real authority, heap chap.
upon a deceafed monarch every poflible trapping of imperial
honour.

The fepulchres of the kings of Poland are not diftinguiflied
by any peculiar magnificence : their figures are carved in
marble of no extraordinary workmanfhip, and fome are
without infcriptions.

I felt a ftrong fentiment of veneration at approaching the
aflies of Cafimir the Great, whom I confider as one of the
greateft princes that ever adorned a throne. It is not, how-
ever, the brilliancy and magnificence of his reign, his war-
like atchievements, nor even his patronage of the arts and
fciences ; but his legiflative abilities, and his wonderful be-
neficence to the inferior clafs of his fubjedis, that infpired me
with a reverence for his charadter.

Cafimir was born in 131a; and in 1333 afcended the
throne of Poland, upon the demife of his father Ladillaus
Loketec. The Polifh hiftorians dwell with fingular com-
placency upon his reign, as the molf glorious^ and happy^
period of their hiftory ; and record v/ith peculiar pleafure
the virtues and abilities of this great and amiable monarch ;
iior are their praifes the echoes of flattery, for they were
moftly written fubfequent to his death, when another family,
was feated.upon the throne. In perufing the reign of Ca-
fimir, we can hardly believe that we are reading the hiflory
of the fovereign of a barbarous people in the beginning of
the fourteenth century ; it feems as if, by the afcendancy of
his fuperior genius, he had got the ftart of the age in whicli .
he flouriflied, and had anticipated the knowledge and im-
provements of the fucceeding and more enlightened periods, .

From the moment of his acceffion his firfl: care was to fe-
cure his kingdom againft foreign enemies ; with this view

132 TRAVELS INTO POLAND.

BOOK jjg attacked the knights of the Teutonic order, with whom
Poland had long been in an almofl; continual ftate of warfare,
and obliged them to purchafe a peace by the ceffion of Culm
and Cujavia, which they had wrefted from his father ; he
then reduced Red Ruffia, and annexed the duchy of Mafovia
to the dominions of Poland. By thefe acquifitions he not
only extended the frontiers of his empire, but rendered his
dominions lefs liable to fudden invafions. But thefe great
fucceilles were not able to excite in his bread the fatal fpirit
of military enterprize ; he always conlidered war as a mat-
ter of neceflity, not of choice, and as the means of fafety
rather than of glory *'.

Having fecured his frontiers, as well by his victories as
by treaties with the neighbouring powers, he turned his
whole attention to the interior adminiftration of his king-
dom ; he built feveral towns, enlarged and beautified others :
fo that Dlugoffius t, who wrote in the following century,
fays of him, " Poland is indebted to Cafimir for the greateft
*< part of her churches, palaces, fortrefles, and towns ;" add-
ing metaphorically, " that he found Poland of wood, and
" left her of marble." He patronized letters, and founded
the academy of Cracow ; he promoted indurtry and en-
couraged trade : elegant in his manners and magnificent in
his court, he was ceconomical without meannefs, and liberal
without prodigality.

* Mitis ingenio, et quietus qiiam armo- niam, qmm luteam, ligneam, &; fqnalidam

rum appetentior. Florus Pol. p. ii6. repeiierac, lateritiam, gloiiofam. Si. incly-

f Tantus enim illi ad magnificandDm, tain, ficut evenit, relinquerit. Nam quic-

locupletandunique Regnam Polonize ineiat quid Polonia in caftiis, ecclefiis, civitatibiis,

amor, ut graviflimos &i notabiles fumpUis, curiis, & domibus muioiMim continet, id

in erigendis ex muro ecclefiis, caftris, civi- pro majori parte ab iplb Cafimiro rege, &

tatibus, & curiis, faciendo a<l id omnem fo- fuis regiis fmnptibus eil perfeOlum, Lib. IX>

lickudimem curamqne intenderat, ut Polo- p. 1164.

1 He

CRACOW.

»53

He was the great legiflator of Poland : finding his country chap.
without any written laws, he reviev/ed all the ufages and'
cuftoms, and digefted them, with fome additions, into a re-
gular code, which he ordered to be publiflied. He fimplified
and improved the courts of juftice ; he was eafy * of accefs
to the meaneft as well as the higheft: of his fubjecSts, and
folicitous to relieve the peafants from the oppreflions
of the nobility : fuch indeed was the tendernefs he lliowed
to that injured clafs of men, and fo many were the privileges
which he conferred upon them, that the nobles ufed to call
him out of derifion Rex Rujlicorum^ the king of the pea-
fants ; perhaps the moll noble appellation that ever was
beftowed upon a fovereign, and far to be jDreferred to the
titles of magnificent and great, which have been fo often
lavifhed rather upon the perfecutors than the benefactors of
mankind. Human nature is never perfe6t ; Cafimir was
not without his failings : voluptuous and fenfual, he puflied
the pleafures of the table to an excefs of intemperance ;
and his inordinate paflion for women led him into fome
adlions, inconfiftent with the general tenor of honour and
integrity which diftinguiflies his chara6ter. But thefe de-
fe(Sts influenced chiefly his private, and not his public de-
portment ; or, to ufe the exprefTion of a Polifli hiflorian,
his private failings were redeemed by his public virtues f :
and it is allowed by all, that no fovereign ever more con-
fulted the happinefs of his fubje6ls, or was more beloved at
home or refpedted abroad. After a long reign of 40 years
he was thrown from his horfe as he was hunting, and died
after a fliort illnefs in the 60th year of his age, carryino^

* Adeuntibus fucilis, querimonias eti.im eum patebat acceffus. Dlugoffius.
infimoruiTi audivit, &c. Sarnilki. Cuilibet f Rediraens vitia virtutibus. Dlugoffius.
conditioni, geneii, atq^ue setati facilis ad

Vol. I. X with

154 TRAVELS INTO POLAND.

BOOK ,y^j.i^ j^jj^-^ tQ the grave the regret of his fubjeds, and a claim
to the veneration of pofterity. He is defcribed (for the
figure of fo amiable a charafter cannot fail to be interefting)
as tall in his perfon, and inclined to corpulency, with a ma-
jeftic afpect, thick and curling hair, long beard, with a ftrong
voice fomewhat lifping ••'.

Next to the remains of Cafimir repofe the allies of La-
diflaus t II. known by the appellation of Jaghellon, the fa-
ther of a race of kings called from him the Jaghellon line.
This fovereign was originally duke of Lithuania, and, toge-
ther with his fubjeds, a worfliiper of idols ; but having
embraced Chriftianity , and efpoufed Hedwige fecond daughter
of Louis, he obtained the throne of Poland. This event
happened in 1386, in which year he was publicly baptized,
married, and crowned at Cracow, and affumed a new bap-
tifmal name of Ladillaus II.; he died in 1434 in a very
advanced agC; in the 50th year of a Jong and glorious
reign.

Among hi.s pofterity, w^hofe bodies are depofited in this
cathedral, the moll memorable is Sigifmond I. a great and
able monarch, the protestor of the arts and fciences, which
made no inconfiderable figure under his aufpices. He is
reprefented, however, as not fufhciently watchful over the
royal j^rerogative ^ ; and as yielding too eafily to the encroach-

'' Vir Haturft elevata, corpore craflb, fumed the regal authority, he ought to be

fionte venerabili, crine circino et abun- called Ladiflaus ILLadiflaus Inter Polonise

dante, barbii promifsa, voce aliquantulum regcs illius nominis fecundus. Lengnich,

balba fed fonon"i. Hill. Pol. p. 31.

Deceffit Cafitr.irus a. T 37c, fays Lengnich, J Ab hoc potifllmum rege nimis indul-

evii Polonia leges, judicia, cultum, plurimas gente, licentia nobilitatis incrementa contra

civitates, arcts, et alia edificia debet. Hift. jura majeftatis, cum injuria fuccedcntium

Pol. p. 25. regnm, et reip\ib, decremento, funiere et

t He is fometimes called Ladillaus IV. prsevalere coepit, ut fapientes, &c. De

and fometimes Ladidaus V. ; but reckoning Script. Pol. £<c. p, 4.
from the tinse the fovereigns of Poland af-

ments

CRACOW,

155

ments of the nobility to the injury of fucceeding monarchs, chap.

and the detriment of the republic. But thefe compli-' ^

ances admit of great palliation, when we refled, that the
nobles, to whom they were made, had raifed him to the
throne, and were become nearly nncontroulable by the con-
ceflions of his immediate predecefTors.

As I viewed the tomb of Sigifmond Auguftus, fon of the
laft mentioned monarch, I recollected, not without a mixture
of regret and fympathy for this unhappy country, that in
him terminated that hereditary influence, which had given
tranquillity during a long fucceffion of fovereigns to the
diets of eledion ; and that upon his death all thofe trou-
bles and confuflons, which are infeparable from a crown
wholly elective, broke in upon the kingdom. From this
period the cabals and convulfions, continually recurring at
every appointment of a new fovereign, rapidly impaired the
ftrength of the flate and the dignity of the fovereign. The
Poles gradually loft their confequence among foreign powers ;
and the authority of fucceeding kings depended more on
their own perfonal abilities, and accidental circumftamces,
than on any permanent principle of vigour inherent in the
crown, which has been nearly ftripped of all its prerogatives.

The firft of the new fucceffion, whofe remains are in-
terred in this church, is Stephen Bathori prince of Tranfyl-
vania, elected in 1576, upon the abdication of Henry of Va-
lois : he owed his elevation to his marriage with Anne
daughter of Sigifmond I. ; a princefs who, being in the
5 2d year of her age, was not endowed with any winning
attraiTtions, if flie had not brought a kingdom for her por-
tion. The epitaph upon his tomb juftly afcribes to Stephen
a long catalogue of civil and military virtues.

X 2 I came

15$ TRAVELSIN TO POLAND.

BOOK I came next to the fepulchre of his fucceffor Sigifmond
« — y^ III. fon of John III. king of Sweden, and of Catharine
daughter of Sigifniond L : elected king of Poland in 1587,
he revived in his perfon, on the female fide, the race of the
Jaghellon family. He was raifed to the throne of this
country while he was prince royal of Sweden ; and, upon
the death of his father in 1592, poiTefled both crowns ; but
he gradually loft all authority in Sweden, and was at length
formally depofed by the ftates of that kingdom. He owed
his expalfion from Sweden to his partiality for Poland, to
his bigoted zeal for the catholic religion, and above all to the
fuperior genius of his uncle and rival Charles IX. He ex-
pired in the 46th year of his reign, and in the 67th of his
age.

Near the body of Sigifmond lie thofe of his two fons ; the
eldeft named Ladiflaus IV. eledted king of Poland upon
the demife of his father, fupported the dignity of his crown
with reputation and honour ; the fecond, John Calimir, was
a prince, whofe charader and adventures are too lingular ta
be paiTed over without particular notice.

John Calimir, fon of Sigifmond III. by a fecond wife Anne,
lifter of the emperor Ferdinand II. was educated in his fa-
ther's court, upon whofe death his mother endeavoured, but
without effedl, to procure his eleftion to the throne, in op-
pofition to his elder brother Ladiflaus IV. Repulfed from
the throne, he contra6led a difguft to Poland, and undertook
a journey to Spain with a view of offering his fervices to his
coufin Philip IV. then at war with France. Palling through
Auftria and Trent into Italy, at Genoa he embarked in a
veflel bound to Spain ^ but, prompted by curioiityj he ven-
tured

CRACOW. t^

tured to land incognito at Marfeilles : being difcovered, he chap.

was arreiled by order of the court of France, and, on account ^ — J .

of his connexion with the houfe of Auftria, clofely impri-
foned for the fpace of two years *. Being at length releafed
at the interceffion of his brother the king of Poland, he re-
paired to RonTC, and there, either out of devotion or caprice,
entered into the order of the Jefuits. Afterwards, grown'
weary of his fundlion, he quitted that order, and' was pro-
moted to the rank of cardinal. Upon the death of his bro-
ther Ladiflaus IV. being abfolved from his vows by the
pope, he was eledted king of Poland ; and, having obtained
a difpenfation, married his brother's widow Louifa Maria-
daughter of the duke of Nevers, a woman of great beauty
and flill greater fpirit, who blended devotion with a ftrong;
propenfity to political intrigues : the foul of her hulband's
councils, fhe may be faid to have reigned over Poland, while
he was only nominal king. Such was her afcendancy, thau
fhe prevailed upon him to folicit the nomination of the duke
of Enguien fon of the great Conde for his fncceffor ; a
meafure fo contradictory to the firft principles of the Polifli"
conftitution, as well as to his coronation oath, excited a ge--
neral difcontent, and threw the kingdom into the moft vio-
lent commotions.

The reign of John Cafimir was a<Stive and turbulent, me-
morable for the revolt of the Coifacs of the Ukraine, for the
unfuccefsful wars with Sweden, and for the infurredions of '
the nobility. Though, fo far from being deficient in mili-
tary courage, that in every defperate emergency he always
commanded his troops in perfon ; though, to ufe his own
exprefllon, " he was the firft to attack, and the laft to re-

* Florus I'olon, p. 457, ?; fcq,

« treat,"

i;S TRAVELSINTO POLAND.

" treat -," yet as he preferred peace to war, and wanted the
enterprizing fpirit of his brother Ladiflaus IV. he was ac-
cufed by the Poles of indolence and pufillanimity. His po-
litical fagacity appears from his predidions, that Poland, en-
feebled by the anarchy of its government, and the licenti-
oufnefs of the nobles, would neceffarily be difmembered by
the neighbouring powers. Worn out at length with the
cares of royalty, fliocked at the diftreffed ftate of the king-
dom, difcontented with the factions of the nobihty, afRided
at the death of his wife, and impelled by the verfatility of his
difpofition, he abdicated the throne in the 20th year of his
reign, and in the 68th of his age. This extraordinary event
happened on the 27th of Auguft, in the year 1668, before
a general diet affembled at Warfaw^ : the fcene was afFedt-
ing ; the condud; of the king manly and relblute ; and his
fpeech upon that event is the fineft piece of pathetic elo-
quence that hiftory has ever recorded t.

Soon after his abdication he retired into France, and again
embraced the ecclefiaftical profeffion. Louis XIV. who
prided himfelf in affording an afylum to abdicated fovereigns,
gave him the abbeys of St. Germain and St. Martin, without
which he would have had no means of fubfiftence, as Pc-
land foon with-held his penfion ; a proof that the tears
which w^ere flied at his abdication were not fincere. Not-
withftanding his ecclefiaftical engagements, John Cafimir
could not withliand the attradions of Marie Mignot, a wo-
man, who, from being a laundrefs, had been married firll to
a counfellor of Grenoble, and afterwards to the marllial de
L'Hofpital. She was a widow when flie attradled the notice
of the abdicated king, and fo powerful was the impreflion he

* " Eum me efle, qui primus in prailiis, lulki, Kj). v. I. p. 57.
*' paftreinvis in dilciimine et receil'ii." Za- f See Zalufki, Epifl. v. I. p. 57

4 received.

CRACOW.

155

received, that it was fufpefled he was fecretly married to her. chap.
Cafimir is reprefented, by thofe who knew him in his re-
tirement, as eafy and familiar in his converfation, and dif-
pleafed with receiving any honours or titles due to his for-
mer rank *. He furvived his abdication only four years,
and died at Nevers on the i6th of December, 1672. His
body was brought to this city, and buried in the cathedral
at the fame time with that of his fucceffor Michael, the day
before the coronation of John Sobielki.

Upon approaching the remains of John Sobieflvi, I recol-
le6ted that when Charles XII. of Sweden entered Cracow he
vifited thefe tombs, in order to pay a mark of refpe^-t to the
memory of that great monarch : he is reported, as he hung
with reverence over his fepulchre, to have cried out, *' What
" a pity that fo great a man fliould ever die !" May we not
alfo exclaim, what a pity that a perfon, fo imprefled with a
fenfe of Sobielki's virtues, fliould adopt only the military part
of his character for the objecSt of his imitation ! How infi-
nitely inferior is the Swedifh to the Polifh fovereign ! The
former, dead to all the finer feelings of humanity, was awake
only to the calls of ambition ; every other fentiment being
lort in the ardour for military honours. If perfonal courage
be fufhcient to conllitute an hero, he pofTefTed that quality
in a fuperior degree ^ but it was rather the bravery of a
common foldier than of a general. Sobieflvi, even upon that
ground, has an equal title to fame ; for his valour was no
lefs diftinguiflied, and was fuperior in this relped:, that it
was not clouded with raflinefs, but tempered with prudencco
Though the firft general of his age, he placed not his fole
ambition in military glory ; he was great in peace as well as

* Vie de Sobiefki I. p. 153.

iii

36o T R A V E L S I N T O P O L A N D.

^°°^ inwar; by the union of talents belonging to each depart-
ment, he defended his country from impending danger,
raifed her from her falling ftate, and delayed during his
reign the sera of her decline ; Avhile Charles, who was defi-
cient in civil virtues, plunged Sweden, which he found
highly profperous, into ruin and defolation : in a word,
Charles had the qualities of a knight errant, and Sobiefki
the virtues of an hero *.

About an Englifli mile from Cracow are the remains of
an old ftruilure, called the palace of Cafimir the Great,
which my veneration for that fovereign induced me to vifit,
as there is a fingular pleafure arifing from feeing the fpot
that was once dignified by the refidence of a favourite cha-
radter. Little, I imagine, of the original palace, as it was
built by Cafimir, exifts at prefent. hi the inner court are
the remains of a corridore with pillars of the Doric order;
and upon one of the fide walls I obferved the white-eagle of
Poland carved in ftone, and around it an infcription feem-
ingly in old Gothic charadlers, of which I could only make
out Ann. Dom. M.CCCLXVII, which anlwers to the oera of
Cafimir, who died in 1370. Several marble columns were
icattered around, which fliowed the antient magnificence of
the building. The greatefi: part of the fabric was evidently
of later date than the reign of Cafimir, and was probably
confl:ru(5led by fucceeding fovereigns upon the foundation of
the antient palace; perhaps by Stephen Bathori, as I could
trace in one place an infcription, Stephamis Dei gratia ; and
alfo by Sigifmond III. as I plainly difcovered his cypher with
the wheat-flieaf, the arms of Gufi:avus Vafa, from whom he
was lineally defcended.

* Sec an account cf Sobk/ki's death and family, Chap. IV, of this book.

This

CRACOW. i5i

This palace was the principal refidence of Gafimir : in the chap.
garden is a mound of earth, or one of thofe harrows before -^ — i-^
mentioned, which is called the tomb of Efther the fair
Jewefs, who was the favourite miftrefs of that monarch.
To the influence of Efther it is faid the Jews owe the nume-
rous privileges enjoyed by them in Poland, which is called
the paradife of the Jews. But when I confider the chara6ler
of Gafimir, I conceive that they were indebted for their
favourable reception in Poland more to his policy than to his
affedlion for his miftrefs ; for in thofe times the Jews
were the richeft and moft commercial individuals in Europe 5
by allowing them therefore to fettle in Poland, and by grant-
ing them fome extraordinary immunities, he introduced trade
and much wealth into his dominions. The number of Jews
is now prodigious *, and they have in a manner engroffed
all the commerce of the country ; yet this flourifhing ftate
of affairs muft not be attributed folely to the edidts of Cafi-
mir in their favour, but to the induftry of thofe extraordi-
nary people, to the indolence of the gentry, and oppreffed
condition of the peafants.

* See p. 137.

VoL.I. Y GHA!*;

C i6e J

CHAP. IT.

Mode of faluting and drefs of the Poles. — Account of the fait--
mines of Wielitlka. — T'heir extent and profit. — Journey to
Warfaw.

^^?^ ^ I ''he Poles feem a lively people, and ufe much aflion ia
•JL their ordinary converfation. Their common mode of
falute is to incline their heads, and to ftrike their breaft with
one of their hands, while they ftretch the other towards the
ground ; but when a common perfon meets a fuperior, he
bows his head almoft to the earth, waving at the fame time
his hand, with which he touches the bottom of the leg near
the heel of the perfon to whom he pays his obeifance. The
men of all ranks generally wear whifkers, and fliave their
heads, leaving only a circle of hair upon the crown. The
fummer drefs of the peafants confifts of nothing but a fhirt
and drawers of coarfe linen, without flioes or ftockings, with
round caps or hats. The women of the lower clafs wear upon
their heads a wrapper of white linen, under which their hair
is braided, and hangs down in two plaits. I obferved feveral
of them with a long piece of white linen hanging round
the fide of their faces, and covering their bodies below their
knees : this fingular kind of veil makes them look as if
they were doing penance.

The drefs of the higher orders, both men and women,

is imcommonly elegant. That of the gentlemen is a

wailkoat with fleeves, over which they wear an upper robe

4 of

SALT MINES OF WIELITSKA. ,62

of a different colour, which reaches down below the knee, chap.
and is faftened round the waift with a falli or girdle ; the , ^^"
ileeves of this upper garment are in warm weather tied
behind the fhoulders ; a fabre is a neceffary part of their
drefs as a mark of nobility. In fummer, the robe, 8ic. is
of filk ; in winter, of cloth, velvet, or ftuff, edged with fur.
They wear fur- caps or bonnets, and bufkins of yellow leather,
the heels of which are plaited with iron or fleel. The drefs
of the ladies is a fimple polonaife, or long robe, edged with
fur.

The Poles, in their features, look, cuftoms, drefs, and
general appearance, refemble Afiatics rather than Europeans ;
and they are unqueflionably defcended from Tartar anceftors.
A German hiftorian*, well verfed in the antiquity of nations,
remarks, that the manner in which the Poles wear their
hair is, perhaps, one of the moft antient tokens of their ori-
gin. So early as the fifth century fbme nations, who were
comprehended under the name of Scythians, had the fame
cuftom. For Prifcus Rhsetor, who accompanied Maximus
in his embaffy from Theodofius II. to the court of Attila,
defcribes a Scythian lord, whofe head was fhaved in a cir-
cular form t, a mode perfedly analogous to the prefent
falhion in Poland.

Before we quitted this part of Poland, we vifited the ce-
lebrated falt-mines of Wielitika, which are fituated within
eight miles of Cracow. Thefe mines are excavated in a ridge
of hills at the Northern extremity of the chain which joins.
to the Carpathian mountains : they take their appellation
from the fmall village of Wielitika ; but are fometimes
called in foreign countries the mines of Cracow, from,
their vicinity to that city.

* Mafcow. f Capite in rotunduni rafo,

Y a Upon

j,64 T R A V E L S I N T O r O L A N D.

Upon our arrival at Wielitfka we repaired to tlie moutlv
of the mine*. Having fattened three feparate hammocks,
in a circle round the great rope that is employed in draw-
ing np the fait, we feated ourfelves in a commodious man-
ner, and were let down gently without the leaft apprehen-
fion of danger, about 160 yards below the firft layer of
fait. Quitting our hammocks, we palTed a long and gra-
dual defcent, fometimes through broad paflages or galleries
capable of admitting feveral carriages abreaft ; fometimes.
down fteps-cut in the folid fait, w'hich had the grandeur and,
commodioufnefs of the itair-caie in a palace. We each of
us carried a light, and feveral guides preceded us with lamps
in their hands : the refle6tion of thefe lights ujion the
glittering fides of the mine was extremely Ijeautiful, but.
did not caft that luminous fjJendour, which fome writers,
have compared to the luftre of precious ftones.

The fait dug from this mine is called Zlebna or Green.
Salt, for what reafon I cannot determine ; for its colour is
an iron grey ; when pounded it has a dirty aQi colour like
what we call brown fait. The quality of the fait improves
in proportion to the depth of the mine : towards the fides
and furface it is mixed with earthy or ilony particles ; lower,
down it is faid to be perfeftly pure, and requires no other
procefs before it is ufed than to be pounded. The fineft of
this grey fait, however, is of a weak quality when com-,
pared with our common fea-falt : it is therefore undoubt-
exlly by no means perfedly pure, but is blended with ex-
traneous, mixtures, though it ferves very well for common
purpofes. Being almoft as hard as ftone, the miners hew
it with pick-axes and hatchets, by a tedious operation, into

•* There are two other openingSj d9wn one of which the n.iners dcicend by flairs,
. fJowji the of}ier by ladders.

large

SALT MINES OF WIELITSKA. x6s

large blocks, many of which weigh fix or feven hundred chap.
pounds. Thefe large mafTes are railed by a windlas, but the ' ] ,. »
fmaller pieces are carried up by horfes along a winding,
gallery, which reaches to the furface of the earth.

Belide grey fait, the miners fometimes difcover fmall
cubes of white fait, as tranfparent as chryilal, but not in
any confiderable quantity ; they find likewife occafionally
pieces of coal and petrified wood buried in the fait.

The mine appears to be inexhauflible, as will eafily be
conceived from the following account of its dimenfions. Its
known breadth is 1115 feet; its length 6691 feet; and
depth 743 ; and the beft judges on the fpot fuppofe, with
the greateft appearance of probability, this folid body of fait
to branch into various directions, the extent of which cannot
be known : of that part which has been perforated, the
depth is only calculated as far as they have hitherto dug ;
and who can afcertain how much farther it may defcend ?

Our guide did not omit pointing out to us, what he confi-
dered as one of the moft remarkable cunofities of the place, .
feveral fmall chapels excavated in the fair, in which mafs is
faid on certairnf days of the year ; one of thefe chapels is ■
above 30 feebi long and 25 broad ; the altar, the crucifix,,
the ornaments of the church, the liatues of feveral faints, ,
are all carved>out of the fait.

Many of the excavations or chambers, from whence the
fait has been dug, are of an immenfe fize ; fome are fup-
ported with timber, others by vaft pillars of fair, which are
left ftanding for that pnrpofe : feveral of vail dimenfions are
without any fu[)portin the middle. ^ remarked one of this
latter fort in particular, which was certainly 80 feet in height, ,
and ^o extremely long and broad, as almoft.to appear amid •

the

i66 T R A V E L S I N T O P O L A N D.

BOOK ^\^Q fubterraneous gloom \vithout limits. The roofs of thefc
vaults are not arched, but flat. The immenfe fize of thefe
chambers, with the fpacious paffages or galleries, together
with the chapels above-mentioned, and a few flieds built for
the horfes which are foddered below, probably gave rife to
the exaggerated accounts of fome travellers, that thefe mines
contain feveral villages inhabited by colonies of miners,
who never fee the light. It is certain that there is room
fufficient for fuch purpofes; but the fadl is, that the miners
have no dwellings under ground, none of them remaining
below more than eight hours at a time, when they are re-
lieved by others from above. In truth, thefe mines are of
a moft ftupendous extent and depth, and are fufficiently
wonderful without the leafl exaggeration. We found them
as dry as a room, without the leaft damp or moifture ;
obferving only in our whole progrefs one fmall fpring of
w^ater, which is impregnated Math fait, as it runs through the
mine.

Such an enormous mafs of fait exhibits a wonderful phce-
nomenon in the natural hiftory of this globe. Monfieur
Guetard, who vifited thefe mines with great attention, and
who has publilhed a treatife upon the fubje<51:, informs us,
tliat the uppermoll bed of earth at the furface immediately
over the mines is fand, the fecond clay occafionally mixed
with fand and gravel and containing petrefactions of marine
bodies, the third calcarious ftone. From all thefe circum-
iiances he conjedlures that this fpot was formerly covered by
the fea, and that the fait is a gradual depolit formed by the
evaporation of its waters *.

* See Memoire fur les Mines de Sel de Wielitika in Hift. dc I'Acad. des Sciences for
j-762.

Thefe

SALT MINES OF W I E L I T S K A. 1&7

Thefe mines have now been worked above 600 years, for chap.
they are mentioned in the PoUlli annals fo early as 1237, » /_/
under Boleilaus * the Chafte, and not as a new difcovery :
how much earlier they were known cannot now be afcer-
tained. Their profits had long been appropriated to the
king's privy piirfe : before the partition they furniflied a
conliderable part of his prefent majefty's revenue, who drew
from them an annual average profit of about 3,500,000
Polifli florins, or 97,222;*^. 4^. ^d. fterling. They now be-
long, to the emperor, being fituated within the province
which he difmembered from Poland ; but at the time we
vifited them they were far from yielding a revenue equal
to that which they had afforded to the king of Poland ; for
the Auflrian commiffioners imprudently raifed the price of
fait, from an idea that Poland could not exift without draw-
ing that commodity as ufual from Wielitfl<ia, and would
therefore be obliged to receive it at any price. This mode
of proceeding offending the Poles, the king of Pruffia, with
his ufual fagacity,^ did not negle6l this opportunity of ex-
tending his commerce ;^ he immediately imported large quan-
tities of fait, which he procured chiefly from Spnin, to Dant-
zic, Memmel, and Koningfburg, from whence it was con-
veyed up the Viftula into the interior provinces : by thefe
means he furniflied great part of Poland with fult, at a
cheaper rate than the inhabitants could procure it from the
houfe of Auftria ; and in 1778* the mines of Wielitfka only
fupplied the diftridis which immediately border upon ■.
Auftrian Poland..

* Lengnich, Jus Pub. vol. I, p. 249,

I never .

i68 T R A V E L S I N T O P O L A N D.

I never faw a road fo barren of interefting fcenes as that
from Cracow to VVarfavv ; there is not a lingle object
throughout the whole tracSl, which can for a moment draw
the attention of the molt inquifitive traveller.

The country, for the moft part of the way, was level, with
little variation of furface ; it was chiefly overfpread with vaft
trails of thick gloomy foreft ; and even where the country
was more open, the diftant horizon was ahvays Ikirted with
wood. The trees were moifly pines and firs, intermixed
with beech, birch, and fmall oaks. The occafional breaks
in the foreft prefented fome pafture ground, with here and
there a few meagre crops of corn.

Without having a<5tually traverfed it, I could hardly have
conceived fo comfortlefs a rej^ion : a forlorn ftillnefs and fo-
litude prevailed almoft through the whole extent, with few
fymptoms of an inhabited, and Itill lefs of a civilized country.
Though in the high road, which unites Cracow and Warfaw,
in the courfe of about 258 Englifli miles, we met in our
progrefs only two carriages and about a dozen carts. The
country was equally thin of human habitations : a few
ftraggling villages, all built of wood, fucceeded one another
at long intervals, whofe miferable appearance correfponded
to the wretchednefs of the covintry around them. In thefe
aliemblages of huts, the only places of reception for travel-
lers were hovels, beloBging to Jews, totally deiiitute of furni-
ture and every fpecies of accommodation. We could feldoni
procure any other room but that in which the family lived;
in the article of provifion eggs and m.ilk were our greateft
luxuries, and could not always be obtained ; our only bed
was ftraw thrown upon the ground, and we thought our-
ielves happy when we could procure it clean. Even we,
I who

JOURNEY TO W A R S A vr. ,169

who were by no means delicate, and who had long been ac- chap.
cuftomed to put up with all inconveniencies, found ourfelves . "' j.
diftrefled in this land of defolation. Though in moll coun-
tries we made a point of fufpending our journey during
night, in order that no fcene might efcape our obfervation ;
yet we here even preferred continuing our route without
intermiffion to the penance we endured in thefe receptacles
of filth and penury : and we have reafon to believe that the
darknefs of the night deprived ns of nothing but the fight
of gloomy forefts, indifferent cro^^s of corn, and obje6ts of
human mifery.

The natives were poorer, humbler, and more miferable
than any people we had yet obferved in the courfe of our
travels : wherever we flopped, they flocked around us in
crouds ; and, afking for charity, ufed the moft abjedt gef-
tures.

The road bore as few ° marks of human induftry as the
country which it interfedls. It was beft where it was fandy ;
in other parts it was fcarcely paflable ; and in the marfliy
grounds, where fome labour was abfolutely neceffary to
make it fupport the carriages, it was raifed with flicks and
boughs of trees thrown promifcuoufly upon the furface, or
formed by trunks of trees laid crofsways.

After a tedious journey we at length approached Warfaw ;
but the roads being neither more palfable, nor the country
better cultivated, and the fuburbs chiefly confifting of the
fame wooden hovels which compofe the villages, we had no
fufpicion of being near the capital of Poland until we arrived
at its gates.

Vol. I. Z CHAP.

170 TRAVELSINTOPOLAND.

CHAP. IIL

Arrival at Warfaw. — Defcription of the city. — Journal of oc-
currences, — Frefejitation to the king of Poland. — Palace.
— Portraits of the kings of Poland. — Literary fociety. —
Entertainment at the kin^s villa. — Supper in prince Po-
niatoiifki's garden. — Defcription of a fete champetre given
at Povonfki by the princefs ZivX.om.{k.-a.^ Sec. Sec.

THE fituation of Warfaw is not unpleafant : it is built
partly in a plain, and partly upon a gentle afcent riling
from the banks of the Viftula, which is about as broad as the
Thames at Weftminfter-Bridge, but very Ihallow in fummer.
The city and its fuburbs occupy a vaft extent of ground ;
and are fuppofed to contain between lixty and feventy thou-
fand inhabitants, among whom are a prodigious number of
foreigners. The whole town has a melancholy appearance,
exhibiting that ftrong contrail of wealth and poverty, luxury
and diftrefs, which pervades every part of this unhappy
country. The ftreets are Ipacious, but ill-paved ; the
churches and public buildings are large and magnificent ;
the palaces of the nobility are numerous and fplcndid ; but
the greateft part of the houfes, particularly in the fuburbs,
are mean and ill-conflruifled wooden hovels.

Aitgull 2. The Englifli minifter being abfent in the

country, we carried our letters of recommendation to Count

Rzewufki great-marflial of the crown, who received us with

much civility, and appointed Sunday morning to prefcnt us

I to

WARSAW. ty,

to the king at his levee. At the hour appointed we repaired <^hap.

to court, and were admitted into the audience-chauiber, > ,' . _^

where the principal officers of the crown were waiting for
his majefty's appearance. In this chamber I obferveJ four
bufts, placed by order of his prefent majefty ; namely, thofe
of Elizabeth queen of England ; Henry IV. of France ;
John Sobiefki ; and the prefent emprefs of Rufiia.

At length the king made his appearance ; and we were
prefented. His majefty talked to each of us a confiderable
time in the moft obliging manner ; he faid many handfome
things of the Englifli nation, mentioned his refidence in
London with great appearance of fatisfa6tion, and concluded
by inviting us to fupper in the evening, of which honour we
had before had previous intimation from the great marflial.
The king of Poland is handfome in his perfon, with an ex-
preffive countenance, a dark complexion, Roman nofe, and
penetrating eye : he is uncommonly pleafing in his addrefs
and manner, and poffelTes great fweetnefs of condefcenfion,
tempered with dignity. He had on a full dreffed luit ; which
circumftance I mention becaufe he is the firft king of this
country who has not worn the national habit, or who has
not lliaved his head after the Polifli cuftom. His example
has of courfe had many imitators : and I was much fur-
prized to fee fo few of the chief nobility in the national
garb. The natives in general are fo attached to this drefs,
that in the diet of convocation which nllembled previous to
the eledion of his prefent majefty, it was propofed to infert
in the Padia Cofwenta an article, whereby the king fliould
be obliged to wear the Polifli garment : but this motion was
over-ruled ; and he was left at liberty to confult his own
tafte. At his coronation he laid afide the antient regal habit

Z a of

\']Z

TRAVELS INTO POLAND.

BOOK q£ ceremony, and appeared in robes of a more modern
c— J—, faftiion, with his hair flowing upon his ihoulders.

The levee being ended, we went over the palace, which
was bnilt by Sigifmond IlL and which fince. his time has
been the principal refidence of the PoHfli monarchs. Warfaw
is far more commodious for the capital than Cracow, becaufe
it is fjtuated nearer to the center of the kingdom, and becanfe
the diet is affembled in this city. The palace ftands upon
a rifing ground at a fmall dirtance from the Viilula, and
commands a fine view of that river and of the adjacent
country. Next to the audience-chamber is an apartment
fitted up with marble, which his majefty has dedicated, by
the following infcription, to the memory of his predeceflbrs
the kings of Poland : Regum Mejnoria. dicavit Stanljlaus
jiugujius hocce inonumentuin^ '^11'^' The portraits of the
fovereigns are ranged in chronological order : the feries be-
gins from Boleflaus, and is carried down to his prefent ma-
jefty, whofe pidlure is not yet finiflied. Thefe heads are all
painted by Bacciarelli, and well executed : the portraits of
the earlier kings are fketched from the painter's imagination ;
but that of Ladiflaus II. and moft of his fucceffors are copied
from real originals. They altogether produce a pleafing
effedl:, and may be conlidered as an agreeable fpecies of ger-
nealogical table.

In this apartment the king gives a dinner every Thurfday
to the men of letters, who are moll confpicuous for their
learning and abilities : his majefty himlclf prelides at table,
and takes the lead in the graces of converlation as much as
in rank ; and, though a fovereign, does not think it beneath
him to be a moft entertaining companion. The perfons who
are admitted to this fociety read occafionally treatifes upon
4 different

WARSAW. X75:

difFerent topics of hiftory, natural philofophy, and other chap.
mifcellaneous fubjedls : and as a code of laws was at that . — J-^
time compiling in order to be prefented to the next diet,
parts of that code, or obfervations relating to legillation in
general, and the conftitution of Poland in particular, were
introduced and perufed. The king ftudioufly encourages
all attempts to refine and polifli his native tongue, which has
been much negle6ted during the reigns of his two predecef-
fbrs, who were totally ignorant of the Polilh language. He
is fond of poetry ; accordingly that fpecies of compofition is
much cultivated at thefe meetings. The next apartment
was hung with the portraits of the principal members of the
fociety.

In obedience to the king's condefcending invitation, we fat
off about eight in the evening, and drove to one of the
royal villas, iituated in the midft of a delightful wood about
three miles from Warfaw. The villa is fmall, confilling of
a faloon, and four other apartments upon the firii floor, to-
gether with a bath, from which it takes its name of /<? xMi^i-
JondeBain: above iiairs are the fame number of rooms ;
each of them fitted up in the moft elegant manner. The
king received us in the faloon with wonderful affability : lus
brother and two of his nephews were prefent, and a few ot
the nobility of both fexes, who generally comj^ofe his pri-
vate parties. There were two tables for whift, and thole
who were not engaged at cards walked about, or ilood at.
different fides of the room, while the king, who feldam
plays, converfed occafionally with every one. At about
half an hour after nine, fupper being announced, we fol-
lowed the king into an adjoining apartment, where was a
fmall round table with eight covers : the fupper confifted
of one courfe and a defert. His majefty fat down, but eat

nothing i

174 TRAVELSINTOPOLAND.

BOOK nothing ; he talked a great deal without wholly engrofTing
V — ,_^the converfation. After fupper we repaired to the faloon,
part of the company returned to their cards, while we, out
of refpeCl to the king, continued Handing, until his majefty
was pleafed to propofe fitting down, adding *' we fliall be
" more at our eafe chatting round a table." We accordingly
featcd ourfelves, and the converlation lafted without inter-
ruption, and with perfect eafe, till midnight, when the king
retired. Before he withdrew he gave a general order to a
nobleman of the party, that we fliould be condudled to fee
every obje<ft in VVarfaw worthy of a Granger's curiofity. This
extraordinary degree of attention penetrated us with grati-
tude, and i)roved a prelude to rtill greater honours.

Auguft 5. We had the honour of dining with his ma-
jefty at the fame villa, and experienced the fame eafe and af-
fability of reception as before. His majefty had hitherto
talked French, but he now did me the honour to converfe
with me in Englilh, which he fpeaks remarkably well. He
exprelTed a great predile(5lion for our nation : he furprized
me by his extraordinary knowledge of ovir conftitution,
laws, and hiftory, which was fo circumftantial and exa(5t,
that he could not have acquired it without infinite applica-
tion : all his remarks were pertinent, juft, and rational. He
is familiarly acquainted with our belt authors, and his en-
thuftaftic admiration of Shakefpeare gave me the moft con-
vincing proofs of his intimate acquaintance with our lan-
guage, and his tafte for the beauties of genuine poetry. He
inquired much about the ftate of arts and fciences in Eng-
land, and fpoke with raptures upon the protedtion and en-
couragement which our fovereign gives to the liberal arts,
and to every fpecies of literature. After we had taken our
leave, we drove round tlie wood to feveral other villas, in

which

WARSAW. i;5

which the king occafionally refides. They are all conftruded <^"hap.
in different ftyles with great tafte and elegance. His majefty < — , — '
is very fond of archite(5lure, and draws himfelf all the plan?
for the buildings, and even the deflgns for the interior de-
corations of the feveral apartments.

In the evening we had the pleafure of meeting his majefty
at his brother's, prince Poniato wfki, who gave us a moll: elegant
entertainment at a garden which is fituated near his villa,
and is richly ornamented with buildings. The tafte of the
Polifh nobility is not to be controuled by want of any mate-
rials ; for if they cannot procure them from nature, they
make a reprefentation of them by art. In the preient in-
ftance, as there are no quarries of ftone near Warfaw, the
prince has fubftituted a compofition fo nearly refembJing
itone, that the moft minute obferver can fcarce dillover the
difference. We arrived at the garden about nine ; it was a
beautiful evening of one of the moft fultry days we had ex-
perienced this fummer. After walking about the grounds,
we came to a grotto of artificial rock, where a fpring of water
dripped through the fides, and fell into a baibn with a pleal-
ing murmur. We were fcarcely alfembled in this delight-
ful fpot, when the king made his appearance : we rofe up
to meet him ; the ulual compliments being palTed, we at-
tended his majefty about the grounds, and then returned to
the grotto, round which we ranged ourfelves upon a bank
covered with mofs. The moon, was now rifen, and adckd
greatly to the beauty of the fcenc. I happened to be featcd
next to the king (for all form and ccremtmy was baniftied),
who talked with me as ulual, in Englifti,, on the arts and f<.i-
cnces, literature, and hiftory. In the courfe of this convcr-
fuion I ventured to afk whether tliere was anv rood noetiv '
in the Polifl-i language. 'His majefty tokl me, <'\Vc have ftmae

lighter

ijS TRAVELS INTO POLAND.

^°P'^ lighter pieces of poetry, by no means contemptible, and an
• — ., — ^indifterent epic poem; but the -vvork of chief poetical ex-
cellence in our tongue is a fine tranflation of the Gerufalemme
Liberata of Taflb, far fuperior to any tranflations of that ad-
mirable poem in other languages ; fome Italians of tafte and
judgement have adeemed it not much inferior to the ori-
ginal performance." I then took the liberty of inquiring
about the hiftorical produdlions of Poland ; when the king
informed me, that they had no goodhiftory of their country
in Poliih, which he looked upon as a national refle(Stion,
though he flattered himfelf it would foon be removed, as a
perfon of genius and erudition, admirably calculated for the
undertaking, was now employed in that work. Upon ex-
preffing my furprize at a circumftance almoft peculiar to
Poland, that they had no hiftory in their native tongue, his
majefty condefcended to acquaint me, that they had feveral
excellent hiftorians, all of whom however had written in
Latin ; " the knowledge of this language," his majefty re-
marked, " is very general among the Poles * ; the earlieft
^ laws are all drawn up in Latin until the reign of Sigifmond
•*' Auguftus, when they began to be compofed in the verna-
*' cular language ; the older PaBa Conventa are all in
*' Latin ; thofe of Ladiflaus IV. being the firft that appeared
*' in Polifli." This converfation, in which I was at a lofs
whether to admire moft the knowledge or condefcenlion of
the king, was interrupted by the prince, who propofed a turn
in the garden before fupper : his highnefs led the way, and
the company followed; we pafled through a fubterraneous
paftage, long and winding, with here and there a fingle lamp,

. . * I had fcvcral opportunities of remark- converfed in that language with a common
itig the prevaleiicy of the Latin tongue in foldier, who ftood guard at the entrance :
PoLind; when I vifucd the piifons, I he fpoke it with great fluency,

which

WARSAW. 177

ti^hich flied a glimmering light ; we came at length to a chap.
wooden door, which feemed the entrance into fome hovel ; v ^ ...
it opened, and we found ourfelves, to our great aftoniiliment,
in a fuperb faloon, illuminated with innumerable lamps. It
was a rotunda, with an elegant dome of the moft beautiful
fymmetry ; in the circumference were four open receffes
between pillars of artificial marble ^- : in the receffes were
fophas, with paintings m frefco, reprefenting the triumphs
of Bacchus, Silenus, Love, and the victory of the Emprefs of
Ruflia over the Turks. As we were all admiring the beauty
and elegance of the rotunda, our ears were on a fudden re-
galed with a concert of exquifite muficfrom an invilible band.
While we were liftening to this agreeable performance, and
conjecturing from what quarter it came, a magnificent table
was fuddenly fpread in the midft of the faloon with fuch ex-
pedition, as to refemble the effedts of enchantment. We im-
mediately fat down to fupper with the king, the prince, and
a chofen company : our fpirits were elevated by the beauty
of the faloon, by the hofpitality of the prince, and by the
affability of the king ; who, fo far from being a conftraint
to the fociety, greatly enlivened it by his vivacity, and feemed
the foul of the party. I never paffed a more agreeable
evening ; the converfation was animated and rational, while
the focial eafe and freedom, which difFufed itfelf through
every part of the company, realized this beautiful convivial
picture :

La Liber te convive aimable

Met les deux coudes fur la table t.
Even without the luflre of a crown, which is apt to dazzle
our judgements, the king of Poland could not fail of being

* Thefe pillars are of the faine compofi- in Oxford Street.
tion and colour with thofe of the Pantheon f Voltaire.

Vol. I. A a efteemed

i,7» T R A V E L S I N T O P O L A N D.

BOOK eftecmed one of the moft agreeable and polite gentlemen ire
•>— v^ — ' Europe : he has a furprizing fund of interelting converfii-
tion ; and I never yet had the honour of accefs to his con:i-
pany without being both informed and delighted. His ma-
.jelly did not retire until one o'clock, when the company fe-
parated, and we returned to Warfaw, highly pleafed with
our evening's entertainment.

I have had frequent occafion to mention the elegance and
kixury of the Polifli nobility in their houfes and villas ; in.
their decorations and furniture they feem to have happily
blended the Englifh and French modes ; in their entertain-
ments they are exquifitely refined ; and as they fpare no-
expence, and have a natural good talle, they generally fuc-.
ceed in creating pleafure and furprize. We every day expe-
rienced the agreeable effedls of their hofpitality and polite-
nefs ; but by none were we fo elegantly regaled as by the
princefs Zartoriflva in -^ fete cbampitre^oi which I lliall at--
tempt a defcription.

Povonlki, the villa of prince Adam Zartorifki, is about
three rniles from Warfaw in the midft of a forell : the fitu-
ation is almoft level,, with here and there a gentle flope^
which produces an agreeable variety. A river runs through
the grounds, which are laid out in the Englifli tafte, with a.
beautiful intermixture of lawn and wood ; walks are cut-
through the v/ood, and carried along the fide of the water.

The houfe, which ftands upon a gentle rife, has the ap--
pearance of a cottage, conftru^ed like thofe of the peafants, ,
with trunks of trees piled upon each other, and thatched
with fi:raw : befide the principal building, inhabited by the
prince and princefs, therje are feparate cottages for the chil-
dren and attendants, each of which has its inclofures and
Imall garden ; this group of ftrudures bears the refemblance

Of/-

WARSAW.

'70'

of a village, compofed of huts fcattered at a fiiiall diftance chap.
from each other. Other buildings, fuch as fummer houfes, ' — ^—
pavilions, ruftic fheds, and ruins, are difperfed throughout
the grounds ; the ftables are conftrudted in the form of an
half demolifhed amphitheatre. Several romantic bridges,
rudely compofed of the trunks and bent branches of trees,
contribute to heighten the rufticity of the fcencry.

Upon our arrival we repaired to the principal cottage,
where the princefs was ready to receive us : we expe6ted the
infide to be furniflied in the fimple ftyle of a peafant's hovel^
but were furprized to find every fpecies of elegant magni-
ficence which riches and tafte could colledt. All the apart-
ments are decorated in the moft coftly manner ; but the
fplendour of the bath-room was peculiarly finking : the
fides are covered from top to bottom, with fmall fquare pieces
of the fineft Drefden china, each ornamented with an ele-
gant fprig ; and the border and cieling are painted With
beautiful feitoons. The expence of fitting up this apart-
ment mull have been prodigious ; as I was informed that
there were at leaft three thoufand fquare pieces of china
employed, each of which coil at Drefden three ducats -. After
we had furvcyed all the apartments, we proceeded to an en-
clofure near the houfe, furrounded Vvith large blocks of gra-
nite heaped one upon another, and fallen trees placed in the
moft natural aiid pidturefque fliapes ; here we drank tea
upon the lawn. From thence we repaired to the feveral
cottages inhabited by the children ; each of which is fitted
up in different Ifyles, but w\th equal elegance. Every thing
without doors gives one the idea of an happy peafant's fa-
mily ; within all is coftlinefs and tafte : I never faw fuch a
contraft of fimplicity and magnificence.

* About il. 7s. 6d.

A a 2 - We

i8o TRAVELSINTOPOLAND.

BOOK \ye ngxt walked round the grounds, which are prettily
« — ^ laid out in our tafte of gardening ; the company then all ad-
journed to a Turkifli tent of rich and curious workmanfhip,
pitched in a beautiful retired field near the flables, which re-
prefent a ruined amphitheatre. This tent belonged to the
grand-vizier, and was taken during the late war between the
Ruffians and the Turks : under it was a fettee, and a carpet
fpread upon the ground. Here we rtaid converfing until it
was quite dufk ; when the princefs propofed returning ; Ihe
led us through the houfe to a fmall fpot of rifing ground,
where we were fuddenly Itruck with a raoft beautiful illu-
mination. A rurtic bridge, confifting of a fingle arch over
a broad piece of water, was lludded with feveral thoufand
lamps of different colours ; while the refletSlion of this illu-
minated bridge in the water -was fo ftrong as to deceive the
eye, and gave the whole the appearance of a brilliant circle
fufpended in the air : the efFecft was fplendid beyond de-
fcription, and confiderably heightened by the gloom of
the foreft in the back-ground. While we continued admir-
ing this delightful fcene, a band of raufic llruck up at a little
di{l:ance, and amufed us with an excellent concert. We were
then led from this enchanting fpot, acrofs the illuminated
bridge, to a thatched pavilion, open at the fides and fup-
ported by pillars ornamented with garlands and twilled
fell:oons of flowers : we found within a cold collation,
and fat down to a table covered with all kind of delica-
cies, with the moft coftly wines, and every fpecies of fruit
which art or nature could furnifh. The evening was de-
lightful, the fcenery pitSlurefque, the fare delicious ; the
company in good fpirits ; for w ho could be otherwife when
every circumitance, which the tafte and ingenuity of our fair
hoftefs could invent, confpired to heighten the entertain-
3 ment >

WARSAW. i8i

ment ? ' The collation being ended, we rofe from table ; ^^^^'
which I concluded to be the clofe of the entertainment, but - ^ . ■ »
was agreeably difappointed ; the gardens were fuddenly il-
luminated ; we all ranged about as fancy didated ; and
were gratified with the found of wind inftruments, played
by perfons difperfed in different parts of the grounds. We
repaired the bridge, and returned into the cottage, when the
two eldell: daughters of the princefs, who were dreffed in
Grecian drefles of the molt elegant fimpUcity, performed a
Polilh and a Coffac dance ; the former ferious and graceful,,
the latter comic and lively. The eldell fon, a boy of about
eight years old, next performed an hornpipe with wonderful
agility, and afterwards a dance in the ftyle of the Polifh pea-
fants with much humour. It was now paft two in the
morning ; we feemed as if we could flay for ever ; but as
there muft be an end of all fublunary joys, we took our
leave, expreffing our thanks and gratitude in language far.
unequal to our feelings. 1 can fcarce form to nayfelf :ife^e
champitre fo elegant : and I am fatisfied, that it will feldonv
fall to the lot of the fame perfon to partake of fuch a plealitig
entertainment twice in his life.

The day before our departure from this town we dined
with the bilhop of Plotfko, the king's brother, at his
palace of Jablonifka about eight miles from Warfaw.
The palace is an handfome building, conftrud'ed after a
defign, and at the exigence, of his majefiry. One of the
apartments, called the Turkilh faloon, is remarkable for its-
elegance and fingularity : it i« in the Oriental tafbe, of an,
oblong fliape, very high, with a fountain in the middle,
furrounded with a parterre of flowers. Between the parterre
and fides of the room are ranges of TurkiOi fophas. The

variegated;

i82 TRAVELSINTO POLAND.

BOOK variegated tints and rich fragrance of the flowers, joined to
I the tranfparency and murmurs of the fountain, produac a
molt pleating effe<5t, and, together with the coolnefs of the
apartment, render it a delicious retreat from the heats of
fummer. The Viftula winds along at a fmall diftance from
the palace, through a fandy and almoft level country.

In the evening we accompanied prince Staniflans to his
majefty's villa, fecure of pafTmg an interefting evening, but it
was now embittered with the idea that it would never again be
repeated, and that this was the lail time of our being admitted
to the company of fo amiable a monarch. In the following
converfation I had an additional proof of his humanity and
condefcenfion : " You have been to the prifons *, and I am
" afraid you found them in a wretched condition." To have
mentioned all their abufes, when I knew that his majefty
could not alter them, would only have been an infult ; I en-
deavoured therefore to palliate my anfwer, by remarking,
what is but too true, that in feveral inftances they were not
fo badly regulated as in England. " I am furprized," re-
turned the king, " that a nation, who fo juftly piques itfelf
" for its humanity, Ihould be deficient in fo effential an ar-
" tide of poUce." I then vcHtured, with as much delicacy
as poffible, to point out one material abufe in the prifons
of Warfaw, which I thought might probably be in his
majefty's power to alleviate at lead, if not to remedy.
The circumftance which I alluded to was, that there is
no feparate room for the accommodation of fick pri-
foners ; at the fame time I begged pardon for this in-
ifance of prefumption, which nothing but my compallion
for the unfortunate could have extorted from me. " He

* See the latter part of Chs^ V.

" who

W A R S A W. ,83

" who pleads the caufe of the unhappy," replied his majefty, chap.
" is always liltened to with pleafure ;" an expreffion I lliall » , ' •
never forget, and which convinced me, by the patnetic man-
ner in which it was uttered, that it was the real fentiments of
his heart. The turn of the converfation led the king to en-
large upon the code of laws preparing for the inipedion of
the approaching diet ; when his majefty expatiated, with
peculiar fatisfadlion, \ipon feveral beneficial regulations cal-
culated to promote the impartial adminill;ration of jurtice.
'^ Happy Englhhmen !" exclaimed the king, " your houfe is
*' raifed, and mine is yet to build." Every part of this con-
ference imprefled me W' ith the higheft opinion of the king's
benevolence, patriotifm, and legiflative abilities.

After fupper, which palled otf no lefs agreeably than the
preceding entertainments, we were prefented to take leave,,
when the king condefcended to inquire of us the route we
intended to take; and to point out what was mod: likely to>
occur worthy of obfervationl. " Your majefty," I ventured
to obferve, " has omitted the manvifadlures which you have
" eltabliflied at Grodno *." " An Englifliman," replied the
king, " after having feen the manufadlures of his own
^ country, will find little deferving his curiofity in any other, ,
"and particularly in this kingdomj where there is fuch a
" fettled averfion to commerce. The eflablifhment at Grodno
*' is but a beginning : 1 confider it only as a pledge of my fn-
" ture intentions." I then m.entioned the new regulations in,
the univerfity of Vilna, and the foundation of a phyfic-garden ;
at Grodno. " You are deceived by the fimilarity of names. .
" An Englifli univerfity is as much.fuperior to foreign fe-
« minaries, as your nation excels all others in the cultivation >

See Chap. VL article.GROPNo,

" of;

i84 TRAVELSINTOPOLAND.

BOOK « of literature, and the encouragement given to genius and
> v' ' " abilities. The academy at Vilna is more the image of
** what it was, and of what it ought to be, than an object of
" a traveller's curiofity." He then gracioufly expreffed his
regret at our departing fo foon from Warfaw, and, wiftiing
us a good journey, retired.

I flatter myfelf, that I fhall not appear too minute in re-
lating all thefe circumftances ; the familiar incidents of do-
meftic life place the character of a fovereign in a truer point
of view than the more fplendid occurrences of public gran-
deur, where the real difpofition is often dilguifed by form,
or facrificed to policy.

CHAP.

I ^^s ]

CHAP. IV.

Villanow the favourite palace 0/ John Sobiefki. — Account of
that monarch. — Circumftances of his death. — Intrigues of
his queen. — Divi/ion and cabals of bis family. — Fortunes of
bis children. — Ext in^ ion of his name. — Genealogical table
of his defcendants.

AUGUST 6. We pafTed the day at Villanow, where we chap.
dined with prince Zartorifki. He is a fine old man, ^^*
near fourfcore, and lives in the true Ityle of ancient hofpi-
tality : he is conftantly attended by his own guards, which
1 mention, not as being peculiar to him, who enjoys the firft
offices of the republic, but becaufe it leads me to remark,
that every Polilh nobleman may have as many guards as
he can afford to maintain.

The prince keeps an open table, at which there are fel-
dom lefs than twenty or thirty covers. His revenues are
large, amounting to near ^100,000 fterling /^r annum;
and his ftyle of living correfponds to this great income.

Villanow was built by John Sobiefki the conqueror of the
Turks and deliverer of Vienna : it was the favourite refi-
dence of that great monarch, where he moflly lived when
not in arms, and where he clofed his days. The palace, be-
ing fold after his death, came by marriage into the family
of Zartorifki ; it was lent to Auguftus II. who confiderably
enlarged it. The outfide is ornamented with feveral baflo
relievos, reprefenting the principal victories of John Sobiefki,.
which were probably added by Auguftus ; for the former

Vol. I. B b was

i86 TRAVELS INTO POLAND.

BOOK Y^ras too modeft and unaffuming to ere6t monuments of his
• — ,__/0\vn glory.

The sera of John Sobiefki, fplendid in itfelf, appears more
luminous, when contrafted with the darknels which preceded
and followed. The reigns of his immediate predeceffor
and fucceffor were convulfed with internal commotions ; but
the fpirit of difcord and anarchy was laid for a time by his
tranfcendent genius. Under his aufpipes Poland feeraed to
revive from the calamities which had long oppreffed her,
.a,nd again to recover her antient fplendour : fuch is the
powerful afcendency of a great and fuperior mind. His
military talents require no other teftimony than the vidtory
of Chotzim, the recovery of the Ukraine, repeated defeats
of the Turks and Tartars, and the delivery of Vienna ; while
an exact infight into the laws and conftitution of his coun-
try, a manly and perfuafive eloquence, a love and protec-
tion of literature, an accurate knowlege of foreign laur
guages, and an uncealing habit of affabihty, moderation, and
temperance, render him no lefs an objetSl of our admiration
in his civil capacity *.

But the monarch, who could allay the ferments of public
fa(5tion, could not fupprefs the domeftic diffentions of his-
own family ; and the fame great prince, who kept a turbu-^
lent people in awe, and chal^ifed the molt formidable ene-
mies, was himfelf under the controul of his-confort,.a French

• Dr. South, in his Account of Poland, " the Sclavonian, he underdands the Latin,

thus defcribes John Sobielki : "The king "French, Italian,. German, and Turkiftl

•' is a very well-fpoken prince, very eafy of " languages : He delights much in n;i-

•'- acceis, and extreme civil, having moft of " turr.l hiftory, and in all the parts of

•' the qualities requifite to form .'. complete " phyfic. He is wont to reprimand- te

*' gentleman. He is not only well verfed " clergy for not admitting the modern phi-

" in all military affairs, but iikevvife, through " lofophy, fuch as Le Grand's and Carte-

*' the means of a French education, very " Cus's, into the univeriities and fchools,"

' opulently ftored with all polite and fcho- Scc. South'? Pofthun^ous Works, p. 24.
'•U«»ftjcaLlcarnjng. Befides his own tongucj _

lady,

S O B I E S K Ic 187

lady ''••, of exquifite beauty and elegant manners, but of chap.
relllefs intrigue, infatiable avarice, and inordinate ambition. < — „_-.;
Tliis unprincipled woman fomented a fi>irit of difunion
and jealoufy among her children ; and loaded her eldeft
fon with every fpecies of indignity. She formed and fup-
ported an adminiftration called, by way of derifion, the
Jewifh junto ; and introduced into the royal houfliold a nar-
row parlimony unl:)ecoming the dignity of a powerful fo-
vereign : in a word, by a feries of ofFeniive and wicked mea-
fures, flie loft her hufband the affection of his fubjedts ; and
rendered the clofe of his reign as odious, as the preceding
part had been popular and glorious.

The decline of Sobiefki's life was clouded with affli6tion.
He felt himfelf a prey to a lingering difeafet ; yet, inftead of
deriving any comfort from his neareft connexions, he ex-
perienced an aggravation of his diftrefs from the unnatural
contefts of his children, and the intriguing fpirit of his wife.
The decay of his authority, and the indecent cabals almoft
openly carrying on about the choice of his fucceiTor, affedled
in the ftrongeft manner a perfon of his extreme fenfibility :
his fubjecls, inftead of lamenting, feemed eagerly to antici-
pate his diflblution. Yet, even in this deplorable ftate, the
king's equanimity, founded on religion and philofophy, did
not forfake him ; and he retained, even upon his death-
bed, that mixture of ferioufnefs and gaiety, ftrength of rea-
foning and quicknefs of repartee, which fo ftrongiy marked
his charadter.

He died on the 17th of June, 1696. Some ftriking in-
cidents, immediately preceding his death, are ti anfmltted to
vis by the chancellor Zalufki biftiop of Plotiko, who was
prefent when he expired.

* Marie de la Grange. See p. 190.

f His illnefs was a complication of diforders, gout, flone, adhma, tJrOpfy.

B b 2 Some

i8S T R A V E L S- I N T O P CL A N D/

Some alarming fymptoras in Sobiefki's diforder having'
awakened the .queen's folicitude about the fucccflion to his
fortune, tlie earneftly importuned Zahifki to prefent himfelf .
before the .king, and inlinuate fame .advice with refpe6t to
the difpofitionof his affaus. The bi(hop, when he entered the
apartment, finding the king in an agony of excruciating
pain "■'■■, endeavoured to give him comfort and hopes of
recovery. But Sobielki repHed, " I forefee my approaching
"' death ; my fituation will be the fame to-morrow as it is to-
" day ; all confolation is now too late ;" then, fetching a
deep figh, his majefty afked him " why he came fo feldom ta
" court, and in what manner-.he employed himfelf at his
" diocefe aloae !" Zalulki, after expatiating upon the du-
ties of his epifcopal office and the refources of literature/
artfully turned the difcourfe to the bufinefs in queftion^
" Lately," faid he, " 1 have been employed in no very
"agreeable, yet neceffary duty : Weighing the frail condition^
"of human nature, remembering, that as Socrates and'
"Plato fo all men muft die ; and confidering the diffenfions.
" which may arife among, my relations after my deceafe, I
"have taken an inventory of my effedla, and have difpofed
" of them by will." The king, who faw the purport, of his.
'lifcourfe, interrupted him with a loud laugh, and exclaimed,. ^
in a quotation from Juvenal t, ." niedici^.mediarii contiin-.-
*' dite venamT " What, my Lord Bilhop ! you whofe judge -
*'• ment and good fenfe Lhave {k^ long efteemed, do yoUv.
" make your will ? What an ufelefs lofs of time !" 8cc= .
Not difcouraged by this faljy, the bilhop perfevered in fug-
gefting, " thatin juftice to his.family and country he ought..

* Zalnlki, Epift. vol. III. p. 5 — 14. " vein." In applying this paflage, the king

f Juvenal,, Sat. VI. 1. 40^. " Op^n a meant to, infinuate-that the bilhop was mad. l

5- " withe lit

S O K I E S K' r. i^

" without delay to regulate the difpofition of his effe<5ls, and chap.
*'■ to declare his final indinations." " For God's fake," re-
turned Sobielki with a more ferious tone, " do not fuppofe
" that any good will arife in this age ! when vice has in-
*' creafed to fuch an enormous degree^ as almoft to exclude
"all hopes of forgivenefs from the mercy of the Deity ! Do'
" you not fee how great is the public iniquity, tumult, and-
" violence ? all itrive who fliall blend good and evil without
" dilfincftion : the morals of my fubjeds are overturned ;
" will you again reftore them I My orders are not attended
" to while I am- alive; can I expedt to be obeyed when I am
** dead ? That man is happy, who with his- own hand dif-
" pofes of his effects, which cannot be cntrulfed with fecu-
" rity to his executors ; while they who leave a will a£l
" abfurdly, for configning to the care of others what is more
" fecure in the hands of their neareft relations. Have not ■
'* the regulations of the kings my predeceiTors been defpiied
" after their deaths ? Where corruption univerfally prevails,. .
" judgement is obtained by money : the voice of confcience
" is not heard, and reafon and equity are no more." Then
fuddenly giving a ludicrous turn to the converfatioin, he
exclaimed, " What can you fay to this^ Mr. Will-maker * !"

On the 1 7th of June, the king growing worfe, the bifhop ■
w^as again fummoned to Villanow^, when hismajefty heard :
prayers, and was particularly fervent in his devotion. After
dinner, while he was converfing with his ufual gaiety in
the prefence of Zalufki and the abbe Polignac, he was. fud-
denly feized with a ftroke of apoplexy; but recovering a
little, he confeiTed, and, having received abfolution and ex-
treme undlion, expired almoft without a groan, in the 66th

* Quid ad hsc Domtne teftimentarie !

year

,i$o TRAVELS INTO POLAND.

■BOOK year of his age, and the 23d of his reign, on the fame day
V. v'-"in which lie was railed to the throne. The name of Sobiefki
'is now extincft. My veneration for this great man prompted
me to inquire into the fortunes of his family.

Sobiefki * left behind him his wife Marie de la Grange,
three fons, James, Alexander, and Conftantine, and one
daughter Therefa Cunigunda. Marie his wife, daughter of
Henry de la Grange captain of the guards to Philip duke of
Orleans, and of Francis de la Chartre, was maid of honour to
Louifa queen of Ladillaus IV. She was firft married to Rad-
zivil prince of Zamofki; within a month after his deceafellie
efpoufed John Sobiefki in fecret, and brought him in dower
a large portion and the favour of his fovereign. Her influ-
ence over her hufband, and the ill ufe flie made of her
power when he afcended the throne, have been already dif-
played.

James Louis, the eldefl fon of Sobiefki, was born at Paris
in 1667. He accompanied his father to the relief of Vienna,
in the i6th year of his age, and narrowly efcaped being
flain in an a6tion near Banan in Hungary. He afterwards
gave fuch fignal proofs of his military talents, that, upon his
father's indifpofition in the campaign of 1687 againft the
Turks, he was intrufted with the command of the army,
although only in the 21ft year of his age; and received
from the foldiers all the honours ufually paid only to the
kings of Poland : a fingular mark of deference in an eledtive
monarchy, and which gave encouragement to an expectation
of the throne at his father's deceafe. His father promoted
this view with the utmoft exertion of his intereit ; but this
projedl viras entirely difconcerted by the indifcretion of the

* The abbe Coyer has written the Life and, what is remarkable in a French hifto-
of Sobielki with great /pirit and fidelity ; rian, has cited his authorities.

prince,

SOBIESKI FAMILY. ,5^,

prince, and the refllefs intrigues of the queen, who, havirg chap.
conceived the ftrongeft antipathy to her eldeft fon, and a nO'
lefs violent predilection in favour of her fecond fon Alex-
ander a prince of a more tradlable difpofition, facrificed the
dignity of her family to a blind impulfe of parental partiality..
Sobiefki had fcarcely expired, before the cabals, which
even his authority could hardly fupprefs, broke out with
undiiTembled violence. The divifion of the king's treafure
caufed the moft indecent difputes and altercations between
his widow and children. James, without a moment's delay,
endeavoured, though in vain, to feize it by force, but was
anticipated by the queen*, who, by the affiftance of the abbe
Polignac, fent it into France. She had three great objects
in view : either to obtain the crown for Alexander, whom
flie was fecure of governing ; to promote the election of
Count Jablonoulki, great general of the crown, with an
intention of marrying him ; or to favour the pretenfions of
^e prince of Conti, warmly fupported by Louis X' V. At
all events flie was firmly refolved to procure the exclufion of
her eldeft fon, and this v/as the only point flie carried. Had :
the family of Sobiefki been unanimous, James niuft have
been elected king ; but no fubmiflion t could foften the im-

* The queen fent 3,000,000 French " number and threats, flopped the carriage' -

livres =: £i2!;,ooo into France. Larrey, " On our advancing to the queen, Hie re-

HifV. Louis XIV. y. 11. p. 297. «< ceived us with great marks of difpleafure ; .

t Zahilki has given the following curious *' and although the. prince proftrated him-,

inllance of the queen's implacibility. " I " felf before her, and embraced her feet

*' and other fenators accompanied prince "with the moft profound refpeft, he was.

" James to the.Qneen's at Bicltz, but her " not able to extort from her more than r. 1

_♦' majefty being informed of our approach, " (hort and evafive anfwer. Upon his re- -

" retired precipitately from the palace in '* tiring, with his eyes full oftears, I my.'

"■ order to avoid the interview ; we over- " felf ufed fome endeavours to fofttn her -

" took her about a mile from Bieltz, and *' refcntment ; which, however, , had no .•

" ordered the driver to ftop, while flie re- " other cffeft thaii to draw from her addi-.

•' peatedly urged him to continue his rout : " tional expreffions of difguft and indigna-;-

*'-at length the coachman, alarmed .by our " tion." Zalufti,.vol, lU, p. i3(;.

^i 1 1 icable .;

ipa

TRAVELS INTO POLAND,

BOOK placable refentment of the queen, who, even when flie
■ found it impradticable to fecure the eledjon of her favourite
fon Alexander, or to compafs any of her other deiigns, both
in fecret and openly fet herlelf in oppoHtion to the pretenfions
of James. When the diet of convocation aflembled at War-
law, the queen fummoned a meeting of fenators and nuntios
in her apartment, whom fhe addreffed in regard to her fon
with all the virulence which inveterate fury could infpire,
and all the afFedted candour towards the Poles which the
moi^ confummate hypocrify could fuggeft •■'■. *' Although
*' I am not by birth a Pole, I am one by inclination, and am
** more attached to this nation than to my own family.
" Reflect maturely whom you will nominate your king in
*' the place of my much-regretted hufband, and I fincerely
" recommend to you not to eleflone of my children. I too
" well know all their difpofitions ; and particularly caution
*' you not to raife to the throne the eldeil: prince James.
" His inconfiderate raQinefs will involve the kingdom in
*' fpeedy and inevitable ruin." The bifliop of Plotfko,
though her creature, difgufted at thefe appearances of un-
natural rancour, impjortuned her to defili ; but flie exclaimed
with greater violence : " Do not interrupt me ; i will never
" retrait what I have faid, as I prefer the fafety of the re-
" public to my own' interefts and the fplendour of my fa-
*' mily. I again exhort the Poles to ele(5t any candidate in
*' preference to one of my children." This virulent oppo-
sition to the views of her eldeii fon was but too fuscefsful :
he was rejected by a great majority, and the choice of the-
nation fell upon Auguftus ele^ftor of Saxony.

» Zaiuik III. p. 102.

The

SOBIESKI FAMILY.

193

The fequel of the hiftory of Sobiefki's family, now re- chap,
duced to a private ftation, will be comprifed in a fhort com - .
pafs. After the defeat of Auguftus II. at the battle of Cliflbw,
Charles XII. determined to give a new king to Poland ; and
his veneration for the memory of John Sobiefki induced him
to offer that dignity to his eldeft Ton. In confequence of diis
refolution, Auguftus was declared by the primate unworthy
to reign ; and a diet of eledlion was convened at Warfaw.
James was then at Breflaw, impatiently expedling his nomi-
nation to the throne fo worthily filled by his father, and from
which he had been deprived by the unprecedented malice
of a mother. But the ufual fingularity of his ill-fortune ftill
purfued him : as he was hunting with his brother Con-
flantine, a fmail detachment of Saxon horfemen furprizecj
and carried him off; and,inftead of receiving a crown, he was
confined in the caftle of Plciffenburgh near Leipfic. Con-
ftantine ••• might have efcaped ; but, from an impulfe of fra-
ternal affection, voluntarily accompanied his brother into
confinement, and adminiftered confolation under this griev-
ous reverfe of fortune. This event happened on the 28th
of February, 1704.

In the month of September, 1706, the two brothers were
removed to the fortrefs of Konigftein, as to a place of ftill
greater fecurity ; but in December of the fame year fortu-
nately obtained their enlargement, upon the rcqueft of
Charles XII. at the conclufion of the celebrated treaty with
Auguftus II. in which the latter was compelled to abdicate
the throne of Poland. This abdication, however, did not
revive the pretenfions of James to the crown, the ele^lion
having fallen, during his confinement, upon Staniilaus Let-

* Lcngnich, liift. Pol. p. 341.

Vol. I. C c zinfki.

i94.

TRAVELS INTO POLAND.

BOOK zinfki. From this period James pafled a private and retired*
'w...'-,^life, and fcems to have entirely renounced all his views upon
the crown of Poland. He died in 1737 at Zolkiew in Red
Ruflia,. in the 70th year of his age; and in him, as the laft
male of his family, the nam.e of Sobiefki became extinfl.
His wife was Hedwige Eleonora*, daughter of Philip Wil-
liam elector i)alatine ; by her he left two daughters^ Mary
Charlotte and Clementina Mary.

The eldeft) Mary Charlotte, married in 1723 Frederic
Maurice de la Tour duke of Bouillon, who dying within a
few days after the marriage, (he efpoiifed, with a dilpenfation,
from the pope, his brother Charles Godfrey the fame year.
By him flie left iffue a fon, the prefent duke of Bouillon,
married to a lady of the houfe of Loraine, and a daughter,,
who efpoufed the duke of Rohan-Rohan* In thefe noble
perfons and their progeny the female line of Sobiefki ftill
exifts.

Clementina Mary, .the youngefl daughter of prince James,
married at Montefiafcone,.in 1 71 9, James Edward Stuart, com-

* Siller of F.leonora Magdalena wife of " his addreffes to her ; which he did with

tlje emperor Leopold. James had been fir ft " that fuccels, that he engaged her fo far

cpntraifled in marriage to the widpw of the " and fo Tinexpeftedly, that he, was pri-

eleCtor of Brande-iburgh's brother, a rich " vately married to her the night before file

heirefs of the hoiifc of Radzivilin Lithuania, " was to be married to liie prince of Po-

but upon this occafion he firil experienced " land, fo that prince James was forced to

that ill forttme which afterwards atteijded " return br.ck fliamefuUy : which the king

him through life. " An envoy was lent to " his father .refentedio highly, that he was

•^^ Berlin to negotiate the marriage, which " refolved to havefatisfaftion froai the

•'-was agreed upon by the eleftor's and her " clciTlor of Brandenburg, for fuffcring his

" confent, and the prince himfclf came tiii- " fon to rt^ceive lo notorious an afFiont at

"thcr in pel fon, with a numerous attend- " his court.; but the elcrtur, knowing no-

'*-ance, to conlummate it. At the lame time ''thinirof that private intrigue, juftified

•'came to Berlin the ele<Sor palatine's hvQ- "■ hlmfelf, and all aniraofities were at laft

*'. the;-, prince Charles of Newburg, brother . *' r.djnft^d by prince JaniKs's marrying hi.i

'*■ to the emprefs, to fee the ceremony of " rival's fifter the princefs of Nt;iibiirg, who

'* the marriage; but this princefs, taking "was fcnt into I'oland, and has two dangh-

*' more fancy to htm than to the jirincc of *' ters by him." Connor's Hirtory of Po-

♦••-Poland, gave him encouragement to make land, v. IL p. i88, 189.

I..' monly.,

S O B 1 E S K I FAMILY. ^^^

monly known by the name of the Chevalier de St. George, chap,
the pretender to the Britifli throne. This princefs, though ^ / _;
a woman of great perfonal and mental endowments, could
not engage the affedlion of her hulband; and (lie was fo of-
fended at his attachment to a favourite miflrefs, that (lie
withdrew from his houfe, and remained for fome time in
a convent near Rome. Afterwards, being reconciled to him,
fhe died at Rome on the i8th of June, 1735, aged 33 ; her
death, according to the account of a writer * attached to the
Stuart family, was occafioned by religious abftinence and
too fevere mortifications : her remains were interred with
regal pomp in the church of St. Peter, and a fumptuous
monument was eredled to her memory. She left two Ions
by the Chevalier, who are now alive : Charles, ufually
termed count of Albany ; and Henry, cardinal of Yorkcs
Charles married the princefs of Stolberg, by whom he has
no children : a mifunderftanding not long after their mar-
riage taking place between them, fhe quitted her hufband,
and took llielter in a convent in the Tufcan dominions ;
and, as her quarrel was efpoufed by the cardinal of Yorke,flie
has obtained a feparation for life. We may therefore fore-
fee the extinclion of the Sobiefki line in the Stuart branch.
The ample patrimony of James Sobieflvi was divided equally
between his two daughters. Having lent a confiderable fum
to the houfe of Auftria, he obtained in return a mortgage,
upon certain eilates in Silefia, which, upon the divifion of the
property after his deceafe, fell to the Stuart family, and werG
in their poffeffion when the king of PniHia feciired Silefia
in the year 1740. His Pruffian majefty confifcated thefc

* Letters from a Pa'uit-cr 4n Italy, where h«r funeral and monument is ckfcribed
V. II. p. 56.

C c a lands

J96' TRAVELS INTO POLAND.

BOOK ]ancls to himfelf by right of conquell ; and the houfe of
Aiiiiria never made any further compenfation for the above-
mentioned loan.

Alexander, fecond fon of John Sobiefki, was born at
Dantzic in 1677 ; and as he was brought into the world after
his father had been raifed to the throne, he was iifually
ftyled by his mother, who adored him, the fon of the king ;
while file affe61:ed to call his brother James, who was born
before" his father's ,ele(f^ ion, the fon of the great marflial.
Excited by his mother's partiality, and inflamed by an am-
bition natural to youth, he even afpired to the throne in op-
pofition to his brother James ; afterwards however, when a
more mature age had corre6led his paffions, and his mother's
influence had ceafed to miilead him, he declined, from a
principle of fraternal afFeilion, the acceptance of that very
crown, which had once been the objedt of his warmefl hopes.
When Charles XIJ. upon the imprifonment of James, offered
the crown of Poland to Alexander, the latter, with a diiin-
tereflednefs which reflecfts the highefl honour upon his me-
mory, refufed it with this genc;ous declaration, " that no
'' intereft fliould tempt him to avail himfelf of his brother's
*' misfortunes *."

Alexander pafled his days principally at Rome with the
queen his mother. During his refidence in that city, he
never made his appearance at the court of Clement XI. be-
caufe that pontiff' had refufed to receive him with the marks
of diflin61ion which he claimed as a king's fon. But the
honours which were withheld from him while alive, were
granted unto him when dead ; his body being permitted to
lie in royal flate, and to be interred with the fame ceremonies,

* Voltaire's Charlas XII. p. 90.

i which

S O B I E S K I F A M I L Y. i^.y,

which attended the funeral of Chriftina queen of Sweden, chap.

He expired in June 17 14, having aflumed upon his death- « ^_j

bed the habit of a capuchiuj from a fuperftitious notion of
infuring his falvation ••'••.

Coiiftantine, having regained his hberty at the fame time
with his brother James, married a German baronefs, maitl
of honour to the princefs of Neuburg ; a marriage of paflion,
foon followed by repenrance, and from which he in vain en-
deavoured to procure a releafe by a divorce. He deceafed
in 1726 without children.

Therefa Cunigunda, the daughter of John Sobiciki, mar-
ried in 1696 iMaximilian Emanuel elector of Bavaria, and
died a widosv 1730. Her fon Charles Albert, who fuc-
ceeded to the eledtorate of Bavaria, was the unfortunate em-
peror Charles VII. and her grandfon Maximilian Jofeph
expired in 1778 without iffue. tier grand-daughter Maria
Antonietta married Frederic Chrillian eletStor of Saxony; and
the blood of John Sobiefki Hill flows in the veins of their
progeny, the prefent electoral family.

Marie de la Grange, the confort of John Sobiefl<.i, paffed
the firft part of her widowhood at R.ome with her father the
marquis of Arquien, who, from being captain of the Swifs
guards to the duke of Orleans, had been promoted by her
interelf to the dignity of cardinal. She continued to refide
in that city until the year 1 7 1 4, when (lie retired into France,,
her native country. Louis XIV. affigned her the caftle of
Blois for her relidence, where Ihe died in 1716!, above 70.
years of age. Her remains were tranfported to Warfaw, and
from thence conveyed, together with thofe of her hufband in
1734, to Cracow, and interred in the cathedral of that city J.

* Vie de Sobiciki, v. III. p. 176, f Ibid. p. 177. -^ Lcngnich, Ilift. p. 590.

Gaiealogical

I9S

TRAVELS INTO POLAND,

w I- ;^ J:;

c « j:: u c -^

^ -2 "^ ~ Q- O

F: f^ = 3 S 5

C ^99 }

C H A P. V.

Qoins 0/ Poland. — Public library. — State of learning. — Lite-
rature encouraged by the king. — Wretched adminijlration of
jujlice. — Prifons of Warfaw. — Punijhments for criminah-
offences. — "torture aboUffjed. — Laws relating to debtors.

BEEORE our departure from Warfaw we vifited feme chaK
objects of literary curiofity ufually feen by foreigners. , ^' ^
We firft adjourned to the palace to examine fome coins and
medals relative to the hiftory of Poland. . The count of
Mazin-fki, natural fon of Auguftus III purchafed the greateft
part of this colledion, and prefented it to his prefent majefty.
Lifliall not enter upon any account of the foreign coins and
medals, but content myfelf with mentioning a few which
relate to Poland.

The earlieft coin is that of Bolellaus I. fon of Miciflaus,
the firft PoliHi prince converted to Chriftianity : this piece
of money was ftruck in 999, probably foon after the intro-
du6lion of coining into Poland. There was no head of the
fovereign upon it, only the PoliHi eagle on one fide, and a
crown on the reverfe.

The feries of coins is broken until Sigifmond I. from
whofe acceilion it is continued in an uninterrupted line,
Henry of Valois excepted ; during whofe fliort reign no
money was ftruck in Poland. I noticed a curious piece of
Albert of Brandenburgh as duke of Pruffia, after he had
wrcfted that country from the Teutonic knights. The

Prulliaa

200

TRAVELS INTO POLAND.

BOOK Prufllan eagle is marked with an S, to fhew that Albert held
^—C — 'his lands as feudal and tributary to Sigiimond L There was
a fine medal in honour of John Sobieiki's raifing the fiege
of Vienna, with the following punning infcription : Urbem
fervajlis et orbem. I likewifeobJerved a medal of his prefent
majefty, caft in the late turbulent times ; it had a well-
executed likenefs of the king on one fide, and on the reverfe
an emblem of civil commotions, a fliip in a ftorm with the
claffical allufion, Ne cede maljs.

The public library next engaged our attention. The col-
lection owes its beginning to the private bounty of two
bifliops of the family of Zalufki ; the following infcription
is over the door ; " Civium ufui perpetuo Zaluficorum par il-
" lujlre dicavit 1714." It has fince received feveral large ad-
ditions from various benefactors ; and, as the librarian in-
formed me, contains above 1 00,000 volumes. It is very rich
in books and manufcripts relating to the Polilh hilfory. .

I have only a few obfervations to make upon the general
flate of literature in Poland, my Itay in this country not be-
ing long enough to collect a more circumftantial account.

There are two univerrities,one at Cracow, and the other at
Vilna ; the former was under the dire6tion of priells, called
Academicians ; and the latter was fuperintended by the Je-
fuits ; but in both, the courfe of fludies was chiefly confined
to theology. Since the fuppreffion of the Jefuits, the king
has eltabliflied a committee of education, compofed of mem-
bers diltinguiflied either by high fiiation, or enlightened un-
derfiandings. The committee has an abfolute power in
matters of education ; appoints profellbrs ; regulates their
falary ; and direcfts their il'udies. The advantages of this
regulation have already been experienced.

Although

LEARNING.

201

Although from the nature of the government learning chap.
has never been widely difFufed in Poland, yet there never •■ J_ ■
have been wanting men of genius and literature, who have
been an ornament to their country : and perhaps no nation
call boaft a more regular fucceflion of excellent hiftorians ; or
a greater variety of writers deeply converfant in the laws,
llatutes, and conrtitution. Under Sigifmond I. and his fon
Sigifmond Auguftus,the arts and fcienc^s began to be greatly
diftinguiflied by royal patronage ; they were cherilhed by
fome of the iucceeding monarchs, particularly John Sobielki;
but no prince has paid them more attention than the prefent
king Stanillaus Auguftus. His munificence in this parti-
cular has-been attended with the happieft efiedts. The Po-
lifli literati have, within a few years, given to the public a
much greater variety of elegant performances than ever ap-
peared in any former period of the fame length. What is
more material, a talte for fcience has fpread itfelf among
the nobles, and begins to be regarded as an accomplifliment.
The enlargement of mind, derived by thefe licentious fpirits
from this new purfuit, has already weaned feveral of them
from their habits of barbarous turbulence, and greatly hu-
manized their civil deportment. It may, perhaps, in time
teach them thoroughly to comprehend the true intereft of
their country, and the expedience of due fubordination, hi-
therto deemed incompatible with liberty : thefe petty defpots
will, perhaps, be induced to lay afide that contempt for their
vaiTals ; they will perceive that the burghers and peafants
are the true fupports of their country ; and that Poland
v^ants nothing but juftice and order to become as flouriihing
as the neighbouring ftates.

During my ftay at Warfaw I vifited the feveral prifons ;
and made inquiries into the nature of the various tribunals,

Vol. I. D d and

202

TRAVELS INTO POLAND.

BOOK and into the different modes of punifhmcnt for criminal of-
I fences: my engaging in this employment was principally
owing to a cafual meeting I had at Vienna with the benevo-
lent Mr. Howard, whofe humane attention to the outcafts of
fociety has refledted fo much honour on himfelf and his
country. Informing him that I was proceeding to the
Northern kingdoms, I intimated an intention to examine the
Itate of the prifons and penal laws in thofe countries ; and
profeffcd a readinefs to lay before him the refult of my ob-
fervations. Mr. Howard approved my defign, fuggefted
feveral ufefal hints, and even dictated fome fpecific quef-
tions tending greatly to facilitate my inquiries.

I fliall not enter upon a defcription of the prifons in War-
faw, as they afforded fcarcely any thing worthy of parti-
cular obfervation ; I fhall therefore confine myfelf to the
general adminii^ration of jullice.

Atrocious crimes, fuch as murder. See. are punilhed by
beheading or hanging ; lelTer delinquencies by whipping,
hard labour, and imprifonment : the nobles never fuffer any
corporal punilliment ; but are liable only to imprifonment
and death.

Torture was aboliflied in 1776, by an edidl of the diet,
introduced by the influence of the king ; a regulation as
expreflive of his majefty's judgement as of his benevolence^
It is an infinite fatisfadfion to fee the rights of humanity ex-
tending themfelves in countries, where they had been but
little known ; a circumftance that muft caft a great refledion
on thole nations which, like France, have attained the high-
eft pitch of civilization, and yet retain the ufelefs and barba-
rous cuftom of torture '■••.

* La fjUir/Iion f»fpaiatC!ie,OTthc\nR\(\\on been lateTv aboliflied in France; but the
of torture, for forcing the confcllion of a torture ufed for the difcovcry of accom-
crime from an accuied perlbn, has indeed plices is ftill retained,

a The

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. 20:

The defects of the police in this country are by no cir- chap.
cumftances fo ftrongly evinced, as by the frequent impunity ^-— ^-_-
of the moft atrocious crimes : this abufe may be traced
from the following caufes.

1. The greateft criminals find at times little difficulty
in engaging the protecStion of fome of the principal nobles,
who occafionally affemble their vafTals and retainers in arms,
and drive the officers of juftice from their lands. This anar-
chy refembles the ftate of Europe in the 14th century, dur-
ing the prevalence of the feudal laws, when every great
baron poffefled territorial jurifdidlion, and was almoft equal
in authority to the king.

2. The law, efteemed by the Poliffi gentry the great bul-
wark of their liberty, which enadts ^■■', that no gentleman can
be arrefted for mifdemeanors until he is convidted of them,
notwithftanding the ftrongeft degree of prefumptive proof :
the offender, of courfe, if likely to be found guilty, takes
care to withdraw himfelf before the completion of the pro-
cefs. Murder indeed, and robbery on the highway, and a
few other capital crimes, are excluded from this privilege :
but even in thofe flagrant enormities no gentleman can be
taken into cuftody, unlefs adlually apprehended in the com-
miflion of the offence ; and when the crime is thus poll- -
lively afcertained, which in the nature of things can feldom
occur, the culprit cannot be fentenced to capital piinifhment
by any other tribunal than a diet.

3. The right which every town poffeffes of having its
own criminal courts of juftice, with judges feledted folely
from the inhabitants. Many of thefe towns are at prefent
reduced to fuch a low ftate, as fcarcely to defer ve the name

* Neminem captivabimus nifi jure vidtum.

D d 2 of

204 T R A V E L S I N T O P O L A N D.

^^S^^ of villages : in tbefe places, of courfe, the judges are necef-
• — ^, — ' farily peifons of the loweft defcription, and totally \inqualified
for the difcharge of their high office, hmocence and guilt,.
by this means, are often not dilhnguillied, and as often
wantonly confounded. Not only the power of levying dlf-
cretionary fines, but the infhdlion of corporal punilhment,
and even of death itfelf, is entrufted to thefe contemptible
tribunals. The chancellor Zamoifei has, m the new code
of laws which he is preparing for the infpeclion of the diet,
defcribed the abufes of thefe petty courts of julUce in the
moil forcible language ; and propofes, as the only adecjuate
remedy of the evil, to annihilate this right of penal juril-
didion in all but nine of the principal towns.

4. There are no public officers whofe province it is to
prolecute the offenders in the king's name. Hence, even in
eafe of murder, robbery upon the highway, and the moll
atrocious crimes, the delinquent generally efcapes, unlefs
fome individual indidls and brings him to trial : this feldom
hajipens, as the procefs is attended with no fmall Iharc of
expcnce.

The jurifdidion of the great marflial is almofl the only-
exception to this flagrant defedl of common juilice. His ju-.
rifdiiSlion is in force in the place where the king refides, and
to the diflanceof three Polilh miles. Within that di{lri(5t the
great n^arflial can arreil: and profecute for crimes of felony
without any pLiintifF. hi cafes alfoof high trealbn, certain,
officers of the crown, called injligatores, are impowered of
their own motion to cite fufpicious perfons before the diet.

5. The power which every plaintiff i)ofrefres of with-
drawing his prolecution, even in cafes of the greateft enor-
mity : this cuflom fcreens all but the indigent from the pur-
fuit of juftice ; as perfons of moderate property are generally

I able

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. 20S

able to bribe the neceffity or avarice of tlieir profecutor. chap.
This practice; founded on a narrow principle, that outrages v / .
againft individuals are merely private, not public oifences, is
an inftance of the grofTelt barbarifm, which all civilized
nations have renounced ; for it requires a very fmall degree
of legiflative improvement to perceive, that private wrongs,
when unchaftized, become highly injurious to the commu-
nity at large, by affording encouragement to fimilar offences.

In vifiting the prifons I faw the bad efieds of this ufage
exemplified in a Itriking inltance. Two perfons, indi6led for
the airafTmation of a Jew, had been permitted to remain in
prifon upwards of a twelvemonth, without being brought to
a trial. The widow of the deceafed, upon whofe accufa-
tion they were imprifoned, having agreed, on the payment of
a ftipvilated fum, to drop the fuit and grant them a releafe,
their inability to fatisfy her demand had been the only
reafon for detaining them fo long in confinement ; and as
when 1 faw them they had jufl railed the money, they were
upon the point of obtaining a final difcharge.

From this Iketch of the adminiftration of juftice in this
country, the expediency of a thorough reformation is very
apparent. That able legiflator count Zamoifki, in the new
code of laws which I have frequently had occaflon to
mention, has paid i:)articular attention to the amendment
of the criminal laws. But as any innovations in the
courts of juftice, calculated to produce any elTential benefit,
mull materially infringe the privileges of the nobles, antl
counteract the national prejvidices, the moil; ulefiTl code can
fcarcely expedl to receive the iandlion of the diet.

The laws relating to debtors are as follow. The creditor
jiroceeds againft the debtor at his own expence ;. aiul, until
the trial is finillicd,, allows him eight grofchens, or three

half-

io6 TRAVELSINTOPOLAND.

nooK half-pence, a day for h'S maintenance ; when the debt
' — w — 'is proved, the creditor is releafed from the above-mentioned
contribution : the debtor continues in prifon, at the difcre-
tion of his creditor, until the debt is difcharged ; and, if he
has no means of fublirtence, is obliged to maintain himfelf
by working with the delinquents in cutting wood, fawing
flone, or cleaning the ftreets.

In cafe a gentleman contra(fts a debt, an adtion lies againft
his lands and goods, and not againil his perfon, unlefs be
gives a note of hand with a double fignature, one intended
as an afcertainment of the debt, the other as a renunciation of
his exemption from arrefts; but a perfon of high difdn^lion,
even though he fliould bind himfelf by this engagement,
can bid defiance to all danger of imprifonment.

CHAP.

t 207 3

C H A P. VI.

Departure from Warfaw. — Bialliftock. — Entertainment at
the countefs of ^\:■^^^^Sk^!^ palace. — Dutchy 0/ Lithuania. —
Its union ivitb Poland. — Defcription 0/ Grodno. — Diets. —
Pbyjic garden. — General produSIions of Lithuania. — Ac-
count of the Wild-ox. — Of theRemiz and its pendent nejl. —
ManifaBures, — Entertainments. — Hofpitality of the Poles..
—— Election-dinner ) and ball.

BEFORE we quitted Warfaw we received another inftance chap.
of his majeily's wonderful condefcenfion, a letter writ- ^^'
ten with his own hand to the poft-mafter at Grodno, ordering
that we fliould receive every accommodation which could be
procured, and that we Ihould be permitted to vifit the ma-
nufa6lures and every objecft of curioiity.

We quitted the capital on the 1 oth of Augufl, crofTed tlie
Viftula, and paiTed through, the fuburbs of Praga. About an
EngliQi mile from Warfaw a foreft begins, and continues,
with little interruption, to the diftance of eighteen miles,-
At Wengrow we oblerved a fine corps of Ruffian troops
quartered in the village. Some of the places in our
route, though extremely wretched, enjoyed their own police
and courts of juftice : they confided of wooden huts, moflly
thatched, fome roofed with woed, and a few with tiles. The
country was chiefly fandy and level until we arrived at the
Bog, which we croiTed at Gran : the river was broad and
fliallow. We afcended from its banks a fmall rife, and found

2o8 T R A V E L S I N T O P O L A N D.

BOOK ^ better Ibil, and the country more diverlified. The road
« ^L^ was not unpleaiant, running through fields fown with dif-
ferent fpecies of corn, hemp, and flax ; but we never loft
fioht of the forelt, and always faw it flcirting the horizon.
In many places I obferved the wood encroaching upon the
fields, and young trees fliooting up in great numbers where-
ever cultivation had been negleded. I was informed that
this is the cafe in moft parts of Poland, many traces of former
enclofures, and even the veftiges of paved ftreets, being dif-
cernible in the centre of the forefts.

The largeft place we paffed through was Bielfk, capital of
the palatinate of Podalachia, where the dietine for the dif-
tri6t is held : it is little better than a miferable village, though
called, in the geographical defcriptions of Poland, a large
town. Between Biellk and Woytfzi our wheel was nearly-
taking fire, and while we flopped at a fmall village to have it
greafed, I entered feveral cottages, which I found infniitely
worfe even than thofe wretched dwellings which I had before
examined in the towns where the inhabitants were more free;
in the latter we obferved furniture and fome conveniences ;
in thefe nothing but the bare walls. The peafants were per-
fect f!aves,and their habitations and appearance correfponded
with their miierable fituation : I could fcarcely have figured
to myfelf fuch objecfls of poverty and mifery. The country
we traverfed from Warfaw to Biallillock was in general
fandy ; but in fome places the foil was very rich. All parts
were fit for cultivation, and many fpots had the appearance
of great fertility. We remarked, however, that the harveft,
even in the moft fruitful tradts, was but indifferent ; a cir-
cumftance evidently owing to the defe6l in hufbandry.

We arrived late in the evening at BialUftock, a very neat
and well-built town. The ftreets were broad, and the houfes,

which

B I A L L I S T O C K. 209

which were in general plaiftercd, ftood detached from each chap.
other at uniform diftances. The fuperior neatnefs of Bial- . , ' _»
hiliock is owing to the illuitrioiis family of Branifki, whofe
palace ftands clofe to the town, and who have contributed to
ornament their place of refidence. It belongs to the coiintefs
Branifki, fifler of the prefent king, and widow of the late
great general Branifki ; who, notwithrtanding this alliance,
warmly protefted againfl: the eledion of his prefent majefty.

The morning after our arrival, the countefs, to whom we
had a letter from prince Staniflaus Poniatoufki, honoured us
with a moft polite invitation to dinner, and fent her carriage
to convey us to the palace. We were moft politely received
by our noble hoftefs, and were convinced from her amiable
manners, condefcending behaviour, and lively flow of con-
verfation, that affability and good fenfe are natural to the
family of Poniatowfki.

We found a large company affembled at table, whom the
countefs had invited to partake of her hofpitable board,
which was elegantly fupplied with every delicacy. Among
other topics, the converfation turned upon our mode of tra-
velhng through a country fo poor and wretched, and fo de-
ficient in comfortable accommodations. " I fuppofe," faid a
Polifh gentleman, *' you carry your beds with you ;" to
which we replied in the negative. " How do you fleep then ?*
" Upon ftraw, when we can get it ; an-d, when we are not fo
*' fortunate, upon the floor, upon a bench, or upon a table."
" You take your provifions," returned the Pole. — '* Very
*' feldom." — " How do you live then ?" — " Upon what we
*' can procure : one of our fervants is fent hefore, and gene-
" rally contrives to obtain fome kind of provifion, which

Vol. I. E e *« may

2IO TRAVELS INTO POLAND;

1300K u j-^^y footh, if not fatisfy, the demands of hunger ; but we
'' have travelhng appetites, and are not falHdious/' — " You<
" are not, however, without knives,, forks, and fpoons ; for
" fuch conveniences are not known among the peafants."'
— " We each of us carry a clafp-knife ; are now and thert
" fo fortunate as to meet with a wooden fpoon ; and never
*' regret the want of a fork." Here our noble hoitefs made a>
propofal to fupply us with knives, forks, and fpoons, toge-
ther with wine and provilion : upon our declining this of-
fer, Ihe pleafantly replied, " Perhaps you- are above accept-
** ing them ; I know the EngUfli are very haughty ; will:
" you purchafe them ?" We made anfwer, that we were not
afraid of laying ourfelves under any obligations to a perfon.
of her politenefs and generofity ; but that the object of our
travels was to gratify curiolity rather than appetite; and that
we thought ourfelves moft likely to become acquainted with
the domeftic oeconomy of the peafants, by partaking of their
accommodations, and by relying on them for the fupply
of our wants. Willing, however, not to appear rude in a^
rejection of the whole offer, we accepted a few bottles of
wine.

The countefs did us the honour to condu6l us herfelf
through the apartments of the palace, which is a large
building in the Italian tafte ; and, on account of its grandeur
and magnificence, generally called the Verfailles of Poland.
It was formerly only a royal hunting feat ; John Cafimir
gave it, together with Bialliflock and other etlates, to
Czarniefki, a general highly diftinguiflied by his vi6to-
rie-s over the Sw'edes at the time that Poland was nearly
crullied by her enemies. Among the cnriofities pre-
ferved in the palace is a golden cup, which Czarniefki ufed

after

BIALLISTOCK.
after the cuftom of thofe times to wear Aiftened to his oirdle

and an embroidered fafli which he took among
fpoils after a defeat of Charles X. and fuppofed to belong
to that monarch. Czarnielki left one daughter, who married
Branifki the father of the late great general, by which mar-
riage the eftate came into that family. There is one apart-
ment which Auguftus III. ufed to occupy whenever he paffed
this way to the diet of Grodno ; and which, out of refpedt to
the memory of their late fovereign, is left in its original
ftate. In another room is a fine portrait of Auguftus in his
royal robes, with his head fliaved in the Polifli fafliion, as he
appeared on the day of his coronation. In the afternoon
we drove about the park and grounds, which are very exten-
five, and elegantly laid out in the EngUQi tafte.

We clofed this agreeable day with a fupper at the palace^
and took leave, with regret, of its amiable and noble miftrefsi

Auguft 13. We fet off early from BialUllock : for fome
way we traverfed a continued foreft ; afterwards the country
became more open, abounding with corn and pailure ; the
towns and villages were long and ftraggling ; all the houfes,
and even the churches, of wood ; crouds of beggars fur-
rounded our carriage whenever we flopped ; Jews made their
appearance without end. About four we arrived at Grodno ;
we firlt paffed through fome wretched fiiburbs inhabited by
Jews, and ferried over the Niemen, which is broad, clear,
and Ihallow, afcended the riling banks, and came to the
town, which is built upon an eminence overlooking the
river.

Though Vilna is the capital, yet Grodno is cLleeraed the
principal town in Uthuania.

Formerly Lithuania was entirely unconnected with Po-
land, and was governed by its own lovereigns under the

E e 2 title

2,2 TRAVELSINTOPOLAND,

BOOK tjtig of great-dukes. From that rivalry, whieh ufually fub-
' fifts between contiguous ftates, the two nations were engaged-

in a feries of perpetual wars until 1386, when- the great-
duke Ladiflaus Jaghellon, having efpoufed Hedwige and
embraced the Chrirtian religion,, was raifed to the Polifli
throne, and reigned over both countries.

Ladiflaus foon became fo lincere a convert to the new reli-
gion, which he at firft adopted from interefted views, that he
endeavoured to propagate its do6lrines among his idolatrous
fubjecfls in Lithuanm. In fubferviency to this great work,
he ordered the hallowed groves to be cut down, the oracular
fhrine to be deftroyed, thefacred fire tobeextinguifhed, and
the ferpents worfliipped as Gods by his fuperftitious fubje6ls
to be (lain. A belief univerfally prevailed among the people,
that whoever profanely attempted to deftroy thefe objeds
of their worfhip, would be ftruck with inil:antaneous death :
when the falfity of. this -tradition v/as proved by the impu-
nity of thofe concerned in the fuppofed facrilege, the- Li-
thuanians llocked in fuch crouds to be^ converted, that the
priefts could only beftow feparate baptifm on perfons of dif,
tinction ;, but diifributedthe multitude in ranks, and, fprink-
ling them^vith water, gave one chriftian name to each rank
without dirtiniftion of fex ■•'•■. Ladillaus, having thus intro-
duced the Chriftian religion into Lithuania, nominated his
])rother Cafimir Skirgello governor of that duchy, and re-
turned to Poland ; but a civil war being excited by the

* " .'"EJgrc gens barbara majorum fuo- " ficro foiite tinj;ere, nobiUoribus tanuim

"rum ichgioncs relinquebat. Secl cum " hie honor habiius : reliqnvim veio vulgns

" jufiu regis facer ignis extiiiiSlus, t'jinplum " turmatim cltftri!)utum, aqu.\ luftrali five

" araque eius dinita Sc Mclytum, unde ora- " facraa f.iccrdotibus confperium eft,tin'im-

" cilia a facerdote edebantur, everium " que nomtn cuique turm:c ram virorujn

Vilnae eflec, nt;catiqiie ferpentes, & fuc- " quam miilieium indiuim." Cromer,

" cili liici nulla cujufqiiam berione/'&c. &c. p.- 368.
•■' Std cum iiiimenli Liboiis cfl'et fingulos

ambitioDu

DUCHYOFLITHUANIA. 213

ambition of Alexander, furnamed Vitoldus, and by the dif- ^^f"^'

contents of the people, flill attached to their Pagan rites, > — , ^

Lithuania was for fome time a fcene of tumult and hoftility.
At length, by a compromife in 1392, Vitoldus was appointed
great-duke, and Ladiflaus contented himfelf with a refer-
vation of nominal fovereignty.

In 1 40 1 the nobles of Lithuania affembled at Vilna, and
entered upon an offenfive and defenfive alliance with the
king and republic of Poland.

In 141 3 it was ftipulated, in a diet of Poles and Lithu- ■
anians held in the town of Hrodlo, that, upon the demife
of Vitoldus, the Lithuanians fliould acknowledge no other
great-duke but the perfon who was appointed by the king,
and with the agreement of the two nations; that, in
cafe Ladiflaus difed without ifliie, the Poles fliould eledt no
king without the confent of Vitoldus and the Lithuanians ;
andthatadiet,compofedof reprefentatives from both nations,
lliould meet whenever it was thought necelTary, at Lublin
or Parzow *. From the demife of : Vitoldus, who expired
in 1439 in the 80th year of his age, the great-dukes were
fometimes, in conformity to this compact, nominated by
the kings of Poland ; at other times, in violation of it, by
the LithuanianSoi At length Sigifmond I. fortunately united
in his perfon the two fovereignties, and was^lucceeded in
both by his fon Sigifmond AuguftuSo .

Hitherto the connexion between the two nations had
been more an alliance than an union ; but Sigifmond An-
gultus having no children, , and being the only furviving
male heir of the Jaghellon family, planned the union of
Poland and Lithuania, left upon his deceafe the connecflion

* Dhigoffius & Cromer.

iliould

214 TRAVELSINTOPOLAND.

BOOK Q;iould be diUblved, and the two nations be again governed
by different princes. After fome difficulties, and being once
fruftrated in his attempt, he obtained, from a general diet
held at Lublin in 1569, that Poland and Lithuania fliould
from henceforth be united and confidered as one nation ;
that one fovereign fliould bechofen conjointly by both peo-
ple ; that the Lithuanians fliould fend nuntios to the general
diet, be admitted into the fenate, and have an equal fliare in
the public honoiirs and employments ; that no alliance
fhould be made with foreign powers, and no embaffadors
difpatched without the confent of both parties ; that the
fame money fliould pafs current in both countries ; in fliort,
that they fhould have no diftincftion of privilege or interefl:.
Upon the ratification of this union, Sigifmond Auguflus re-
nounced all hereditary right to Lithuania. From this period
the fame perfon has been uniformly elefled king of Poland
and great-d"'s.e of Lithuania ; and the two nations have been
incorporatea into one republic '■'.

Grodno is a large and flraggling place, but contains no
more than 3000 Chriil:ians, excluding the perfons employed
in the manufadliures, and 1000 Jews. It has greatly the
appearance of a town in decline ; containing a mixture of
wretched hovels, falling houfes, and ruined palaces, with
magnificent gateways, remains of its ancient magnificence.
A few habitations in good repair make the contrafl more
flriking.

The old palace in which the kings ufed to refide during
the diets, ftood upon an hill of fand rifing abruptly
from the river, and forming part of its bank ; fome re-
mains of the ancient walls ilill exift. Oppofitc to this hill

■•■■ Lengnich, Jus Fub, v. I. p. 30 to 33.

^ is

GRODNO.

21§

is the new palace, built, but never inhabited, byAuguflus III. chap.
as it was not finiflied at the time of his death. In this palace « — ,—.
are the apartments wherein the diets are held, or rather
will be held, if they are ever again fummoned to Grodno.
According to the treaty of Hrodlo, Lublin, or Parzow, or any
other more commodious town, was appointed for the meet-
ing of the Polifli and Lithuanian deputies ; but in the arti-
cles of union it was ftipulated, that Warfaw fliould be the
place where the reprelentatives of the two nations were to
aflemble ■-••. In 1673, as we have already obferved, it was
enabled, that every third diet fliould be held at Grodno ; and,
in conformity to this law, the firft national affembly was-
Gonvened here in 1678 under John Sobiefki, But when
the next turn of Grodno arrived, that monarch fummoned
the diet to Warfaw : the Lithuanians ftrongly oppofed this
infringement of their rights ; and their deputies, nftead of
proceeding to Wafaw, where the king, fenate, and nuntioS'
of Poland were met, repaired to this town, and formed a fe-
parate diet. In order to prevent a civil war, which this divi-
iion might occafion, a negotiation took place, and it was at
length fettled, that the diet of i 673 fliould airemble at War-
faw, but be called the diet of Grodno, and that the marflial
fliould be chofen from the Lithuanian nuntios f. From that
time tlie diets have been occalionally fummoned to Grodno ;
■until the reign of his prefent majefly, when they have been
laniformly held at Warfaw ; and thib innovation has been
tacitly agreed to by the LithuaniauF, on account of the dif-
tance of this town from the royal refidenee, as well as in
conllderation of the troubles which convulfed the country.

We carried a letter of recommendation to Mr. Gillibert,
a French naturalilt of great learning and abilities, who has

■* Ltngnicli, JuE Pub., v. II. p. 315,. Stc. | Vie de Subiuiki, p. 19.

the

ai4 T R A V.E L S INTO POLAND.

BOOK the fuperintendence Ox the college and phy lie garden. The king
. of Poland has eftabliflied in this place a Royal Academy of

Phyfick for Lithuania, in which ten ftudents are inftru6led in
phyfick, and twenty in furgery. They are all lodged, boarded,
and taueht at his majefty's expence : an inftitution that i-^-
fieds the higheft honour upon the king, and which has
greatly flourillied under the royal patronage and prote6lion.
The phylic garden, which did not exift in 1776, made,
when I paffed through the town in 1778, a very refpeilable
appearance ; which was entirely owing to Mr. Gillibert's
attention -and care. It contained 1500 exotics, amongft
which were ^leveral delicate American plants fown in the
open air, and which thrived remarkably well in this climate.
Mr. Gillibert told me, that he had difcovered 200 fpecies of
plants in Lithuania, which were only thought indigenous in
Siberia, Tartary, and Sweden ; and that in the whole duchy
he had obferved 980 fpecies, exclulive of the forts common
to moft countries in Europe.

Mr. Gillibert had lately formed a fmall coUedtion, chiefly
confifting of the produ6lions of Lithuania; and was em-
ployed in arranging materials for a natural hiftory of this
duchy : he propofes to begin his publications upon that
fubjedt with a Flora Lithuanica ; which will be fucceflively
followed by an account of the mineralogy, infeds, quadru-
peds, and birds. Confidering the infant Hate of natural
knowledge in this country, the defign will require great
length of time and perfeverance before it is completed ; but
there is nothing which alTiduity and attention will not eflecft.

The animals roving in the boundlefs forefts of Lithuania
are the bear, the wolf, the elk, the wild-ox, the lynx, the
b&aver, the glouton, the wild-cat, &;c.

5 A-t

GRODNO. 217

At Grodno I had an opportunity of ueing a female of the chap.
wild-ox, probably the fame quadruped which is defcribcd by >
Ariftotle under the name of Bonafus, llyled Urus in the
Commentaries of Csefar, and called Bifon by fome naturalifts. ■
That which fell under my obfervation was not full grown,
about the lize of a common Englilli eow, fliaped like a buf-
falo, but without the protuberance over its flioulders : its ■
neck was high and thick, and covered with long hair, or
mane, which fringed down the throat and breaft, and hung
almoft to the ground, fomewhat refembling that of an old
lion ; the forehead was narrow, with two horns turning in-
wards '•> and the tongue of a bluifh colour. The male, as^
we were informed, is fonietimes fix feet in height, and is
more fierce and fliaggy than the female.

Linnasus has clalTed the Bonafu^i the Urus^ and the Blfon
(probably the fame animal with different names) under three
fpecies ; Buffon reduces them to two, the Urns and the
Bifon ; and Pennant has comprifed them all under one fpe-
cies t. His opinion has been lately adopted by Pallas, in a very
curious differtation publiflied in the A<fts of. the. Imperial
Academy of. Sciences of St. Peterfburgh. That celebrated ;
naturalift informs us, that this fpecies of the wild-ox, which
was formerly very common in Europe, exifts no where in
that continent, but in thefe Lithuanian forefts, in fome parts
of the Carpathian, mountains, and perhaps in the Caucafus. -

* Arhlotle defcribes the horns of the r.nd cannot be admitted as forming a fpe-

Eonafus as ya.f).\a. xai x=xa.f*n£»a rogof a-WnKoc, cific diirerence. See Aiift. Hift. Anim. L. ■

«' cfMokcd ayid bending towards each other.''' ]X. c. 45, alfo Camus Hift. des Animaiu:,

A circumftance which feems to have puz- cited in Maty's Review for April, .783,

zled fome naturalifts who have commented p. 313, &c.

upon Ariftotle, who did not confider that f Syftema Naturar. Buffbn's Hift. Nat,

the figure of the horns varies exceedingly in Pennant's Hill, of (i_ifld. p. 15. .
the fame fpecies, in a wild or tame ftate,

Vol. I. F f He

:iS T,R A V E L S INTO POLAND.

BOOK ffe agrees alfo with Buffon, in holding the bifon or wild-ox
<of America to be only a variety of this urus changed by the
climate *.

Lithuania is very rich in ornithology : among the birds of
prey the eagle and vulture are very common. The Remiz\ or
little fpecies of titmoufe, called P^n^j Pendulinus., is not un-
frequently found in thefe parts. The wondrous ftru6lure of
its pendent neft induced me to give an engraving of both that
and the birds themfelves. They are of the fraalleft fpecies
of titmice. The head is of a very pale bluifh afh colour;
the forepart of the neck and the breaft tinged with red ; the
belly white; wings black; back and rump of a yellowilh
ruft colour ; quill feathers cinereous, with the exterior fides
white; the tail ruft-coloured. The male is fingularly dif-
tinguiflied from the female by a pair of black-pointed
whifkers.

Its neft is in the fliape of a long purfe, which it forms
with amazing art, by interweaving down, gofs-a-mer, and
minute fibres, in a clofe and compadl manner^ and then
lining the infide with down alone, fo as to make a fnug and
warm lodge for its young brood. The entrance is at the
fide, fmall and round, with its edge more ftrongly marked
than the reft of this curious fabrick : the bird, attentive to
the prefervation of its eggs or little ones from noxious ani-
mals, fufpends it at the lefler end to the extremity of the
fiender twigs of a willow, or fome other tree, over a river.
Contrary to the cuftom of titmice, it lays only four or five
eggs.: jiofiibly Providence hath ordained this fcantinefs of
eggs to the Re?7ilz^ becaufe by the fingular inrtind imparted

* Sur le Biirtle a Qneue de cheval in f I am indebted to that nb!e nnturaliff,

Nov. A<rt. Fet. 1771. Part II. p. 232, &:c. Tvlr. Pennant, for this dcfcription of the
Alfo in his Ncuc Nord. Bcjtr-.ige, p. 2. Reaiiz, and for the annexed plate,

7 to

MAX.E and FEMALE, UilEMIZ; or PElJBTT]LlME''riTMOU §K

GRODNO.

^if

*td it, it is enabled to fecure its young much more efFe<£lually chap,
from deftru6lion, than the other fpecies, which are very
proHfic.

Mr. GilUbert acquainted me that a great quantity of yel-
low amber is frequently dug up in the Lithuanian forefts,
fometimes in pieces as large as on-e's fill:, and that it is pro-
bably the produ(5lion of a fmall refinous pine *. He in-
formed me that the duchy abounds in iron ochre, called by
Linnaeus Tophus humqfo ochreaceus, and defcribed by Walle-
rius t under the article of Ferrum Hmofum, which produces
forty pounds of metal in an hundred weight ; that it yields
alfo feveral fpecies of copper and iron pyrites ; black agate,
which always bears a refemblance to the roots of pines |-;
detached maffes of red and grey granite ; pudding flones,
containing chryftals' of white quartz ; the echinus agatized ;

* Natiiralifls have long differed concern-
mg the origin of amber. Some maintain it
to be an animal fubftance ; others clnfs it
among the minerals ; fome affert, that it is
n vegetable oil united with a mineral acid ;
but the moft common opinion feems to be
that it is a follil bitumen. A feu-, with
Mr. Gillibert, hold it to be the rerino\is
juice of a pine hardened by age : this latter
■opinion was alfo 'maintained by the antient
Roman*. Amber is mod ufually found upon
the fea-coaft, and though frequently difco-
vered feveral feet beneath thefurfsce of the
ground, yet has been fuppofed to have
never been dug up at any confiderable
ditlance from thefea ; a circumftance which
has led feveral naturalifts to conjeifture,
that it owes, in a great meafure, its pro-
•duiSion to thefea. But this hypotliefis is con-
futed by the difcovery of thefe large pieces
of aitiber in the heart of the Lithuanian fo-
rells far from any fea. See Plin. Hilt. Nat.
L. 37^ Sec. Xr. Tacitus, de Mor. Germ.
Macquaire's Chymiftiy, v. II. p. 206. Bifliop
of Laiidaff's (Dr. Watfon) Eflays onChym,
V. 111. p. 12. and particularly Wallerius

F f

Syft. Min. v. 11. p. 115 — 117. where thi

reader will find a lift of the principal natu.

ralills, who have written upon Amber.

t Wallerius, Syf. Min. V. II. p. 255.

I Mr. Gillibart thus defcribes thefc

agates in the afts of the Imperial Academ)-

of Sciences. " Mr. Gillefiert dans une Ict-

' tre a Mr. !e Profefleur Pallas, parle

' d'une petiification tres rcraarquable,

' commune dans ce pays [Lithuania], la-

' quelle eft agathe par fa nature, mais re-

' femble pai faitement par fa forme, a dcs

' racines de fapins petriii^'es. Les racines

' agatifees ion tbandeesdenoiiau tour deleur

' axe, et incruftees d'une .-corfe grile on

' blanchatre. On en trouve a demi petii-

* fiees ; et toutes donnent une odeur em-

' pyreumatique au feu, qui provient d'un

' refte de principe bitumencux. D'Aillcurs

' toutes les petrifications d'origine marine

' fe trouvent agatifces dans ce pays convert

' d'un fable fin, doat les eaux peuvent ex-

' traire un principe petrifiant de cette na-

' ture." Nov. Ail. Acad. Pet. for 1777^

p. 45'

%zo^ • TRAVELS INTO POLAND:

BOOK ^ prodigious quantity of falfe precious ftones, particularly
'amethyfts, topazes, garnets, alio chalcedonies, cornelians,,
milky agates, the ocu/us cattiy or cat's eye, jafpers, and par-
ticularly the red fpecies. He added, that Lithuania was ex--
tremely rich in marine petrefaftions, and chiefly in thofe
which are common in the Baltic : of thefe the madrepores-
are the moft numerous, and amongft others the Vora/li}ium
Gothlandicum is not uncommon ; which is defcribed in the,
lirft volume oi \.\vQ,Amo2nitates Academics t as extremely rare.

The next morning we vinted the maaufaftures efla-
blillied by the king in 177^. They were carrying on:
in wooden llieds, built by Auguftus IIL for ftables,
which had been converted into temporary working looms,,
and dwelling houfes for the accommodation of the manu-
facfturers ; the whole eftablifliment was expedled to be foon
removed to Loflbna, a village near Grodno, where convenient-
buildings, conrtrucling at his majefty's-expence, were nearly
iinillied for that purpofe.

The principal manu failures. are cloth and camlets, linen
and cottons, filk fluffs, embroidery, filk flockings, hats, lace^,
Are arms, needles, cards, bleaching wax, and carriages. The
country furniflies fufficicnt wool, flax, hemp, beavers hair,
and wax for the Ibpply of the manufa(5lure3 which employ
thofe commodities ; but the filk, cotton, iron, colours, gold
and filver for the embroidery, and fine thread from Bruflels
for the lace, are imported.

The manufactures employ 3000 perfons, inclvKling
thofe difperfed in the contiguous villages, who fpin linen ^
and worfted thread. There are feventy foreigners, whodi-.
Ted: the different branches ;. the refl are natives belonging
t© the king's demefnes.

• p

.V> 211.

GRODNO. 22i

The apprentices are boys and girls, all children of Polifli chap,
peafants, who are clothed and fed, and have befides a fmall > — , — >
allowance in money. The diredlors complain that there is
no emulation among them ; and that, although they are
better fed and clothed than the other peafants, yet they can-
not excite them to induftry by any other means than force.
ISJor is this a matter of wonder ; for as they ftill continue in
a ftate of fervitude, if they acquire any unufual profit, and
carry it to their parents, they are apprehanfive leli it Ihould
be taken away ; it having frequently happened, that any
little pittance, they had gained by their labour, has been
wrefted from them, in order to pay the quit-rents which their
parents owed to their lords. One of thefe apprentices, more
flirewd than the reft, faid to the diredlor, who was trying to
Simulate her induftry, " What advantage fliall I obtain if I
" follow your advice ? let me become ever fo Ikilful in my
" trade, I fhall always continue fubjedl to my mafter : the
" labour will be mine, and the profits his." To which ob-
fervation no anfwer could be given. Moft of them appeared
with fuch a fettled melancholy in their countenances, as made
my heart ache to fee them; and it was eafy to perceive that they
worked from compullion, and not from inclination. As
fome remedy to this evil, it has been propofed, after a certain
term of years, to give liberty to thofe who particularly excel,
and diftinguifh themfelves by any extraordinary exertions.
But this humane propofal has been reje6led, from a notion
that fuch perfons, when once made free, would no longer
continue to work; and that by thefe means the manufa6lures
would be deprived of their beft hands. Though this incon-
venience, however, might occafionaliy take place, yet the
encouragement of fuch a regulation would beget alacrity and
excite indviftry, and would therefore create a greater number
I ' . of

222 T R A V E L S I N T O P O L A N D.

EooK. of artifts than it would emancipate. It would now and then

II
^ / ' occaflon the lofs of a manufa(5turer ; but would difFufe fuch

a knowledge of the manufadture, as to render the lofs im-
material.

Thefe manufadlures are ftill in their infancy, but their
inftitution refle(5ts a coniiderable luftre upon his majefty's
reign ; and more particularly as his attention was not
withdrawn from them during the civil convulfions which
lb lately Ihook his throne.

On the firil evening of our arrival at Grodno, a Polifli
nobleman, to whom we were introduced by Mr. Gillibert,
invited us to fupper with fuch frunknefs and cordiality, that
it would have been rudenefs not to have accepted the invi-
tation. After an hour's converfation, he configned us to the
care of his wife, and retired ; nor did he again make his
appearance the whole evening. This leeming inattention,
lb contrary to the politenefs of the invitation, occafioned at
lirit Ibme fvirprize ; but we afterwards found that gootl man-
ners equally diredled his behaviour in both thefe inftances.
Having before our arrival invited fome Polifli gentlemen to
lup with him who could not converfe in French, and who
drank freely, he thought juflly enough that we fliould pafs
a more agreeable evening with the ladies. We had a fmall
party at fupper, which was cheerful ami agreeable, for the
Poles are a very lively people, and the women in general
amiable and well-bred.

We dined the following day with Count Tyfenhaufen
vice-chancellor of Lithuania : it was an eledion-dinner
previous to the dietine, which was to aflemble at Grodno, in
order to chule the reprefentatives of this diftrift for the ap-
proaching diet. There were eighty nobles at table, all, a few

excepted,

G R O D N O; 223

• xcepted, in their national drefs, and with their heads fliaved ^^^^*

n the PoUfli fafliion. Before dinner they fainted the count'
with great reipeit, fome killing the hem of his garment,
©thers (looping down and embracing his legs. Two ladies
were at table, and, as ftrangers, we had the poft of honour
affigned to us, and were feated by them. It was my good
fortune to fit next to one who was uncommonly entertaining
and agreeable, and never fiiffered the converfation to flag.
After dinner feveral toafts went round : — the king of Poland •
— the diet — the ladies who were prefent — a good journey to •
us, &c. The mafter of the feaft named the toaft, filled a
large glafs, drank it, turned it down to fliew that it was
empty, and then pafTed it to his next neighbour; from whom
it was circulated in fucceffion and with the fame ceremo-
nies through the whole company. The wine was cham-
pagne, the glafs large, and the toafts numerous : but there
was no obligation, after the firft round, to fill the glafs ; it
was only necelTary to pour in a fmall quantity and pafs the
toaft. As it is efteemed a kind of hofpitality in Poland to
circulate the wine freely among the guefts^ ray fair neigh-
bour, when it was my turn to drink her health, propofed
that I fhould fill a bumper. Though 1 had already drank
one in honour of his majefty, and would willingly have de-
clined another, 1 could not difobey the orders of an agreeable
woman, and did the fame homage to beauty that I had before
paid to royalty. The next turn was the health of the other
lady, which my fair neighbour urged me to do juftice to in
the fame manner ; but I excufed myfelf by intimating, that
Hie alone was deierving of fuch a tribute.

In the evening the count gave us a ball concluded by an
elegant fupper. The ball was lively and agreeable. The
company am ufed themfelves with Polifli and Englifh country-
dances.

224 TRAVELSINTO POLAND,

BOOK dances : the former was firnple, but not deficient in grace,,
V / ■ and was accompanied by a moft pleafing air ; the company
li:ood in pairs ; the firft man led his partner round the room
in a kind of itep not much unlike that of a minuet, he then
quitted her hand, made a fmall circle, joined hands again,
and repeated the fame movements until the conclulion. The
iecond couple began as foon as the firft had advanced a few
fteps, and was quickly followed by the remainder, fo that all
the parties glided after one another at the fame time. The
Poles are very fond of this dance : although it has little va-
riety, they continued it for half an hour without inter-
imiffion, and frequently renewed it during the covirfe of the
evening. The intervals between this national dance were
■filled with Englifli country-dances, which they performed
with equal expertnefs, and with no lefs delight. An elegant
fupper, to which only a feledt party was invited, agreeably
concluded the entertainment of the day.

The count politely prefTed us to continue fome time at Grod-
no, and to take up our abode in his houfe ; but as we were de-
firous of arriving at Peterfburgh before the commencement
of the winter, we declined the invitation, which we fliould
otherwife have accepted with the greatefi pleafure. Some of
the company, however, had kindly endeavoured to detain
us by the following ftratagem : they privately defired the
coach- maker employed in mending our carriage to execute
the commifTion in a dilatory manner ; and although we had
accidentally difcovered this projedt, yet it was not without
the moft urgent remonftrances that we obtained the necefTary
repairs. In order to fpare our acquaintance the trouble of
making, and ourfelves the pain of rejedling, any further fe-
licitations, we thought it moft expedient to fteal away in the
night without apprifing any one of our defign.

GRODNO.

!125

It was our intention to have proceed to Vilna, but as this chap.
was the time of eledting nuntios,the poftmafter informed us, « — ,r—*
that for want of horfes we fliould be delayed upon the road
at fome wretched village without a poffibility of proceeding ;
we therefore, very unwillingly, altered our route, to our
great difappointment, as we wiflied much to have vifited the
capital of Lithuania.

Vol. I. G g CHAP.

22a

CHAP. VII..

Cantinuation of the tour through the duchy of Lithuania. — ...
Number of Jews. — Badnefs of the roads a?id want of
accommodations. — Clofe of the dietine at Minfk. — Poverty
and wretchednefs of the natives. — Comparative view of'
the Swifs and Polilh peafants. — Remarks on the Plica
Polonica.

IN our route through Lithuania \ve could not avoid being
ftruck with the fwarms of Jews, who, though very nu--
merous in every part of Poland, . feem to have fixed their
head-quarters in this duchy. If you afk for an interpreter,
they bring you a Jew ;. if you come to an inn, the landlord
is a Jew ; if you want poft-horfes^ a Jew procures them, .
and a Jew drives them ; if you wifh to purchafe, a Jew is-
your agent : and this perhaps is the only country in Europe
where Jews cviltivate the ground ; in palling through Li-
thuania, we frequently faw them engaged in fowing, reap- .
ing, mowing, and other works of Husbandry .

The roads in this country are quite negledled, being
fcarcely fuperior to by-paths winding through the thick forett
without the leaft degree of artificial diredlion : ; they are fre-
quently fo narrow as fcarcely to admit a carriage ; and are
continually fo obftrudted by fcumps and roots of trees, and
in many parts fo exceedingly fandy, that eight fmall horfes-
could fcarcely drag us along. The potlilions were frequently
boys of ten or twelve years of age, hardy lads, who rode
1/ ppfts

JOURNEY THROUGH LITHUANIA. 227

polls of twenty and even thirty Englifli miles without a faddle, chap.
and with fcarcely any covering except a fliirt and a pair of ^ / >
linen drawers. The bridges acrofs the rivulets were fo
weakly conllrufled and fo old, that they feemed ready to
crack with the weight of the carriage, and we thought our-
felves fortunate in getting over them without an accident.

Some travellers have remarked, that the forefts, through
which our route lay, are fet on fire by lightning or other
natural caufes, and blaze for a confiderable time. At firlt
we conceived this reprefentation to be well-founded, as we
difcovered in many parts evident traces of extenlive confla-
grations. Upon inquiry, however, we were informed, that
the peafant?, being obliged annually to furnifh their land-
lords wdth a certain quantity of turpentine, fet fire to the
trunks of the pines whi-le (landing, and catch it as it oozes
from the ftems. We could obferve few trees without marks
of fire upon them : fome were quite black, and nearly
charred to cinder; fome half-burnt; others conliderably
fcorched, but continuing to vegetate.

Auguit 15. After twenty hours inceffiant travelling we
arrived late in the evening at Bielitza, which is diftant about
ninety Englifli miles from Grodno ; and fiit out before the
break of day, anxioUs to reach Minfk on the morning of the
17th, when a dietine for the eleiftion of nuntios was to be
■afTembled. We flopped a fhort time at Novogrodec, v.hich
is all built of wood, except two or three ruinous brick-
houfes, a convent that belonged to the Jefuits, and fome
mouldering ftone-walls furrounding a fmall eminence, upon
which are the remains of an old citadel. Near Novogrodec
we paired a large number of barrows, which the peafants call
Swedifli burying-places. In this part the country was lefs
fandy, of a richer foil, and fomewhat diverfilied with hill and

G g 2 dale :

,.t8 TRAVELSINTOPOLAND.

BOOK (]ale : the jfolitary extent of the forefts was more than ufual
^ _J. _■ iiiterfperied with villages, and dotted with fields of pailure,
in which we obferved numerous herds of cattle.

Upon our arrival at the fmall village of Mir, we found
that our original intention of reaching Minfk by the next
morning was fcarcely pradicable, even if we continued our
journey during the night. The diftance was between fixty
and feventy miles ; the night extremely dark ; the roads
bad, and, we were informed, that in fome places we fliould
be obliged to crofs feveral bridges not very palTable even in
the day without the iitmoft circumfpedion. Our defire
therefore of being prefent at the eledtion of nuntios gave
way to thefe fuggeftions; and we facrificed the gratification
of our curiofity to the confiderations of perfonal fafety. The
pleafures of Mir certainly offered no inducement for delay i
the poverty of the inhabitants denied a fcanty fupply of the
moft ordinary refrefliments ; the higheft entertainment
Which the place afforded being a fufpenfion of the dangers
of travelling, and the fum of our comforts an intermiilion
of fatigue. •

The badnefs of our accommodations at Mir led us to
conlider Minflc (where we arrived on the evening of the
17th) as the feat of tall:e and luxury. We there experi-
enced comforts to which we had lately been llrangers, a
neat white-waflied room with a brick floor, no fleas or flies,
plenty of clean llraw, good bread, and frefli meat. After a
refrefliing night's reft, we fallied forth the next morning to
the refe£lory of the Jefuits monallery, the place where the
nuntios had^been chofen the preceding day. We had fome
difficulty in gaining admittance ; at length a perfon, who
appeared to be a man of confeqvience, came out and inquired
in the German language our country and our bufinefs.

Upon

JOURNEY T H R a U G H LITHUANIA. 229

Upon our anfwering that we were three Engliili gen-
tlemen, defirous of feeing every thing worthy of obfervation,
he expreffed much furprize at tlie plainneis of our dreires,
particularly at our want of fwords. " In Poland," he faid,
*< every gentleman wears his fabre as a badge of his rank,
** never appearing in public without it ; and I advife you tO'
" obferve this cufl:om as long as you continue in this coun-
" try, if you wiih to be confidered as gentlemen." Thanking,
him for his advice, we accompanied him into the refedlory,.
where we found the majority of the dietine ftill affembled,.
though not upon national bufinefs ; in plain EngliHi, they
were engaged in drinking, a no lefs eflential appendage of a
Polifli than a Britilli ele61:ion. One perfon, whom they
leemed to treat with deference, was conlf antly employed in
delivering drams to the clecftors, v/ho were ll:anding in dif-
ferent parts of the room : rnany ceremonies paffed at every
circulation of the glafs ; they touched their brealls,.fi:ooped
towards the ground, and drank the nuntios' and each other's
health with great folemnity. Several of the Polilli gentlemen
converfed with me in the Latin tongue : they informed nie,.
that every palatinate is divided into a certain number of
diitrifts, and that each diftricSt chufes two nuntios. I afived
them whether the elec!^ion of the diftridl of Minlk had been
contefted ; they told me, that three candidates had offered
themfelves. I then demanded whether the elecfted nuntios
were of the king's party ; and they anfwered, " We have
" in this initance complied with his majefty's recommenda-
" tion." — " You have a6led," I replied, " with great pro-
" priety : is he not a good prince ?" — " A good prince !" re-
turned the Poles, '* yes, the moft excellent that ever filled.
" a throne."

Minfk.

230 T R A Y E L S I N T O r O L A ND.

HOOK jviinflc is a laroe place : two churches and the monafterv

II. O i^

> — ^ which belonged to the Jefuits are conftrudted of brick ; and
the remainiiig- buildings, though formed of wood, have a
neater look than the generality of dwellings in this country.
On returning to our inn, we received an invitation to dinner
from aPoIifli count ; but as the weather appeared fine, as oui
carriage was at the door, and all things prepared for our im-
mediate departure, we determined to give up an opportunity
of focial enjoyment to the expediency of purfuing our
journey.

Auguft i8. We were confiderably fatigued with our
journey from Minfk to Smolewitzo, which, though fcarcely
thirty miles, employed us, on account of the badnefs of the
roads and other unexpected delays, near twelve hours. The
weather was cold and rainy, the wind high, the roads worfe
than ufual ; and the evening, when it f?.t in, extremely
dark. We were almoft beginning to defpair of reaching
our deftined ilatioji, when a noife of folding doors thrown
open, and the rattling of our carriage upon a wooden floor,
announced our adlual arrival. The leathern blinds of our
carriage having been clofely faftened down, in ord.er to ex-
clude the wind and^rain, we were for a few moments held in
fiifpenfe into v/hat kind of place we were admitted. Upon
alighting, we found ourfelves in the middle of a large barn
or filed, at the further end of which we defcried two large
pines, branches and all, in full blaze upon an hearth with-
out a chimney : round it feveral figures, in full black robes
and with long beards, were employed in ftirring a large
cauldron fufpended over the flame. A belief in witchcraft,
or a little fuperflition, might eafily have reprefented -this
party as a group of magicians engaged in celebrating fome
myCUc rites ; but, upon nearer infpeclion, we recognized in

them

JOURNEY THROUGH LITHUANIA. 231

them our old friends the Jews, preparing their and our %\^'"
evening repaft, > — v — •

We fat out the next morning before day-break, as was our
ufual cuftom, having no inducement to remain any longer
than was abfoknely neceflary in thefe hovels, abounding in
vermin, and in which filth and wretchednefs are united.
Near Borifow we croflcd the Berezyna, which has been er-
roneoufly laid down by fome modern geographers, as form-
ing the new boundary between Ruflia and Poland ; and on
the other fide of the town pafTed a camp of 2000 Ruffian
troops, who were marching to Warfaw.

At Borifow the Jews procured us ten horfes, and placed
them all in two rows, fix next the carriage, and four in front*.
There was indeed much ingenuity in contriving this ar-
rangement, which was effected in the following manner.
The two middle horfes in the hinder row were haiTiefied as
ufual to the fplinter-bars, their two neareft neighbours
were fallened to the extremities of the axle-tree, which pro-
jected conllderably on each fide beyond the boxes of the fore-
wheels, and the two outermoft vt^eretied in- the fame manner,,
by means of i©ng ropes, to- the axle-tree of the hind-wheels :
the four horfes in front were harnefTed to the pole and to
the fplinter-bars of the pole. Well affured that horfes,.
ranged in this primitive manner, would require more room
than the narrow roads of Poland generally afforded, we en-
<)eavoured to perfaade the drivers to place them two by two ;.
but fuch was their obllinacy or want of comprehenfion, we
could not prevail upon them to make any alteration. We
therefore unloofed two horfes from the hindermolt- row, and

* The iifual method of harnelliiig was by placing four arbrcaft, and two in the fore-
Bip-il vow,

f'jr

TRAVELS INTO POLAND.

for that permifTion were obliged to compound for leaving the
remaining eight in their original pofition.

In this manner we proceeded; and flill found great dif-
ficulty in forcing our way through the wiklernefs, which
was fo overgrown with thick underwood, as in many parts
fcarcely to admit the breadth of an ordinary carriage.
In feme places we were obliged to take off two, in others
,four of the horfes ; and not uncommonly alighted, in order
to affift the drivers and fervants in removing fallen trees
which obflruifled the way, in diredling the horfes through
the winding paths, and in finding a new track along the
almoit impenetrable forell. We thought ourfelves exceed-
ingly fortunate, that our carriage was not fliaken to pieces,
an^l that we were not frequently overturned.

In various parts of the foreft, we obferved a circular range
of boards fixed to feveral trees about twelve feet from the
ground, and projedling three in breadth from the trunk.-
Upon inquiry we were informed, that upon any great hunt-
ing party, ladders were placed againrt thefe fcaffoldings ;
and that when any perfon is clofely prefiTed by a bear, he
runs up the ladder, and draws it up after him : the bear, al-
though an excellent climber, is flopped in his afcent by the
projedlion of the boards.

- We were very happy at length to reach Naitza, although
we took up our Itation in one of the moft wretched of all the
wretched cottages we had yet entered. The only article of
furniture it afforded was a fmall table, and the only utenfil a
broken earthen pot, in which our repafl was prepared, and
which ferved us alfo for dilhes and plates. We eat our
meagre fare by the light of a thin lath of deal, about five
feet in length, which was fluck into a crevice of the wain-
fcot, and hung over the table : this lath, thanks to the tur-
2 pentine

JOURNEY THROUGH LITHUANIA. 233

pentine contained in it, ferved us inftead of a candle, of chap.
which there was not one to be found in the "whole village of ^ ' _.
Naitza. It is furprizing, that the carelefs method of ufing
thefe lights is not oftener attended with more dreadful ef-
fects ; for the cottagers carry them about the houfe with
fuch little caution, that we frequently obferved fparks to
drop from them upon the ftraw which was prepared for our
beds : nor were we able, by the ftrongeft expreflions of fear,
to awaken in them the llighteft degree of circumfpedlion.
For fome time after coming into this country, we ufed to
flart up with no fmall emotion in order to extinguifh the
fparks ; but, fuch is the irrcfiftible influence of cullom, we
became at laft ourfelves perfe6lly infentlble to the danger of
this pradlice, and caught all the indifference of the natives.
I once even fo far forgot myfelf as to hold a lighted flick
for a confiderable time over an heap of ftraw, while I was
negligently fearching for fome trifle. This fupinenefs,
which I fo eafily acquired in this particular, convinced me
(if I may compare fmall things with great), that I could live
with the inhabitants at the foot of Mount Vefuvius without
dread of an eruption ; or fit unconcerned with the natives
of Conftantinople amid the devaflations of the plague.

It is inconceivable how few are the wants of the Li-
thuanian peafants ! Their carts are put together without
iron; Iheir bridles and traces are generally plaited from
the bark of trees, or compofed merely of twifted branches.
They have no other inflrument but a hatchet, to conftruft
their huts, cut out their furniture, and make their carts.
Their drefs is a thick linen fhirt and drawers, a long coarfe
drugget coat, or a flieeplkin cloak, a round black felt cap
lined with wool, and flioes made from the bark of trees.
Their huts are built of trunks of trees heaped on each other.

Vol. I, H h and

a34

TRAVELS INTO POLAND.

BOOK and look like piles of wood in wharfs !\vith penthoufe roofs.
How very unlilfe the Swifs cottages, though conftrudted of
the fame materials. Nor are their houfes more diffimilar
than their manners. The ftriking difference between the
Swifs and Polifli peafants, in their very air and deportment,
ftrongly m^arks the contrail: of their refpedlive governments.
The Swifs are open, frank, rough, but ready to ferve you ;
they nod their heads, or flightly pull off their hats as you
pafs by, but expe6l a return of civility : they are roufed by
the leafl rudenefs, and are not to be infulted with impunity.
On the contrary, the Polifh peafants are cringing and fervile
in their expreffions of refpe(5t : they bowed down to the
ground ; took off their hats or caps, and held them in their
hands till we were out of fight ; flopped their carts on the
iirft glimpfe of our carriage ; in fhort, their Avhole behaviour
gave evident fymptoms of the abje<5t fervitude under which
they groaned. Yet liberty is as often the fubjedt of enco-
mium in Poland as in SwifTerland : how different, however,
are its operations in the two countries ! In the one it is
equally diffufed, and fpreads comfort and happinefs through
the whole community : in the other it centers in a few, and
is in reality the word fpecies of defpotifm.

Before I clofe my account of Poland, I fliall juft curforily
mention, that in our progrefs through this country we could
not fail obferving fever al ^x^rfons vfith matted or clotted hair,
which conftitutes a diforder called Plica Folonica : it receives
that denomination becaufe it is confidered as peculiar to Po-
land ; although it is not unfrequent in Hungary, Tartary,
and feveral adjacent nations, and inftances of it are occafion-
ally to be found in other countries.

According to the obfervations of Dr. Vicat, an ingenious
Swifs phyfician long refident in Poland, and who has pub-

lifhed

THE PLICA POLONICA.

'^iS

liflied a fatisfadtory treatife * upon this fubje6l ; the P/ica ^^^^*

Polonica is fuppofed to proceed from an acrid vifcous hu-' — v -'

mour penetrating into the hair, which is tubular f : it then
exudes either from its fides or extremities, and clots the
whole together, either in fcparate folds, or in one undiilin-
guiihed mafs. Its fymptoms, more or lefs violent, according
to the conftitution of the patient, or malignity of the dif-
eafe, are itchings, fwcllings, eruptions, ulcers, intermitting
fevers, pains in the head, languor, lownefs of fpirits, rheu-
matifm, gout, and fometimes even convulfions, palfy, and
madnefs. Thefe fymptoms gradually decreafe as the hair
becomes affedled. If the patient is fhaved in the head, he
relapfes into all the dreadful complaints which preceded the
eruption of the Plica ; and he continues to labour under
them, until a frefli growth of hair abforbs the acrid humour.
This diforder is thought hereditary ; and is proved to be
contagious when in a virulent ftate.

Many phyfical caufes have been fuppofed to concur in
rendering the Plica more frequent in thefe regions than in
other parts : it would be an endlefs work to enumerate the
various conjectures with which each perfon has fupported
his favourite hypothefis ; the moft probable are thofc af-
ligned by Dr. Vicat.

The firfl caufe is the nature of the Polifli air, which is
rendered infalubrious by numerous woods and morafTes ;
and occafionally derives an uncommon keennefs even in the

* Memoire fur la Plique Polonoife. very rarely happens, has probably given rife

f The dilatation of the hair is fometimes to the notion, that the patient, if iiis hair

fo confiderable as to admit fmall globules of is cut off, bleeds to death.

blood; this circunnftance, which however

H h 3 midft

236 TRAVELS INTO POLAND.

BOOK niidft of fiimmer from the pofition of the Carpathian moun-

« j-«^ tains ; for the fouthern and fonth-eafterly winds, which

ufually convey warmth in other regions, are in this chilled
• in their pafTage over Aeir fnowy fummits.

The fecond is unwholefome water ; for although Poland
is not deficient in good fprings, yet the common people
ufually drink that which is neareft at hand, taken indifcri-
minately from rivers, lakes, and even ftagnant pools.

The third caufe is the grofs inattention of the natives ta
cleanlinefs ; for experience fliews, that thofe who are neg-
ligent ill their perfons and habitations, are lefs liable to be
afflidled with the plica, than others who are deficient in
that particular. Thus perfons of higher rank are lefs fub-
je6l to this diforder than thofe of inferior ftations ; the in-
habitants of large towns than thofe of fmall villages ; the
free peafants than thofe in an abfolute fi:ate of vaiflalage ;
the natives of Poland Proper than thofe of Lithuania.

Whatever we may determine as to the poflibility that all,
or any of thefe caufes, by themfelves, or in conjundlion
with others, originally produced the diforder ; we may ven-
ture to affert, that they all, and particularly the laft, afl[ift
its propagation, inflame its fymptoms, and protradt its cure.

In a word, the Plica Polonica appears to be a contagious
diftemper; which, like the leprofy, dill prevails among a
people ignorant in medicine, and inattentive to check its
progrefs ; but is rarely known in thofe countries, where pro-
per precautions are taken to prevent its fpreading.

TRAVELS

INTO

R U S SI A.

TRAVELS

INTO

R U S S I A.

BOOK IIL

CHAP. T.

'Entrance intO' Ruffia. — Limits and account of the province-,
difmembered from Poland. — Cheapnefs of the poji. — Journey
to Smolenfko. — Hi/wry and dejcription of Sraolenlko. —
Divine fervice in the cathedral. — Vifit to the bijhop. — Diii-
ner with a judge. — Journey to Mofcow. — Peafants. — Tljeir-
drefSj cottages ^food^ Sic.

AUGUST 2.O. We came into Ruffia at the fmall village chap-
of Tolotzin, which in 1772 belonged to Poland, but is, ^

now comprifed in the portion of country ceded to the em-
prefs by the late partition treaty. The province allotted to.
Rulila comprifes Polilh Livonia, that part of the palatinate
of Polotfk which lies to the eaft of the Duna ; the palati-
nates of Viteplk, MicillaWj and tVvO fmall portions to the

north-

Z40

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK north-eaft and fouth-eaft of the palatinate of Minfk : this

III
^— ,_^ trad of land (Poliili Livonia excepted) is fituated in White-

Rviflia, and includes at leait one third of Lithuania.

The Ruflian limits of the new province are formed by
the Duna, from its mouth to above Vitepfk, from thence
by a ftraight line running diredly fouth to the fource of
the Drug near Tolitzin, by the Drug to its jundlion with
the Dnieper, and laftly, by the Dnieper to the point where
it receives theSotz. This territory is now divided into the two
governments of Polotfk andMohilef ; its population amounts
to about 1,600,000 fouls ; its produ6lions are chiefly grain
in large quantities, hemp, flax, and parture ; its forefls fur-
nifh great abundance of mails, planks, alfo oak for fliip
building, pitch and tar, &c. which are chiefly fent down the
Duna to Riga.

Upon entering Ruflia at Tolitzin we were greatly afto-
nifhed at the cheapnefs of the poil-horfes ; and when our
fervant had difcharged the firft account, which amounted to
only two eopecs, or about a penny, a verft ••- for each horfe,
we fhould have conchided, that he had cheated the poft-
mafter in our favour, if we had not been well convinced,
from the general charafter of the Rufl^ians, that they were
not likely to be duped by ft rangers. Indeed we foon after-
wards difcovered, that even half of the charge, which we
thought fo extremely moderate, might have been faved, if
we had taken the precaution of obtaining an order from the
Rulhan embaflador at Warfaw.

From Tolotzin, through the new government of Mohilef,
the road was excellent, and of confiderable breadth, with a
double row of trees planted on each fide, and ditches to drain

• Three quarters of a mile.
JL off

JOURNEY TO SMOLENSK O. 14^

off the water. We paffed through feveral wretched villages, chap.
ferried at Orfa over the Dnieper, there only a fmall river, » ,' '
went through DubrofFna, and arrived in the evening at Lady.
The country from Tolitzin to Lady is waving and fomewhat
hilly, abounds in foreft, and produces corn, millet, hemp,
and flax. In the largeft villages we obferved fchools and
other buildings, conltruiling at the expence of the emprefs,
and alfo churches with domes, intended for the Polifh difli-
dents of the Greek fed:, and the Ruflians who chufe to fettle
m the country.

Lady is fituated in the government of Smolenfl<:o, and,
before the late difmemberment, was one of the Ruffian
frontier towns : we took up our quarters at the poft-houfe,
where we procured a very comfortable apartment. Thefe
poil-houfes, which frequently occur in the principal high-
roads of Ruffia, are moftly confl:ru6led upon the fame plan,
and are very convenient for the accommodation of travellers :
they are large fquare wooden buildings, enclofing a fpacious
court-yard ; in the center of the front is a range of apart-
ments intended for the reception of travellers, with a gate-
way on each fide leading into the court-yard ; the remainder
of the front is appropriated to the ufe of the poit-mafter and
his fervants ; the other three fides of the quadrangle arc
divided into ftables and flieds for carriages, and large barns
for hay and corn. We were agreeably furprized to meet with,
in this remote place, fome Englifli lirong beer ; and no lefs
pleafed to fee our fupper ferved up in difhes of our country-
man Wedgewood's cream-coloured ware. The luxury of
clean ftraw for our beds was no fmall addition to thefe com-
forts.

Upon calling for our bill in the morning, we found our
charge as reafonable as the entertainment was good. The

Vol. L I i fatisfa(5lion

242 TRAVELSINTO RUSSIA.

BOOK fatisfadion we expreffed at our reception, perhaps, induced
> / ' the fecretary (as the potl-mafter himfelf was abfent) to think
us proper lubje6ts of impofition. The diilance to the next
ftation was about ten miles, and the fecretary demanded three
times the fum allowed by the public regulations, under pre-
tence of our not being provided with an order for port-horfes.
We hinted fume lurprize at this charge : this intimation,
though conveyed in the mildeft terms, the fecretary thought
proper to anfwer with expreflions of contempt and defiance ;
he ordered the horfes again into the liable, and declared we-
fliould not ftir from the place until we difcharged the full
fum. Though we might eafily have been prevailed upon
by the fligheft apology to have fubmitted to the fraud, we
determined to chaftife his infolence. We repaired to the
director of the cuftom hovife, and were immediately admitted :
to our great fatisfadtijon he fjx^ke German ; and after we had
laid our cafe before him, he told us, that the Ruffian- had-
demanded treble the fum he was intitled to ; he afiiired us,
that we fliould receive inftant redrefs, and that the offender
Hiould be puniilied for his impofition. Having difpatched a
meffenger, to whom he whifpered a private order, he defired
us to wait his return, and offered us coffee. While we were
drinking it, he gave us various information relative to the
Ruffian pods ; added feveral hints, which afterwards proved,
fingularly ufeful ; and he particularly cautioned us to pro-
cure an order for horfes from the governor of Smolenfko..
In the midit of this converfation we heard a carriage drive to-
the door, which we perceived to be our own,. with all things-
ready for our immediate departvire; our old friend, the poll-
mafter's fecretary, made at the fame time his appearance in'a
very fvibmiffive attitude ; we interceded with the dire(5lor for
his back, and obtained a promife that he fliould not be beat;,.

but

S M O L E N S K O. 245

but only reprimanded. After making tliofe acknowledge- chap.
ments to our friendly diredtor which were due to his polite- «_J—v
nefs, we took our leave, and proceeded on our journey.

We were much chagrined at finding that the excellent
new road lately defcribed terminated at Lady : it was fome
fatisfadlion, however, that the remaining parts from thence
to Smolenlko proved far fuperior to thofe we had encoun-
tered in the Lithuanian forefts. The villages were an exadl
counterpart to thofe we had left behind, and exhibited
fcarcely any thing more than a repetition of fcenes already
detailed.

The Ruffians differ widely in their appearance and drefs
from the PoliQi peafants. The moft ftriking contraft arifes
from their method of wearing their hair : the Poles fhave
their heads, leaving only a fmall tuft upon the crown ; while
the others fuffer their hair to hang quite down to the eye-
brows and over the ears, and cut it fliort round the neck.
The country was undulating and hilly, and more open than
iifual until we arrived within a few miles of Smolenfko, when
we plunged into a thick forefl, which continued almoft to the
gates of that town without the intervention of a fmgle vil-
lage, or fcarcely of a finglc cottage.

In 1403 the town of Smolenfko, which belonged to the
Ruflians, was befieged and taken by Vitoldus, and, together
with the whole province, united to the dutchy of Lithuania*.
During the conl^ant and inveterate enmities which fubfifted
between the Ruflians and Poles, Smolenfko was a place of
great importance ; though only fortified according to the
cullom of the time, partly with ramparts of earth and
ditches, and partly with pallifadoes, and a wooden citadel t ;

* Dlugoffiiis, Lib. X. p. 104. et feq.

f Rerum Mofc. AU(5l. p. 52. Maycrberg Iter Mofc.p ♦4.

1 i 2 thefe

244

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK thefe fortifications were, however, fufiiciently ftrong to refifl
' — ^the (lefultory attacks of undiiciplincd troops, raid it was at
different intervals incffecfluaily befieged until the beginning
of the 1 6th century, when Vaffili Ivanovitch great-duke of
Mofcovy got poffefTion of it, by corrupting the garrifon. It
continued in the hands of the Ruffians for above a century,
in the fame fimple ftyle of defence. At length the impor-
tance of its fituation near the frontiers of Poland, and the
improvements in the art of war, induced Boris Godunof,
prime minifter, and brother-in-law of the tzar Feodor Iva-
novitch, to furround it with a wall : he came in perfon to-
Smolenflco, and himfelf affiled in tracing out the lite of the
fortifications, which he lived to fee completed in his own
reign*, and which are the fame that fubfili: at prefent.
Thefe additional fortifications, however, did not prevent Si-
"ifmond III. king of Poland, from befieging and taking the
town in 1611; and by the truce of Devehna in 1618, the
pofieffion was confirmed to Poland. In 1654 it was again,
reduced by Alexey Michaelovitch ; and in 1 686finalied ceded.
to RuflTia at the peace of Mofcow K

Smolenfko, though by no means the moft magnificent, is-
by far the moll: fingular town 1 have ever feen. It is litu-
ated upon the river Dnieper, and Hands upon two hills, and.
upon the valley which lies between them. It is furroundeth
by walls thirty feet high and fifteen thick, with the lower
part of (tone, and the upper of brick : thefe wallSj which
follow the fhape of the hills, and enclofe a circumference of
feven verlts ]:, have, at every angle, round or fquare towers
of two or three liories, much broader at top than at bottom,,
and covered with circular roofs of wood. The intervals are

•* S. R..G. vol. v. p. 94.. Ltngnicb, JusPub. V. I. p. 46.

f Lengnich, V. I. p. 47, J T'our miles and three-quarters.

5. iludded:

S M O L E N S K O. 245

ftudded with fmaller turrets ; on the outfide of the wall is chap.
a broad deep ditch, regular covered way with traverfes, . J >
glacis, &c. and where the ground is higheft there are re-
doubts of earth according to the modern ftyle of fortification.
In the middle of the town is an eminence, upon which,
(lands the cathedral ; from whence I had a moft pidurefque
view of the town, interfperfed within the circuit of the walls
with gardens, groves, copfes, fields of pafture, and corn.
The buildings are moftly wooden, of one ftory (many of
them no better than cottages) excepting here and there a
gentleman's houfe, which is called a palace, and feveral
churches, conftrudled of brick and ft uccoed. One long broad
ftreet, which is paved, interfe(Sts the whole length of the
town in a ftraight line ; the other ftreets generally wind in
circular diredions, and are floored with planks. The walls-
ftretching over the uneven fides of the hills till they reach
the banks of the Dnieper, their antient ftyle of architedlure,
their^grotefque towers, the fpires of churches fliooting above
the trees, which are fo numerous as almoft to conceal the
buildings from view, the appearance of meadows and the.
arable ground, all thefe objeds blended together exhibit a
Icene of the moft fingular and contrafted kind. On the fur-
ther fide of the Dnieper are a number of ftraggling wooden
houfes that form the fuburbs of the town, and are joined to
it by a wooden bridge. As far as I could collect from vague
information, this town contains about 4,000 inhabitants : it
has no manufactures ; but carries on fome commerce with
the Ukraine, Dantzic, and Riga. The principal articles of
its trade are flax, hemp, honey, wax, hides, hogs briftles,
mafts, planks, and Siberian furs.

The Dnieper riles in the foreft of Volkonfki, near the
fburce of the Volga, about 100 miles from Smolen/ko. If
^ paffes

,46 T R A V E L S I N T O R U S S I A.

BOOK paiTes by Sraolenfko and Mohilef, feparates the Ukraine from
'Poland, flows by Kiof, and falls into the black-fea between
Otzakof and Kinburn. By the acquilition of the province
of Mohilef, its whole conrfe is now included within the Ruf-
fian territories. It begins to be navigable at a little diltance
above Smolenlko, though in fome feafons of the year it is fo
fliallow near the town, that the goods muft be tranfported
upon rafts and fniall flat-bottomed boats.

Having occafion for a new paiTport and an order for horfes,
we called upon the governor, accompanied by a Ruflian
iludent, who fpoke Latin, for our interpreter. The governor
being at church, we repaired to the cathedral, where we
waited until divine fervice was concluded. The cathedral
is a (lately building, ere6ted upon the fpot w^iere formerly
ftood the palace of the ancient dukes of Smolenfko. The
jnfide walls are covered with coarfe paintings reprefenting
our Saviour.5 the Virgin, and a variety of Saints, which are
very abundant in the Greek religion. The flrrinc, or
fanctuary, into which only the priefts are admitted, is fepa-
rated from the body of the church by a fkreen with large
folding doors, and is ornamented with twifted pillars of the
Corinthian order richly carved and gilded. The worfliip
feemed to confift of innumerable ceremonies : the people
croiTed themfelves without ceafmg4 bowed towards the
flirine and to each other, and even touched the ground with
their heads. The-bifliopof Smolenll-io performed the fer-
vice ; a venerable figure, with white flowing hair and long
beard ; he had a crown upon his head, and was drefled in
rich epifcopal robes. The folding doors were occallonally
opened and clofed with great pomp and folemnity whenever
the bifliop retired within, or came forth to bleis the i:)eoixieT
at the conclulion of the fervj.ce, the doors being thrown open,

the

S M O L E N S K O. 24.7

the bifhop advanced forward with a candleftick in each hand, chap.
one containing three, and tlie other two hghted candles ;
which he repeatedly crofled over each other in diiferent di-
rections ; then waving them towards the audience, he con-
cluded with a final benediction. Thefe candlefticks, as I
am informed, are fymbolical ; one alludes to the Trinity^
and the other to the two natures of Chrift.

The fervice being finiflied, we prefented ourfelves to the-
governor, who, to our furprize, received us with an air of-
coldnefs, which made fuch an impreffion on our interpreter,
that he could not be perfuaded to utter a fingle word. At
length a gentleman in the governor's train accofted us in
French,, and inquired our bufinefs. Upon our informing
him, that we were Engliih gentlemen who defired a paff-
port, and an order for horfes, he told us with a fmile, that
the plainnefs of our dreffes had raifed a fufpicion of our
being tradefmen;. but he was not ignorant that Engliih gen-
tlemen feldom wore lace on their clothes, or fwords in a
journey ; an intimation which recalled to our memory the
advice of our Poliih friend at Minlk *. He then whifpered
the governor, who inftantly alTumed an appearance of com-
placency, and teftifiedby his gefture an intention of comply^
ing with his requeft. This matter was fcarcely adjufted, when
the bifhop joined the company ; he had laid afide the coltly
g.armentSj.in which he performed the fervice, and was drefled'
in a long black robe, a round black cap,.and veil af the fame
colour. He addreffed us in Latin, and invited vis to his
boufe. He led the way, and w-e followed with the reft of
the company to a commodious wooden building adjoining to
the cathedral. Upon entering the apartment the governor
and Ruffian gentlemen killed his hand with great marks of

* p, 229.

refpetf^i.

248 TRAVELSINTO RUSSIA.

BOOK refpedt. After defiring all the company to fit, he diflin-
v-JJJl—'guifliecl us by particular attention, andobferved, with much
politenels, that our company gave him greater pleafure, as
he had never, fince his refidence at Smoleniko, received a
vifit from any Englifliman, for whofe nation he had the
highefl refpedl. During this converfation a fervant fpread
a cloth upon a fmall table, and placed upon it a plate of
bread, fome fait, and fome flowers : another followed with
a falver of fmall glafTes full of a tranfparent liquor ; the
bifhop bleffed the bread and the falver with great folemnity,
and then took a glafs : we thought it at firtt a religious ce-
remony ; but were undeceived by the fervants offering the
bread and falver to us as well as the other j>erfons prefent.
Every one being ferved, the bifliop drank a:ll our healths, a
compliment which the company returned with a bow, and
inilantly emptied their glafles; we followed this example,
and found the draught to be a dram of cherry-water. This
preliminary being fettled, we refumed our converfation w^ith
the biJhop, and afked him feveral queitions relative to the
ancient ilate of Smolenfko. He anfwered every enquiry with
great readinefs ; gave us a concife account of the flate of
the town under its antient dukes, and informed us that their
palace was fituated on the fpot now occupied by the cathe-
dral, which was built by Feodor Michaelovitch brother of
Peter the Great, and had been lately repaired and beautified.
After about half an hour's agreeable converfation, we role
up and took our leave, greatly pleafed with the politenefs and
affability of the bilhop.

Our interpreter, who w-as one of the liudents, condu<fied
us to tbe feminary, which is appropriated for the education
of the clergy, in which the Latin, Greek, German, and Fo-

hili

S M O L E N S K O. 249

lifh languages are taught: the prieft who fliewed us the chap.

library talked Latin ; he introduced us into his chamber, and, < ^_j

according to the hofpitable cuflom of this country, offered
us fome refrefliment, which confifted of cakes and mead.

In the afternoon the Ruffian gentleman, who fo oblig-
ingly relieved us from our embarrafsment before the go-
vernor, kindly paid us a vifit, and invited us to dine with
him the following day. We accepted his invitation, and
waited upon him at two, the ufual hour of dining : he was
a judge, and lived in a wooden houfe provided by the court ;
the rooms were fmall, but neatly furniflied. The company con-
fined of that gentleman, his wife and fifter, all of whom talked
French : the ladies were drefled in the French falliion, and
had on a good deal of rouge : they do not curtfy ; but their
mode of falute is to bow their heads very low. Before
dinner liqueurs were handed about ; the ladies each took a
fmall glafs, and recommended the fame to us as favourable
to digeftion. The table was neatly fet out, the dinner ex-
cellent, and ferved up in Engliili cream-coloured ware : be-
fide plain roaft and boiled meats, feveral Ruffian diflies were
introduced ; one of thefe was a kind of fallad compofed of
mufhrooms and onions ; and another the Q-rain of ereen
corn, baked and moiftened with fweet oil. Before we rofe
from table our hoft called for a large glafs ; he filled a bum-
per of champagne, drank it off to our health, and then handed
the glafs round. " This is an old cuftom," faid the judge,
" and was meant as an expreffion of regard ; the age is now
*' grov/n delicate, and the free eflufions of hofpitality muft
" be fuppreifed in ceremony : but] am an old-failiioned man,
" and cannot eafily relinquiih the habits of my youth."
After dinner we adjourned to another room, and played two
or three rubbers of v/hiil. Coffee and tea were brought in,

Vol. I, K k and

25C T R A V E L S I N T O P O L A N D.

BOOK aQ(] ^ plate of fweet-meats was handed round to the com-
pany. About fix we took leave of our friendly hoft, and re-
turned to our inn, if it may be called by that honourable ap-
pellation. This inn, which was the beft, for it was the only
one in the town, was a wooden building, in a very ruinous
ftate, formerly painted on the outfide. The apartment which
we occupied had once been hung with paper, as appeared from
fome torn fragments that here and there covered a fmall
portion of the wainfcot, which was a patch-work of old and
new planks. Its furniture was two benches and as many
chairs ; of the latter, one was without a bottom ; and the
other without a back ; the only table was an old deal box.
We were inclined to conjecture there was a heavy tax upon
air and light in this country ; for all the windows were
nailed up with planks, except one, which could not be
opened, and it could fcarcely be ^qqu through, on account
of the dirt with which it was incrufted. In the inventory
of thefe valuables I fliould not omit a couch upon which I
flept : it had been fo often mended, that, like Sir John Cut-
ler's ftockings, immortalized in Martinus Scriblerus^ we could
not diftinguilli any part of the original materials. It may
perhaps appear furprizing, that in a town like Smolenfko
there fliould be no tolerable inn ; but the furprize will ceale,
when we refledl that few ftrangers pafs this way ; and that
the Ruffians themfeives carry their provifions with them,
and either continue their journey through the night, or are
received in private houfes.

Auguft 25. We quitted Smolenfko, crofled the Dnieper
over a wooden bridge into the fuburbs, and purfued our
journey for fome way through a valley of fine pallure wa-
tered by the Dnieper, fpotted with underwood, and termi-
nating on each fide in gentle eminences clothed with wood.
2 As

J O U R N E Y T O M O S C O W. 251

As we advanced, the country became more abrupt and un-
even, but no where rofe into any confiderable hill. Near
Slovoda a large draggling village, where we flopped for a
few hours during the darknefs of the night, we again crofied
the Dnieper upon a raft formed of trunks of trees tied to-
gether with cords, and fcarcely large enough to receive the
carriage, which funk it fome inches under water ; this ma-
chine was then pullied from the banks until it met another
of the fame kind, to which the horfes ftepped with great
difficulty ; and the diftance of the two rafts from each
other was fo confiderable, that the carriage could fcarcely
be prevented from flipping between them and finking into
the river.

The fccond poll from this primitive ferry was Dogoro-
bufli, built upon a rifing hill, and exhibiting, like Smolenfko,
though upon a leffer fcale, an intermixture of churches,
houfes, cottages, corn-fields, and meadows ; fome of the
houfes, which had been lately confl:ru6ted at the empreflTes
expence, were of brick covered with fiucco, and had the
appearance of fo many palaces when contrafted with the
meannefs of the furrounding hovels. This place was for-
merly a Ib'ong fortrefs, and frequently befieged during the
wars between Ruflla and Poland : the ramparts and ditches
of the antient citadel ttill remain ; from them we com-
manded an extenfive view of the adjacent country, which
was a large plain watered by the winding Dnieper, and
bounded by diftant hills. From Dogorobufh we proceeded
about 24 miles to a fmall village called Zaratelli, where we
thought ourfelves very fortunate in being houfed for the
night in a tolerable hut, which afforded us a rare infi:ance
of accommodation in thefe parts, a room feparate from that
ufed by the family. Our hoftefs was a true Afiatic figure :

K k a flic

252

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK ftie had on a blue g;arment without fleeves, which defcended
. /' . to the ankles, and was tied round the waill with a red falh ;
file wore a white piece of linen wrapped round her head
like a turban, ear-rings, and necklace of variegated beads ;
her Ihoes were faftened with blue firings, which were alfo
bound round the ankles, in order to keep up the coarfe linen
wrappers which ferved for {lockings.

Auguft 27. Our route the next morning, from Zaratefh
to Viafma, lay through a continuity of forefl, occalionally
relieved by the intervention of paftures and corn-fields.
When we refledled that we were in the 55th degree of
northern latitude, we were furprized at the forwardnefs of
the harveft : the wheat and barley were aheady carried in,
and the peafants were employed in cutting the oats and
millet. Since our departure from Smolenfko the weather
had proved remarkably cold, and the wind had the keennefs
of a November blaft : the peafants were all clothed in their
Iheepflcins, or winter dreffes.

At a fmall diflance from Viafma we pafTed the rivulet of
the fame name, navigable only for rafts, which defcend its
flream into the Dnieper : we then mounted a fmall emi-
nence, on the top whereof Hands the town, making a mag-
nificent appearance with the domes and fpires of feveral
churches rifing above the trees. Viafma fpreads, in a broken
disjointed manner, over a large extent of ground : its build-
ings are moftly of wood, a few houfes of brick excepted,
which had lately been ered;ed by the munificence of the em-
prefs. Part of the principal ftreet is formed, like the
Iluflian roads, of the trunks of trees laid crofs-ways, and
part is boarded with planks like the floor of a room. It
contains above twenty churches, an aflonidiing number for
a place but thinly inhabited. The churches in thefe fmall

towns

J O U R N E Y T O M O S C O W. 2^,

towns and villages are moftly ornamented with a cupola and chap.
feveral domes : the outfide w^alls are either white-waflied or
painted red, and the cupolas or domes are generally of a
different colour from the other parts. At fome diftance the
number of fpires and domes rifing above the trees, which
conceal the contiguous hovels from view, w^ould lead a tra-
veller unacquainted with the country to expert a large city
in a place, where perhaps, upon nearer infpecStion, he will
only find a colledtion of wooden huts.

At Viafma was concluded, in 1634, the treaty of perpe-
tual peace between Ladiflaus IV. king of Poland, and Mi-
chael Feodorovitch : by this treaty Michael confirmed the
celTion of Smolenfko, Severia, and Tchernichef, w^hich had
been yielded to the Poles at the trace of Develina ; while
Ladiflaus renounced the title of Tzar, and acknowdedeed
Michael as the rightful fovereign of Ruflia •'••. On this occa-
fion both monarchs relinquiflied what they did not pofTefs ;•
and wifely facrificed imaginary pretenfions to the attain-
ment of a fubflantial peace.

The Ruffian peafants appeared in general a large coarfe
hardy race, and of great bodily ftrength. Their drefs is a
round hat or cap with a very high crown, a coarfe robe of-
drugget (or in winter of flieep-fkin with the wool turned
inwards) reaching below the knee, and bound round the-
waift by a fafli, trowfers of linen almoft as thick as fack-
cloth, a woollen or flannel cloth wrapped round the leg in---
ftead of ftockings ; fandals w^oven from ftrips of a pliant
bark, and faftened by firings of the fame materials, which
are afterwards twined round the leg, and ferve as garters
to the woollen or flannel wrappers. In warm ueather the

* Lengnich, Hift. Po!, p. 167.

peafants

2^54

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK peafants frequently wear only a fliort coarfe fliirt and

' — . — ' trowlers.

Their cottages are conftru6led in the fame manner as thofe
of Lithuania, but they are larger, and fomewhat better pro-
vided with furniture and domeftic utenlils : they are of a
fqnare fliape, and are formed of whole trees, piled upon one
another, and fecured at the four corners where their extre-
mities meet, with mortaifes and tenons. The interftices
between thefe piles are filled up with mofs. Within the
houfe the timbers are fmoothed with the axe, fo as to form
the appearance of wainfcot ; but without are left with the
bark in their rude ftate. The roofs are in the penthoufe
form, generally compofed of the bark of trees or fhingles,
which are fometimes covered with mould or turf. The
peafants ufually conftrudl the whole houfe folely with the
afTiftance of the hatchet, and cut the planks of the floor with
the fame inftrument, in many parts being unacquainted with
the ufe of the faw : they finilh the fliell of the houfe and the
roof, before they begin to cut the windows and doors. The
windows are openings of a few inches fquare, clofed with
Hiding frames ; and the doors are fo low as not to admit a
middle-fized man without ilooping.

Thefe cottages fometimes, though very rarely, confift of
two ftories ; in which cafe the lower apartment is a kind of
il:ore-room fortheirprovifions,quafs,&c. and the upper room
is the habitable part of the houfe ; the flair-cafe is moft
commonly a kind of ladder on the outfide ; moft of thefe
huts are, however, only one ftory in height ; a few of them
contain two rooms, the generality only one. In Ibme of this
latter fort I was frequently awakened by the chickens pick-
ing the grains of corn in the ftraw upon which I lay, and

JOURNEY TO MOSCOW. 255

more than once by a lefs inofFenfive animal. At Tabluka, chap.
a village, where we palTed the night of the 27th, a party nf. ' .
hogs gained admittance into the room at four in the morn-
ing, and roufed me by grunting clofe to my ear. Not much
pleafed either with the earlinefs of the vifit, or the faluta-
tion of my vifitors, I called out to my fervant, " Jofeph,
*' drive thefe gentry out of the room, and fliut the door."
" There is no door that will fliut," replied Jofeph with great
compofure, " we have tried every expedient to fatten it
" without fuccefs ; the hogs have more than once been
" excluded, but have as often returned. " This converfation
ib efFccftually roufed me, that 1 determined to refign to my
unwelcome guefts that litter which I could no longer enjoy
myfelf : I accordingly raifed myfelf from the ftraw^, and,
fitting down, contemplated by the light of a flip of deal the
fcene around me. My two companions were ftretched upon
the fame parcel of ftraw from which I had juft emerged ; a
httle beyond them our fervants occupied a feparate heap ;
at a fmall diftance three Ruffians, with long beards,
and coarfe fackcloth fliirts and trowfers, lay extended upon
their backs on the bare floor ; on the oppofite fide of the
room three women in their clothes fl umbered on a long
bench ; while th^ top of the ilove afforded a couch to a
woman dreffed like the others, and four fprawling children,
almoft naked.

The furniture in thefe cottages confifts chiefly of a
wooden table or dreffer, and benches faftened to the fides of
the room : the utenfils are platters, bowls, fpoons, Sec. all
made of wood, with perhaps one large earthen pan, in which
the family cook their vi<5tuals. The food of the peafants is
black-rye-bread, fometimes white, eggs, falt-fifli, bacon,
mufl:irooms ; their favourite dilh is a kind of hodge-podge

made

,^6 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

1300K made of fait, or fometimes frefli meat, groats, rye-flour,
, \"' , highly feafoned with onions and garhck, which latter ingre-
dients arc much ufed by the Ruffians.

The pealants feemed greedy of money, and almoft wholly-
demanded previous payment for every trifle %ve bought or
bargained for. They feemed alfo in general much inclined
to thieving. In Poland it was not neceflary to be always
upon the watch ; and we frequently left the equipage dur-
ing the whole night without any guard : but in this country,
without the precaution of regularly ftationing a fervant in
the carriage, every article would foon have difappeared ;
and even with this expedient, the watchfulnefs of our Jrgus
was continually baffled by the fuperior vigilance of the
natives ; and the morning generally announced fome petty
lofs, to which the night had given birth.

The peafants at every poll: were obliged to furnifli us
with horfes at a fixed and very reafonable rate, which had
one ill efFedt of rendering them extremely dilatory in their
motions ; and as our only interpreter was a Bohemian * fer-
vant, not perfedly acquainted with the Ruffian language, his
difficulty in explaining, joined to their backwardnefs in
execating our orders, occafioned our frequently waiting
feveral hours for a change of horfes. The peafants acted in
the capacity of coachmen and poftilions : they always har-
neffed four horfes a-breall, and commonly put eight, and
fometimes even ten horfes to our carriage, as the ftages were
for the moft part twenty, and fometimes even thirty miles in
length, and the roads extremely bad. They feldom ufed
cither boots or faddles, and had no fort of ftirrup, except a
rope doubled and thrown acrofs the horft's back. Each horfe
was equipped with a fnaffle-bridle, which however was fel-

* The Bohemiun and Ruffian languages are both dialeds of the Sclavonian tongue.

4 dom

J O U R N E Y T O M O S C O W. 257

dom inferted into the mouth, but was generally fuffered to chap.
hang loofe under his jaw. The general method of driving « — J — .
was not in a fteady pace, but by Harts and bounds, with
little attention to the nature of the ground : the peafants
feldom trotted their horfes ; they would fuddenly pufli them
forwards into a gallop through the worft roads, and fome-
times as fuddenly check their fpeed upon the moil level-
furface. A common piece of rope ferved them for a whip,
which they feldom had any occalion to ufe, as they urged
their horfes forwards by hooting and whiftling like cat-calls.
The intervals of thefe noiies were filled with Tinging, which
is a favourite pradtice among the Ruffians ; and has been
mentioned by moll: travellers who, for thefe two or three
laft centuries, have vifited this country, and which 1 fliall en-
large upon on a future occafion.

From the wretched harnefs, which was continually break-
ing, and required to be repeatedly adjufted, the badnefs of
the roads, the length of time we were always detained at
the pofts before we could procure horfes, and other necef-
fary impediments, we were feldom able to travel more than
forty or fifty miles a day, although we commenced our jour-- -
ney before fun-rife, and purfued it till it was quite dark.

Augufl 2,7. Near Viafraa we^ entered the vaft foreft of
Volkonfki, through which we conhnued for 150 miles with-
out interruption almoft to the gates of Mofcow. This forefi','
which ftretches on all fides to an immenfe extent, gives rife
to the principal rivers of European Ruliia, the Dun a, the-
Dnieper, and the Volga. The fources of the Buna- were at'
fome diftance from our route ; but thofe of the Dnieper and
the Volga rofe at fmall intervals from each other, not far from-
Viafma. The country in this part was more than ufual;,

Vol. I. LI ' brokeiife .

Z58 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK broken into hill and dale ; though ftill it exhibited rather
V -/ _f a fucceffion of waving furface, than any confiderable ele-
vations.

On the a 8th we arrived at the village of Gretkeva towards
the clofe of the evening, and imprudently proceeded on our
journey another ftage of eighteen miles : the evening fat
in exceedingly dark, cold, and rainy ; the road was uncom-
monly bad, and we were in continual apprehenfions of being
overturned. The greateft danger, however, which we en-
countered, was unknown to us until we arrived at the end
of the llation : we were then informed by our fervants, that
we had adtuallycrolTed a broad piece of water upon a wooden
bridge without railing, fo infirm that it almolt cracked un-
der the carriage, and fo narrow that one of the hind-wheels
was for an inilant abfolutely fufpended over the precipice be-
neath. Our ufual good fortune brought us fafe between
twelve and one to a cottage at Mofliaiik, where we found an
excellent ragout of beef and onions prepared for us by the
trufty fervant, who always preceded us, and provided our
lodging and fupper. I have little to fay of Moiliaifk, as we
entered it at fo late an hour, and departed the next morning
by day-break. We changed horfes at the village of Selo-
Naro, and arrived early in the evening at Malo-a-Viafma,
embofomed in the foreft, and pleafantly fituated at the edge
of a fmall lake. This place was diftant only 24 miles from
Mofcow, where we were impatient to arrive ; but we pru-
dently deferred our iourney until the next morning, as we
did not chufe to tempt fortune again by expoling ourfelves
a fecond time to dangers in a dark and in an unknown
country.

The road for fome way before we came to Malo-a-Viafma,

and from thence to Mofcow, was for the whole fpace a broad

4 ftraight

JOURNEYTOMOSCOW. 2^9

ftraight avenue cut through the foreft. The trees, which chap.
compofed thefe vaft plantations, fet by the hand of Nature, ' — r— '
were oaks, beech, mountain-alli, poplar, pines and firs,
mingled together in the mofl; wanton variety. The different
fliades of green, and the rich tints of the autumnal colours,
were inexpreffibly beautiful ; while the fublime, but uni-
form expanfe of foreft was occafionally relieved by receffes
of paftures and corn-fields.

, L 1 2 CHAP.

[ 26o ]

.III.

<i I! A P. II.

Jrrlval at Mofcow. — Hijlory of its origin and pyogrefs.'-~>
.Removal of the feat of empire to Peterlburgh. — Gejieral
and particular defcription of Mofcow. — Its divijions.-—^
Kremlin. — Khitaigorod. — Bielgorod. — Semlainigorod.
— '7'be Sloboda, or fuburbs, — 'New palace-gardens. — Old
Jlyle. — Hofpitality of the Ruffian nobles. — Polite attentions
of PrinceYoYk-oniki. — Account o/Mr.Muller the celebrated
hifiorian. — Anniverfary of St. Alexander NevfK.i. — Cere-
monies of theday. — Entertainments at Count Alexey Orlof s.
— hisflud, — Boxing Matches. — Vauxhall, ^c.

BOOK A UGUST 30. Our approach to Mofcow was firft aii-
-^ -^ nounced about the diltance of fix miles by fome fpires,
which over-topped an eminence at the end of the broad
avenue cut through the foreft : about two or three miles
further we afcended an height, from whence a moft fuperb
profpeifl of the vafl; city burll upon our fight. It lay in the
form of a crefcent, and ftretched to a prodigious extent,
while innumerable churches, towers, gilded fpires and domes,
%vhite, red, and green buildings glittering in the fian, formed
a moft fplendid appearance, yet ftrangely contrafted by an
intermixture of numberlefs wooden hovels. The neighbour-
ing country was undulating ; the foreft reached to within a
mile of the ramparts, when it was fucceeded by an open
range of paftures without enclofures. We croffed the river
Mofkva over a raft floating upon the water, and faftened to

each

MOSCOW. 261

each bank, which the Ruffians call a living-bridge, from its chap.
bending under the carriage. After a ftri6t examination r>f. ' .
our pafsport, being permitted to enter the gates, we drove
through the fuburbs for a confiderable way along a wooden
road, entered one of the interior circles of the town, called
Bielgorod, and took up our quarters at an inn kept by a
Frenchman, at which fome of the nobility hold aflem-
blies. Our apartments were convenient and fpacious ; we
alfo found every accommodation in abundance, except beds
and flieets ; for as no one thinks of travelling in this country
without thofe articles, inns are feldom provided with them.
With much trouble, however, w^e were able to obtain from
our landlord two bedileads with bedding, and one matrafs to
place upon the floor ; but we could not procure more than
three fheets, one whereof fell to my fhare : we had been fo
long accuftomed to lleep in our clothes upon ftraw, that we
thought ourfelves in a ftate of unheard-of luxury, and bleifed
ourfelves for our good fortune.

Mofcow, called by the natives Mofkva, is not fo antient as
Novogorod, Kiof, Volodimir, and Tver, which towns had
been the relidence of the Pvuffian fovereigns before this city
exirtcd. The antiquarians of this country differ confiderably
in their opinions concerning the fnil foundation of Mofcow ;
the following relation is generally efteemed by the beft au-
thors the molt probable account •'••.

Kiof was the metropolis, when George fon of Volodimir
Monomaka afcended in 1 1 54 the Ruffian throne. That mo-
narch, being infulted in a progrefs through his dominions
by a rich and powerful nobleman named Stephen Kutchko,
put him to death, and confifcated his domains, which con-

* See Sumorokors Kleine Chronik Von iMofcau it; St. Pet, Journal for 17^6 ; and
Soherebatpf's Ruff. Gef. p. 736.

fifted

263 TRAVEL S'INTORUSSI A.

BOOK fifted of the lands now occupied by the city of Mofcow, nod
'the adjacent territory. Pleafed with the fituatioii of the
o^round lying at the confluK of the Moikva and Neglina, he
kid the foundation of a new town, which he called Mofkva
from the river of that n-ame. Upon the demife of George,
the new town was not negleded by his fon Andrew, who
ti-ansferred the feat of empire from Kiof to Volodimir ; but
it fell into fuch decay under his immediate fuccefTors, that
when Daniel, fon of Alexander Nevflci, received, in the divi-
fion of the empire, the duchy of Mufcovy as his portion,
and fixed his refidence upon the conflux of the Mofkva and
Neglina, he may be faid to have new founded the town. The
fpot now occupied by the Kremlin, was at that time over-
fpread with a thick wood and a morafs ; in the midft where-
of was a fmall ifland, containing a fingle wooden hut. Upon
this part Daniel conftruded churches and monafteries, and
various buildings, and enclofed it with wooden fortifications;
he firll alTumed the title of duke of Mofcow ; and was fo
attached to this fituation, that when, in 1304, he fucceeded
his brother Andrew Alexandrovitch in the great duchy of
Volodimir, he did not remove his court to Volodimir, but
continued his refidence at Mofcow, which then became the
capital of the Ruffian dominions. His fucceffors followed
his example ; among whom his fon Ivan confiderably en-
larged the new metropolis ; and in 1367 his grandfon De-
metrius Ivanovitch Donfki furrounded the Kremhn with a
brick-wall. Thefe new fortifications, however, were not
ftrong enough to prevent Tamerlane, in 1382, from taking
the town after a fliort fiege *. Being foon evacuated by that
dcfultory conqueror, it came into the poffeffion of the Ruf-

* S.R. G. V. ll.p. 93.

iians ;

MOSCOW.

263

fians ; but was frequently invaded and occupied by the Tar- chap.
tars, who. in the 14th and 1 5th centuries over-ran the greateft < — ^
jDart of Ruflla ; and who even maintained a garrifon in Mof-
cow, until they were finally expelled by Ivan ValTilievitch I.
To him Mofcowis indebted for its principal fplendour ; and
under him it became the principal and moft confiderable city
of the Ruffian empire.

The Baron of Herberftein, who in the beginning of the
lixteenth century was embaffador from the emperor Maxi-
milian to the great-duke Vaffili, fon of the above-mentioned
Ivan Vaffilievitch, is the firit foreign writer who has given a
defcription of Mofcow, which he accompanied with a coarfe
engraving of the town in wood •••. In this curious, but rude
plan, we may diiliinguiih the walls of the Kremlin, or citadel,
in their prefent ftate, and we may recognize feveral of the
public buildings, which even now contribute to its ornament.
From this period we are able to trace its fubfequent progrefs
and gradual increafe under the fucceeding fovereigns in the
accounts of feveral EngUIlif and foreign | writers, who, fmce
Herberftein, have publiflied their travels into thefe parts.

Mofcow continued the metropolis of Ruffia until the be-
ginning of the prefent century ; when, to the great diffa-
tisfadtion of the nobility, but with great advantage, probably,
to the ftate, the feat of empire was transferred to Peterf-
burgh.

Notwithftanding the predile<flion which Peter conceived
for Peterftjurgh, in which all the fucceeding fovereigns, ex-
cepting Peter II. have fixed their refidence, Mofcow is ftill
the moft populous city of the Ruffian empire. Here the chief

* See Rer. Mof. Com. in Rer. Mof. Aiift. Perry, Bruce, &c.

f Chiefly Chancellor Fletcher, Smith, :t^ Poffevinns, IMargaret, PetreiuG, Olea.
the author of Lord Carlifle's EmbaiTy, rius, Mayerberg, Le Bruyn, &c.

nobles

2^4 T R A V E L S I N T O R U S S I A.

BOOK nobles who do not belong to the court of the emprefs refide;
V /■ they here fupport a larger number of retainers ; they love
to gratify their tafte for a ruder and more expenfive mag-
nificence in the antient flyle of feudal grandeur ; and are
nor, as at Peterfburgh, eclipfed by the fuperior fplendour of
the court.

Mofcow is fituated in 37' 31''' degree of longitude from
the firft meridian of Greenwich, and in 55' 45'' 45"' of
northern latitude.

It is certainly the largeft town in Europe ; its circumfe-
rence within the rampart, which enclofes the fuburbs, being
exadly 39 verfts, or 26 miles -:■■•; but it is built in fo ftrag-
gling and disjointed a manner, that its population in no de-
o-ree correfponds to its extent. Some Ruffian authors ftate
its inhabitants at 500,000 fouls ; a number evidently exag-
gerated. Bufching, who refided fome years in Ruffia, fays
that in 1770 Mofcow contained 708 brick-houfes, and
11,840 wooden habitations; 85,731 males and 67,059
females, in all only 152,790 fouls ; a computation which
feems to err in the other extreme t.

According to an account publiflied in the Journal of St.
PeterfDurgh Xi the diftridl of Mofcow contained, in the be-
ginning of 1780, 2178 hearths ; and the number of inha-
bitants were 137,698 males, and 134,918 females, in all
27 2,6 1 6 fouls. In the courfe of that fame year the deaths
amounted to 3702, and the births to 8621 ; and in the end,
the population of the diftrict was found to be 140,143
males, and 137,392 females, in all 277,535 fouls.

• Its circumference is nearly equal to p. 243.
that of PeVin, which, including its fuburbs, f Bufching'sNeue Erdbefchreibung. V. I.

meafures 40 verfts, or ;6 miles and three- p. 841. Edit. 1777.
quarters. Journal of St. Pet. April, 1775, J For 1781, p. 200.

This

MOSCOW. £65

This computation is certainly more to be depended upon chap.
than either of the others ; and its truth has been recently ^ / _»
confirmed to me by an Englifli gentleman lately returned
from Mofcow, who made this topic the fubje6t of his in-
quiries. According to his account, which he received from
the lieutenant of the police *,

Mofcow contains within the ramparts 250,000 fouls.
And in the adjacent villages 50,000

If I was ftruck with the Angularity of Smolenfko, I was
all aftonifhment at the immenfity and variety of Mofcow«
Something fo irregular, fo uncommon, fo extraordinary, and
fo contrafted, never before fell under my obfervation. The
Itreets are in general exceedingly long and broad : fome of
them are paved ; others, particularly thofe in the fuburbsj
are formed with trunks of trees, or are boarded with planks
like the floor of a room ; wretched hovels are blended with
large palaces ; cottages of one llory ftand next to the moft
fuperb and ftately manfions. Many brick ftrudlures are co-
vered with wooden tops ; fome of the wooden houfes are
painted, others have iron doors and roofs. Numerous churches
prefented themfelves in every quarter built in a peculiar ftyle
of architedlure ; fome with domes of copper, others of tin,
gilt or painted green, and many roofed with wood, hi a
word, fome parts of this vaft city have the look of a fequef-
tered defert, other quarters of a populous town, fome of a
contemptible village, others of a great capital.

Mofcow may be confidered as a town built upon the Afiatic
model, but gradually becoming more and more European ;
and exhibiting in_ its prefent ftate a motley mixture of dif-

* This computation may be relied upon, exa<5t an eflimate as pofliblc of the number
For as a new aqueduft near Mofcow was of inhabitants, in order to regulate the iie«
juft finiflied, it was neceflary to form as ceffary fupply of water for each family.

Vol. I. M m cordant

266 T Pv A V E L S I N T O R U S S I A.

BOOK corcbnt architedure. It is diftiibuted into the following
> ,' - divifiT^ng I. Kremlin. i. Khitaigorod. 3. Bielgorod.
4. Semlainogorod. 5. Sloboda ; which, for want of a more
precife term, I fliall call the fuburbs.

I. The Kremlin was probably thus denominated by the
Tartars when they were in poffelTion of Mofcow, from the
word Krem, or Krim, which fignifies a fortrefs : it ftands
in the central and higheft part of the city, near the conflux
of the Molkva and Neglina, which wafli two of its fides, is
of a triangular form, and about two miles in circumference.
It is furrounded by high walls of ttone and brick, which
were conftruiled by Peter Solarius, a celebrated archite6\ of
Milan, in the year 1491, under the reign of Ivan Vaflilie-
vitch I. as appears from the following curious infcription
over one of the gates.

" Joannes Vafihi Dei Gracia Magnus Dux Volodimeriae
" Mofcovice Novogardie Tiferioe Plefcovice Veticie
" Ongarie Permiie Buolgarie et Aliar. Totius Q.
" Raxioe Dominus Anno Tertio Imperii Sui Has
'" Turres Condere Fet. Statuit Petrus Antonides Sola-
" rius Mediolanenfis annoNat. Domini. 149 1. K.Julii."
The reader will doubtlefs be as much furprized as I
was to ' find that the Tzars employed foreign architedls at
fo early a period of their hiftory, before their country
was fcarcely known to the reft of Europe. The Kremlin
is not disfigured by wooden houfes*, and contains the antient
palace of the Tzars, feveral churches, two convents, the pa-
triarchal palace, the arfenal now in ruins, and one private
houfe, which belonged to Boris Godunof before he was
raifed to the throne.

* See the next Chapter, where fome of thefe buildings are dcftribed.

2. The

M O S C O \V.- 257

1- The fecond divifioii is called Khitaic^orod, a term con- chap.

jeilured by fome etymologirts tb imply the Chinefe town > ,-__^

Voltaire, in his Hiilory of Peter the Great, peremptorily fup-
ports this opinion, when he calls Khitaigorod' " La partie
** appellee la ville Ghinoile, ou les raretes de la chine s'etrJ--
" laient*." But it may be remarked, that this divifion of
Jvlofcovv bore its prefent appellation long before any con-
neilion v/as opened between the Ruffians and Chinefe ; and
the beft hiftorians of this country, without pretending to af-
certain its original fignification, fuppofe the word Cathay or
Khitai to have been introduced by the Tartars when they
had poUeffion of Mofcow ••• : in proof of this conjecfture, it i-s
alledged, that there is a town in the Ukraine called Khitai-
gorod, and another of the fame name in Podolia ; both which
countries, though entirely unknown to the Chinefe, have
been either over-run or inhabited by Tartars.

The Khitaigorod is inclofed on one fide by- that wall of
the Kremlin which runs from the Mofkva to the Neglina-;
and on the other fide by a brick wall of inferior height. It
is much larger than the Kremlin, and contains the univerfityy .
the printing-houfe, and many other public buildings, and all
the tradefiiiens' Ihops. The edifices are moftly fi:uccoed or
white-waflied ; and it has the only fl:reet in Mofcow in which
the houfes ftand clofe to one another without ajiy intervals^
between them.

3. The Bielgorod, or White Town, which nms quite
round the two preceding divifions, is fuppofed to derive its
name from a white wall with which it was formerly en--
dofed, and of which fome remains are ftill to be feen.

* S.R. G. V. 8. p. 538— .541*

Mm a 4. Sem«-

:6S TRAVELS INTORUSSI A.

BOOK A Semlainofzorod, which environs all the three other

Til

—V—' quarters, takes its denomination from a circular rampart of
earth with which it is encompaffed. Thefe two laft men-
tioned divifions exhibit a grotefque group of churches, con-
vents, palaces, brick and wooden houfes, and mean hovels,
in no degree fuperior to peafants cottages.

5. The Sloboda, or Suburbs, from a vaft exterior circle
round all the parts already defcribed, and are invefled with
a lovv rampart and ditch. Thefe fuburbs contain, befide
buildings of all kinds and denominations, corn-fields, much
open pafture, and fome fmall lakes, which give rife to the
Neglina.

The MoiT^va, from which the city takes its name, flows
through it in a winding channel ; but, excepting in Spring,
is only navigable for rafts. It receives the Yaufa in the
Semlainogorod and the Neglina at the weitern extremity of
the Kremlin ; the beds of both thefe laft-mentioned rivulets
are, in fummer, little better than dry channels.

The morning after our arrival we ordered our Ruffian
fervant to hire a carriage for our ufe during our ftay at
Molcow : the equipage he procured was a chariot and four
horfes of different colours ; the coachman and portilion
were drefled like the peafants, with high cylindrical hats ;
the former, with a long beard and flieep-ikin robe, fat upon
the box ; the latter, in a coarfe drugget garb, was mounted
upon the off horfe, according to the cuftom of this country.
Behind the carriage was an enormous fack of hay : upon
expreffing fome furprize at this appendage, we were inform-
ed, that almoft every carriage at Mofcow is provided with , a
viaticum of this fort, which, while the mafter is paying his
vifirs, or is at dinner, is occafionally given to the horfes.
a Some

M O S C O W.

209

Some refrefliments of this kind, indeed, feemed abfolutely chap,

neceflary, as our horfes never faw the ftable from the time < ^-

of leaving it in the morning, until they returned to it in the
evening, or at midnight ; and were kept during that interval,
like thofe of our hackney-coaches, in the ftreets. During
our continuance in tliis city we, not uncommonly, perceived
about dinner-time, in the court-yards of thofe houfes where
we dined, many horfes without bridles, and unharneffed
from the refpe6live carriages, browfing upon their portable
provender ftrewed upon the ground ; with them were inter-
mixed different parties of coachmen and poftilions, who at
the fame time gratified the calls of hunger upon a repaft
ready prepared,, like that of their cattle, and which too re-
quired as little ceremony in ferving up. The frequency of
thefe objedts foon rendered them familiar to us ; and we
ceafed to look upon our trufs of hay as an excrefcence.

The firft vifit we made of our new equipage was to con-
vey us to our banker, who lived at the furthefl: extremity
of one of the fuburbs, about the diftance of four miles from
our inn. Our coachman drove us through the town with
great expedition, generally in a brific trot, and frequently a
full gallop) without any diftindlion of paved or boarded
flreets. Having fettled our bvifinefs with the banker, who
was our countryman, and who obligingly furnilhed us with a
large colledion of Englifh news-papers, we crofled the Yaufa
over a raft-bridge to a palace, which was conftruc5led for the
accommodation of the prefent emprefs,- whenever Ihe may
chufe to vifit Mofcow : this palace was not) according to our
ordinary acceptation of the word, a fingle ftruiture, but, in
the true ftyle of Afiatic grandeur, a vaft affemblage of nu-
merous buildings diilributed into feveral ftreets, and bearing
Jhe appearance of a moderate town. The bafe of all thefe

buildings

270 TRAVELSINTOE.USSIA.

BOOK buildings is of ftone, but of fo foft a nature, that it feemed
III. '-'

fcarcely adequate to the fupport of the fuperftru6lure ; the

bricks ufed for the remainder of the fabric were fo indif-
ferently prepared, that they crumbled at the touch : nor did
the workmanlhip exceed the materials ; for it was obvious
to the moil carelefs obferver, that the walls were in many
l^laces out of the perpendicular line.

1 was artonifhed upon obferving, that the greatefl part of
the timber, ufed in the conftru6lion of thefe vaft piles of
building, no lefs than ordinary cottages, was fafliioned with
the axe. Though I often faw the carpenters at w^ork, I
never once perceived a faw in their hands : they cut the trees
through with the axe ; they hewed planks with the axe ;
they fornied the beams, and fitted them together with the
axe. With this fimple engine they mortaifed and tenanted
the fmalleft as well as the largeft pieces of w^ood ; and
fmoothed the boards for the floor with the niceft exadtnefs.
The dexterity, indeed, and juftnefs with which they ma-
naged this inftrument was wonderful; but its tedious mode of
operation muft evidently occafion a prodigious wafte of la-
bour and wood.

The gardens, which belonged to the old palace, built by
Elizabeth near the fpot where the prefent ftruilure was
eredling, are ftill retained : they are of confiderable extent,
and contained fome of the beft gravel-w^alks I have feen fince
my departure from England. In fome parts the grounds
were laid out in a plealing and natural manner ; but in ge-
neral the old ftyle of gardening prevailed, and continually
prefented us with rows of chipped yew-trees, long llraight
canals, and a profufion of prepofterous flatues. Hercules
was prefiding at a fountain, with a retinue of gilded Cupids,
dolphins, and lamias ; every little ilru61ure was a pantheon ;

and

MOSCOW.

271

and every grove wns haunted by its Apollos and Dianas ; chap.
but the principal deity in the place feemed to be a female * — ,—
figure holding a cornucopia reverfed, which, inftead of dif-
tributing, as ufual, all kinds of fruit, grain, and flowers,
poured out crowns, coronets, and mitres. But the reign
of all thefe deities was doomed to be very fliort ; under the
aufpices of her prefent majeily all thefe inifances of grotefque
tafte were to be removed, and give place to more natural
ornaments. This palace and gardens are at the extremity
of the fuburbs, within the compafs of the. exterior rampait
which encircles the whole town.

We foon ceafed to be furprized that our carriage Avas pro-
vided with four horfes, nothing being more common than
to meet the equipages of the nobility with complete fets,
driving merely about the ftreets of Mofcow. As the city is
of fo large a compafs, a great number of hackney-carriages
are ftationed in the ftreets for the convenience of carry! n '7
paffengers to the different quarters. Thefe vehicles arc
without tops, have moftly four wheels, and are provided
either with a long bench, or one, tv/o, or three feparate feats,
like arm-chairs, placed fide-ways : their fares are fo realbh-
abie, that fervants occalionally ufe them upon errands to
diftant parts of the city. The coachman generally drives
a full trot at the rate of eight or nine miles in an hour.

September i. This morning we received a card of in-
vitation from Count Ofterman, governor of Mofcow, to
dinner for the 23d of Auguft; but, as it was the ift of
September, our fervant, who took the meflage, came
laughing into the room, and informed us, that we were in-
vited to an entertainment which was paft ; he added, that he
had endeavoured to convince the perfon who brouo;ht the
card of the miftake ; but the man inlifted that the enfuing

day

27^ TRAVELSINTO RUSSIA.

BOOK (]^y ^yj^s the 23d of Anguft. It was indeed a natural miftake
' / in our fervant, who did not know that the Ruffians ftill ad-
hered to the old ftyle; and as he had pafTed the 23d of Au-
guft in Lithuania, it is no wonder that he was furprized at
finding it again fo foon at Mofcow.

Until the reign of Peter the Great the Ruffians began their
year in September, and dated their sera from the creation of
the world *, and not from the nativity of our Saviour. In
1700 Peter inftituted a grand jubilee at Mofcow, and ordained,
that from that period the year fhould commence in January,
and be computed from the Chriftian aera, according to the
old ftyle then in ufe in England. Out of veneration to his
memory no alteration has been fmce made in the Ruffian
calendar; fo that at prefent Ruffia, and fome of the pro-
teftant Swifs republics, are the only European nations who
ftill retain the old ftyle.

The fame morning we carried a letter of recommendation
from count Stakelbergh, the Ruffian embaflador atWarfaw,to
prince Volkonfki governor of the province, who received us
with great franknefs and cordiality, and immediately invited
us to dinner, defiring us to confider his table as ours as long as
we continued at Mofcow. The prince is in his 67th year, and
remembered, when he was about thirteen, to have {cen Peter
the Great; whom he defcribed as very tall, above fix feet in
height, ftrong and well made, with his head flouching and
awry, of a dark complexion, and a countenance continually
fubjeit to diftortions; he was generally drefled in his blue uni-
form, or a plain brown coat, was remarkable for the finenefs of
his linen, wore his ftiort black hair without powder, and whifk-
ers. The prince amufed us with relating feveral curious anec-

* They reckoned alfo, according to the opinion of the Greeks, 5508 years, inftead
of only 3369, from the crtation to the nativity.

4 dotes

MOSCOW.

273

dotes of that great monarch, and, amongft others, the fol- chap.
lowing, which lie received from prince Menzikof. < — . — 1

After the battle of Pultava, while prince Volkonfki, the
father of our noble hoft, was following Charles XII. with a
corps of light horfe, and was at no great diftance from him,
an aicl-de-camp brought an order from Menzikof to halt :
he obeyed, but difpatched a meilenger to acquaint the prince,
that he was purfuing the king of Sweden with the fairelt
profpesft of over-taking him. Menzikof was greatly afto-
nillied at this meilage, as no orders for difcontinuing the
purfuit had ifTucd from him : and his fuppofed aid-de- camp
who delivered them was never difcovered. As Peter, when
informed of this tranfadion, inftituted no inquiry concerning
the perfon who had probably prevented the capture of his
moft formidable rival, it is fufpedled that the flratagem was
contrived by himfelf, in order to avoid being embarrafled
with a prifoner, whom he would be unwilling either to re-
leafe, or to detain long in captivity.

Nothing can exceed the hofpitality of the Ruffians. We
could never pay a morning vifit to any nobleman without
being detained to dinner ; we alfo conftantly received feveral
general invitations ; but as we confidered them in the light
of mere compliments, we were unwilling to intrude
ourfelves without further notice. We foon found, how-
ever, that the principal perfons of diftindion kept open
tables, and were highly obliged at our reforting to them
without ceremony. Prince Volkonlki in particular, having
cafually difcovered that we had dined the preceding day at
our inn, politely upbraided us ; repeating his afliirances, that
his table was ours, and that whenever we were not particu-
larly engaged, he fhould always expedt us for his guefts.
Vol. I. N n Indeed

2 74

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK Indeed the ftron^^ert expreffions can fcarcely do juftice to the

! ■ 1 o J. • -

_— V— ' attention and kindnefs of this excellent nobleman : not con-
tent with admitting us to his table without form, he was
anxious that our curiofity fliould be gratified with the fight
of every remarkable obje(ft at Mofcow ; he ordered his aid-de-
camp to accompany us to different parts of the city ; and as
we were extremely defirous to become acquainted with Mr.
Mulier, the celebrated hiitorian of this country, he one day
invited that refpectable old gentleman to meet us at dinner.

Gerard Frederick Mulier, a native of Germany, was born,
in 1705, at Herforden, in the circle of Wefiphalia. He
came into RuIIia during the reign of Catharine I. ; and was
not long afterwards admitted into the Imperial Academy of
Sciences, of which fociety he is one of the moft antient
members, hi 1 7 3 1, foon after the acceflion of the emprefs
Anne, he commenced, at the expence of the crown, his
travels over European Ruflia, and into the extreme parts of
Siberia. He was abfent feveral years upon this expedition ;
and did not return to Peterfbuigh until the reign of Elifa-
beth. The prefent emprefs, an able judge and rewarder of
merit, conferred upon him a very ample falary, and appointed
him counfcllor of ftate and keeper of the archives at Mofcow,
where he has refidtd about fixteen years. He collecfted,
during his travels, the moft ample materials for the hifiiory
and geography of this extenfive empire, which was fcarccly
known to the Ruflians themfelves, before his valuable re-
fearches were given to the world in various publications.
His principal work is a " Colle6lion of RuiTian Hiftories *,"
in nine volumes o6favo, printed at different intervals at the
prefs of the Imperial Academy of Sciences. The firft part

* SamlungRuffifcherGefchicbte.

came

M O S C O W. ?,7?

came oiit in 1732, and the laft made its appearance in I7'64. chap.

This ftore-boufc of information and Uterature, in regard to. ^^

the antiquities, hiilory, geography, and commerce of Ruffia,
and many of the neighbouring countries, conveys the moft
indifputable proofs of the author's learning, diUgence, and
fidelity. To this work the accurate and indefatigable writer
has fucceflively added many other valuable performances
upon fimilar fubjedts, both in the German and Rufllan
languages, which elucidate various parts in the hiftory of
this empire.

Mr. Muller fpeaks and writes the German, Ruffian, French,
and Latin tongues with furprizing fluency^ and reads the
Englilli, Dutch, Swedifli, Danifh, and Greek with great fa-
cility. His memory is ftill furprizing ; and his accurate ac-
quaintance with the minuteft incidents of the Ruffian annals
almoft fupaffes belief.

At the conclulion of the dinner at prince Volkonfki's, I
had the pleafure of accompanying this eminent hiftorian to *
his houfe, and palled Ibme hours in his library. He poflelTes
molt of the books in the different languages of modern Eu-
rope which treat of Ruffia : the Engliih writers who have
written upon this country are far more nvimerous than I
imagined. His colle6lion of ftate-papers and manufcripts
are invaluable : they are all arranged in the exadleft order,
and clalTed into feveral volumes, diilirguiflied by the names
of thofe illuftrious perfonages to whom they principally
relate ; fuch as Peter I. Catharine I. Menzikof, Ofterman,
Sec. =^

* The emprefs has lately purchafed tin's arranging and printing;, at her expence, a

fine colltilioa of books and manufcripts for CoUeLfion of Treaties between Ruffia and

^2000. Bachmeifter RulT. Bib. for 1781, the other powers, in the form of Diimont't

]). 554. This great patronefs of letters has Corps Diplomatique,
configned to INIr. Muller the charge of

N n 2 Every

2-jS TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK Every lover of literature muft regret, that Mr. Muller,,
.^ ^' . who is admirably qualiikd for the tailc, has not favoured
the publick with a regular, unbroken hiftory of this
country ; but^ on account of his advanced age, an un-
dertaking of this kind, although all the materials are
already prepared, cannot be expe6led from him : he muft
therefore confign to others the ufe of thofe papers, which
he has fo diligently accumulated. He will, however, always
be confidered as the great father of Ruffian hiftory, as well
from the excellent fpecimens he himfelf has produced, as
from the vaft fund of information which he bequeaths to
future hiftorians.

Sept. lo. This day being facred to Alexander Nevfki, a
faint highly revered by the Ruffians, and in whofe honour
an order of knighthood is inftituted, was kept with great
folemnity and magnificence. Service was performed in the
principal churches of Mofcow with all the pageantry pecu-
liar to the Greek religion ; and the governor of the pro-
vince gave a fplendid entertainment, to which the principal
nobility and clergy of this city were invited. As ftrangers
we were defirous of obferving the ceremonies of the day,
and by the attention of our acquaintance our curiofity was
amply gratified. But before I proceed to give a defcription
of what occurred upon this occafion, it may be neceffiiry to
premife a fliort account of the faint who gave rife to this
feftival, and who, though adored by the Ruffians, is fcarcely
known beyond the limits of this country.

Alexander Neviki, a name more refpeitable than mofl: of
the faints who fill the Ruffian Calendar, was fon of the great-
duke Yaroflaf, and flouriffied in the beginning of the 13th
century^, at a period when his country had been reduced to

the

MOSCOW. 277

the utmoft extremity by a combination of formidable ene- chap.
mies. He repulfed an army of Swedes and Teutonic knights,
and wounded the king of Sweden with his own hand on the
bank of the Neva, from whence he obtained the appellation
of Nevflvi. He defeated the Tartars in feveral engage-
ments, and delivered his country from a difgraceful tribute
impofed by the fucceflbrs of Zinghis Khan. His li^e feems
to have been almoft one continued fcene of adlion ; and he
Ihewed fuch prowefs, and performed fuch almoft incredible
afts of valour, that it is no wonder ignorant and fuperftitious
people fliould confider him as a' fuperior being, and fhould
coniecrate his memory ; indeed, of all idolatry, that which
is paid to real merit, and in gratitude for real fervices, is the •
moft natural, and the moft excufable. He died about the
year i 262 at Gorodetz near Niflmei Novogorod. The great
fuperiority of his chara61:er w^s evinced, as well by vidtories
which diftinguifiied the Ruffian arms during his life, as by
the nvimerous defeats which immediately took place on his
deceafe.

The morning of this anniverfary was ufhered in by the
ringing of bells uncommonly loud; inceflant peals refounded
in every quarter of the city, but more particularly in the
Kremlin, which contains the principal churches and the
largeft bells. Before eleven we paid our refpedts to prince
Volkoniki, who, as governor of the province of Mofcow,
had a levee : he w ore the red ribband of the order of St.
Alexander, and received the compliments of the principal
nobility and gentry. From the levee we repaired to the
cathedral of St. Michael, and were prefent at high mafs, per-
formed by the archbifhop of Roftof. The church was filled
with fuch an immenfe concourfe of people, that it was with
the utmoft difficulty we could penetrate to the bottom of the.

fteps^ •

.78 T R A V E L S I N T O R U S S I A.

BOOK fteps leading to the llirine, at the top of which the bifhop
V— -v-^ilood whenever he came forth to addrefs the congregation.
The confufion arifing from the croud, and the rapid fuccef-
ifion of various ceremonies, fo diftraded our attention, as to
-render us incapable of difcriminating the different parts of
-the fervice. We could only obferve in general a great dif-
.play of pomp and fplendour, and many ceremonies limilar to
thofe defcribed on a former occafion ''", with the addition of
ieveral others appropriated to the greater feftivals of the
Ruffian church.

At the conclufion of the fervice, which lafted two hours,
we returned to prince Volkonfki's, where about ninety per-
fons were aflembled at an entertainment given in honour
of the day : when the archbifliop of Roftof entered the
room, the prince rofe to meet him at the door, and kiffed his
hand after the archbifliop had made the lign of the crofs ; he
paid the fame mark of refpeft to two other bifliops ; and the
greateft part of the company fucceffively followed the
prince's example. Being prefented to the archbifliop, I had
the honour of holding a long converfation with him in the
Latin tongue, which he fpoke with great fluency. He ap-
peared to be a fcnfible well-informed man, and well verfed
in various branches of literature : he had perufed the works
of feveral of our belt divines, either originally written, or
tranflated into Latin, and mentioned their compofitions with
great applaufc. I troubled him with feveral queftions re-
lative to the fervice of the Ruffian church, which he an-
iwered with great readinefs and condefcenfion. He told me
that the Bible is tranflated into Sclavonian, and that the li-
turgy is written in that language, which is the mother-tongue

• f. 346.

MOSCOW. 27$

of the Ruffian ; and that therefore the ftyle of the facred chap.
writings, though fomewhat antient and obfelete, is yet v /-.<
underftood without much difficulty even by the com-
mon people. He informed me, that the clergy are divided
into fecular and regular priefts : that the latter, from whom
are chofen the dignitaries of the church, are not permitted
to marry ; 'hat the feculars are the parifli-priefts, and from
a literal obfervation of St. Paul's precept, " the hufband of
^ one wife," are required as a quaUfication for orders to
marry ; and that, on the fpirit of the fame tenet, are aftep
the death of their wives deemed unfit for the facred fundtionr
The incapacitation arifmg from widowhood may, indeed, be
healed by the bifliop's difpenfition •■■ ; but the operation of
a fecond marriage is final, and irrevocably divorces from the
altar. The archbifhop was politely continuing to acquaint
me with many other circumtlances peculiar to their eccleli-
aftical eftabhfhment, when the converfation was interrupted
by a fummons to dinner. Before dinner a fmall table in the
corner of the withdrawing-room, as is the ufual cuftom in
this country, had been covered with plates of caviare, red-
herring, bread, butter, and cheefe, and different forts of
liqueurs^ to which the company helped themfelves before
they adjourned to dinner.

About ninety perfons fat down to table. The entertain-
ment was fplendid and profufe. During the fecond courfe,
a large glafs with a cover was brought to prince Volkonfki,
who, ftanding up, delivered the cover to the archbifliop,
who fat next him, filled the glafs with champagne, and
drank the empreffes health, which was accompanied with a
difcharge of cannon. The archbifficp followed his exam-

* In general the fecular prieft, when a widower, is received into a monaftery.

6 pie,

:28o TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

^n?^ pie, and the glafs was in like manner circulated round the
V — , — ' table. The healths of the great-duke, of the great-duchefs,
and of their fon prince Alexander were then fucceffively
toafted with the fame ceremonies ; after which count
Panin arofe, and drinking a return of thanks to prince
Volkoniki as mafter of the feaft, was joined by the whole
company. When each toail was named by the prince,
all the perfons at table got up out of refpect, and re-
mained llandins; while he drank. The reader will excufe
the mention of thefe particulars on this and other occalions ;
as they may be deemed not unworthy of notice, becaufe they
are fometimes charadteriltics of national manners.

During our ftay at Mofcow we frequently experienced the
hofpitality of count Alexey Orlof, who, in the lail war with
the Porte, commanded the Ruffian fleet in the Archipelago,
and burnt the Turkilh armament in the bay of Tchefme, for
which action he has been honoured with the title of Tchef-
minfki. The cuftom of conferring an additional name for
the performance of fignal fervices to the country was, in imi-
tation of the Romans, familiarly pracftifed by Conftantine
and his fuccelTors the Greek emperors, who reigned at Con-
ftantinople. From that quarter it j^irobably paffed to the
Ruffians, who in the earlier times of their hiftory gave ap-
pellations of this kind to fome of their illuftrious leaders.
Thus the great-duke Alexander was called N*evflvi for his
victory over the Swedes near the Neva ; and his "reat-
grandfon Dem.etrius Ivanovitch was denominated Donlki for
his conqueft of the Tartars upon the banks of the Don.
This cuftom, which had long been difcontinued, has been
lately revived by the prefent emprefs. Accordingly Marflial
Romanzof received the denomination of Sudanovfki from
ills viiflories fouth of the Danube ; prince Dolgorucki that
3 of

M O S C O VV. iSi

of Crimfki for his fuccefles in the Crimea, and count Orlof ^^J^^-
this of Tchefminfki from the adion in the bay of Tchefme.
The houfe of count Orlof is iituated at the extremity of
one of the fuburbs, upon an elevated fpot, commanding a
fine view of the vaft city of Mofcow and the neighbouring
country. A number of feparate bviildings occupy a large
tradt of ground. The offices, ftables, manege, and other
detached ftrudtures, are entirely of brick; the foundation
and lower ftory of the dwelling-houfe are conftru(5led with
the fame materials, but the upper part is built with wood *,
neatly painted of a green colour. We carried a letter of
recommendation from prince Staniflaus Poniatowiki, the king
of Poland's nephew, to the count, who received us with great
franknefs and cordiality, and detained us to dinner ; he de-
fired us to lay afide all form ; adding, he was a plain man,
had a high efteem for theEnglifli nation, andfhould be happy
to render us every fervice in his power during our ftay at Mof-
cow. We had the pleafure of dining feveral times with him,
and always met with the moft polite reception. The count
feemedtolive in the true ftyle of old Ruffian hofpitality ; kept
an open table, provided with a great variety of Greek wines,
which he brought with him from his expedition into the Ar-
chipelago. One difli, ferved on his plentiful board, muft be
mentioned as the moft delicious of the kind I ever tafted, and
which I think only inferior to our bell vcnifon ; it was a
quarter of an Aftrachan Iheep, remarkable for the quantity
and flavour of the fat -f.

* Wooden houfes are by itiany perfons f In the court-yard I obferved feve-

in this country fuppofed to be warmer and ral ftieep of this fpecies ranging about tlie

more wholcfome than thofe of brick and ftabics, fo perfectly tame that they futfered

ftone, which is the reafon why feveral of tis to flroke them. They are almoll as

the Ruffian nobility chufe that part of the large as fallow deer, but with much (hortcr

houfe, which they inhabit themfelves, to legs: they have no horns, long flowing ears,

be conftruded of wood. and, inftead of tails, a large bunch of fat,

Vol. I. Go fomctime?

282 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

^n?^ We had mufic during dinner, which indeed generally
V - yL> made a part of the entertainment at the tables of the nobi^
lity. We obferved alfo another very ufual inftance of pa-
rade ; namely, a great number of retainers and dependents,
mixed with fervants, but feldom affifting in any menial of-
fice : they occafionally , ftood round their lord's chair, and
feemed infinitely pleafed whenever they were diftinguilhed
by a nod or a fmile.

In this train there was art Armenian not long arrived
from Mount Caucafus, who, agreeably to the cuftom of his
country, inhabited a tent pitched in the garden, and covered
with a thick kind of felt. His drefs confifted of a long loofe
robe tied with a faili, large breeches, and boots : his hahr
was cut, in the manner of the Tartars, in a circular form ;
his arms were a poignard, and a bow of buffalo's horn llrung
with the finews of the fame animal. He was extremely at-
tached to liis mailer : when he was firft prefented, he volun-
tarily took an oath of fealty, and fwore, in the true lan-
guage of E^ftern hyperbole, to attack all the count's enemies,
offering, as a proof of the fincerity of this declaration,
to cut off his awn ears ;. he alfo wiflied that all the ficknefs,
which at any time threatened his mafter, might be trans-
ferred to himfelf. He examined our clothes, and feemed
delighted with pointing out the fuperiority of his own drefs
in the article of convenience; he threw himfelf into different
attitudes with uncommon agility, and defied us to follow his
example ; he danced a Calmuc dance, which confifted in
ftraining every mulcle, and writhing his body into various
contorfions without flirring from the fpot : he beckoned

fometimes weighing thirty pounds. Mr. he has nccoinpnnied with an accurate de-
Pennant has «iMn an engraving of thefe fcriptioo.
(heep in his Hiftory of Quadrupeds, which

MOSCOW. 283

us into the garden, took great pleafure in fhowing us his chap.
tents and his arms ; and Ihot feveral arrows to an amazing <
height. We were ftruck with the unartificial charadlerbf
this Armenian, who feemed hke a wild-man juft beginning
to be civiUzed,

Count Orlof, who is very fond of the manege, is efteemed
to have, though not the largeft, yet the fineft llud in
Ruffia: and he was fo obHging as to gratify our curiofity
by carrying us to fee it near his country-houfe, at the
dillance of about fifteen miles from Mofcow. He con-
veyed us in his own carriage drawn by fix horfes, har-
neflTed with ropes, and placed two in front, and four a-breaft
in the hinder row : an empty coach, with fix horfes, ranged
two by two, followed for parade. He w^as attended by four
huflTars, and the above-mentioned Armenian accoutred with
his bow and quiver : the latter continually fliouted and
w^aved his hand with the ftrongeft exprellions of tranfport;
he occafionally galloped his horfe clofe to the carriage, then
fuddenly flopped, and wheeled round to the right or left
with inconceivable rapidity.

In our route we pafled feveral large convents, furrounded,
like many of the monafteries in this country, with ftrong
walls and battlements of brick, fo as to have the appearance
of fmall fortrefles ; crofled the Mofkva twice, and came in
about two hours into a fpacious circular plain of luxuriant
pafture, in the midft of which rifes an infulated hill, with
the count's houfe on the top. This feat commands a beau-
tiful view of the circular plain, watered by the Mofkva, and
Ikirted by gentle hills, whofe fides prefent a rich variety of
wood, corn, and paftures.

O o a The

284 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK 'j-jie greateft part of the ftud was grazing in the plain : it
■^ confifled of a large number of the fuieft ftallions, and above

iiKty brood-mares, moft of whom had foals. The collection
was gleaned from the moil diiVant quarters of the globe,
from Arabia, Turkey, Tartary, Perlia, and England. He ob-
tained the Arabians during his expedition in the Archipelago,,
fome as prefents from Ali-Bey, others by purchafe or by
conqueft from the Turks : amongft thefe he chiefly prized
four horfes (two of which we had noticed in the manege at
Mofcow) of the true Cochlean breed, fo much efteemed in
Arabia, and fo feldom feen out of their native country.

The count, after having politely attended ns himfelf ta
the tUid and about the grounds, regaled; us with a moft
elegant entertainment, at which his vivacity lent charms
to his fplendour and hofpitality. In our return to Mof-
cow, we made a circuit to a fmall village about fix mi'les
from the capital, where a villa was ereding for the emprefs,
called Tzaricino : it confifted, befide the principal building,
of eight or ten detached ftrudures in the Gothic tafte, which
were prettily difperfed among the plantations. The fitua-
tion is romantic, a rifing ground backed with wood, and a
large piece of water embracing the foot of the hill.

I cannot forbear to mention in this place an a6t of almoft
Eaftern magnificence, which this vilit fome time afterwards
occafioned. One morning in the enfuing winter, at Peter-
fburgh, one of the fineft among the Arabian horfes, which
Lord Herbert had greatly admired at Mofcow, was fent to
him, accompanied with the following note.

" My Lord, I obferved that this horfe pleafed you, and
" therefore defire your acceptance of him. I received him
** as a prefent from Ali-Bey. He is a true Arabian of the
*' Cochlean race, and in the late war was brought by the

" Ruffian

MOSCOW. ^8-^

«' Ruffian fhips from Arabia to me while I was in the Archi-
" pelago. I wiih he may be as ferviceable to you. as he
" has been to me ; and I remain, with efteem, your obedient
*' fervant, Count Alexey Orlof Tchesminski.*'

This valuable horfe was lent from Peterfburgh by fea to
England, and is now in the Earl of Pembroke's polfellion.

At the clofe of an entertainment, which the count one
day gave us at Mofcow, he introduced us to the fight of a-
Ruffian boxing-match, which is a favourite diverfion among
the common people. We repaired to the manege, where
we found about three hundred peafants allembled. They
divided themfelves into two parties,, each of which chofe a
chief, who called out the combatants, and pitted them againft
each other : only a fingle pair was allowed to engage at the
fame time. They did not ftrip as with us, and had on thick
leathern gloves with thumb j^ieces, but with no feparationi^
for the fingers. From the ftiffiiefs of the leather they could
fcarcely dovible their fills ; and many of them flruck open,
handed. Their attitudes were very different from thofe ufed
by boxers in England : they advanced the left foot and fide ;
llretched the left arm towards the adverfary in order to repel
his blows ; and kept the right arm fwinging at fome dif-
tance from the other. They generally ftruck in a circular
dire6lion at the face and head, never attacked the brealt or
fides, and feemed to have no notion of aiming a blow di-
redly forwards. When any combatant felled his antagonifl
to the ground, he was declared vidtor, and the conteft be-
tween that pair immediately ceaied. During our ftay we
were witnefs to about twenty fucceffive combats. Some of
the men were of vail ftrength ; but their mode of fighting
prevented any mifchief from its exertion ; nor did we per-
ceive any of thofe fradlures and contufions in which boxing-
6 matches

.86 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK matches in England fo frequently terminate. Both parties
were highly intererted in favour of their refped:ive champions;
and feemed at times inclined to enter the lifts in their fupport;
but the firft appearance of difpute, or growing heat, was hu-
manely checked by the count, who adied as mediator : a
kind word, or even a nod from him, inftantly compofed all
differences. When he appeared defirous to put an end to
tlie combats, they humbly requefted his permiffion to ho-
nour them with his prefence a little longer ; upon his affent,
they bowed their heads to the ground, and feemed as pleafed
as if they had received the higheft favour. The count is
greatly beloved by his peafants, and their ftern countenances
would melt into the moft affectionate foftnefs at his ap-
proach.

We made one day an agreeable excurfion to Mikaulka,
the villa of count Peter Panin, a Ruffian nobleman of the
firlt diilindlion, who fignalized himfelf in the late war
againft the Turks, by the taking of Bender ; and more re-
cently by the defeat and capture of the rebel Pugatchef.
This villa is fituated at the diftance of fix miles from Mofcow,
in the midft of a large foreft. The count originally purpofed
to have raifed a very grand ftrudlure of brick, after a defign
of his late wife ; but upon her death he abandone<l this pro-
je(5V, and contented himfelf with a comfortable wooden
houfe at the extremity of his grounds, which he at firit
erected only as a temporary habitation. His offices, ftables,
coach-houfes, dog-kennels, lodgings for his huntfmen and
other menial fervants, form two long rows of fi parate wooden
buildings, all with uniform fronts and neatly painted. The
grounds are prettily laid out in the ftyle of our parks with
gentle flopes, fpacious lawns of the finell verdure, fcattered

plantations.

MOSCOW. 2&7

pTantations, and a large piece of water fiinged with wood. chap.
We could not avoid feeling extreme latisfadtion at obferving, < — r—^
that the Englilh flyle of gardening had penetrated even in-
to thefe diftant regions. The Englifli tafte, indeed, can
certainly difplay itfclf in this country to great advantage,
where the parks are extenfive, and the verdure, during
their fliort fummer, uncommonly beautiful. Moll: of the
Ruffian nobles have gardeners of our nation, and refign
themfelvts implicitly to their direction. The count, who is
fond of country diverfions, had a pack of honnds chiefly of
the Englilh breed, con lifting of an indiicriminate mixture
of harriers, ftag and fox-houuls feledled without any regard
to their fizes or forts. With this fame pack he hunted
wolves, deer, foxc-, and hares. He poffeffed likewife a fine
breed of Ruffian greyhounds, in high eftimation for their
fvviftnefs : they are fhaggy and wire-haired, and fome of
them are taller than the largell: Newfoundland dog 1 ever
faw.

The count entertained us with a moft funiptuous dinner :
we were particularly ftruck with the quantity and quality
of the fruit wiiich made its appearance in the defert ; pines,
peaches, apricots, grapes, pears, cherries, none of which can
in this country be obtained withovit the affiftance of hot-
houfes, were ferved in the greateft profufion. There was a
delicious fpecies of fmall melon, which had been fent by
land-carriage from Allraclian to Molcow, though at the dif-
tance of a thoufiind miles *. One inftance of elegance which
diftinguiflied the defert, and which had the prettielf effe<5t
imaginable, muft not be omitted : at the upper and lower
end of the table were placed two china vales containing cherry

* Thefe melons ibmetimes coft five jxiiinda apiere, and at other times they may b«'
purchaled it» the markets of Mofcow for lefs than half a crown spiece.

trees

i88 TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK trees in full leaf, and fruit hanging on the boughs, which
' — ^ was gathered by the company. We obferved alfo in the de-
lert a curious fpecies of apple, which is not uncommon i^
•the neighbourhood of Mofcow : it is fomewhat larger than
a golden-pippin, is of the colour and tranfparency of pale
amber, and has an exquifite flavour ; the Rufllans call it
Navlnich. The tree thrives here in the open air without
any particular attention to its culture, but degenerates in
other countries ; its flips and feed, when planted in a foreign
foil, have hitherto produced only a common fort of apple,
but never the tranfparent fpecies.

In returning from Mikaulka we paffed clofe to the villa
of count Rofomoufki Hetman of the Ukraine, and it refem-
bled more a little town than a country houfe. It confifted of
'forty or fifty buildings of different fizes ; fome of brick ;
others of wood ; fome painted, and others plain. He main-
tains his guard, a numerous train of retainers, and a large
band of mvificians. The Ruffian nobles difplay a great de-
gree of grandeur and magnificence in their houfes, domeftics,
and way of Hving, Their palaces at and near Mofcow are
llupendous piles of buildings ; and I am informed that their
manlions, at a diftance from Mofcow and Peterfburgh, are
upon a ftill greater fcale, where they refide as independent
princes, like the feudal barons in early times ; have their
dfeparate courts of juitice, and goyern their valTals with an
almoft unlimited fvvay.

I did not expeit to have found in this northern climate a
l<Lind of VauKhall, which our curiofity led us to vifit. It is
fituated at the furtheft extremity of the fuburbs in a fe-
-queftered fpot, which has more the appearance of the country
than of a town. We entered by a cover-ed way, iimilar to

that

M O S C O W. 289

that at our Vauxhall, into the gardens, which were fplen- chap.
didly ilkiminated. There was an elegant rotunda for the — ^-j
company to walk, in, either in cold or rainy weather, and ie-
veral apartments for tea or lupper. The entrance money was
four fliillings. The proprietor is an Englifhman, whofe
name is Mattocks. The encouragement he met with from
the natives on this occaiion had enabled him to engage in
conftruiling, at a very confiderable expence, a fpacious the-
atre of brick ; and, as an indemnification, he had obtained
from the emprefs an exclufive patent for all plays, and pub-
lic mafquerades, during ten years from the time of its com-
pletion.

The fineft view of Mofcow is to be feen from an eminence
about four or five miles from the town, of which I have
forgotten the Ruffian name, but its fignification in Englilh
is Sparrow-hill : upon this eminence were the ruins of a
large palace built by Alexey Michaelevitch. Upon our
return we flopped at Vafilioffki, the villa of prince Dol-
gorucki, which flands upon the brow of the fame hilL
The Moikva, broader than ufual, runs at its foot in a femi-
circle ; and the vait city of Mofcow lays open before it :
the houfe is a large wooden building, to which we afcended
by mounting three tcrralTes. The prefent poffeffor of this
villa- is prince Dolgorucki Crimfki, who dirtinguiflied him-
felf by his repeated victories over the Turks in the Crimea,
and by the conqueft of that peninfula. The models of fe-
veral fortreffes, which he befieged and took, are placed in
the gardens ; I particularly remarked thofe of Yenikale,
Kerfch, and Precop.

hi going over the houfe, the various reverfes of fortune
which have befallen the family of Dolgorucki, occurred
forcibly to my recolle6lion, efpecially when I furveyed the

Vol, I. P p portrait

igo

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK portrait of the princefs Catharine Dolgorncki, whofe adven-
■ tures, fo pathetically defcribed by Mrs. Vigor •••, afford one
of the moft affedting flories in the annals of hiftory. That
\infortiinate princefs, after having been torn from the per-
fon {he loved, was betrothed againlt her inclination to the
emperor Peter II. On his deceafe flie became a momentary
fovcreign ; but was almoft as inftantly hurried from the
palace to a dungeon, where flie languiihed during the whole
reign of the emprefs Anne. Being at length releafed upon
the accefTion of Elizabeth, file married count Bruce, and
died without leaving any ifTue.

* See Letters from Ruflia, by a Lady.

CHAP.

t 5t9i ]

CHAP. III.

Number of churches in Mofcow. — ^Defcription of the mojl an-
tient. — 'their outward flruSlure. — Interior divijions. —
Worjhip of painted images. — Defcription of an enormous bell.
— Principal buildings in //6^ Kremlin. — jlntient palace. —
Convent o/Tchudof. — Nunnery 0/ Viefnovitlkoi. — Cathe-
dral of St. Michael. — Tombs and chara£lers of the Tzars. —
Genealogical tables of the fovereigns 0/ Mofcow of the houfe
of Ruric. — Of different families. — Of the line of Romanof.

^ I ^HE places of divine worfliip at Mofcow are exceedingly chap.
-*- numerous ; including chapels, they amount to above "^' ,
a thoufand : there are 484 public churches, of which 199
are of brick, and the others of wood ; the former are com-
monly Ituccoed or white-wafhed, the latter painted of a red
colour.

The moft antient churches of Mofcow are generally fquare
buildings, with a cupola and four fmall domes*, feme
whereof are of copper or iron gilt ; others of tin, either
plain or painted green. Thefe cupolas and domes are for
the moft part ornamented with crofTes entwined with thin
chains or wires ; each crofs has two tranfverfe bars +, the

* The church of the Holy Trinity, fome- An engraving of that, as well as of fome of

times called the Church of Jeruialem, which the more antient cliurclies, may be feen in

ftantls in the Khitaigorod, clofe to the gate Olcarius and Le Bnin's Travels,

leading into the Kremlin, has a kind of f I am here defcribing the mod antient

high fteeple and nine or ten domes : it was churches; the modern croffes over thofe of

built in the reign of Ivan Voffilievitch If. St. Peterlburgh are moftly fingle.

P P 2 upper

29^ T R A V E L S I N T O R U S S I A.

BOOK i^ipper horizontal, the lower inclining ; which, according to
»— V— ' the luppofition of many Ruffians, is fiippofed to have been
the form of the real crofs, and that our Saviour w^as nailed to
it with his arms in an horizontal pofition, and one of the legs
hi2;her than the other. I frequently obfervcd a crefcent
tinder the lower bar, the meaning of which no one could
explain *.

The infide of the church is moftly compofed of three
parts ; that called by the Greeks 'UT^omoQf by the Ruffians
Trapeza ; the body ; and the fan£luary or ffirine.

In the body of the church there are frequently four
fquare pillars, very thick and heavy, for the purpofe of
fupporting the cupola : thefe pillars, as well as the w^alls
and cielings, are painted with innumerable reprefentations
of our Saviour, the Virgin Mary, and of different faints.
Many of the figures are enormouily large, and are executed
in the rudeft manner ; fome are daubed upon the bare
walls ; others upon large maffive plates of filver or brafs,
or enclofed in frames of thole metals. The head of each
figure is invariably decked with a glory ; which is a mafly
femicircle, greatly refembling an horfe-ffioe, of brafs, filver,,
or gold, and fometimes compofed almoft entirely of pearls-
and precious ftones. Some of the favourite faints are-
adorned with filken drapery fattened to the walls, and.
ftudded with jewels ; fome are painted upon a gold ground,.,
and others are gilded in all parts but their face and hands..

* Dr. King accouats for the crefcent in " tanifm upon them : snd when the gnnd*

the following ingenious manner. " Some " duke Ivan Bafilovitch had delivered his'

" churches have a crefcent under the crofs; " country from the Tartar yoke, and re-

" for when the Tartars, to whom Mufcovy " flored thofe edifices to the ClirilVi.Tii wor-

•^ was fubjecled two hundred year;;, con- " fliip, he left the crefcent remaining, and-

•' verted any of the churches into niofiucs " planted a crofs upon it ns a mark of its

" for the ufe of their own religion, they " victory over its c;iemy." Kites and Ce-

*' fixed the crefcent, the badge of Mahome- remonies of the Greek C.'-.iirch, p. 23.

Towards

MOSCOW. 293

Tou'ards the extremity of the bodv of the church is a flip-ht chap.

' '^ 111.

of fteps leading to the flirine ; and between thefe fleps and ■

the Ihrine is ufually a platform, upon which the officiating

miiiilter ftands and performs part of the fervice.

The flirine or fan6luary is divided from the body of the
church by the IconaJhiSy or fkreen, generally the part the
moft richly ornamented, and on which the moft holy pictures
are painted or hung *. In its centre are the folding, called
the hoi) j royal, or beautiful doors, which lead to the fhrine,.
within which is the holy table, as Dr. King well defcribes it,.
*■' with four fmall columns to fupport a canopy over it ;
" from which 2^ perij^erionyox: dove, is fufpended, as a fymbol
" of the Holy Ghoft ; upon the holy table the crofs is always
" laid, and the Gofpel, and the pyxis, or box, in which a
" part of the confecrated elements is preferved, for vifiting
" the lick or other purpoles t."

It is contrary to the tenets of the Greek religion to admit
a carved image within the churches, in conformity to the
prohibition in Scripture, " Thou flialt not make to thyfelf a
** graven image,'' &c. By not confidering, however, the
prohibition as extending to reprefentations by painting, the
Greek canonifts, while they have followed the letter, have
departed from the fpirit of the commandment, which pofi-
tivelyj forbids us to worfliip the likenefs of any thing under
whatever form, or in whatever manner it may be delineated :
for if we transfer our adoration from the Creator to any ob-

>»-•

* " On the north-fide of the royal doors " Jefus and the Virgin, and feveral others,

«- the picJture of the Viigin is always placed, " and fomeiiiTies kept perpetually burning,

" and that of Jefus on the fouth ; next to Dr. King on the Greek Church, p. 29; to

•' which is that of tlie faint to whom the which book I would refer the reader who-

" church is dedicated ; the fituation of the defires further information on the fubjedl. .
" reft is indifferent. Candles or lamps are f Jbid. p, 26.

♦'ufually ftifpcnded before the images of

\edi-

294

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK jg£^ of his creation, it is of little confequence whether wc
, ^ ' , how down to the proclu6lions of the painter, or to thofe of
the fciilptor.

Over the door of each church is the portrait of the faint
to whom it is dedicated, to which the common people pay
their homage as they pafs along, by taking off their hats,
croffing themfelves, and occafionally touching the ground
with their heads, a ceremony which I often faw them repeat
nine or ten times in fucceffion.

Before I clofe the general defcription of the Ruffian
churches, I muft not forget their bells, which form, I may
almoft fay, no inconfiderable part of divine worftiip in this
country, as the length or fliortnefs of their peals afcertains
the greater or leffer fandlity of the day. They are hung in
belfreys detached from the church : they do not fwing like
our bells, but are fixed immoveably to the beams, are rung
by a rope tied to the clapper, and pulled fideways. Some of
thefe bells are of a ftupendous fize : one in the tower of St.
Ivan's church weighs 3551 Ruffian poods, or 127,836 Eng-
hfli pounds. It has always been efteemed a meritorious a£t
of religion to prefent a church with bells ; and the piety of
the donor has been meafured by their magnitude. Accord-
ing to this mode of eftimation, Boris Godunof, who gave a
bell of 288,000 pounds to the cathedral of Mofcow, was the
moft pious fovereign of Ruffia, until he was furpaffed by
the emprefs Anne, at whofe expence a bell was caft weigh-
ing 432,000 pounds, and which exceeds in bigncfs every
bell in the known-v»orld. Its fize is fo enormous, that I
could fcarcely have given credit to the account of its magni-
tude if I had not examined it myfelf, and afcertained its
dimenfions with great exailnefs. Its height is nineteen
4 feet,

M O S C O W.

feet, its circumference at the bottom twenty-one yards ele-
ven inches, its greateft thicknefs twenty-three inches *.
The beam to which this vaft machine was faftened bein?
accidentally burnt, the bell fell down, and a fragment was
broken off towards the bottom, which left an aperture large
enough to admit two perfons a-breaft without Hooping.

Our inn being clofe to the walls of Kremlin, I had fre-
quent opportunities of examining its principal buildings.

The palace, inhabited by the antient tzars. Hands at the
extremity of the Kremlin. Part of this palace is old, and
remauis in the fame Hate in which it was built under Ivan'
Vaffilievitch I. The remainder has been fucceffively added
at different intervals without any plan, and in various ftyles
of archite6lure ; which has produced a motley pile of build-
ing, remarkable for nothing but the incongruity of the feve-
ral ft rutftures. The top is thickly fet, with numerous little
gilded fpires and globes ; and a large portion of the front
is decorated with the arms of all the provinces, which com-
pofe the Ruffian empire. The apartments are in general
exceedingly fmall, excepting one lingle room, called the
council-chamber, in which the antient tzars ufed to give au-
dience to foreign embaffadors ; and which has been repeat-
edly defcribed by feveral Englilh travellers, who vifited Mof-
cow before the Imperial refidence was transferred to Peterf-
burgh. The room is large and vaulted, and has in the centre
an enormous pillar of ftone, which fupports the cieiing t.

* Mr. Han-.vaj', in his travels, has given Embaffy, p. 149. In the fea(V which Alexi-y

an accurate defcription and engraving of Michaelovitch gave to the Earl of Carlitlf,

this bell. this great pillar was adorned with a won-

■)• " The roof of the audience-chamber derful variety of gold and filver vcirel«,

*• was arched and fuppoited by a great p. ^92.
^ pillar in the middle." Lord Carlille's

This

295

2.96

TRAVELS I "K T O RUSSIA.

This palace, which, prior to the xra of Peter the Great,
was efteemed by the natives as an edifice of unparalleled
magnificence, in which the tzars held their courts in all the
iplendour of Eaftern pomp*, is now, fincc the late improve-
ments in architecture, far furpaffed by the ordinary manfions
of the nobility, and by no means calculated even for the
temporary refidence of the fovereign. hi this palace Peter
the Great came into the world, in the year 1672 ; an event
here mentioned, not only becaufe it is remarkable in the
annals of this country, but becaufe the Rullians themfelvcs
were, till very lately, ignorant of the place in which their
favourite hero was born. That honour was ufually afcribed
to Columna, which, on that fuppolition, has been profanely
ilyled the Bethlehem of llufiia ; but the judicious MuUer

* The autlior of Lord Carlille's Emb,ifl"y
defcribes, in the following hyperbolicil ex-
preflioi'.s, the Afiatic magnificence or the
-cent ot Alexey Michaelovitch, at the firft
r.utlience of the embairadors. " And here
'" (in the audience chamber) it was we
" were like thofe who coming fuddenly out
-" of the dark are darted with the bright-
•' nefs of the fun : the fplendour of their
"jewels feeming to contend for priority
•" witn that of the day ; fo that we were
*' loft as it'were in this confufion of g'.ory.
" The tzar, like a fpnrkling fun, (to fpeqk
" in th>; Rulfian diidei:!) darted forth moll
•' fumptiious rays, being mo.ft magnificently
*• placed upon his throne, with his fceptre
" in his hand, and having his crown on his
^' head. His throne was of maffivc filver
" gilt, wrov'.ght curioudy on the top wih
•' feveral works and pyramids ; and being
" leven or eight fteps higher than the floor,
" it rendered the pcrfon of thi prince
" tranfojndently majeftic. The fceptre
" glittered all over with jewels, his ve'.l was
" let with the like from top to the bottom
" down the opening before, and his colar
" v,as anfwcrable to^ie I'aaie. By his.fidje

" he had four of the talleH; lords {landing
" below his throne, each of them with a
" battle-ax upon his fiioiiider, and with a
" profound gravity carting their eyes now
" and then upon the tzar, as inviting us to
" an admiration of his grandeur. Their
" habits were no lefs remarkable than their
" countenances, being all four of them,
" from the top of thtw head to the foie iti'
" their foot, clothed in white vefts of er-
" mine, and having chains of gold. But
*• that which was farther admirable was
" the glorious equijiage of the Boyars pre-
" fent at this audience, who were as fo
'' many beams of tiie fun elevated in his
" triumphant car, and ieemed to have no
" luflre but to do homage withal to their
" great monarch. They were about two
" hundred, clothed all with vefts of cloth
" and gold, cloth of filv-r or velvet fet with •
" jewels, all |)H.Cid it order upon benches
" covered with tapeftry,"iic. p. 14.7 to 149.
The reader will ji: d 1 ny defcriptions of
the tzar's na niSccncc uul court, in the
feveral sccoun s of i! e different embaflici
in Hackluyt's Collect ion of Vojages.

Las

MOSCOW. 297-

has tmquellionably proved, that the Imperial palace of Mof- chap.
cow was the place of Peter's nativity *. 1 /-^

I Was greatly difappointed that we could not view that
part of the palace called the treafury. The keeper being
lately dead, the door was fealed up, and could not be opened,
until a fucceflbr was appointed. Befide the crown, jewels,
and royal robes, ufed at the coronation of tlie fovereign, this
repofitory, as we were informed, contains feveral cnioiities^
which relate to and illuftrate the hitlory of this country.

There are two convents in the Kremlin ; one is a nun-
nery, and the other a monaftery for men, called Tfchudof.
The latter does not merit any particular defcription ; I en-
tered it merely becaufe it is well known in the Ruffian hif-
toryas the place wherein the tzar VaffiliShuilki was confined ^- ^*

1 1 o^

after his depofition, and from whence he was taken in order
to be carried into Poland : where he only exchanged one
prifon for another ftill more difmal ; and where he fell a
victim to his own dilappointment and chagrin, as well as to
the ill-treatment of the Poles. We are naturally led to com-
paffionate the fate of an exiled and depofed monarch, who
dragged on a miferable exiftence amidft the horrors of per-
petual imprifonment : but the black ingratitude of Vaffili
Shuilki towards Demetrius, his fovereign and benefactor, al-
moft extinguiflies our fenfe of his calamities. For even if
the perfon who affumed th-e name of Demetrivis was an
impoftor, Shuiflvi, when condemned for high-treafon to an
ignominious death, was equally indebted to hhn for his par-
don ; an a6t of clemency ill requited by the depofition and
murder of his benefa6lor I.

The nunnery, called Viefnovitfkoi, v/as founded in'1393
by Eudoxia, wife of the great-duke Dmitri Ivanovitch Donfki.

* See Jour. St, Pet, f See Cliap. VII.

Vol. I. Q q The

298 TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK The abbefs politely accompanied us over the cojivent herfelf^
^ / . and pointed out to us every objedl in the lea(t degree v^'orthy
of attention. She firft conduced us to the principal chnpel,
which contained the tombs of feveral tzarinas and princelTes-
of the Imperial family. The tombs are a kind of ftone
coffins laid on the floor, and ranged in rows very near each-
other ; fome were inclofed with brafs, and others with iron-
ballaftrades, but the greateft number had no diftindion of
this fort. Each fepulchre was covered with a pall of crimfon.
or black velvet, ornamented with an embroidered crofs ia
the middle, and edged with a border of gold and filver lace..
Over thefe, on great feftivals, are laid other coverings of
gold and filver tiffue, richly ftudded with pearls and precious
ftones. The foundrefs of the convent is a faint, and is
buried under the altar. The abbefs very obligingly pre-
fented me with a MS. Ruffian account of the princeffes, who.
are interred in the church. After we had fully examined^
tliefe repofitories of the dead, and furveyed the rich veft-
ments of the priefts, and the figures of various faints painted.
on the walls, the abbefs invited us into her apartments. She
led the way, and at the top of the flairs, as- we entered the
anti-chamber, llruck the fl.oor two or three blows with her
ivory-handled cane, when inilantaneoufly a chorus of about,
twenty nuns received us witii hymns, which they continued,
linging as long as we ftaid : the melody was not unpleafing..
In an adjoining room tea was ferved to the company, and a;
table was plentifully fpread with pickled herrings, Ihces of
fait fifli, cheefe,. bread, butter, and cakes : champaigne and
liqueurs were tendered by the abbefs herfelf. After we had
partaken of thefe refrefhments, we attended the abbefs
through the apaitments of the nuns, many of whom were

employed

M O S C O W. 29,

employed in embroidering .facerdotal habits for the arch- chap.
bifliop of Mofcow, and we took our leave.

The nuns wore a long robe of black fluff, black veils,
black forehead-cloth, and black wrappers under the chin,
which made them look very difmal and pale. The abbefs
was diftinguiflied by a robe of black filk. The nuns are
totally prohibited from meat, living chiefly upon fifli, eggs,
and vegetables. In other refped:s the order is not rigid, and
they are allowed to pay occafional vifits in the town.

I have already had occafion to mention the great number
of churches contained in this city. The Kremlin is not
without its fliare ; in a fmall compafs I counted eight al-
mofl contiguous to each otiier. Two of thefe churches,
namely that of St. Michael, and that of the AlTumption of
the Virgin Mary, arc remarkable ; the one for being the
place where the fovereigns of Rufiia were formerly interred ;
and the other where they are crowned. Thefe edifices are
both in the fame llyle of architecSture, and were probably
conllruded by Solarius of Milan, who built the walls of the
Kremlin. Though the architect was obliged to conform
his tafte to the models of eccleliaflical buildings at that time
ufed in Rullia, yet their exterior form is not abfolutely in-
elegant, although it is an oblong fquare, and much too high
in proportion to the breadth.

In the cathedral of St. Michael I viewed the tombs of the
Ruffian fovereigns. The bodies are not, as with us, depo-
fited in vaults, or beneath the pavement, but are entombed
in railed fepulchres, moilly of brick, in the fhape of a cofhn,
and about two feet in height. When I vifited the cathedral,
the moft antient were covered v/ith palls of red cloth, others
of red velvet, and that of Peter II. with gold tiffae •■•, bor-

* Upnn great ftftivals all the f"piilc!ires are covered with rich palls of gold or filver
brocade, fliiddcd with pearls and jewels.

Q q 2 dered

goo

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK dered with filver fringe and ermine. Each tomb has at its
■lower extremity a fmall filver plate, upon which is en-
graved the name of the deceafed fovereign, and the aera of
his death.

From the time that Mofcow has been the Imperial refi-
dence to the clofe of the laft century, all the tzars have been
interred in this cathedral, excepting Boris Godunof, whofe
remains are depofited in the convent of the Holy Trinity *,
the tzar under the name of Demetrius t, who was deftroyed
in a tumult, and Vaffili Shuifki, who died in captivity at
.Warfaw.

The tomb of Ivan Vaffilievitch I. claimed my prin-
cipal attention, who may juftly be efteemed the founder of
the Ruflian greatnefs. At his acceflion to the throne in
1462, Ruffia formed a collecStion of petty principalities en-
gaged in perpetual wars with each other, fome of them no-
minally fubjetft to the great-duke of Mofcow, and all of
them, together with that monarch himfelf, tributary to the
Tartars'!.

Ivan, in the courfe of a profperous reign of above forty
years, gave a new afpecSt to the Rullian affairs : he annexed
to his dominions the duchies of Tver and other neighbour-
ing principalities, fubdued Novogorod, and, what was ftill
more glorious and beneficial, he refcued this country from-

* See Chapter VL

t See Chap. Vll.

J The fervitude ot" the great-duke will
beil appear from the following circum-
ftances, recorded by Cromer the Polifli
biftorian. '• V/hencver the Tartar em-
" hafladors were fent to Mofcow in
" order to collect the accuftomed tribute,
•' the great-duke ufcd to meet them, and

' mare's milk ; and if a drop chanced to-
' fall upon the mane of the horfe, on
• which the Tartar embaffador was fittings
' he would himfelf lick it up. When they
' ^^r\cbed the hall of audience, the enibaf-
' kuors read the khan's letter feated upon
' a carpet of the choiceft furs, while the
' grear-duke with his nobles knelt, and
' lillened in refpeiaioal fUence," Cromer,.

" offer, as a mark of his refped, a cup of L. 29. p. 647.

the

MOSCOW. 301

the Tartar yoke, and refufed the payment of the ignominious '^V.^^'
tribute, which for above a century had been exacted from « — ^ —
his predeceffors. He had no fooner deUvered Ruflia from
this dependence, than his aUiance was courted by many Eu-
ropean fovereigns ; and during his reign Mofcow fav/, for
the firft time, embafladors from the emperor of Germany,.
from the pope, the grand-fignor, from the kings of Poland^
and Denmark, and from the repubhc of Venice.

The talents of this able monarch were not confined to
military atchievements : Ruffia was indebted to him for the
improvement of her commerce, and for opening a more
ready communication with the European nations. Under
his aufpices, the knowledge of gunpowder and the art of
cafting cannon was firil; brought into Ruilia by Ariilotle of
Bologna * : he employed the fame artift t, as w ell as other
foreigners, to ftrike anew the Ruffian coins, which had hi-
therto been disfigured by Tartar infcriptions ; he engagedy
at a vaft expence, Italian artills to enclofe the Kremlins of
Mofcow and Novogorod with walls of brick, and to coniiruct
feveral churches and other public ftrudtures with the fam.e*
materials 'J. For his various civil and military fervices he
defervedly acquired the name of the Great. , He is defcribedi
as a perfon' of gigantic ftature and ferocious afpedl. His
manners and deportment, ilrongly infecSted with the barbae
rifm of his age and country, were fomewhat foftened and
poliflied by the example of his fecond v/ife Sophia §, a Grecian

princefs

• Bachmeifter's Eflai fur la Bib. de Pe- § Sophia was daughter of Thomas Pa-

terf. p. 28. liogohis, brother of Conftantine the laft'

■\ PolTevinus. Grecian emperor, who loft his life when

X A vaft effort in thefe barbarous times, Conftancinople was taken 'by the Turks in

and which deferves to be mentioned, becaufe 1453- Soon after that event Sophia re--

at his accellion to the throne alnioll all the paired to Rorr.e with her father, where

buildings of Mofcow were of wooil. they lived under the protedion of the p-'pe,

T,';«

302

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK princefs of confummate beauty and winning addrefs ; who,
to all the fofter graces of her fex added a vigorous and
.manly fpirit ; and who, while flie infufed into her hufband
a tafte for the arts of peace, animated him to thofe glorious
enterprizes which tended to the aggrandizement of his
.country.

Ivan the Great died in i 505, in the 67th year of his age :
on each ilde of his remains are depofited thofe of his father
Vaflili Vaffilievitch, furnamed The Bhnd* ; and of his fon
Vallili Ivanovitch, who fucceeded him in the throne, and
expired in 1533.

In a fmall chapel adjoining to thefe tombs is the fepulchre
of Ivan Vaffilievitch II. t fon and fucceflTor of Vallili Ivano-
vitch. This fovereign is branded by many writers with the
name of tyrant, and reprefented as the moll odious monfter
that ever difgraced human nature. In delineating, however,
his general characSler, they are fomerimes guilty of falfe-
hood I, and often of exaggeration, and feem totally to forget

many

The latter is faid to have negotiated her
marriage with the great-diike, and even to
have beftowed her portion, in hopes of
procuring, through her influence, great ad-
vantages to the Roman catholic religion in
Rullia. But thefe hopes were fruftrated ;
for Sophia, immediately upon her marriage
in 14^2, embraced tlie Greek religion. She
encouraged her hiilband in (baking off the
Tartar yoke ; and probably affiled him in
procuring the ablefl architerts from Italy.
See Herberftein. in Rer. Mof. Comm. p. 7.
aho Pan. Jovii De Leg. Mof. — Ibid. p. 1 29.
* He received the apjiellation of The
Blind, becaufe his eyes had been put out by
order of his uncle, who, h3\'ing formerly
depofed him, pra£tifed this cruel expedient
ill order to difipialify him from re-alcending
the throne. He was afterwards, however,
re-inilatfd in the fovereignry by the affec«
tiott of his fubjefts.

f Called, by the Englifli writers, John
Bafilovitz.

1 Thus fome writers aflert, thst when he
walked out, or made a progrefs through his
dominions, if he met any one whofe mien
dilplenfed him, he would order his head to
be llriick off, or do it himielfj

Oilitrs as abturdly relate, that he would
order bears to be let loofe upon a croud of
people aflembled in t:ie ftreets of Mofcow,
and diverted himfclf « ith the ci ies and ago-
nies of the perfons devoured by thofe fero-
cious anini.ils.

0!cMrii;s informs us, that Ivan wantonly
commanded the eyes of the architert, who
built the ch\irch of the Holy Trinity at
Mofcow, to be put out, that he might never
conftri'.rt any building of fuperior beauty,

Tiiefe idle talcs C(>nfu^e thenifeives ; but
tl'.c follo'.\ing report we are able to contra-
dict from our own hiitori,-. Ivan is faid to

hr.ve

MOSCOW. 303

many great qualities which he certainly poflelTed. Though chaf.
we fliould not give impUcit credit to many idle reports which « — ^.^
are related of his favagenefs and inhumanity; yet it would
be equally as abfurd, and contrary to hillorical evidence, to
deny or attempt to apologife for many cruelties * acftually
committed by this monarch, who, no more than Peter the
Great, reckoned clemency among the number of his virtues.
But while we regard the ferocity and implacability of his
temper with abhorrence, we cannot refufe the tribute of
admiration to his political character. He raifed the fuper-
ftrudture of the Ruffian grandeur, of which his grandfather-
had laid the foundation. Inftead of adefultory militia, col--
le(5ted in hafte,.and always impatient todifband, he inftituted-
a Handing army ; he abolifhed the ufe of the bow, hitherto*
the principal weapon among, the Ruffians ; he trained them-
to fire-arms, and accuftomed them to a more regular difci-
pline. By means of this formidable body, he extended his-
dominions on all fides, and particularly conquered the king--
doms of Cafan and Afirachan, and rendered the Ruffian;
name refpedlable to the diilant powers of Europe. He gave
to his fubje6ls the firfi: code of written laws \ he invited fo-
reign artifts t toMofcow;, he introduced printing into Ruf-
fia ; he promoted commerce, and regulated the duties of
export and import ; he permitted Englifii merchants to efta-

have ordered the hat of the Eriglifti ernbaf- in the 6th chap, of this Book, and the 2d

fador, Sir Jerome Bowes, to be nailed to his of Book IV.

head, becaiife he refufed to take it.otf in + Above threehuiidred artifls of all pro- •

the tzar's prefence. fefiions, namely, painters, fculptors, archi-

This report was occafioned by the exag- teds, watch-makers, carters of bells, mi- -

gerated account of a roifunderftnnding be- ners, armourers, flationers, mafons, &c, .

tweerv the tzar and Sir Jerome Bowes, have already arrived at Lubec in their way to

which ia related in the embaffador's dif- Mofcow, but \\'ere prevented from proceed-

patches. Hackliiyt's Colledlion of Voy- ing by the inn.gues of the inhabitants of

ages, V. I. p. 460, &c. Lubec, and the natives of Livonia. See*

* Initnnces of which the reader will find Bachmeiilvr's ElFai iur la Bib. &c. p. 3;.

5, blifhi

204- TRAVELSINTO RUSSIA.

yoGK \i\[([i fadories within his dominions, and, with a liberality
v_J_^ not always praitiied by more enlightened fovereigns, granted
to them the free exerciie of their i-eligion ; he had even
formed the defign, which death alone prevented, of infti-
tuting various leminaries for the cultivation of the Latin and
German languages. In a word, he may fairly be efteemed
one of thofe fovereigns, who have contributed to improve
and civilize their fubjeils.

Ivan Vaflilievitch II. died in 1584, in an agony of grief
at the death of his eldeft fon Ivan, whofe remains are placed
contiguous to thofe of his father. Hiftorians have recorded,
that this prince received his death, from the perfon to whom
he was indebted for his life, by an unfortunate blow upon
his temple. The enemies of the tzar have not failed to
impute this melancholy cataftrophe to defign ; while his
apologias have no lefs ftrenuouily laboured to reprefent it
as merely accidental. Upon weighing thefe difcordant ac-
counts with impartiality, it appears, that the blow was either
cafual, or, if defigned to chaiHfe, certainly not intended to be
fatal.

Feodor, the fecond fon and fucceffor of Ivan Vaflilievitch
II. is interred in the fame chapel ;' a prince of fuch weak
intelleds and notorious incapacity, as to be a mere phantom
of fovereignty, and entirely under the direction of his bro-
ther-in-law Boris Godunof, Feodor afcended the throne in
I 584^ and expired in 1 598 : in him ended the male line of
the fovereigns of the houfe of Ruric *, a family who had
reigned over Ruflia for a period of more than feven centu-
ries.

Amon?T the tombs in this church, the mod remarkable is
that which contains the body of a child, fuppofed by the

* Unlefs Demetrius was the real fon of Ivan Vaffiilievitch II.

a Ruflians

M O S C O W. 305

Ruffians to have been the third fon of Ivan Vaffilievitch II. who ^"^ ^''
is faid to have been affaffinated at Vghtz, in the ninth year
of his age, by order of Boris Godunof. This tomb, which is
more diftinguilhed than thofe of the Ruffian fovereigns, is
of brafs and highly ornamented. The child is clafled among
the faints of the Ruffian calendar, and, according to the le-
gends of the church, his body is faid to have performed mi-
racles, and is believed by the credulous to remain uncor-
rupted. The top of the fepulchre is frequently uncovered,
and, during divine fervice on the feftival of St. Alexander
Nevfki, I obferved feveral Ruffians kiffing the inlide with
great marks of devotion. The hiftory of the affaffination
at Vglitz, and the adventures of the real or pretended De-
metrius, who filled the throne for a fhort time, require a
feparate narrative.

The fovereigns of the houfe of Romanof are interred in
the body of the church : their tombs are placed on each fide
between the maffy pillars, which fupport the roof.

The firft of this illuftrious line is Michael Feodorovitch,
whofe eledlion in 1613 put a final period to a long fcene of
civil bloodflied, and refiored tranquillity to his diftra(5led
country. He owed his elevation to his high rank and
princely defcent ; but more particularly to the virtues, abi-
lities, and popularity of his father Philaretes. A body of
Ruffian nobles having tendered the crown to Ladiflaus
prince of Poland, that prince had actually affiimed the title
of tzar, and eftablilhed a garrifon at Mofcow : foon after-
wards a powerful party, averfe to the government of a fo-
reigner, expelled the Poles from the capital, and unanimoufly
advanced Michael to the throne, though at that time fcarcely
feventeen years of age. It is fingular, that he was raifed to

Vol. I. R r this

3o6 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK fi^js high ftation, not only without his knowledge, but even in
repugnance to his own inclination. When the deputies from
Mofcow arrived at Coftroma, where he at that time refided
with his mother, and acquainted him with his eledion ;
Michael, recolleding the dreadful cataftrophes which had
befallen all the tzars fince the demife of Feodor Ivanovitch,
and refledting on the prefent diftradted ftate of Ruffia, burft
into tears ; and for a while declined the proiFered crown,
which feemed to entail deitrudion upon thofe who had ven-
tured to wear it •■•. Overcome, however, by the importuni-
ties of the deputies, and partly dazzled with the fplendour
of royalty, ISIichael at length yielded to the willies of his
country ; and repairing without delay to Mofcow, was
crowned with the ufual Iblemnities. Though he afcended
the throne with reludtance, he filled it with dignity ; and
fovind a protedion from thofe difafters which overwhelmed
his immediate predeceffors, in his own difcretion, in the wife
counfels of his father, and in the afre(Stion of his fubjedls.
Michael died in 1648, after a profperous reign of 28 years.
Alexey Michaelovitch his fon, whofe afhes lie contiguous
to his remains, is chiefly known by foreigners as the father
of Peter the Great ; but he deferves likewife our attention
for his own public virtues, and for a variety of falutary in-
ftitutions. He reviled, amended, and new-modelled the
code of laws compiled by Ivan Vaflilievitch 11. ; he intro-
duced a more regular difcipline into the army ; and invited t
foreign officers into his fervice ; he procured from Amfter-
dam feveral fliip-builders, whom he employed in conftru6t-

* SeeBufching's Account of the Eleftion were two generals, two field marflials, more

of Michael. Hift. M. II. p. 403. than an hundred colonels, majors, captains,

■J- JVIayerberg iays, among the foreign offi- lieu"euaats, and enfigns in proportion.
ctrs in the fervice of Alexiy Michaelovitch,

4 ing

M O S C O W. 307

ing veffels for the navigation of the Cafpian Sea ; in a word, ^^^ ^ ^•
he traced the great outhnes of many of thofe regulations < — ^
which were afterwards improved and enlarged by the vaft
genius of his fon Peter the Great. Alexey deceafed in
1676, in the 3 2d year of his reign, and the 49th of his age.

Oppofite to the fepulchre of Alexey are thofe of his fons
Feodor and Ivan : Feodor, who fucceeded his father in the
throne, has been defcribed by Voltaire and others as a
prince who poffeffed a vigorous mind in a weak frame, and
whofe adminiftration was dignified with many ufeful and
glorious regulations. The truth is, however, that incapacity,
no lefs than ill -health, difqualified him from conducing the
affairs of government ; that he adtually refigned himfelf to
the dircdtion of his fifter Sophia; and that all the beneficial
a6ts of his adminiftration muft be afcribed to her influence,
and to the abilities of his prime minifter the great Galitzin.
Feodor, after a fliort reign of fix years, funk in 1682 under
the diforders which had long preyed upon his frame.

Ivan, fecond brother of Feodor, and rightful heir of the
throne, was fo debilitated by epileptic fits, both in body and
mind*, that he was at firft excluded from the fuccefllon as in-
capable of difcharging the fundions of government, but was
afterwards recognized as joint- fovereign with his half-bro-
ther Peter the Great ; he was confidered merely as a puppet,
held up to fatisfy the multitude, and to fecure to his adherents
a lliare in the adminiftration of affairs. He was allowed to

* SchleiiTing, who was at Mofcow during " being feen on account of its deformity,

the adminiftration of Sophia, thus defcribes " But he is very pious and devout ; and as,

the perfon of Ivan. " Ivan Alexey, the " on account of his weak conftitution, he

" eideft tzar, is ill-formed by nature, info- " cannot hunt, or take any violent exercife,

" much that he can neither rightly fee, " he is the more conftant in his attendance

" read, or fpeak. He always wears a piece " at church, and never mifles a proceffion.

" of green filk before his eyes, in order to "He is fliort in his perfon, very thin, and

" prevent the upper part of his face from " is now 30 years of age."

R r 2 continue

,oS TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK continue this Hate-pageant during the remainder of his life ;
and liis death, which happened in 1698, was fcarcely per-
ceived by his fubje(5ls, and not known to the reft of Europe,
except by the omiflion of his name in the pubUc a6ls.

The fovereigns fubfequent to Ivan are interred at Peterf-
burgh, excepting Peter II. whofe aflies repofe in this cathe-
draL This monarch, the fon of the unfortunate Tzarovitch
Alexey, was born in 17 15, fucceeded in 1727, Catharine I.
and died in 1730 of the fmall-pox in this city, on the very
day which had been appointed for his marriage with the
princefs Dolgorucki. His death was occafioned by the ig-
norance of the phylicians, who treated his diforder as a ma-
lignant fever. Peter II. acquired great popularity by fixing,
during the latter part of his fliort reign, his imperial re-
fidence at Mofcow. He was greatly regretted as the grandfoii
of Peter the Great, and as the perfon in whom the male line-
of the Houfe of Romanof became extinct.

Sovereigns

MOSCOW.

309

1— (

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O

s
Q

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31ii

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Tzars of different Families,

»3. Boris Godunof, defied

Tzar 1598 ; died in 1605.
His fon Feodor, proclaimed
Tzar in April by his fa-
ther's party, and put to
death in June, can fcarcely
be clalfed among the Ruf-
fian fovereigns.

Dmitri, or Demetrius, the Falfe
Demetrius of the Ruffians ;
by others called the fon o£
Ivan Vaffllievitch II. af-
ccnded the throne in June,
1605; affallmated May,
1606.

Vaflili IvanovitchShuifki.elefted
Tzar upon the aflairmatioir
of Demetrius in 1606 ; de-
pofedini6io; died in cap-
tivity at Watfaw.

Sovereigns

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

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MOSCOW.

CHAP. IV.

Cathedral of the JJfumption of the Virgin Mary in the Kremlin,
^— 'tombs of the Ruffian patriarchs, — Origin and abolition
of the patriarchal dignity. — Account of the patriarch Phila-
retes father of the houfe of Romanof. — Biographical anec-
dotes of the patriarch Nicon.

ANOTHER church in the Kremlin, namely, the cathe-
dral of the AflTumption of the Virgin Mary, which has
long been appropriated to the coronation of the Ruffian fo-
vereigns, remains to be defcribed. This church is the moft
fplendid and magnificent in Mofcow. The fcreen is in many
parts covered with plates of folid lilver and gold richly
worked. From the centre of the roof hangs an enormous
chandelier of mafly filver, weighing 2940 pounds : it was
made in England, and was a prefent from Moroiof, prime-
minirter and favourite of Alexey Michaelovitch. The lacred
utenfils and epifcopal veftments are extraordinarily rich, but
the tafte of the workmanfhip is in general rude, and by no ■
means equal to the materials.

Many of the paintings which cover the inlide walls are
of a Coloiral fize : fome are very antient, and were executed,
fo early as in the latter end of the fifteenth century. It
contains, amongfh the reft, a head of the Virgin, fuppofed to
have been delineated by St. Luke, and greatly celebrated in
this country for its fandlity and the power of working mira-
cles. Its face is almort black ; its head is ornamented with a
glory of precious ftones, and its hands and body are gilded^

which

^IZ

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK ^vhich gives it a moft grotefque appearance. It is placed in
the fkreen, and enclofed within a large filver covering,
which is only taken off on great feftivals, or for the curiofity
of l^rangers. This pi6ture is more antient than the other
paintings : according to the tradition of the church, it was
brought from Greece to Kiof when that city was tlie reli-
dence of the Ruffian fovereigns ; from thence it was con-
veyed to Volodimir, and atterwards transferred to Mofcow.
It feems a Grecian painting, and was probably anterior to
the revival of that art in Italv *.

In this cathedral are depoiited the remains of the Ruffian
patriarchs.

* I faw feveral paintings of the Virgin
in the north of Italy fimiUr to this : a few
were faid to be theprodudions of St. Luke,
others of Cimabue, or his fcholars. The
complexion in thefe was likewife of a dulky
hue, and plainly from the fancy of the
painters. This leads me to imagine that
the Grecian painters originally reprefented
the Virgin of a dark complexion, which
was copied by the earlieft Italian artifts, Ci-
mabue and his immediate fcholars, who re-
ceived the art from the Greeks. Le Bruyn,
fpeaking of this pidureof St. Luke at Mof-
cow, iays, " It is very gloomy and almoft
" black ; but whether this proceeds from
" the eft'eds of time, or the fmoke of ta-
" pcrs, or the fancy of the painter ; certain
•' it is, there is no great matter in it." &c.
Travels, V. I. p. 70. An ingenious author,
in a late publication, mentions in the mo-
naftery of Monte-Virgine, a Coloflal por-
trait of the Virgin Mary, which pafles
for the work of St. Luke the Evangelift,
and adds, " There are in Italy and elfe-
*' where fome dozens of black, ugly Ma-
'* donnas, which all pafs for the work of
" his hands, and as fuch are revered." To
which pafl'age he fubjoins the following
note, but without citing his authority :

" The origin of this fable, or rather mif-
" take, appears to be, that about the time
" that paintings of holy fubjeiSts came into
" fafhion, there lived at Conllantinople a
" painter called Luke, who, by many re-
" prefentations of the Virgin, acquired a
" very tranfcendent reputation. He was a
" man of exemplary life, and on account of
" his piety, and the edifying ufe he made
" of his talents, was generally known by
" the name of the Holy Luke. In procefs
' ' of time, when the epocha and circum-
" fiances of his life were forgotten by the
" vulgar, and his performances had ac-
" quired by age a fmoky, duflcy call, fuffi-
" cient to perplex the fliort-lighted con-
'■' noifleurs of thofe days, devotees afcribed
*' his pidures to the Evangelift, who was
" pronounced a painter, becaufe they knew
" of no other faint of the name, and be-
" caufe if he had been a painter, no one
" could have had fuch opportunities of
" examining and delineating the features
*' of the holy model." Swinburne's Tra-
vels in the Two Sicilies, p. 123. For proof
of the introduAion of painting into Ruflia
and Italy by the Greeks, fee the Defcrip-
tion of the Cathedral of St. Sophia at No-
vogorod.

The

MOSCOW. 31J

The firft of thefe was Job, before whofe time the primate chap.
of the Ruffian church was fuffiragan to the patriarch nf . ' .
Conftantinople. Job, being metropolitan archbifliop of
Mofcow, was, in the year 1588, inftalled in this cathedral
patriarch of Ruffia, by Jeremias patriarch of Conftantinople,
with all due folemnities. The ceremony of tranllating the
fee from the capital of Turkey to this city is thus defcribed
by an author, who was himfelf prefent •'•.

" On the 25th of January, 1588, the Greek patriarch,
" accompanied with the Ruffe cleargie, went to the great
*' church of Prechefte, or our Ladie, within the Emperour's
" caftle, where he made an oration, and delivered his refig-
" nation in an inftrument of writing, and fo laid down his
" patriarchal ftaffe; which was prefently received by the
*' metropolite of Mofko, and divers other ceremonies ufed
" about the inauguration of the new patriarch."

The moft venerable of Job's fucceffors in the patriarchal
fee was Philaretes, who, though no fovereign himfelf, is
celebrated as being father to that line of Ruffian monarchs,
diftinguiflied by the name of the Houfe of Romanoff. His
fecular name was Feodor : he drew his lineage from An-
drew, a Pruffian prince, who came into Ruffia about the

* Fletcher's Ruffia, Chap. 21. This ing formally demanded the confent of the
author adds, that Jeremias, whom he calls four patriarchs of Alexandria, Antioch
Hieronimo, had been either baniflied from Conftantinople, and Jenifalem, to the efta-
"Conflantinople by the Turks, or depofed blifliment of a new patriarch in Ruffia, they
by the Greek clergy, that he came to Mof- acceded to the requeft, and folemnly de-
cow without any invitation from the Ruf- puted Jeremias to Mofcow, who inverted
■lians, in order to obtain money from the the metropolitan Job with the new dignitv.
tzar Feodor Ivanovitch, and that with this King on the Greek Church, p. 496.,
view he propofed the tranflation of the pa- f In confequence of a cuftom prevalent
triarchal fee from Conftantinople to Mof- among the Ruffians to adopt the appellation
cow. of the grandfather for a family name, the

Others deny that he was either depofed new royal line was called Romanof, in ho-

or baniflied; and relate, that the tzar hav- nour ot Roman, Feodor's grandfather.

Vol. I. S f middle.

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK niiddle of the fourteenth century, and whofe immediate de-
i_^fcendants enjoyed the moft confiderable honours and the

hi^hell offices under the fovereigns of this country. Feo-
dor was fonof NikitaRomanovitch, great grandfon of Andrew,
and nephew of Anaftafia firft wife of Ivan VaffiUevitch II.
By the will of that monarch he was, in conjundion with two
other noblemen, appointed to fuperintend the adminiftration
of government under Feodor Ivanovitch, who was extremely
deficient in his underftanding ; but fupplanted by the arts
of Boris Godunof, whofe fifter had efpoufed tlie young tzar,
he was excluded from all fliare in the diredlion of affairs
during the whole reign of that weak prince. When Boris
himfelf v/as elevated to the throne, the high birth, great
abilities, and popularity of Feodor Romanof rendered him fo
obnoxious to the new monarch, that he was compelled to-
alTume the priefthood, and was confined in a monartery ;
when, according to the Ruffian cuflom, he changed his name
to Philaretes.
1605. Upon the acceffion of the fovercign, whom the Ruffians
call the Falfe Demetrius, he was releafed from his confinement,
and appointed to the archbiffioprick of Roftof; but in this
period of his life he feemed doomed to a fucceffion of im-
prifonments. Soon after the depofition of Vaffili Shuifki,
when a ftrong party among the nobles had agreed to elecSl
Ladiflaus, fon of Sigiimond 111. king of Poland, tzar of Ruf-
fia, Philaretes was, in 16 10, difpatched at the head of an
embafTy to Sigifmond, in order to fettle the conditions of his
fon's elecSlion. He found the Polifli monarch engaged in the
fiege of Smolenfko ; and when the king demanded the im-
mediate ceffion of that town,^ Philaretes warmly returned,
" When your fon has afcended our throne, he will pofTefs
" not only Smolenlko, but all Ruffia ; and it ill becomes you
5 " to

MOSCOW. 31J

" to difmember his territories." Sigifmond, exafperated at ^^^'
this fpirited reply, and ftill farther inflamed by the remon-
ftrances which Philaretes and the embaffadors urged againil
his conduit towards Ruffia, arrefted and threw them into
prifon. Philaretes languiilied nine years in the caftle of
Marienburgh *, in Pruflia, under a moft rigorous confine-
ment, during which even many of the common necelTaries
were frequently with-held from him. His abfence, however,
did not diminilh the refpedt and veneration which the Ruf-
fians entertained for his charadler : the w4iole nation una-
nimoufly conferred the crown upon his fon Michael, a youth
only in the feventeenth year of his age, in hopes that a
peace with Poland would reftore Philaretes to his country,
and render him the director of that power with which they
had invefted his fon. This expectation was gratified at the
peace of Viafma, concluded in 1 7 1 9, between Ruflia and Po-
land, wiiich gave Philaretes to the wilhes of the people.
Immediately upon his arrival at Mofcow he was confecrated
patriarch, and became the real, though not the oftenfible,
fovereign of this country, as the fon may be faid to
have held the reins of government under his abfolute di-
redlion. He was invefted with the adminiftration of affairs ;
his name was frequently affociated in the public ads with
that of the tzar t ; he gave audience to embafllidors X ; and
upon many public occafions was permitted to take prece-
dence of his fon §. His experience, moderation, and abi-
lities, rendered him worthy of thefe high honours, and this
unbounded authority ; and the profperity of Michael's reign
proclaimed the wifdom of his fage monitor. Philaretes died

* Burching. Hift. M;ig. v. II. p. 405. f Schmid. Ruff. Gef. v. II. p. 13.

.t Bufching. Hill, Mng. v. VII. p. 329. § Okiirius,

S s 2 in

3i5 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA,

BOOK Iy\ 1633 in an advanced age, regretted by his fon and the
whole kingdom.

The laft of thcfe patriarchs was Adrian, at whofe demife,
in 1699, Peter, attentive to the true interefts of his crown,
could never be prevailed upon to nominate a fucceffjr ; and
in 1 72 1 the patriarchal dignity was formally abolifhed.

hi a former chapter I obferved, that there are no feats in
the Ruflian churches, the ceremonial of the Greek worfliip
requiring all perfons to ttand during the performance of di-
vine fervice. In this cathedral, facred to the AlTumption of
the Virgin Mary, I obferved two elevated places near the
fkreen, enclofed with rails withovit feats : one of them is
appropriated to the fovereign, the other was formerly de-
Hined for the patriarch, whofe ftate and grandeur were in
fome inftances not inferior to thofe of the tzar himfelf.
Upon fome pubUc occafion the archbifliop of Novogorod,
■who afpired to have the patriarchal dignity revived in his
perfon, pointing to the place formerly occupied by the
patriarch, remarked to Peter, " Sire, that ftru6lure is now
*' ufelefs ; will not your majefty order it to be removed r"
Peter was filent ; but upon the archbiOiop's repeating the
queftion, turned to him and faid, " That place lliall not be
" removed, nor fliall you fill it."

The Ruffians reckon eleven patriarchs from the firft
eftablifliment of the dignity in the perfon of Job, to its final
abolition after the death of Adrian. Of thefe the greateft
and moft confpicuous was the celebrated Nicon,whom, as he
is the only patriarch not interred in this cathedral, I could
not mention upon contemplating their tombs. It is hoped
that no apology needs be offered for the following account
of a man, whom fome Ruffians ftill abhor as Antichrift, and

others

M O S C O W.

5^7

others adore as a faint ; and whofe extraordinary charadler chap.

IV.

has never been faithfully reprefented to the Englifh reader.

Nicon was born in 1613, in a village of the government
of Niflinei Novogorod, of fuch obfciire parents, that their
names and itation are not tranfmitted to poiterity. He re-
ceived, at the baptifmal font, the name of Nikita, vi^hich af-
terwards, when he became monk, he changed to Nicon, the
appellation by which he is more generally known. He was
educated in the convent of St. Macarius, under the care of a
monk. From the courfe of his ftudies, which were almolt
folely direiled to the Holy Scriptures, and the exhortations
of his preceptor, he imbibed, at a very early period, the
ftrongeft attachment to a monaftick life ; and was only pre-
vented from following the bent of his mind by the perfua-
iions and authority of his father. In conformity, however,
to the wilhes of his family, though contrary to his own in-
clination, he entered into matrimony ; and, as that ftate prer
eluded him from being admitted into a convent, he was or-
dained a fecular prieft.

With his wife he pafTed ten years ; firft as a parifh-prieft
in fome country village, and afterwards at Mofcow in the
fame capacity ; but lofing three children, whom he tenderly
loved, his difgui!: for the world and his propenfity to folitude
returned with redoubled violence ; and, having perfuaded his
wife to take the veil, he entered into the monaftick order.
He chofe for his own retreat a fmall ifland of the White-
Sea, inhabited only by a few peifons, who formed a kind of
ecclefiaftical eftablilhment, as remarkable for the folitude of
their fituation as for the aufterity of their rules : about
twelve monks dwelled in feparate cells fcattered at equal
diftances from each other*, and from the church which Itood

* Two verfls, or a mile and an half.

7 in.

3i8 T R A V E L S I N T O R U S S I A.

BOOK jj^ ^^Q center of the ifland. Thefe lonely cenobites affem-
/bled regularly on Saturday evening in the church, where
they alTifted in the performance of divine fervice during the
whole night, and the next day until noon, when they retired
to their refpecSlive habitations. This pradice was repeated
on certain feftivals ; while at other times each reclufe occu-
pied his cell undifturbed by any mutual intercourfe. Their
food was bread, and fifli which they caught themfeives, or
procured from parts of the contiguous continent.

Such was the fituation which Nicon adopted as congenial
to the gloomy Hate of his own mind ; where, brooding in fo-
litude upon the uncertainty of human life, he was unhappily
led to confider the moft debafing aulterities as acceptable to
the Supreme Being ; and neceffarily contra6led that cloiftered
pride, which gave an alloy to his fublime virtues, and which
proved the greateft defed: in his chara6ler, when afterwards
called upon to fulfil the duties of a publick and exalted ftation.
After a Ihort refidence in this illand, Nicon was chofen
to accompany the chief of the ecclefiaftical eftabliihment to
Mofcow, in order to raife a colle6tion for the building of a
new church. He was fcarcely returned from this expedi-
tion, when, at the inftigation of the chief, whom he had
offended during his journey, he was compelled by the other
monks to retire from the ifland : he embarked in an open
boat, with only a fingle perfon to allill: him, in an high fea;
being overtaken by a violent ftorm, he was toffed about and
in continual danger of perifliing, but was at length driven
upon an ifland near the mouth of the Onega.

From this ifland he repaired to a monaftery upon the
contiguous continent ; and being admitted into the fociety,
inflead of inhabiting an apartment in the convent, he, in
imitation of his former folitude, conifrudted a feparate cell

MOSCOW.

3^9

on an adjacent ifland, where he lived upon the fifli that chap.
he caught with his own hands, and never vifited the mo- ■ — ^
naftery but during the time of divine fervice. By this re-
clufe and rigid way of hfe he was held in fuch high efteem
by the brethren, that upon the death of their fuperior they
unanimoufly raifed him to the vacant dignity. He continued
in this capacity for three years, when, being drawn by fome
family affairs to Mofcow, he was cafually prefented to the
tzar Alexey Michaelovitch ; that monarch was fo captivated
■with his various talents, extenlive learning, and natural elo-
quence, that he detained him at Mofcow, and took him un-
der his immediate protecStion.. Within lefs than the fpace
of five years he was fuccefTively created archimandite or
abbot of the Novofpatfkoi convent, archbifhop of Novogorod,
and patriarch of Ruffia. He deferved thefe rapid promo-
tions by a rare alTcmblage of extraordinary qualities, which
even his enemies allow him to have poiTefTed, undaunted
courage, irreproachable morals, exalted charity, comprehen-^
live learning, and commanding eloquence.

While archbifliop of Novogorod, to which dignity he was^
raifed in 1 649, he gave a memorable inftance of his firm-
nefs and difcretion. During a tumult in that city, the Im-
perial governor, prince Feodor Kilkof, took refuge in the
archiepifcopal palace againft the fury of the infurgents ;
who, buriling open the gates, threatened inftant pillage if
the governor was not delivered to them without delay.
Nicon, inlliead of acceding to their demand, boldly advanced
into the midft of them, and exhorted them to peace. The
populace, inflamed to madnefs by the prelate's appearance,
transferred their rage frcm the governor to him ; aflaulted
him with il:ones, dragged him by the hair, and offered every
fpecies of violence and indignity to his perfon. Being con--

veyed

^2b T R A V E L S I I^ T O U U S S I A.

BOOK veyed to the palace in a ftate of infenfibility, he was recovered

, ,^by immediate afliftance ; but, regardlels of the imminent

danger from which he had juft efcaped, he perfifted in his
Tefohition, either to appeafe the tumult, or perifli in the at-
tempt. With this dedgn, as if devoting himfelf to certain
'death, he confsffed and received the facrament, and repaired
to the town-houfe, where the infurgents Were aflembled.
He confounded them by his prefence ; foftened them into
•repentance by a firm, but pathetic, addrefs ; and, perfuading
them to difperfe, tranquillity was inftantly reftored to the
town, which the moment before had exhibited a fcene of
confufion and uproar.

This calm, however, was of no long duration : the fedi-
■tion, which had been thus allayed by the fpirit and eloquence
of Nicon, being fomented by the ringleaders of the tumult,
broke into open rebellion ; many of the inhabitants re-
nounced their allegiance to the tzar, and propofed to deliver
the town into the hands of the king of Poland. The prelate,
however, not daunted by this change in their fentiments,
•did not difcontinue his efforts to bring them back to their
duty : his remonftrances and exhortations were gradually
attended with fuccefs ; many flocked to his palace, defiring
his intercefTion with their enraged fovereign ; and though
the remainder of the infurgents blocked up all the avenues
to the town, yet he contrived, at the peril of his life, to fend
information to the tzar. Being armed, by a commillion from
Mofcow, with full authority, he, with a proper degree of
vigour, yet without the effulion of blood, finally quelled the
-rebellion. To him was remitted the trial of the rebels, and
the abfolute difpofal of life and death ; an office which he
executed with as much judgement as lenity. Only the leader
of the fedition. was punifhed with death ; ten of his moft

mutinous

MOSCOW. 3ii

mutinous adherents were knooted and banillied : and a few ^^^^'
others were condemned to a fhort imprifonment. Niconv— >, — f
nobly overlooked and forgave the outrage committed againft
his own perfon ; and in chaftizing the public oflFence tem-
pered the feverity of juftice with the feelings of humanity.

He obtained the refpedt of the inhabitants by the unwea-
ried afliduity with which he performed the functions of his
archiepifcopal office ; and conciliated their affedtion by adts
of unbounded charity. During a dreadful famine he ap-
propriated the revenues of his fee to the relief of the poor ;
he conftrudted alms-houfes for widows, old men, and or-
phans : he was the great patron of the indigent ; and the
zealous protedor of the lower clafs of men againlt the op-
preflions of the great.

He was no lefs confpicuous in the vigilant difcharge of the
high duties of his patriarchal office, to which he was ap-
pointed in 1652, only in the 39th year of his age. He in-
ftituted feminaries for the inftrucSlion of priefts in the Greek
and Latin languages ; he enriched the patriarchal library
with many rare ecclefiaftical and claffical manufcripts drawn
from a convent at Mount Athros : by a diligent revifal of
the Holy Scriptures, and a collation of the various editions
of the Old and New Teftament, perceiving that many
errors had crept into the printed copies of the Bible and
Liturgy ufed for divine fervice ; he prevailed upon the tzar
to fummon a general council of the Greek church at Mof-
cow, in which he prefided. By his arguments, authority,
and influence, it was determined that the moft antient Scla-
vonian verfion of the Bible was exaft, and that the errors
with which the later copies abounded fliould be corretled.
He infpedled and fuperintended the printing of a new edi-
tion of the Sclavonian Bible, which was become fo rare as

Vol. I. T t not

322

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK not to be purchafed at any price. He removed from the
^T-v— ' churclies the pictures of deceafed perfons, to which
many of the Ruffians offered the moft Wind adoration ; he
abolilhed a few ceremonies which had been carried to a moft
fuperftitious excefs : in a word, his labours tended more to
the reformation of the church, than the united efforts of all
his predeceffbrs in the patriarchal fee.

Nor did he folely diftinguiili himfelf in his profeffional
duties ; but fliewed himfelf no lels qualified in a. civil capa-
city. Notwithitanding the courfe of his ftudies hitherto
folely confined to ecclefiafiical fubjeds, and the retlufenefs-
of his. former life which feemed to have impeded the at-
tainment of political knowledge, yet he was no fooner called
to a public fiation, than his abilities expanded in proportion^
as the objeiffs which they embraced became more numerous,
and important : his fagacity, iharpened by continual appli-
cation, foon rendered him mafter of the moll intricate affairs -
of government ; taught him to comprehend and difcrimi-
nate a variety of the moft oppofite interefts.; and to adopt-
that decifive line of conduct which marks the great and en-
lightened ftatefman. Being confulted by the tzar upon alh
occafions, he foon became the foul of his councils ■•'••• ; and
gained the afcendancy in the ca]:)inct by thq fplendour of,
his reafoning, and by a vaft fuperiority of genius, ever fertile
in expedients, and prone to recommend the moft vigorous
and fpirited meafures.

* The iniliience which Nicon, from the " fcnat a cote c!u czar, mais il prctcndait, .

fyiperiority of his. genius, obtained in the " qii'on ne pouvait fiire ni li guerre tii la

tzar's councils, perhaps induced Voltaire, " paix fans ion confenteiiicnt." &c. Hift.

in his erroneous account of this patriarch, de Pierre le Grand, p. 74. From Voltaire

to declare, that he " voulut elever fa the compiler of the article of Riillia, in

" chaire au-dcfius du tronc ; non feulement the Univerfil Hiftory, has adopted this idle

*'< il ufurpait le droit de s'aikoir dans le aflertioii. V. XXXVIII. p. 140.

I When

M O S C O W. 323

When he feemed thus to have attained the higheft fum- chap.
mit of human grandeur to which a fubje6t can arrive, he
fell a victim to popular difcontents, and to the cabals of a
court. His fall, no lefs fudden than his rife, muft be traced
from the following caufes. The removal of the painted
images from the churches difgufted a large party among the
Ruffians fuperftitioufly addi6led to the adoration of their
anccftors ; the corre6lion of the errors in the Liturgy and
Bible, the abolition of fome ceremonies, and the admiffion
of a few others (introduced, perhaps, with too much hafte,
and without paying a due deference to the prejudices of his
countrymen), occafioned a fchifm in the church ; many
perfons averfe to all innovations, and adhering to the old
tenets and ceremonies, formed a very confiderable fe<5t under
the appellation of Old Believers^ and, riling in feveral parts,
created much dirturbance to the Hate, circumrt:ances natu-
rally imputed to Nicon by his enemies : he attracted the
hatred of an ignorant and indolent clergy by the appoint-
ment of Greek and Latin feminaries ; he railed the envy
and jealoufy of the prime-minifler and courtiers by his pre-
dominance in the cabinet, and by the haughtinefs of his
deportment ; and by the fame means he offended the tza-
rina and her father, who were implacable in their refent-
ment.

All thefe various parties uniting in one great combination
againft him, Nicon halfened his fall by a fupercilious de-
meanour, which occalionally bordered upon arrogance, by
trufting folely for his fupport to the re^litude of his conduct
and the favour of his fovereign ; and by difdaining to guard
againll, what he confidered, as the petty intrigues of a court.

T t 2 ' The

III.

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK The only circumllaiice which feemed wanting to com-
plete his difgrace was the lofs of Alexey's protedlion ; and
this was at length effeded by the gradual, but fecret, infi-
nuations of the tzarina and her party, who finally availed
themfelves of an unfuccefsful war with Poland, of which
the patriarch is faid to have been the principal advifer, to
excite the tzar's difpleafure againft him. Nicon, finding
himfelf excluded from the prefence of a fovereign accuf-
tomed to confult him upon every emergency, and difdaining
to hold the higheft office in the kingdom, when he ha'd loft
the confidence of his mafter, aftoniflied the publick by a vo-
luntary abdication of his patriarchal dignity. This meafure,
cenfured by many as hafty and imprudent, and as highly
expreffive of that pride which flrongly marked his charadler,
muft yet be efteemed manly and refolute ; which even thofe
who condemn cannot but admire. It may alfo admit of great
palliation, if we confider, what is moil probable, that the
popular odium was rifing againft him, that a powerful
party had abfolutely, though fecretly, effedluated his dif-
grace ; and that, as he forefaw his fall, he preferred a vo-
luntary abdication of his dignity to a forcible depofition,
chufing to refign with fpirit what he thought he could not
retain without meannefs ••-.

This abdication took place on the 21ft t of July, 1658,
only fix years after he had been created patriarch ; when
he quitted that exalted ftation with the fame greatnefs of

* This is the opinion of Mayerberg, '* nerit in favore Alexii, cujus animum fcn-

who came to Mofcow fix years after his ab- " fun abalienaverant jaifli-s in longiim odiis

dication : " After enumerating the caufes " uxor et focer illi ob privatas caufas in«

" of his fall, he adds. Propter quae omnia " fenli,"p. 87.

•» omnibus exc/iis, et ad ex'Aiutn communibus ■[ The loth. O. S.
*• votis expetitus patrocinium nullum inve-

MOSCOW,

S^S

of foul with which he had afcended it. He was permitted chap.
to retain tlie title of patriarch, while the fundions of his
office were performed by the archbifliop of Novogorod.
He chofe for the place of his refidence the convent of Jeru-
falem, built and endowed by himfelf, which is fituated about
the diftance of thirty miles from the city of Mofcow. Upon
his arrival at the convent he immediately re-alTumed his
former reclufe way of life, and pradifed the moft rigid
mortifications. His hermitage, which he inhabited, lay about
a mile from the monaftery, and is thus defcribed by an
author "•'■■, who vifited the fpot in the beginning of this cen-
tury : " A winding ftair-cafe, fo narrow that one man could
" hardly pafs, leads to the little chapel of about a fathom ia
*' the fquare, in which the patriarch ufed to perform. his
*' folitary worfhip. The room in which he lived was not
** much larger ; in it hung a broad iron-plate, with a crofs
*' of brafs fixed to a heavy chain, weighing above twenty
" pounds, all which the faid patriarch wore about his neck
" for twenty years together. His bed was a fquare Hone
" two ells in length, and fcarcely one in breadth, over whiclx
" was fpread nothing but a cover of rullies. Below
" in the houfe was a fmall chimney, in which the patriarch.
" ufed to drefs his own viiluals."

While we admire the firmnefs with v/hich he fupported.:
this reverfe of fortune, we cannot without regret obferve
a perfon of his enlightened underftanding fubmitting to
thefe mortifying penances, which the moft ignorant and
fuperftitious cenobite was no lefs capable of performing : he.
did not, however, wafte his whole time in the performance

* Perry.'l State of RuiBa, v. I. p. 14.0.

o£

326 TRAVELS INTORUSSI A.

BOOK of frivilous auflerities ; but employed great part of his re-
^__^J_,tiremcnt in compiling a regular feries of Ruffian annalifts
from Ncllor, the earlielt hiftorian of this country, to the
reign of Alexcy Michaelovitch. He purfued this plan with
the fame zeal which had diftinguiflied all his other purfviits.
He compared and collated the numerous manufcripts, and,
after the mofl diligent examination, he digefted the "whole
collection in chronological order into a work, which is called
fometimes, from its author, the Chronicle of Nicon ; and
Ibmetimes, from the place where it was begun and depofited,
the Chronicle of the Convent of Jerufalem. This compi-
lation, the labour of twenty years, is juftly elleemed, by the
bell Ruffian hiftorians, as a work of the greateft ufe and
authority ; and was confidered by its venerable author of
fuch importance to the hiltory of his country, that, in the
true fpirit of enthufiafm, he begins the performance by
anathematizing all thole who ffiould attempt to alter the
minuteft cxpreffion.

The innocent manner, however, in which he fcems to
have paffed his time could not protedl him from the further
perfecutions of his enemies, who were apprehenfive, that
while he retained the name of patriarch he might be rein-
ftated in his former dignity. Repeated complaints were
lodged againft him ; every difturbance, occalioned by the
old believers, was made a matter of ferious accufation ; not
only his former condudt was difculTed and arraigned, but
new crimes were invented to render him ftill more obnoxious.
He was accufed of writing to the patriarch of Conftanti-
nople in a difrefpedful manner againft the tzar, of holding
a treafonable correfpondence with the king of Poland, and
of receiving bribes from the fame monarch.

The

MOSCOW.

327

The tzar, continually befet by the patriarch's enemies, was chap.
prevailed upon to proceed to the moft violent extremities' — , —
againft him. With this view he convened, in 1666, a
general council of the Greek and Ruffian clergy at Mofcow,
who, after a fliort deliberation, formally depofed Nicon from
the patriarchal fee, and baniflied him to a diftant convent.
The principal caufe affigned for this depofition w'as, that
Nicon, having by his voluntary abdication meanly deferted ■
liis flock, was unworthy to fill the patriarchal feat ; a fuffi-
cient proof that the other crimes were malicioufly imputed .
to him, circulated merely to. prejudice the tzar, and to in-
fluence the judges againft him : for if he had been .
found guilty of a trcafonable correfpondence, that alone
would have been a much better plea for his depofition and
imprifonment, than a trifling charge drawn from, his volun--
tary abdication.

In conformity to his fentencc, Nicon was degraded to the
condition of a common monk, and imprifoned in the con-
vent of Therapont, in the government of Bielozero. His -
confinement was for fome time extremely rigorous, becaufe,
Gonfcious of his own integrity, he perf fled in a denial of
guilt, and refufed to accept a pardon for crimes which he
had never committed.. Upon the death of Alexey in 1676,
Feodor, probably at the inftigation of his piime-minifter
prince Galitzin, the patron and friend of genius, permitted
Nicon to remove to the convent of St. Cyril in the fame
government, where he enjoyed the moft perfect liberty.

Nicon furvived his depofition fifteen years. In i68i
he requefted and obtained permiflion to return to the con-
vent of Jerufalem, that he might end his days in that fi- ■
Y.ourite fpot ; but he expired upon the road near Yaroflaf, ,

in. .-.

328 TRAVELSINTO RUSSIA.

BOOK in the 66th year of his age. His remains were tranfported
I to that convent, and buried with all the ceremonies ufed at
the interment of patriarchs *.

* For the Hiftory of Nicon, I have fol- a fpirited and candid account of this great

lowed Muller in his Nachricht von No- patriarch, to which I hold myfelf indebted

vogorod in S. R. G. Vol. V. p, 541 to 559. for a few reflexions. Hift. de Ruffie, v. III.

L'Evefque has drawn from this fame fource p. 391 to 394 ; alfo 417 to 430.

C H A P.

i 329 ]

G H A p. V.

Ruffian archives. — Englifli Jlate-papers. — Commencement of
the conne51ion between the courts 0/ London and Mofcow.
— Correfpondence between queen Elizabeth and the ■
tzar Ivan Vaffilievitch II. — His demand of the lady Anne
Haftings in marriage. — Account of th-at negotiation. —
Other difpatches. — A letter from the emperor Maximilian I.
to Vaffili Ivanovitch. — Rife of the title of tzar. — Negoti"
ction between Peter the Great and the European courts
relative to the title of emperor. — Univerfity. — Syllabus of
the leSlures. — Account of Matthasi's Catalogue of the
Greek manufcripts in the library o///6^ Holy Synod. — Hymn
to Ceres attributed to Homer, ^c. ^c.

MR. MuUer obligingly accompanied us to the place in chap.
the Khitaigorod, where the public archieves are de- . ^' ^^_^
pofited ; which is a ftrong brick building, containing feveral
vaulted apartments with iron floors. Thefe archives, confid-
ing of a numerous colledtion of ftate-papers, were crouded
into boxes, and thrown afide like common lumber, until
the prefent emprefs ordered them to be revifed and ar-
ranged. In conformity to this mandate, Mr. Muller has dif-
pofed them in chronological order with fuch perfe^l regu-
larity, that any fingle document may be infpefted with little
trouble. They are enclofed in feparate cabinets with glafs
■doors : thofe relative to Ruffia are all claflTed according to the
■feveral provinces which they concern; and over each cabinet
¥0L. I. U u is

320

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK ig infcribed the name of the province to which it is appro-
. ^ ' , priated. In the fame manner the manufcripts relative to
foreign kingdoms are placed in feparate divifions under the
refpective titles of Poland, Sweden, England, France, Ger*
many, 8cc. The papers which concerned my native coun-
try firft engaged my attention. The darlieft correfpondence
between the fovereigns of England and Ruflia commenced
about the middle of the 1 6th century, foon after the difcovery
of Archangel, and chiefly relates to the permiffion of trade
granted exclufively to the Englifh company of merchants
fettled in this country. The firft record is an originalletter
of Philip and Mary to Ivan Vaffilievitch II. acknowledging
the receipt of a difpatch tranfmitted to England by his em-
baflador Ofef Niphea, and returning thanks for the liberty
of opening a free trade throughout the Ruffian dominions.
The charter of privileges granted by the fame tzar to the
Englifli merchants, and the numerous letters which he re-
ceived from Elizabeth are all preferved in this colleilion ;
and are for the moft part printed in Hackluyt's Voyages ;
I obferved one, however, not to be found in that work ; it is
dated the i8th of May, 1570, and Elizabeth, among other
expreffions of friendfliip, offers to Ivan Vaffilievitch, in cafe
he Ihould be compelled by an infurre(5lion to quit his coun-
try, an afylum for himfelf and family in England. This
letter was figned by Elizabeth in the prefence of her fecret
council : amongft the fignatures I noticed the names of Ba-
con, Leycefter, and Cecil.

As fome hiftorians have afferted that the tzar Ivan Vaffi-
lievitch II. carried his perfonal refpedl for queen Elizabeth
fo far as to be one of her fuitors, while Camden only relates
that he propofed to marry lady Anne Haflings, daughter of
the earl of Huntingdon, my curiofi.ty led me to make in-
quiries

M O S C O \\\ 331

quiries into this tranfaition. With refpedl to any treaty of chap.
marriage between the tzar and EUzabeth, the archives are < — ^
entirely filent ; but in regard to the intended efpoufal of
lady Anne Haftings, they furnifhed me witli the following
curious particulars.

The firft hint of this match feems to have been fuggefled
by Dr. Robert Jacob a phyfician, whom Elizabeth in 1581,
at the tzar's defire, fent to Mofcow. Dr. Jacob, not unac-
quainted with the ficklenefs of Ivan in his amours, and his
defire of contradling an alliance with a foreign princefs, ex-
tolled, in the mort extravagant terms, the beauty, accom-
plilhments, and rank of lady Anne Haftings, and a6lually in-
fpired the tzar with a ftrong inclination to efpoufe her, al-
though he had juft married his fifth wife Maria Feoderofna.
Dr. Jacob reprefented this lady as a niece of the queen, and
daughter of an independent prince ; both which circum-
ftances being falfe fufficiently feem to prove that he a6tcd
from his own fuggeftions, w'ithout the leaft authority from
Elizabeth. The tzar, fired by his defcription, difpatched
Gregory Pirfemfkoi, a Ruflian nobleman of the firft dif-
tin6tion,.to England, to make a formal demand of the lady
for his wife : according to his inftru6tions, he was ordered,
after a conference with the queen, to procure an interview
with the lady, obtain her portrait, and inform himfelf of the
rank and fituation of her family : he was then to requeft
that an Englifh embafTador might return with him. to Mof-
cow, with full powers to fidjuft the conditions of the marri-
age. If an objection Ihould be raifed, that Ivan was already
married, he Ihould anfwer, that the tzar, having efpoufed a
fubje6t, was at liberty to divorce her ; and if it was afked,
what provilion lliould be made for the children by lady

U u 2 Anne

33*

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK Anne Haftings, he fliould reply, that Feodor the eldeft prince
> ■ ^ ' » was undoubtedly heir to the throne, but that her children
ihould be amply endowed.

Pirfemfkoi, in confequence of thefe orders, repaired to
London, had an audience of Elizabeth, faw lady Haftings,
who had juft recovered from the fmall-pox, procured her
portrait, and returned to Mofcow in 1583, accompanied with
an Englifh embaffador, Sir Jerome Bowes. The latter, who
M'as a perfon of a capricious difpofition, at his firft
interview greatly offended the tzar by his freedom of fpeech,
and more particularly as he was not commiflioned to give
a final affent to the marriage, but only to receive a more ex-
plicit offer, and tranfmit it to the queen. The tzar, little
accuftomed to brook delay, declared, " that no obftacle
*' fhould prevent him from marrying fome kinfwoman of
^' her majefty's ; that he fliould fend again into England to
" have fome one of thtm to wife ; adding, that if her ma-
*' jefty would not, upon his next embafiy, fend him fuch an
** one as he defired, himfelf would then go into England,
*' and carry his treafure with him, and marry one of them
*' there." Sir Jerome Bowes, probably in conformity to his
inltru(5lions, threw every obftacle in the way of the marri-
age : inftead of fpeaking handfomely of lady Haftings, men-
tioned her perfon with indifference, and denied that (he was
any relation to the queen ; adding, with fome marks of con-
tempt, that his miftrefs had many fuch nieces. By thefe
means the affair was fufpended, .and the negotiation was
finally terminated by the death of the tzar in the beginning
of the following year.

The correfpondence between the Paiffian and Englifli fo-

"vereigns, begun in the reign of Ivan, appears, from thefe

5 archives,

MOSCOW.

23$

archives, by no means to have ceafed upon his demife. The chap.
amity, indeed, between the two courts was fo firmly efta- < — «!«>
bUllied, that Charles I. fent a corps of troops, under colonel
Sanderfon, to the alliftance of Michael Feodorovitch, againft
Ladiflaus king of Poland ; and Alexey Michaelovitch occa-
fionally furnilhed Charles, in the period of his greateft
diftrefs, with money and corn. The laft letter from our
unfortunate fovereign to Alexey is dated Ifle of Wight, June
I, 1648, and was written during his confinement in Caris-
brook-Caftle. I obferved one from Charles II. to the fame
tzar, announcing the execution of his father; it is dated.
September the i6th, 1649, and. was brought to Mofcow by
Lord Culpepper.

During the ufurpation of Cromwell, Alexey maintained i
a confiant correfpondence with the exiled Charles. He was
accuftomed to declare, that all monarchs ought to elfeem the
caufe of Charles I. as their own ; and fliould not, by coun-
tenancing an ufurper, encourage fubjei5ls to rebel againft
their king. In conformity to thefe fentiments he refufed,
for a time*, to hold any intercourfe with the protecStor;
and thefe archives contain no letters between Cromwell and^
the tzar.

The reftoration of Charles II. renewed the friendly har-
mony between the two courts ; and as from this interval the
difpatches received from England were fo numerous, that
it would have required feveral days to have examined them
with any degree of attention ; I was compelled to retire
without having fufficiently fatisfied my curiofity. . Thefe

* \ iwy for a time ; for although, if I the proteflor, and had once confented

rightly remember, thefe archives contain to receive his embaifadors at Mofcow. This

no difpatches between the tzar and Crom- will fully appear in the chapter on the Rife

well, yet it is certain, that after fometiitie and Progrefs of the Engliih Trade to Kuffia i

Alexey maintained a correfpondence with in the next volume.

paperSj,

5^ TRAVELSINTO RUSSIA.

papers *, as they contain a connplete hirtorical feries of
the alhances, conneilion, correfpondence, and commerce,
between Ruifia and England, could not fail of forming a
very interefting publication, if they were printed in chro-
nological order, and interfperfed with hiftorical obferva-
tions.

I had fcarcely time to take a glance of the numerous ftate-
papers which relate to the other European powers ; but the
keeper of the archives did not omit pointing out to me one
document of great importance in the hiftory of Ruflia ; I al-
lude to the famous letter, written in the German tongue t,
from Maximilian I. emperor of Germany, to Vaffili Ivano-
vitch, confirming a treaty of alliance ofFenfive and defenfive
againft Sigifraond king of Poland. The difpatch, which is
dated Auguft the 4th, 1 5 14, and is ratified with the feal of
the golden-bull, is remarkable becaufe Maximilian addreffes
Vaffili by calling him Kayjer und Herrfcher aller Ruffen ;
Emperor and ruler of all the Rullias. This deed, which was
dilcovered by baron Shavirof in the archives about the be-
ginning of this century, is faid to have firft fuggefted to
Peter the idea of afTuming the appellation of emperor, and
of formally demanding that it fhould never be omitted by
the European courts. The demand gave rife to various ne-
gotiations, and occalioned a curious controverfy among the
learned, concerning the rife and progrefs of the titles by
which the monarchs of this country have been diitinguifhed.

* Thcfe papers appeared fo curious, to fome rider traveller the happinefs of

that focn after my arrival at Peterfburgh, I difplaying to the public this trcafure of po-

obtained, by the kind interceflion of Sir litical information.

James Harris, permiffion from count Panin f The reader will find a copy of the

to have them copied. But the demands of original German in Weber's Verandertes

the copyift being greatly difproportionate Rulsland, v. I. p. 357 ; and a faithful tran-

to my finances, I was unwillingly obliged (lation in Perry's State of Ruffia, p. 258.
to relinquilh my defi^n^ and 1 muft leave

From

M O S C O W. 335

From their refearches, it appeared that the early fovereigns chap.
of Ruflia were called great-duke, and that Vaflili Ivanovitch* ». / ^
was probably the firft who ftyled himfelf tzar, an expreffion
which, in the Sclavonian language, fignifies king ; and that
his fucceflbis continued to bear within their own dominions
that title as the moft honourable appellation, until Peter the
Great firft took that of Pove/iiel, or emperor. It is neverthe-
lefs as certain, that the foreign courts + in their intercourie
with that of Mofcow, ftyled the fovereigns indifcriminately
great-duke, tzar, and emperor J. With refpe6t to England
in particular, we know for certain, that, in Chancellor's Ac-
count of Ruflia, fo early as the middle of the fixteenth cen-
tury, Ivan Vaflilievitch II. is called lord and emperor of all
Ruflia ; and in the Englifli difpatches, from the reign of
Elizabeth to that of Anne, he is generally addreflfed under
the fame appellation. We may at the fame time re-
mark, that when the European powers ftyled the tzar
emperor of Mufcovy, they by no means intended to give him
a title limilar to that which was peculiar to the emperor of
Germany ; but they beftowed upon him that appellation as
upon an Afiatic fovereign, in the fame manner as we now fa.y
the emperors of China and Japan. When Peter, therefore,
determined to aflume the title of emperor, he found no diffi-
culty in proving that it had been confirmed upon his prede-
cefTors by moft of the European powers ; yet, when he was

* The appellation of tzar was not taken, ed with the titles born by thefe two fove-
as fome authors fuppofe, from the Tartars, reigns. Other authors fuppofe that his foil
when Ivan conquered Cafan, for the prince Ivan was the firft who aflumed the title of
of Cafan was called Khan. tzar.

f This is afferted upon the pofitive tefti- % According to Mayei berg, the title of '

mony of Herberftein, aud his authority is Alexey Michaelovitch prefixed to his Code

unqueftionable, becaufe, as he was twice of Laws, was " Tzar, et Magnus Dux,

embaffador to Mofcow, the firft time to " totius Ruffis Autrocator," Iter in Mof,

Vaflili Ivanovitch, and afterwards to Ivan p. 113,
Vaflilievitch II. he muft have been acquaint-

7 dcflrous

336

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK (lefirous of affixing to the term the European fenfe, it was
confidercd as an innovation, and was produ6live of more
negotiations than would have been requifite for the termi-
nation of the moft important ftate-afFair. After many delays
and objedions, the principal courts of Europe confented,
about the year 1722, to addrefsthe fovereign of Rnffia with
the title of emperor, without prejudice, neverthelefs, to the
other crowned heads of Europe '•■■.

Thefe

* Many authors have erroneoiifly ad-
vanced, that the EngUdi embafTador Lord
Whitworth, foon after the battle of Pul-
tava, gave, by order of queen Anne, the
title ot emperor in its European fenfe to Pe-
ter the Great. But the following extrafts,
in a difpatch of lord Carteret to Sir Luke
Schaube, the Englifli minifter at Paris,
ivliich fell under iny oblervations fince I
had finiflied the account in the context,
will fully contradi<a: thefe aflertions ; and
are here inferted, becaul'e they will help to
throw further light upon this fubjeft. The
united provinces and the king of I'ruiria had
already, in 171 1, acknowledged Peter's right
to the title of emperor: but thx: courts of
London and Paris withheld their confcnt.
During the negotiation pending between
thofe courts and Peter, feveral difpatches
palled between lord Carteret, fccretary of
Hate, the cardinal Dubois, and Sir Luke
Schaube, Englifli minifters at Paris.

" Le cardinal," writes lord Carteret in
one of his diipatches to Sir Luke, dated
Jan. 1721-2, " croit qu'on pourroit ac-
" corder le titre de Tcmpereur au czar, de
" maniere que les courotuies n'en fufl'cnt
*' point prejudicies."

" Le Roy [George ].] a trouvc la reponfe
** tris fage, que le cardinal a faite aux mi-
" niilres du czar touchant la dcmantie du
" titre d\wpcreur-. Nous agirons de con-
" ccrf, avtc fon eminence dans cette affaire.
*' Et pour luy donner les eclairciffements;;
" qu'elle fouhaitte, touchant ce qui s'eft
^' pafle entie la Grande Bretagne et le czar

*' a I'egard du titre, je vous envoye un
*' extrait, qui a ete tire des regiiires dc
■*♦ ftos archives, pour luy etre communi-
" que. Les miuiilres Mofcovites ne font
'* nullement fondez en ce qu'ils alleguent
*' que ce titre a ete accordc au czarcomnie
" une partie de la fatisfaiSion dans I'aftaire
" de Matueof. 11 eft conftant que I'on no
" fit alors aucun changement a cette occa-
" fion la.

" En examinant le flile, dont les roys de
*' la Grande Bretagne fe font fervis, en
" ecrivant aux czars de iNIol'covie, on ell
" remontc jufqu'au terns de la reine Eliza-
" beth. On trouve qu'on leur a toujours
" ecrit en Anglois, et que cette princefle.
An,_i559. Se fervoit du ftiie d'anpciour et

de higncfs.
An. 1616. Le roy Jaques T. de celuy d'em-

pcrour et de majejiy.
An. 1633. Le roy Charles ].

i666. Le roy Charles IL

1687. Jaques IL et Guillaume IIL de
celuy d'cmpcrour de d'hnpcrial ma-

La reine Anne s'eft fervie du
4We d'emperour et d' imperial ma"
jefy. jufqu'i\ I'an 1707, et alors
on commen^a a ecrire com'
mander, &cc. et czaric ma/ejiy.
An. 1708. En 1708 le 19 Juillet et le' 19
Septenibre, commander et impirii.il
majefly ; et le 9 Novembre de
la mcmei annee emperour et im-
perial inajejly. En 1709,' 17 10,
1 7 1 1 . Emperour et imperial ma-
jcjly- £r

14^07.

MOSCOW.

337

The archives contain alfo thirteen vokimes of letters, jour- chap,

V •

Eu 1712, 1713, 17141 empcrour
et ctarean, czarijh, et imperial
majejly tantot I'un, tantot I'au-
tre, et fouvent czav'iihj&t imperi-
al majejly, dans une meme lettre.
En 1 7 14 le 27 Septembie, le
ftile de la lettre de notification
de I'avenement du roy a la Cou-
roiine, eft, empcrour et your ma-
jejly, et dans plulieurs autres
lettres depuis ce temps la cza-
rijlj, ou imperial majeJIy, et quel-
(]\\tid\s your majejly finiplement.

Voicy le titre entier.
To the moll high, mofl: potent,
and moft illuftrioiis, our moil
dear brother, the great lord,
czar, and great duke, Peter
Alexejewitz, of all the Greater,
Lefler, and White RuiTia, Self-
Upholder of Mufcovia, Kiovia,
Ulodomiria, Novogardia, czar
of Cazan, czar ot* Aftrachan,
czar of Siberia, lord of Plexoe,
and great-duke of Smolenlko,
Tueria, Ugoria, Perniia, Viat-
kya, Bolgaria, and others, lord
and great-duke of Novogardia,
and of the Lower Countries of
Czernegorfky, Refanfky, Rofto-
vefky, Yeroflave, Beloorzeriky,
Udorlky, Obdorlky, Condinlky,
and empcroifr of all the Northern
Coafls, lord of the Lands of
Iveriky, Cartiliniky, and Gru-
zenlky, czar of the Lands of
Caberdinfky, Czerealky, and
duke of tlie Mountains, and of
many otherDominions and Coun-
tries, Eafl, Weft, and North,
from Father and from Grandfa-
ther, Heir,Lord and Conqueror.
Lord Carteret in a letter to the cardinal
Dubois, writes

Le roi concoura fans difficultc

avec fa majefte trCs Chretienne,
a faire ce que V. Eminence
jugera convenablc, par rapport
au 7iom>cau titre que le czar de-
mande, et un parfait concert a
faire efperer a ce prince une
telle complaifance pour fervir a
le gagner, et a nous faire tirer
fruits de fon ambition. Jan.
30, 1721-2.
And in a difpatch to Sir Luke Schaube,
he thus exprefles himfelf :

La coiitume icy a toujours ete
d'ecrire aux czars de Mofcovie
fur du velin enlumine peint et
dorc, comme on fait aux empe-
reurs de Maroc et Fez, et a
plufieurs autres princes non-
Europeens, lefquels felon cette
coutumeferoient egalement fon-
dez d'infiftcr fur le titre d'em-
pereur. On n'a jamais voulu
changer I'ufage etably, quoiquc
les Mofcovites I'ayent fort foli-
cite durant I'ambaiTade de my
lord Whitworth a Mofcow. Ce
miniftre s'cxcufa tofijours d'en
finre la propofition. II leur dir,
qu'il leurdonneroit le titre, fans
difficuite, tel qii'il le trouvoit
etabli; mais qu'il ne leur con-
feilloit pas de remuer cette ma-
tiere, ni de s'eclaircir trop foig-
neufement fur quel pied on leur
donnoit ce titre. Les Mofco-
vites crurent fon avis bon pour
lors. Quand my lord Whit-
worth, et Mr. I'amiral Norris
furentchargcz d'une commiffion
auprez du czar a Amfterdam,
ils n'eiirent que des lettres de
cachet, dont le ftile etoit vittre
majejle ; les miniftrcs Rufiiens en
firent d'abord quelque fcrupule,
mais n'y infifterent pas.

Thefe extrafts are drawn from Sir Luke Sehaube's State papers, in the rare and ample
collection of the earl of Hardv/icke, a nobleman as diHinguilhed for the extint, as the
liberal communication of his knowledge.

Vol. I.

X X

nals,

338 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK nals, notes, and other manufcripts, of Peter the Great, written
* / Mvith his own hand : thefe papers fufficiently fhow the inde-
fatigable pains, with which that great monarch noted down
the minnteft circumftances, that might prove ufeful in his ex-
tenfive plans for the civilization and aggrandifement of his
country. Mr. Muller has lately given to the public feveral
letters and other pieces of this kind, which throw a confider-
able light upon the tranfadtions of Peters reign, and afford
ftriking inftances of his perfevering genius.

From the archives we repaired to the univeriTty, alfo
fituated in the Khitaigorod : it was founded, at the inftance
of count Shuvalof, by the emprefs Elizabeth, for fix hun-
dred ftudents, who are clothed, boarded, and inftrucfled at
the expence of the crown. We were received, with great
civility, by the dire6tor of the univerfity and profelTors, who
conducted us firlt to the printing-office belonging to their
fociety. One of the prefTes being at work, feveral flieets
w^ere flruck off and prefented to us as fpecimens of the Ruf-
fian printing : upon looking at them we were furprized to
find a complimentary addrefs to ourfelves in the Englilh and
RulTi an languages, of which the following is d. fac-fimile.

This

MOSCOW.

339

'his Specimen of the Ruffian print was pre-
fented to the Right honourable LORD
HERBiiRT on his Travels thro' Ruffia, accompany 'd
by Captain Floyd & Mr. Coxe ; on their honouring
the Imperial Univerfity of Mofco with a friendly vifit
this * 1 Day of September 1778'.

Jie nmcHeiiie neHamw PocciiicKoii no4He-
ceHO BBicoKonoTinieHH^KiiieMy ^0P4y
FEPBEPTy B:b ero nymeuiecniBOBaHiH Hpea-b Poc-
ciK) ct KannmaHOMi, ^/tougoHb h rocno4HHOM:b

KOKC0M,b BOBpeMil, K0r4a OHM y40CniOM4H CBOHM-B

6AarocK^OHHHML iioc-BnienieMi, HMnepamopcKm Mo-
ck obckih yHMBepcHinenn> CeHniJi6pii i 4HH 1778 ro4a.

« o. s,

X X 2

340 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

^?^^ We next proceeded to the univerfity-library, which con-
* — , — ' tains a fmall colledlion of books, and a moderate apparatus
of experimental philofophy.

Upon taking leave of the dire(5lor, he obligingly prefented
me with a Tartar Grammar, which language is taught in
this fociety, a Syllabus of a year's leftures, aiid a Catalogue
of the Greek Manufcripts in the library of the Holy Synod.

The following extrad; from the Syllabus *■ will difplay to
the reader the general ftudies, and the principal books ufed
in this univerfity for the inftrudlion of the ftudents.

I. A courfe of ledtures on the Hiftory of the Ruffian Law,
on Nettelbadianus, Syjlema iiniverfa Jurijprudentia, and on
the Jus Cambiale ; eight hours in the week. 2. On Cicero's
Orations againft Catiline, the fixth book of Virgil's
Eneid, plays of Plautus and Terence, inftru6tions on the
manner of writing Latin and Ruffian verfes from the ex-
amples of Lomonofof and Horace ; an expofition of the pa-
negyrical orations of Lomonofof, together with tranflations
and exercifes in Latin and Ruffian profe : eight hours in the
M'eek. 3. On, arithmetic, trigonometry, and optics, from
V^^Qidlefs Matbe-naticiB Injiitiiliones', and experimental phi-
loibphy from Kruger's Coinpendium. 4. On ancient and
modern hiftory. 5. Introdudtion to the knowledge of mo-
ral philofophy, from'Bielfield'sInftitutes. 6. On clinic me-
" .'tJicioie^Qr.ithe remedies ufed by antiei'it.and modern phyfi-
cians, fromVogel's Compendium. 7. On the panae6ts from
the cbmperidiiTm of'Heineecius, Jind <aie©tmparif(j>iji, between
the Roman and Ruffian law: ei<^ht hours in the week.
Frofeflbr Defaitfky, wlio reads this lecture', teachei'-alfo-the

* I: 'i entitled " Catalogus prj-ViTtiormm p'.iblicarnm in Uiiiverfitatc Cxfarea-Mof-
" t; !t;iS habendariim."

3 Englifli

MOSCOW.

341

Englifli language from a Grammar compiled by himfelf : chap.
four hours in the week. 8. Logic and metaphyfics from
Baumeifter's logic, eight hours in the week ; and four hours
geometry and trigonometry from Weidler. 9. On phyfic,
under the following heads, pathology, diatetics, and thera-
peutics,.from Ludwig's compendium, iq.. On Botany, after
the fyftem of Linnasus. i i. Anatomy from Ludwig..
12. On the etymology, fyntax, and flyle of the French
tongue : eight hours in the week. 13. Etymology, fyntax,.
and ftyle of the German.

Befide the univerfity, there are two gymnafia, or femina-
ries, for the education of youth, endowed alfo by Elizabeth,
in which are taught divinity, claffics, philofophy, the Greek,.
Latin, Ruffian, German, French, Italian, and Tartar lan-
guages; hiftory, geography, mathematics, architedlure, for-
tification, artillery, algebra, drawing and painting, mufic,.
fencing, dancing, reading and writing. There are twenty-
three profeflbrs ; amongft thefe, the Syllabus informed me,
that Mr. Alexief teaches divinity two hours in the week.
Mr. Matthaei, profeflbr and retStor of both feminaries, explains
fome of Cicero's Orations and fcle6t Epiilles, Libanius's Let-
ters, Erncili's oratorical eiTays, Xenopborfs Anabafis, teaches
the Roman antiquities from Burman's compendium, and
continues his ufual Latin exercifes upon oratory. Mr. Sin-
kovfki, every morning from feven to nine, treats of the
principles of rhetoric, particularly concerning the Periodo-
logia, both as to theory and pracftice, from Burgius's Element a
Oratoria ', explains Casfar's Commentaries andjnilin; em-
])loys his fcholars in Latin and Ruffian tranflations, and in
the etymology and fyntax of the Greek tongue : reads Phi-
tarch sszpi Hivyji; \ and, from nine to twelve on Mondays,.,

WcdncfdaySp,

.41 T R A V E L S I N T O R .U S S I A.

BOOK V.^ednefdayp, and Saturdays, Ovid's MetamorphDfis,.and con-
,_,.^"_,np.^^ mythology with antient hiftory and geography. Mv.
Tllierbotaref, extraordinar-y proteffor of logic and mora«lity,
and under-librarian to the univerfity, tour hours in the
week, comments upon Hemeca'i element a pbUofopbicV. rationalis
et rfWralis, as well' in the original Latin, as in the Ruffir;:! <■-
tranllaticn, ^for the benefit of thofe who are unacquainted
with the l^atin tongue. I\h\ Urbanfki gives inftru6lions in
rhetoric from the compendium of Burgius, both in theory
and praflice. Mr. Holberliof explains Count Teffin's Letters
to a young prince t.

The account of the Greek maniifcrips in the library of
the Holy Synod at Mofcow, prelented to me by the director,
bore the following' title : " Notitia codicum mamifcriptorum
" Graecorum Bib Hot bee arum Mojquenfium Jan^iiJJimae fynodi
*' Ecckfiae ortbodoxae Graeco-Rujjkaei cum variis anecdotis^
" tabulis amis et indiclbiis locitpletijfimis. Edidit Cbrijiianus
" Tredericiis Matthaei^ Gymnafiorum Univerfitatis Mofiuenfis
^^ Reclor. Mofquae, typis Univerfitatis^ Anno 1776." folio.
The author is Chriitian Frederic Matth^i, a learned German,
who was educated atLeipfic under the celebrated Ernefti, and
being drawn to Mofcow by the liberality of the emprefs, was
appointed a profcffor of this univerfity. Soon after his arrival
in this city, he turned his firft attention to the ftate of Greek
learning in this country ; and being informed that the li-
brary of the Holy Synod contained a large and curious col-
lection of Greek manufcripts, the greateil part of which had,
at f he fuggclHon of the patriarch Nicon, and at the expence
of Alextiv Michaeiovitch, been colledlied by the monk Arfe-

* lis pri-ipue, qui lingua Latian: funt f The prefcnt king of Sweden when

ign in, ntc l\ia ftudia acadeniica ic uaivcr- prince royal,
liiutc ukcrius prOi'e<iui poffuiu.

nius

M O S C O. \V. 5^^

nius from the monaftery of Mount Atbos, he immcdiateiy ^-li^^^^
explored this Hterary treafure.

And as a catalogue of thefe manufcriptSy publifhed by
Athanafius Schiada, at the order of Peter the Great, was ex-
ceedingly inaccurate, Matthaei, who had difplayed his
erudition by feveral excellent editions •■'•■ of the ClafTiCS,
was encouraged by Prince Potemkin the great patron, ol.
antient literature who paid all the expence of the publi-
cation, to undertake this work upon a more extenllve plan.
Accordingly, in 1776, the learned editor gave to the public
this firft part of the performance, in which he has laid down
a very accurate and circumftantial detail of fifty~one manu-i
fcripts, accompanied with many judicious remarks and cri-
tical inquiries ; he defcribes the materials upon which each
manufcript is written ; he mentions the number of pages, the
age, the writer, the former poiTeffors ; the contents, the firil:
and laft word. The author propofes to continue the publi-
cation at different intervals until he has finiflied the account.
But as it would require many years thus minutely to detail
and defcribe all the mamifcripts, whofe number amounts to
502 ; the learned author has, in the mean while, favoured
the publick with a complete catalogue, in a lefs circumil:an-
tial manner, under the following title: ^'^ Index cod'icuni
" marmfcriptorum Graecorum Bibliotbecarum MoJquenf:um
" fanSIiJJimae Synodi ecclefiae orthodoxae Grceco-RvJJicae: edidit
" Chrijiianus Fridericus Mattbaei. PetropoU^ typis Academiae
** Scientiarum, 1780." 4to. To this index is prefixed a very
fatisfa6lory and comprehenfive introduction ; in which, af-
ter having informed us that he compiled it for the ufe of
prince Yufapof, an enthufiaft in Greek literature, he enters-

* The late ingenious Mr. Hanis has enumerated the edrrions puWiflied by Mr. Mat-
thsei. rhilof. ]n;piries, p. 564,

3 into

344 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK into a fliort account of the principal manufcripts. Anion
" — S—' thefe he enumerates feveral of the Septuagint, and one in
particular of the Books of Kings, which is of the ninth cen-
tury, and contains, in fome places, many various readings,
materially diifering from the printed editions. He mentions
alio feveral of the New Teltament ; fome accompanied with
antient commentaries, wdiich have never been publiflied,
and ^vhich the ingenious author has tranfcribed, colla-
ted, and prepared for the prefs. The moft antient of thefe,
containing the New Teftament, was written at different pe-
riods ; the firlt part fo early as the feventh or eighth cen-
tury, and the remainder in the twelfth and thirteenth. He
adds, that this colle6lion, although chiefly confined to theo-
logical fubjecfts, is by no means deficient in the clafllcs ;
amongft which he enumerates Homer, ^fchylus, Sophocles,
Demollhenes, /Efchynes, Hefiod, Paufanias, Plutarch, and a
moft beautiful Strabo, which he has collated for the new
edition of that author, preparing for the Clarendon prefs by
Mr. Falkener of Oxford •'■.

In this library of the Holy Synod Mr. Matthcei difcovcred
an antient hymn of Ceres in a manufcript of Homer, written
about the conclufion of the fourteenth century, but which
he fuppofes to have been a tranfcript from a moft antient
and valuable copy : this manufcript, befide a fragment of
the Iliad, contained the fixteen hymns ufually attributed to
Homer, in the fame order as they are generally printed. At
the end of the fixteenth he found twelve verfes of an hyrnn
to Bacchus, and an hymn to Ceres, which, excepting the laft

* It was a confiderable difappointment mation from his acquaintance. I have like-
to me, that Mr. Matthxi was abfent from wife to regret, that, on account of his ab-
Rlofcow during my continuance in that fence, I could not obtain a fight of thefe
<:ity, as 1 fhould have derived great infor- manufcripts.

part,

%1 o s c o %\\

345

pait, was entire. Mr. Matthoei, well acquainted with the chap,
delays which would have attended the publication at Mof- .
cow, fent a copy of the hymn to the celebrated Ruhnkenius,
■of the univerfity of Leyden, who gave it to the public in
1780; and, as by miliake twenty lines had been omitted,
he put forth a fecond edition the following year -.

The learned editor has prefixed a critical difquifition upon
this hymn, in which he ailerts that it is undoubtedly of great
antiquity, and written, if not by Homer himfelf, yet cer-
tainly by a very diligent imitator of his ftyle and phrafeologv.
The exprefs teitimony of Paufanias, who repeatedly men-
tions that Homer had compofed an hymn to Ceres, may
perhaps feem to fome readers a ftrong argument, that it is
the genuine produ6lion of the great author whofe name it
bears : and yet the joint opinion of the two antient gram-
marians t, quoted by Ruhnkenius in his preface, may be
thought of fufficient weight to counterbalance the fingle
evidence of Paufanias ; whofe judgement (as the editor has
well obferved) in this cafe is of the lefs value, becaufe he
has, without difcrimination, adjudged the reft of the Ho-
meric hymns to the reputed parent, many of which beat
much ftronger marks of a lefs honourable origin, than this
•compofition in queftion. Though the ftyle and plan of this
hymn appears to me (as well as to the celebrated editor) in-
ferior to Homer, and in fome places unworthy of him, yet
this argument, depending on the tafte and feeling-s of the
reader, will not operate on all with equal force ; nor will
•even they who allow its inferiority to the other produ61:ions

* Homeri Hymnus in Cefarem nunc ad Alexiph. — Grammaticns vetus apud AU
primum eilitiis a Davide Ruhnlcenin. latium de Fatr, Honv. &c, Prxf.

t P. VII. & VIII. Scholialles Nicundri

Vol. I. Y y oi

34^-

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

^?u^ of the divine poet, be immediately inclined to grant the
conclufion, that it is not his work ; becaufe that objecflion-
may be removed by fuppofing, that Homer might in one:
particular compofition fall below his ufual ftandard of per-
fecflion. A ftronger proof againft its originality may be
drawn from the words, phrafes, and inflexions occurring in
this poem, which are either of a later date than the age of
Homer, or not found in his unfuipecSted works. Some of:
thefe the editor has enumerated *.

The claflical reader who is defirous of further infor-
mation relative to the genuinenefs of this antient poem, is
referred to the laft edition of the Hymn by Ruhnkenius, and
to the Preface of Mr. Hole's Tranflation t.

* The hymn to Ceres has fufFered many
mutilations and corruptions. It may not
be improper to produce nn inllance. Among
other particulars, in which this hymn re-
fembles the Iliad and Odyfley, one of t!te
raoft confpicuous is that pronenefs to itera-
tion, which makes a diftinguifhing feature
of Homer. The author of this hymn, from
V. 44.J to 447 inclufive, mentions the pro-
mifes which- Jupiter connmiffians Rhea to

make in his name to Ceres ; t^hefe Rhea re-
peats, V. 461 — 464. The 465th verfe con-
fining of the lame words with the 447th,
the copier of the poem abfurdly tranfcribed'
the five following lines (v. 448 — 452.), and
probably omitted at lead as many, which
originally connefted this part with the fe-
quel.

f Homer's Hymn to Ceres tranflated
into Englifli verfc by Richard Hole;^LL. B,

c n A p.

C 347 ]

C H A P. VI.

Retail trade in the Khitaigorod. — Market for the/ale ofhoufes.
—-Expedition tefed in building wooden Jlru&ures. — Excel-
lence of the police in cafes of riot or Jire. — Chefs very com-
mon in Ruffia. — Account of the Foundling Hofpital.—
Excurfion to the monajlery of the Holy Trinity. — Delays of
the pofl, — Defcription of the monajlery. — "fomb of Maria
titular queen 0/ Livonia. — 'The hijlory of that queen and of
her hujband M-3i^\\\iS. — Tomb and cbaraSier of Boris Go-
dunof.

O S G O W is the centre of the inland commerce of chap.
Ruffia, and particularly conneds the trade between

•Europe and Siberia.

The only navigation to this city is formed by the Mofkva,
which, falling into the Occa near Columna, communicates
-by means of that river with the Volga *. But, as the
Mofkva is only navigable in Spring upon the melting of
the fnows, the principal merchandize is conveyed to and
from Mofcow vipon fledges in winter.

The whole retail commerce of this city is carried on in
the Khitaigorod, where, according to a cuftom common in
Ruffia, as well as in moft kingdoms of the Eaft, all the (liops
are collected together in one fpot. The place is like a kind
of fair, confifting of many rows of low brick buildings ;
the interval between them refembling alleys. Thefe
-fhops or booths occupy a confiderable fpace ; they do not,

* Fcr the communication of the Volga with the Baltic, fee the chapter on the Inland
■Navigation of Ruffia in the next volume.

Y y a as

^8 T R A V E L S I N T O R U S S I A.

BOOK as ^vith us, make part of the houfes inhabited by the tradei^
■ "J' . mpiTj but are quite detached from their dwelHngs, which
for the moil part are at fome diftance in another quarter of
the town. The tradefman comes to his Ihop in the morn-
ing, remains there all day, and returns home to his family
in the afternoon. Every trade has its feparate department ;^
and they who fell the fame goods have booths adjoining to
each other. Furs and Ikins form the moft confiderable ar-
ticle of commerce in Mofcow, and the Ihops which vend
thofe commodities occupy feveral ftreets.

Among the curiofities of Mofcow, I muft not omit the
market for the fale of houfes. It is held in a large open
fpace in one of the fuburbs, and exhibits a great variety of
ready-made houfes^ thickly ftrewed vipon the ground. The
purchafer who wants a dwelling, repairs to this fpot, men-
tions the num>ber of rooms he requires, examines the different
timbers, which are regularly numbered, and bargains for
that which fuits him. The houfe is fometimes paid for up-
on the fpot, and taken away by the purchafer ; or fome-
times the vender contra6ls to tranfport and eredt it upon the
place where it is defigned to ftand. It may appear incredible
to aflert, that a dwelling may be thus bought, removed,
laifed, and inhabited, within the. fpace of a. week ; but we
ihall conceive it practicable by confidering that thefe ready-
made houfes are in general merely coHe<5tions of trunks of
trees, tenanted and mortaifed at each extremity into one
another, fo that nothing more is required than the labour of^
tranfporting and re-adjufting them.

But this fummary mode of building is not always pecu-
liar to the meaner hovels ; as. wooden ftrucStures of very large
dimenfions and hamifome appearance are occafion ally formed
in RuiTia with an expedition almoft inconceivable to the in-
5 habitants

MOSCOW.

349

Habitants of other countries. A remarkable inftance of this chap.

VIo

difpatch was difplayed the laft time the emprefs came to^ .^°~^
Mofcow. Her majeily propofed to refide in the manfion of
prince Gaiitzin, which is efteemed the completeft edifice in
this city ; but as it was not iiifficiently fpacious for her re-
ception, a temporary addition of wood, larger than the
original houfe, and containing a magnificent fuite of apart--
ments, was began and finilfied within the fpace of fix weeks.
This meteor-like fabrick was fo handfome and commodious,
that the materials, which were taken down at her majefty's
departure, were to be re-con fi:ru6ted, as a kind of imperial
villa, upon an eminence near the city.

In Mofcow I obferved an admirable police for preventing
riots, or for {topping the concourfe of people in cafe of fires,
which are very frequent and violent in thofe parts, where
the houfes are moftly of wood, and the. ftreets are laid with
timber. At the entrance of each fireet there is a chevaux-
defrize gate, one end whereof turns upon a pivot, and the
other rolls upon a wheel ; near it is a centry-box, in which -
a man is occafionally ilationed. In times of riot or fire the
centinel iliuts the gate, and all paifage is immediately flopped.

Chefs is fo common in Rufiia, that during our continu-
ance at Mofcow, 1 fcarcely entered into any company where
parties were not engaged in that diverfion ; and I very fre-
quently obferved, in my paflage through the firreets, the
tradefmen and common people playing it before the doors
of their fiiops or houfes. The Rufllans are efteemed great
proficients in chefs. With them the queen has, in addition
to the otlifir moves, that of the knight, v.'hich, according to '■
Philhdor, fpoils the game, but which certainly renders it
more complicated and difficult, and of courfe more intereft-
img. The Ruffians have alfo another method of playing at;

chefs«-

35^

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK chefs, namely, with four perfons at the fame time, tw©

Til

ao-ainft two ; and for this purpofe the board is longer than ufu-
al, contains more men, and is provided with a greater num-
ber of fquares. I was informed, that this method is more
difficult, but far more agreeable, than the common game.

Among the public inftitutions of Mofcow, the moft re-
markable is the Foundling Hofpital, endowed in 1764 by
the prefent emprefs, and fupported by voluntary contribu-
tions and legacies, and other charitable gifts. In order to
encourage donations, her majefty grants to all benefadors
fome valuable privileges, and a certain degree of rank in pro-
portion to the extent of their liberality. Among the prin-
cipal contributors mull be mentioned a private merchant,
named Dimidof-, a perfon of great wealth, who has ex-
pended in favour of this charity above ;^i 00,000. The
hofpital, which is fituated in a very airy part of the
town upon a gentle afcent near the river Mofkva, is an im-
menfe pile of building of a quadrangular fhape, part of
which was only finiflied when we were at Mofcow. It con-
tained, at that time, 3000 foundlings ; and, when the whole
is completed, will receive 8000.

The children are brought to the porter's lodg€, and ad-
.mitted without any recommendation. The rooms are lofty
and large ; the dormitories, which are feparate from the
..work rooms, are very airy, and the beds are not crouded :
each foundling, even each infant, has a feparate bed ; the
bedfteads are of iron ; the llicets are changed every week,
and the linen three times a week. In going over the rooms,
I was particularly ftruck with their n^atnefs ; even the nur-
ieries being uncommonly clean, and without any unuhole-

* The anceftors of this gentleman firft difcQvered and worked the richefl mines of
fiberia; from whence his family acquired immenle riches.

fome

M O S C O W. ^5r

^me fmells. No cradles are allowed, and rocking is par- chap.
ticularly forbidden. The infants are not fwaddled accord-'
ing to the cuftom of the country, butloofely drefled.

The director obligingly favoured us with his company,
and fliowed us the foundlings at their refpecflive works.
Immediately upon his appearance the children crouded-
round him ; fome took hold of his arm ; fome held by his
coat ; others kiffed his hand, and they all exprefled the
higheft fatisfavStion. Thefe natural and unfeigned marks of
regard were the moft convincing proofs of his mildnefs and'
good-nature ; for children, when ill ufed, naturally crouch
before thofe who have the management of them. ] could'
be no judge merely in vifiting the hofpital, whether the
children were v/ell inftrutted, and the regulations well ob--
ferved; but I was perfectly convinced, from their behaviour,
that they were in general happy and contented, and could
perceive from their looks that they were remarkably healthy.
This latter circumftance muft be owing to the uncommon
care, which is paid to cleanlinefs both in their perfons and-
rooms.

The foundlings are divided into feparate clafTes, according.
to their refpeflive ages. The children remain two years in'
the nurfery, when they are admitted into the loweft clafs ;
the boys and girls continue together until they are feven^
years of age, at which time they are leparatedi They all
learn to read, write, and caft accounts. The boys are taught
to knit; they occafionally card hemp, flax, and wool, and;
work in the different manufactures. The girls learn to knit, ,
net, and all kinds of needle- work ; they fpin and weave-
lace ; they are employed in cookery, baking, and houfe-work
of. all forts.

lU.

.y^^ T R A V E L S I N T O R U S S I A.

BOOK ^t ti^e age of fourteen the foundlings enter into the firft
dafs ; when they have the Uberty of chuilng any particular
branch of trade ; and for this purpofe there are different
fpecies of manufaftures eftablilhed in the hofpital, of which
the principal are embroidery, filk ftockings, ribbands, lace,
'tIovcs,- buttons, and cabinet-work. Afeparate room is ap-
propriated to each trade,

Some boys and girls are inftrudled in the French and
German language:, and a few boys in the Latin tongue ;
others learn muhc, drawing, and dancing.

About the age of twenty, the foundlings receive a fum of
money, and feveral other advantages, which enable them to
follow their trade in any part of the empire.; a very confider-
able privilege in Ruffia, where the peafants are (laves, and can-
not leave their village without the permifllon of theirraafter.

In another vifit which I paid to this hofpital I favv the
foundlings at dinner : the girls and boys dine feparately.
The dining rooms, which are upon the ground-floor, are
larre and vaulted, and diftinil from their work rooms. The

firlf clafs fit at table ; the relt ftand : the httle chiUlren are
attended by fervants ; but thofe of the firft and fecond chifs
alternately wait upon each other. The dinner confifted of
beef and mutton boiled in broth, with rice ; I tafted both,
and they were remarkably good : the bread was very fweet,
and was baked in the houfe, chiefly by the foundlings.
Each foundling has a naj)kin, pewter-plate, a knife, fork,
and fpoon : the napkin and table-doth are clean three times
in the week. They rife at fix, dine at eleven, and fup at
^ix. The little children have bread at feven, and at four.
When they are not employed in their necelTary occupations,
fhe utmoll freedom is allowed, and they are encouraged to
536 as much in the air as poihble. The whole was a lovely

fight;

MOSCOW.

353

fight ; and the countenances of the children expreffed the chap.
utmoft content and happinefs.

In the hofpital there is a theatre in whicli all the deco-
rations are the work of the foundlings : they conitrucSled the
ftage, painted the fcenes, and made the drefles. I was pre-
fent at the reprefentation of the Homiete Crim'mel^ and the
comic opera, he Devin du Village^ both tranflated into the
Ruffian tongue. Not underftanding the language, I could
be no judge whether they fpoke with propriety ; but I was
furprized at the eafe with which they trod the ftage, and was
pleafed with the gracefulnefs of their adion. There were
fome agreeable voices in the opera. The orchcftra was filled
with a band by no means contemptible, which confifted en-
tirely of foundlings, excepting the firft violin, who was their
mufick-mafter. On this occafion the play was not, as ufual,
concluded with a ballet, becaufe the principal performer was
indifpofed, which was no fmall difappointment, as we were
informed that they dance ballets with great tafte and ele-
gance.

The emprefs, I am told, is induced to countenance thea-
trical reprefentations in a feminary of this kind, from adefire
of diffufing among her fubjecSts that fpecies of entertainment,
which file confiders a means of civilization, and of enriching
the Ruffian theatres with a conftant fupply of performers.

Many and great are the advantages of this excellent charity.
It difixifes a knowlege of the arts among the people ; en-
creafes the number of free fubje6ls ; and above all has con-
fiderably diminilhed the horrid pradlife of deftroying infants,
fo prevalent in thefe parts before the inftitution of thehofpitnl.

We were unwilling to quit this part of the country with-
out paying a vifit to Troitflvoi Klofter, or the monaftery of
the Holy Trinity, which is diftinguifiied in the annals of this

Vol. I. Z z country

354

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK country as the afylum for the Ruffian fovereigns in Cafes of
■ , ' - inAirrp^'f^" and danger, and is more particularly known to
foreigners for the refus^e it afforded to Peter the Great, when
he put an end to the adminiflration of his fifter Sophia *.

The dii^ance from Mofcow to the monaftery being forty
miles, we ordered j)oft-horfes to be ready at five in the morn-
ing, with an intention of viewing the convent, and returning
to this city by night. We thought that we fliould eafily
have made this excurfion in the time propofed ; but obftacles
continually occur in foreign countries, unforefeen by thofe
who are not fufficiently acquainted wdth the manners of the
natives ; and the moft trivial circumilances, which if known
are readily obviated, produce, when unknown, confiderable
embarrafsments. Some petty diftrefles of this defcription
lengthened our expedition from one to three days.

We rofe at five in the morning, but w'ere detained by the
want of poft horfes, which we found great difficulty in pro-
curing, notwithftanding that our orders for them were figned
by the governor of the province and the governor of the city,
and although we importuned the poft- matter with repeated
meffages. The cafe is, that as the price for the hire of
horfes is very inconfiderable, the owners can employ them
in other fervices to greater advantage : and on this account
a flranger, unlefs he is accompanied with a Ruffian foldier to
quicken the expedition of thofe who furnifh the poft, muft
neceflarily meet with infinite delays in travelling through
this country. We were, indeed, Itrongly advifed by fome
of our acvquaintance to ufe this precaution ; but, thinking
that we fhoidd have no occafion for it during fo fhort a
journey^ we imprudently omitted it, to our great inconveni-
ence, as we foon experienced.

* See Chap, Xlll-

After

MOSCOW. 355

After waiting nine hours we at length thought ourfelves chap.
fortunate in feeing the poft-horfes make their appearance * — ^—j
about two in the afternoon ; and fat off with an expedlation
of proceeding without interruption to Bretoflhina, where
we knew that a relay was waiting for us. But our drivers
flopped at a village only four miles from Mofcow, and pe-
remptorily refufed to carry us any farther, hi vain we pro-
duced our order for horfes ; they contended that it autho-
rized us only to take them from village to village ; and up-
on the ftrength of that conftru6tion returned without fur-
ther ceremony to Mofcow. Two hours more were now em-
ployed, and much broken Ruffian fpoken by our Bohemian
interpreter, before we were able to prevail upon the inhabi-
tants of the place to fupply us with horfes, who depofited
us in a village about the diftance of three miles ; where all
the old procefs of altercation, threats, and promifcs, were
again renewed. In this manner we continued wrangUng
and proceeding from village to village, which unfortunately
lay very thick in this part of the country, until near mid-
night, when we found ourfelves at Klifma, only feventeeu
miles from Mofcow, where we took up our abode in a pea-
fant's cottage. Our Bohemian fervant having fortunately
devoted great part of the night in rambling to different
houfes, and adjufting the difficult negotiation for frefh
horfes, we were able to depart almoft by day-break ; and
had the ilill farther fatisfadion to pafs over the imnienfe
fpace of it\Q,)\ miles without either halt or delay ; fo that by
eight in the morning we reached, much to our furprize,
Bretofihina, which ftands about half-way between Mofcow
and the convent. Here we found a Ruffian ferjeant, whom
prince Volkonlki had obligingly fent forwards to procure the

Z z 3 horfes,

556 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK horfes, which he had promifed we fliould find in this place,
^" V ' ' and to accompany us during the remainder of our journey :
the experience of the preceding day had taught us the value
of this military attendant.

At Bretoffhina we viewed a palace built by Alexey Mi-
chaelovitch, in which he frequently refided : it is a long
wooden building, painted yellow, only one (lory in height,
containing a fuite of fmall and low rooms. This palace (if it
deferves that name) has long been uninhabited. The cm-
prefs, pleafed with the beauty of the lituation, and refpect-
ing a place which had once been the favourite refidence of
Peter the Great's father, purpofed to build a large brick pa-
lace near the fite of the old manlion; and part of the mate-
rials were already colledted for that purpofe. Upon our re-
^ turn to the village we ordered the horfes, and were pleafed
to find our order obeyed almofl as foon as it was iffued : we
had, indeed, a very iliccefsful agent in our friend the ferjeant ;
for the peafants, who were beginning to wrangle among
themfelves, and to make their ufaal altercations, were inilian-
taneoufly difperfed by his cudgel, vvhofe eloquence was more
perfuafive than the moft pathetic remon Frances. The pea-
fants were certainly accuftomed to this fpecies of rhetorick ;
for they bore it patiently, and with perfedt good humour ;
and, the moment they were feated upon the box, began
whidling and linging their national fongs as ufual. We
now continued our route, and arrived at the convent, though
diftant from BretofOiina about twenty miles, without once
flopping to change horfes.

TroitfkoL Sergief Klofler, or the Monaflery of the Holy
Trinity, is fo large as at a little diftance to have the appear-
ance of a fmall town ; and, like many convents in this
country, is flrongly fortified, according to the antient mode
3 of

MOSCOW. 357

of defence, being furrounded with high brick walls, ^^/^^*
ftrengthened with battlements and towers. The parapet is < — , — *
roofed with wood, and the walls and towers are provided with
holes for mufkets and cannon : the whole is furrounded
by a deep ditch. This place flood feveral lieges ; and par-
ticularly baffled all the efforts of Ladillaus prince of Poland,
who attacked it with a large army.

Befide the convent or habitation for the monks, the walls
enclofe an imperial palace, and nine large churches con-
ftru61:ed by different fovereigns. The convent is a large
range of building encircling a court, and is far too fpacious
for the prefent inhabitants : it formerly contained 300
monks, and a proportionate number of fl:udents ; and was
the richeft ecclefiaftical foundation in Ruffia. The fraternity
poffefTed confiderable eftates which contained at leaft
100,000 peafants : thefe eftates, as well as all the other
church-lands, being now annexed to the crown, the mem-
bers receive fmall penfions. With their revenues their
number has been greatly diminiflied, and they fcarcely
amount at prefent to 100 monks. Their habit is black,
with a veil of the fame colour ; they eat no meat, and the
difcipline of the order is very ftri6t. Within the convent is
a feminary for the education of perfons intende<l for the
clergy ; which contained, as we were informed, about 200
ftudents.

The imperial palace, which was much frequented when
the fovereign refided at Mofcow, is Imall ; one of the apart-
ments is ornamented with reprefentations in ftucco of the
principal adions of Peter the Great. The churches are like
all the churches which fell under my obfervation, fuperb
and fplendid, and extremely rich in gold and filver orna-
ments, and collly veftments. The principal church has a

eupokii

358 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK cupola and four domes, the former is of copper gilt, the latter
of tin or iron painted green. We afcended a new belfry, built
by the emprefs Elizabeth, which is not an inelegant piece of
architedlure : it commands a fine view of the adjacent coun-
try, which is gently waving, richly cultivated, producing
much grain, and thickly ftrewed with villages. The archi-
mandrite or abbot of the monaftery being abfent, we could
not obtain permifiion to fee the library, which occafioned
fome regret, becaufe, according to Bufching, it contains a
curious colledion of books •'••■.

In the principal church a few tombs drew my attention.

The firll was that of Maria queen of Livonia, probably
the only perfon who ever bore that title, an empty honour,
which fhe may truly be faid to have purchafed at a dear
rate. Maria, lineally defcended from Ivan Vaflilievitch I.
was a relation of Ivan II. as will plainly appear by the follow-
ing genealogical table.

Ivan Vaffillevitch I.

^ . 1

Vaffili Ivanovitch. Andrew Ivanovitch of

Staritra, died 1537.

Ivan Vaflilievitch II. |

Volodimir Andrevitch,
died 1570.

Maria, marled to Magnus.
Eudokia.

She efpoufed in 1573 Magnus duke of Holftein +, at that

time

'* Bufching's Erd-befchreibung. V, I. by feveral different appellations. He is
p. 852. fomciirnes ftyled king of Livonia, from his

f This Magnus was f(in of Chriftian III. mock-lovereignty in that country; fome-
king of Denmark ; snJ is known in hiftory tunes duke of Holftein, froora his inheriting

MOSCOW. 359

time titular king of Livonia, who was ralfed to that dignity chap.
by Ivan Vaflilievitch II. in a very exU'aordinary manner.
Livonia, bordering upon Ruffia, Sweden, and Poland, and
reciprocally claimed and poffeffed by thofe three powers,
was, in the middle of the fixteenth century, partly fjree,
partly fubje6t to Poland, and partly to the Swedes, when the
tzar made an irruption into that province, and conquered a
fmall portion. Well acquainted, however, with the averfion
of the natives to the Ruffian fceptre, he declared, that he had
entered their country with no interefted views ; that he had
no other ambition than to refcue them from the Swedifli
yoke ; that he himfelf renounced all right of conqueft,
would ftyle himfelf their protedor; and propofed that they
fhould elecfl for their fovereign Magnus, whole brother, Fre-
deric II. king of Denmark, had fome pretenfions to Livonia.
This propofal being cheerfully complied with by a great
party among the natives, the tzar difpatched an embafly to
Magnus, wh'j accepted the proffered crown, repaired without
delay to Molcow, where he was formally initalled in his new
dignity, upon condition of efpoufing Maria, and of paying
an annual tribute to the tzar.

Magnus, however, was ftill only a titular fovereign, being
oppofed by the Swedes, who maintained a large army in
Livonia, and not unanimouily acknowledged even by the
natives. After a fruitlefs attempt to take polTeffion of his
crown, he continued to difplay his mock-dignity at Mofcow*

a portion of that duchy upon the deceafe of " Wick, Bifliop ofCouiland, Adminiftrator
hisfither; and hi(hop of ^fel, frnm his '' ot the biflioprick of Reval, Heir of Nor-
exchanging his part of Holrtein tur the " way, Duke of Schlefwick, Holllein, Stor-
bifliopricks ofvEiel and Courland, which "mar, and Ditniaifli, Count of Olden-
he lecularifed. Holberg, the Danifh hifto- " burgh and Delmenhurft." Titles, as the
rian, mentions a bond for 1500 marks, hiftorian remarks, which could not procure
which was thus figned. ." We Magnus, by him a fmall fum of money without his
" the grace of Gcd, Lord of JEid and bond. Hoiberg, V. II. p. 4S8.

4. At

360 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK ^f length, in 1577, being efcorted to Livonia by the tzar,
at the head of 50,000 troops, he obtained his portion of the
province, the town of Wenden and the adjacent territory,
the remainder being rcferved to Riiffia.

Magnus was fcarcely admitted into Wenden, where he
was received with great demonftrations of joy, than, defpif-
ing a precarious and dependant fovereignty, he was prevailed
upon by his new fubjeils, ever averfe to the Ruffian yoke,
to form a fecret alliance with the king of Poland, and to
countera6t the tzar's progrefs in Livonia. Ivan, apprized of
this negotiation, determined to chaftife the perfidy of Mag-
nus, by precipitating him from that throne, which he had
fo lately affifted him in afcending. With this view he laid
immediate fieoe to Wenden with fo numerous an army, that
the inhabitants, finding all oppofition ineffedlual, propofed
to capitulate. Magnus himfelf carried the terms of capitu-
lation, and, advancing to fupplicate the incenfed monarch,
threw himfelf at his feet, and interceded for the town.
The tzar, fpurning at him with his foot *, and ftriking

* Henning, atithor of the Livonian Chro- " fo incenfed him, that he mounted his horfe

nicle, relates tiiis tranfat'lion more to the " and rode away direftly, fwearing by St.

honour of Ivan. He is thus quoted by the " Nicholas, that for this frefli inliance of

authors of the Univerfal Hiflory, vol, " perfidy, every perfon in W^enden fhould

XXXV. p 242. " The tzar laid fiege to " fuffcr death. Magnus was then put under

*' the place, till, at the earned requeil of " an arreft in a farm-houfe, and obliged to

" the citizens, Magnus, with only a few at- " fign an obligation, by which he engaged

*' tcndants, went into the tzar's camp, and, " to pay the tzar 40,000 Hungarian florins

" falling on his knees, begged pardon for " by the next Chriftciias, as a fatisfaL\ion

" himfelf and the city. Bafilowitz no fooner "for the money taken from Polubeniki ;

" favv the king of Livonia thus pioftrate " and in cafe of failure ot payment at that

" before him, than he difrnounted from his " tmie, to forfeit double the fum, and re-

" horfe, and defired him to rife, returned " main a prifoner at Mofcow till the whole

" him his fword, and, after reproaching " ftiould be difcharged." I have followed

*' him v.'ith the ingratitude of his late con- the principal hiftorians of Sweden and Den-

" du(fl, freely pardoned him and the city, mark, alio Heidenftein, and Oderborg, who

'• and affured them of his proteftion. At feem to have given the moft probable ac-

" this inftant a cannon ball fiom the cartle count of this event*

•' narrowly milTed killing the tzar; which

him

MOSCOW. 361

him in the face, loaded him with reproaches for his ingra- chap.
titude, and ordered him to prifon ; then entering the town, ^—,—1
his troops committed every fpecies of horror and devaftation.
Many of the principal inhabitants, retiring into the citadel,
determined to defend it to the lall: extremity ; butfoon per-
ceiving all reliftance to be fruitlefs, and expetling no quarter,'
they calmly affembled, received the facrament, and then de-
Uroyed themfelves by blowing up the citadel. Thtis ended"
the kingdom of Livonia four years after it had been erecfted
into a fovereignty. Magnus, who thought hi mfelf extremely-
fortunate to obtain his enlargement upon paying aconfider-
able fum of money, repaired, with his confort Maria, to
Pilten in Gourland, where he died in 15 S3, in extreme dif-
trefs *. After the death of her hufband, Maria, the titular-
queen of Livonia, was enticed into Ruffia, and thrown into a
FAmnery with heronly daughter Eudokia t. She was never
releafed from her confinement, and the time of her deceafe
is uncertain. The remains, both of the queen and her
daughter, were depofited in the convent of the Holy Trinity.
In the fame church repofe the allies of Boris Feodorovitch
Godunof, who, upon the demife of Feodor Ivanovitch in
1597, was raifed from a private ftation to the throne of.
Huffia. It is a circumflance extremely favourable to a vir-
tuous conducft, that a fovereign cannot commit one flagrant
offence without the imputation of many others; and that
fuppofrtitious cruelties are always added to a6ls of real ty-
ranny. This has been the fate of Boris Godunof, who,,
having defervedly acquired the deteflation of porterity by the
perpetration of one crime, has been unjuilly branded with
infamy, even for thofe adtions which merit the higheft ap-
plaufe.

* Holberg. V. 11. p. 48S. t Fletcher's State of RuKa, Chap. V.

Vol, I. A a a Boris >

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK. Boris Godunof was defcended from a Tartar anceftor, who
^!_^came into Paiffia in 1329, and, having embraced Chritii-
anity, affamed the name of Zachary. From Simon Godun,
one of his defcendants, the family was known by the fur-
name of Godunof, and became greatly diftinguiflied by the
elevation of the perfonage who is now under confideration.

Boris, fon of Feodorlvanovitch, a nobleman of the Ruffian
court, was born in 1522 ; and in the 20th year of his age
was appointed, by Ivan Vaffilievitch II. to attend the perfon
of his fon prince Ivan: being fucceffively promoted to higher
offices, and obtaining additional influence by the marriage of
his filter Irene with Feodor Ivanovitch, he was, upon that
monarch's fucceffion to the throne, created privy counfellor,
matter of the horfe, and invefted with the fole diredlion of
affairs. His authority was fo abfolute, that his reign may
be dated from the acceffion of Feodor ; he wanted only the
title of tzar, and all the acts of government mult be attri-
buted to him.

Upon the death of Feodor without iffiie, the election fell
unanimoufly upon Boris Godunof, who owed his elevation
to the high opinion which all parties entertained of his ca-
pacity and wifdora, to the influence of his filter Irene, and to
the artful manner with which he affected to decline, while
he was molt ambitious to poflefs, the crown. He deferved
his elevation by his confummate abilities and popular
manners ; and, for his political and civil deportment, he is
iuftly ranked among the greatelt ftatefmen of his age.

Happy would it have been for himfelf and his country, if

he had united moderation and humanity to thefe fplendid

qualities. .His perfecution of feveral noble families, who

Itood in the way of his ambitious defigns, and ftill more the

4 afTaffi-

MOSCOW. ^Si

affaffination * of Demetrius, brands his charadler with inde- chap.
lible infamy. But while we allow and deteft in this in- '_._ '^
fiance the full extent of his guilt, let not our horror at
this tranfadlion lead us to mifreprefent his molt laudable
a6lions. Let us not alTert with his enemies, that in order
to turn the attention of the people from the cataflrophe
of the prince, and to ingratiate himfelf in their favour by
an a6t of public munificence, he purpofely fet fire to feveral
parts of Mofcow, that he might rebuild them at his own ex-
pence. Nor let us, no lefs abfurdly, accule him of pri-
vately inviting the khan of the Tartars to invade Ruflia,
that he might occupy the publick with a foreign war, and
acquire frefh glory by repelling the enemy.

We may add to the liil of his fuppofititious crimes, that he
poifoned Feodor t, for the tzar had long laboured under a
declining ftate of health I ; and, the year before his death,
had requefted a phyfician from England §. Even his pater-
nal attention and unbounded generofity towards his fubjefts
during a famine, which, foon after his elevation to the throne,
defolated Mofcow, has been turned againft him ; for preju-
dice has not been wanting to infinuate, that, from an abfurd
delicacy, he would not permit foreigners to fupply the Ruffians
in their extreme diftrefs with corn; and that he joined feveral

* It is not here the place to inquire vvhe- " that (lie (Irongly reproached her brother

ther Demetrius was really afTaffinated, or " Boris Godunof, with tiie murder of her

whether he cfcaped, for the crime of Boris " hnfband, and would never fpeak to him

was the fame, whether his orders were car- " afterwards." Vol. XXXV. p. ^rj. For

ricd into execution, or illuded. See the all authentick hiftorians agree, that his e!e-

next chapter. vation to the throne was finally owing to

f I am at a lofs to know where the com- the pofitive recommendation of his fiftcr the

piler of the aiticle of Ruffia, in the IJniver- tzarina, whofe iiiterceffion overcame his af-

fal Hiftory, obtained the foUov^'ing anecdote, fefted refiifal of the crown.
" Theodore difed, after a reign of twelve j Fletcher fays of Feodor, that he was

" years, not without fufpicion of having inclining to a dropfy.

♦'been poifoned by his brother-in-law. § As appears from a letter in the lUilTian

•' The czarina feemed fo fenfible of this, archives.

A a a 2 banditti

3^-4 T R A V E L S I N T O R U S S 1 A.

BOOK banditti in plundering the houfes of the rich * ; calumnies
'—v-^ which have been ably and iinanlwerably refuted by Muller.
But the higheil fplendour of abilities, and even the moil
upright ufe of power, will not compenfate for the ill means
of acquiring it ; and the time arrived, when Boris paid the
price for the affaffination of Demetrius. The death and
character of Boris Godunof are thus delineated by an impar-
tial hiftorian t.

" The party of the pretended Demetrius increafed daily,
" and the Ruffians flocked to him from all quarters. This
"circumftance, joined to the inadlivity of the Ruffian army,
"had fuch an efFedt upon Boris, that, driven to defpair, he
" fwallowed poifon J. The accovints are falle, which attribute
"his death to a poifon given to him by one Peter Bofmanof ;
" or which relate that while he was giving audience to
" fome foreign embaffadors, he was fiezed with a violent
"colic, and foon afterwards the blood gufhed from his
" mouth, nofe, and ears. He felt the firft effedts of the
" poifon at dinner, and the fymptoms were fo violent, that
" he had fcarcely time to enter into the monaftic order be-
'-' fore he expired. According to the Ruffian cuftom, he
" changed his name from Boris to Bogolep. His deceafe
" hapi^ened on the 13th of April, or the 23d, according to
" the new ftyle, 1605, after a reign of eight years and
" two months.

" It muft be allowed that his death was a great lofs to
" Ruffia ; for if we except the unjuftifiable means by which
■*' he raifed himfclf to the throne, and the cruelty with

* This report, Mr. Mu'.ler conjeLTures, f Muller, Ibid. p. 347.
ac!()Je from his compelling the bilhops .ind J Captain Margaret lays, that he died of

nobles, who had a fuperttuity of corn, to an .ipoplexy. Etat de la Ruilie, p. 118.
dilpofe of it .to ihe poor at an under prict.
S. R. G. V.

2 " which

MOSCOW. 365

' which he perfecuted feveral illuflrious families, particu- chap.
' larly the houfe of Romanof, he muft be efteemed an ex-
' cellent fovereign. Ambition and revenge were his prin-
' cipal vices ; on the contrary, his penetration and fagacity,
' his affabihty and munificence, his political knowledge, his

* diligence in the adminiftration of affairs, his alliduity ia
' introducing into Ruflia the improvements of foreign na-
' tions, in a word, his unwearied attention to promote the

* advantage of his country, and the welfare of his fubjefts,

* were confpicuous parts of his chara6ter. We are apt to

* overlook the vices of a fovereign in conflderation of his

* princely virtues, and in this refpedt Boris is entitled to our
' efteem. When we add to thefe conflderation s the long

* chain of calamities which fucceeded his death, his lofs

* could not but be fenfibly felt." His remains were at firft
depofited in the hnperial fepulchre at Mofcow ; but were
afterwards removed to the convent of the Holy Trinity -.

* For the hiftoiy of Boris Godunof, fee Muller. S. R. G. vol. V. p. 27 to 249.

C HAP.

C 366 ]

CHAP.

VII.

BOOK
III.

hiquiry into the hijlory mid advejiturei of the tzar zvbo reigned
under the name of Demetrms. — His reception in Poland.
- — Invafion of Ruffia. — Acknowledged as the /on of Ivan
ValTilievitch II. — Seats himfelf upon the throne. — His cha-
ra£ier. — Conf piracy againfl hijn. — Isajfaffinated. — Various
opinions concerning him,— 'Called an impojlor by the Ruffian
hiflorians. — By Petreius. — T'ejlmiony of Margaret in his
favour. — Grounds for fuppojing him tohe the realDemetrins.

AMONG the tombs in the cathedral of St. Michael I had
occafion to mention that of a child, called by the
Ruffians Dmitri, or Demetrius, whofe intricate and contro-
verted hirtory was referved for a feparate narrative.

Ivan '^ Vaffilievitch II. left two fons ; Feodor, wdio fuc-
ceeded to the throne ; and Demetrius, an infant, who was
educated at Uglitz under the care of his mother the tzarina

* I had entirely fioifhed this chapter be-
fore the publication of L'Evefque's Hiftoire
de Ruflie. That ingenious author has, in
his account of the perlbn who ftyled him-
felf Demetrius, advanced many plaufible ar-
guments to fliow, that he was probably not
an impoftor ; and though they appear to
ine unanfwerable, and it is eafy to perceive
that he entirely leans to that opinion, yet
he candidly concludes with aflerting, " Plu-
*' fieurs objeiftions que j'ai hazardees centre
" 1 impolhne d'Otrcpief me paraiflent
" d'une grande force, je n'oferai cependant
" decider la queftion." See Hif. de Ruff,

V. III. p. 226 to 236. It may ferve, per-
haps, as an additional proof in favour of
Demetrius, that two foreigners, \vho had
vilited Ruffia, both unbiaffed by any nati-
tional prejudices, and without the lead
communication with each other, (liould
hold nearly the fame opinion upon fo intri-
cate a fubjeft. 1 have inferted into the
notes a few of his remarks, which feemed
to me the moll important. I am alfo in-
formed, that the learned pcofeflbr SchJoet-
zer of Gottingcn has ftrongly fupported
this fide of the queftion, in his Nordifche
Gefchichte.

Maria

DEMETRIUS. 367

Maria Feodorofna, and in the eighth year of his age was ^!l^^-
faid to have been affaflinated by order of Boris Godunof *.
The real circumftances of this affhlRnation, being purpofely
with-held from the public, are varioully related ; and the
following particulars can alone be unqueftionably depended
upon. A body, fuppofed to be that of the young prince,
was found weltering in its blood ; certain perfons, conlidered
as the affaffins, were inftanftaneoufly put to death by the in-
habitants of Uglitz. When the account of the cataftrophe
was tranfmitted to Mofcow, Boris Godunof, having firft fpread
a rei")ort that Demetrius had, in a violent fit of frenzy, put
a period to his own life, difpatched his creatures Vaflili
Shuifki and Gletchnin to make inquiries into the circum-
ftances of the prince's death. Thefe perfons, having
examined the body of the deceafed, declared it to be that of
Demetrius, and confirmed the former report which had been
circulated by Boris Godunof. Maria Feodorofna, accufed of
grofs inattention to her fon's fecurity, was compelled to af-
fume the veil, and confined in a convent ; many inhabitants
of Ugiitz, who fpoke freely upon the murder, were capitally
punifhed, fome were imprifoned, and others were baniflied.

* M\iller relates from a Riiffinn mnnu- was more difficult at mid-cl;iy to fiibflitute a

fcript, that twelve perfons were privy to the child. We need not be furprized at thefe

murder, amongft whom were the prince's contradiftory opinions, when we confider,

nurfe and her fon, who perpetrated the as L'Evefque has juftiy exprefled himfelf,

deed ; that it v/as committed at niid-day in " que Boris fupprima tous les details de cet

the court yard of the palace, and that a " horrible affaire ; qu'il trompa Ic tzar et

bell-ringer, who was upon the top of an " le public. Le public fut done alors mal

adjoining cathedral, faw the whole tranf- " inftruit des circonllances de cet evene-

aftion. Petreius aiferts, that the prince was " nient, et le temps ii'a p'.i y ajouterque de

niurdered during the confufion of a fire, " aouvelles obfcurites. D'ailleurs, conime

purpofely occafioned by one of the aflaffiiis. " le dit Margaret, on obfirvait en RulTie un

MargaretandGrevenbuckfaythat theaflalTin " fecret fi profond fur routes les affaires,

was fon of the tzarina Maria's fecretary ; "qu'il etait fort difficile d'apprendre la

and it is generally affirmed, that it happen- " verite de ce qu'on n'avait pas vu de fes

ed at midnight. — The Ruffian authors na- " yeux." V. IIJ. p. 228.
rurally prefer the firft account, becaufe it

Boris

III.

368 T R A" V~E L S I N T O R U S S I A.

BOOK Boris Godiinof managed this horrid tranfadtion with fuch
^art and fecrecy, that fcarcely any fufpicions were entertained
againft him, until thirteen years afterwards a perfon made
his appearance who declared himfelf to be Demetrius ; he
gave out that his mother, fufpicious of the attempts againft
her foas life, had taken the precaution to remove him from
Uglitz, and to fubltitute another child, who was alTaffinated
in his place ; and that, being educated in a convent, and
concealed from the knowledge of his perfecutors, he had
efcaped from Ruffia into Poland. Being there admitted into
the fervice of Wiefnovitfki, a Pole of great diftindlion, he
difcovered himfelf to that nobleman ; who, convinced, or
pretending to be fo,that he was the fon of Ivan Vaffilievitchll.
warmly efpoufed his caufe. Boris Godunof, having received
intelligence of this unexpedled claimant of his throne, dif-
feminated a report, that the impoilor who aflTumed the name
of Demetrius, was a monk ftyled Gregory or Grilka Otrepief ;-
and fpared neither threats nor bribes to obtain polTeffion of
his perfon ; but, when thefe expedients failed of fuccefs, he
difpatched his emiffaries into Poland to affaffinate him.

Wiefnovitfki, alarmed for the fafety of his fugitive, re-
commended him to the protecStion of the fenator George
Mnifhek palatine of Sendomir, a nobleman of the largell
eftate and greateit confequence of Poland.. Demetrius (if I
may be allowed to call him by that name) being acknow-
ledged by him as the rightful heir of the Ruffian throne,
foon afterwards betrothed himfelf in marriage to the palatine's
daughter Maria; and, in the beginning of the year 1603,
was introduced to Sigifmond III. king of Poland. Being ad-
mitted to a public audience before the diet, he excited the
compaffion of that affembly by the affecting manner in

which

DEMETRIUS. 369

which he related his extraordinary adventures ; and though '^^.^^•
Sigifmond and the diet regretted that the fituation of their ' — .—^
country prevented them from openly feconding his preten-
-fions, yet they tellified the moft cordial attachment to his in-
terefts, and laid no prohibition on thofe nobles who might
be difpofed to engage in his fupport. By the alTiftance of
his two patrons, Wiefnovitjki and the palatine of Sendomir,
Demetrius entered Ruffia in the month of Augull, 1604, at
the head of about 4000 Poles, and being foon joined by
many Ruffians, particularly by the Coffacs of the Don, ad-
vanced almofh without oppofition to Novogorod Severlkoi,
routed in December an army of 40,000 men ; but was him-
felf not long afterwards defeated, with great flaughter, by
prince Vaffili Shuifki general of Boris Godunof. Eight
thoufand of his followers were either killed or taken pri-
foners ; all his artillery and colours fell into the hands of
the enemy ; his horie was wounded under him, and he
himfelf efcaped with difficulty.

This overthrow occafioned the almoll total defedion of
the Polifli troops ; and Demetrivis himfelf was fo difmaycd
with his lofs, that he would have retreated precipitately into
Poland, if he had not been diffiiaded by the importunities
of his Ruffian adherents, many of whom believed him to be
the true Demetrius, and all dreaded the vengeance of Boris
Godunof. Overcome by their fuggeftions, he continued
his march, and, notwithftanding his late difcomfiture, foon
law himfelf at the head of a numerous army of Ruffians,
who flocked to his ftandard from all quarters. Not only the
populace, ever prone to credulity, but even men of the high-
eft birth and quality, gave credit to his pretenfions :
liis caufe was fupported not only by the diftant provinces,
but the people rofe even at]VIofcow,andpublickly proclaiaied

Vol. I. B b b . in

370 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK in the ftreets that Demetrius had efcaped from his affaiTms,

III
v_^and claimed allegiance as their rightful fovereign. This in-

furre6tion was indeed immediately quelled ; but an almoft
imiverfal belief fpread itfelf through all ranks, that the pre-
tender to the throne was the real fon of Ivan Vaflilievitch II.
although Boris Godunof inflicted the fevereft punilliment
upon his adherents, though the patriarch publifhed a ban of
excommunication againft him and his party, and though
Vaflili Shuiflvi openly affirmed that he had himfelf examined
the body of the deceafed prince at Uglitz.

The fudden death of Boris Godunof, which happened in
the month of April, 1 6o5,haftened the fuccefs of Demetrius.
Feodor Borifovitch was fcarcely declared fucceflbr to his fa-
ther by the patriarch and nobles who were prefent at Mof-
cow, before he was deferted by the principal generals of the
Ruffian army, and by many perfons of diftin(5lion. His
troops at this inaufpicious jundlure were fuddenly attacked
and defeated, and thofe who efcaped were perfuaded to fwear
fealty to Demetrius, who, ftrengthened by this acceffion,
advanced by hafty marches towards the cai)ital without the
leaft oppofition : the highways were lined with people ; the
towns opened their gates with every demonftration of joy,
while Demetrius, fupported the prepoffi;ffion of the Ruffians
in favour of his birth by the affability of his demeanour,
and the gracefulnefs of his perfon. Having publiflied a
manifefto, in which he held out to the inhabitants of Mofcow
offers of clemency and favour on their return to their
duty, they rofe in arms, flormed the palace, depofed and
Itrangled Feodor Borifovitch, and recognized his title. On
the 30th of June the new tzar entered Mofcow in triumph,
and took poffeffion of the throne with univerfal approbation.
His pretenfions to the crown, as real fon of Ivan Vaffilie-

vitch

DEMETRIUS. 3^1

vitch 11. were ftill further confiraied by the public teftimonv Chap.
of Maria Feodorofna, whom Boris Godunof had imprifoned < — y^
in a diftant monaftery, and whom Demetrius, at his accefnon,
inftantlyreleafed from her confinement. Upon her approach
to Mofcow, on the 8th of July, Demetrius rode to meet her
at the head of a numerous proceflion ; and at the firll ap-
pearance of her carriage, he alighted from his horfe, and ran
to embrace her. The tendernefs and affecSlion which
both parties difplayed on this interefling occafion drew tears
from the fpetSlators ; and the Ifrong expreffions of tranfport
with which the tzarina openly acknowledged him for her
fon, feemedto afford a pofitive confirmation of the reality of
his imperial lineage. Soon after this interview he was
crowned with the ulual pomp and magnificence, and feemed
now firmly feated upon the throne; in the polfefTion of
which he would have maintained himfelf, whether he were
the real Demetrius or an impoflor, by a proper conformity
to the manners of his fubjeds, and by a prudent deference to
their civil and religious ertablifliment. But his avowed con-
tempt of the Ruflian cuftoms, and, above all, his publick.
negledt of their religious ceremonies, foon alienated the af-
fedlions of his fubjefts, and precipitated him from the throne
as rapidly as he had afcended it.

Margaret, who had frequent accefs to the perfon of Deme-
trius, has fketched his portrait in the following Ihort, but lively
manner. *' He h ad no beard, was of a middle if ature, and of dark
*' complexion, his limbs were flrong and nervous, and he had a
" wart under his right eye. He was acSlive, fpirited, and merci-
" ful, foon offended, and as foon appeafed; liberal, ambitious,
*' anddefirous of making himfelf known to pofterity; in a word,
" he was a prince who loved honour, and recommended it

B b b 1 ♦' bv

372

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK a ^y jjis own example '••." If we fliould allow that Margaret
^— V— ' has concealed many of his defeats, and has placed his virtues
in the moft advantageous light, yet the acrimony and injuftice
which appear in many parts of tiie following extra6ts from
his charaiSter, as drawn even by Mr. Muller the raoft candid
of his opponents, will prevent every impartial perfon from
eiving implicit credit to the reprefentations of his enemies.

*' The falfe + Demetrius was of a middle fize, dark com-
" plexion, and had one of his arms fliorter than the other.
" He would have been efteemed not deficient in wifdom if
" he had not been fo precipitate in his condudl, and if he had
" conformed his behaviour to the dilpofition and temper of
" his fubjecfts. In Poland he applied himfelf to the ftudy
*' of languages, arts, and fciences ; he converfed in Latin I
" and PoiilTi with fluency ; he was well acquainted wdtli
" hiliory, and particularly with that of Ruffia and the
" neighbouring kingdoms ; he was well verfed in mufick,
** and pofiTefied other liberal accomplifhments. On account
" of his addrefs and good fortune in obtaining the crown, he
" was efteemed a magician. Warlike exercife and hunting
" were his principal amufements. He had fome knowledge
" of engineering and artillery, was fond of cafting cannon ;
" and fiiot with fuch fkill and addrefs as to furprize the moft
" dextrous markfmen. He was anxious to improve the dif-
" cipline of his army, for which purpofe he would often re-
" view his troops, inftrudt them in diiferent manoeuvres,
*' ftorm ramparts and fortifications; and as he was always

* Margaret, p. 141. lively aflerts, that he was not in tlie leaft ac-

+ S. R. G, vol. v. p. 302, &c. quaintcd ;vith that language. 11 eft tria

J His iinderftanding Latin has been urged certain qii'il ne pnrloit nuUement Latin,

;>f4ain1 him as a proof that he was educated j'en puis temoigner, moins ie f^avoit il

b; the Jcfuits. Margaret, hov,-ever, pofi- lire et ecrirc. Ibid. p. 163.

2 " foremofl

DEMETRIUS.

" forcmoil, and the moft eager among the airuiiants, he fre
" quently was rudely handled in the fray.

" Delirous to be efteemed a patron of juftice, he put to
" death feveral judges who had been convidied of hiiquitous
" pradtices. But was not this mode of proceeding rather
" a proof of his inclination to cruelty ? raid might it not
^' arife from a defire of llriking terror into his fubjedts ■"'• ?

** He has been praifed for his munificence, but it was both
" extravagant and ill-placed ; he heaped bounties upon Po-
" lifh mulicians and other minions, and drained the trea-
*' fury by the moft enormous expencest. Like all volup-
" tuaries he was- fickle and impetuous. All his adlions
" proved an .extraordinary pronenefs to prefer his own pre-
*' cipitate refolutions to the moft prudent advice, and to adopt
" the raflieft meafures. His fudden elevation rendered him
" infolent ; he was fo ambitious, that even the Rufllan eia-
" pire appeared too fmall to futisfy his luft of dominion ;
*' and he extended his views to the redu6lion of Turkey and
" Tartary. His ebriety and incontinence were his moft no-
" torious vices, which frequently expofed him in the eyes of
" the public. Befide the princefs Irene,, the daughter of
" Boris Godunof, all who pleafed him were facrificed to his
** defires, without the leaft regard to rank or age X-

" Upon

* A fuppolition, wliich fliows a firong Turkirti ftones, riUof a large fize, but fomi

(lifpofitioQ in, the oppolite party to niiire- of the latter were as., big as half a pigeoa's .

prefent the inoft favourable parts of his egg. It nnift be remarked, ihat this foot-

conduifl. ftuol was already in the trea'r.:ry when De-

■f The accoiints of his extravagance were metrius afcended the throne ;. a.nd iiad heei'.

grofsly exaggerated. He is faid to have prefented from the Sophy of Perfc: to ^van

given orders for a thrane of mafly Clver, \'airilievitch II. S. R. G. vol. V. p. 33^.

fnpported with fix lions of the fame coilty Many fimilar ornaments employed at his

materials ; and for a lojtftool of pure g'jld, coronation had been uled by the former fo-

for the ceremony of his coronation : the vereigns, who were crowned whh Aliatrc

latter was ftudded with 600 diamonds, 6qo magnificence,

lubies, 600 fapj:hirs, 6co emeralds, 6co J Thele parts of his couduift wei-e alfo

greatly ,

373

574

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

^' Upon his firft acceflion to the throne he was eafy of ac»
" cefs, but he gradually became fufpicious of his fubjeds ;
<' he had a foreign guard ; he often refufed audience to the
*' Ruffian nobility, when he admitted the Poles without re-
*' ferve. He feemed to fummon the privy- coiinfellors only
•<' for the purpofe of turning them to ridicule. If a R.uffiaii
*' lodged a complaint againft a Pole, he could never obtain
*' juftice, and infult was even added to injury. Probably this
" infolence was the chief caufe of his fubfequent misfor-
^' tunes ; and his fall would at leaft have been retarded, if he
" had endeavoured to conciliate the afFeftion of the principal
** nobles.

" But the circumftance which principally contributed to
*' his lofs of popularity, was the little reverence which he
*' profeiTed for the ceremonies of the Greek church. Upon
■*•' his firft arrival at Mofcow he entered the two cathedrals
■*' with drums beating and trumpets founding ; he paid no
" refpedt to the clergy ; he made no diftincflion between
" fafts and feltivals ; would neither bow nor crofs himfelf
■^' before the facred paintings ; he profaned the churches by
*' admitting foreigners at the time of divine fervice, and
*' ftill more by the number of dogs which followed him
*' upon the fame occafion.

** He was not only fo much attached to the Polifli cuftoms
*' and drefs as to prefer them upon all occafions ; but he even
■*' ridiculed the Ruffian manners, and in every inftance de-

-gieatly mifreprefented. L'Evcfque aflerts, •' diftce par la liaine, n'eft ni vraifemblabic

with great appearance of probability, that *' ni confirmee par I'ancienne chronique que

thefe reports of his incontinence were not '* nous fuivons, et qui parait fidele. On

founded in truth, and particulirly denies that " pent en croire que Dmitri fut un impof-

the princefs Irene was facrificedtohisdefiies. " teur ; mais rien ne fait loupconncr, qu'il

■*' On a ecrit, qii'elle avoit etc retcrvee pour *' fut adonnc a ile lulcs debauches." \ . HI.

*' fervir aux plaifirs brutaux du bourreau p. 202,
■*' <j« fa fainilic ; mais cettc accufation,

6 *' viated

D E M E T K I U S,

375

" viated from the examples of the tzars his predeceffors. chap.
" Inftead of fliowing hmilelf to the people feldom, and only ^
" upon extrordinary occafions with a large retinue, he was
*' accuilomed to traverfe the ftreets without any fuite but a
" few fervants ; he commonly rode, and, as he was an ex-
" cellent horfeman, he was generally mounted upon the
*' moft (iery fteeds ; he hunted frequently ; he had mulick.
" at his repafts; he never llept at mid-day ; he never bathed,
" Thefe trifling circumftances were at that time regarded in
" fo ferious a light, that the omifhon of them rendered him
" the objedtof general hatred; audit was commonly re])orted,
.*' that the perfon who could fhow fuch a diftafle for the cuf-
" toms of his country, could never be defcended from the
.** race of its ancient fovereigns. It was an obvious inference,
" to confider the defpifer of his fubje6l3 as their enemy.
** Under fuch circumftances his deftruction feemed inevit-
** able * ; and yet near a year elapfed before any tumult

" broke

* Mr. Muller, in this place, relates an
account of a match vvith fnow-balls be-
tween the Ruffian loldiers and the Poles ;
when the latter were faid, at the command
of Demetrius, to have filled their fnow-balls
with fand and ftones, by which the Ruffians
(blaue Augen und blutigeKoepfe bekamen)
received many black eyes and bloody heads.
Such abfurd accufations do not merit any
ferious refutation. Many other idle tales
arc alio gravely related againft him ; and
indeed every circumftance of his condudt
ieems to have been malevolently interpreted.
Among the public diverfions which he gave
ill honour of his marriage was a fire-work,
in which a dragon was reprefcnted with
three heads fpitting out flames. Such a
fpeftacle, being uncommon in the country,
aftrighted the Ruffians ; and it was report-
ed, that the tzar had contrived it on purpofe
to alarm his fubjeifls. The Poles were not

wanting upon this and all other occafions
in ridiculing the ignorance and fimpHcity of
the Ruffians, which increafed the hatred,
againft them and the fovereign who pro-
teiled them. A wooden tower was alfo
conftruifled near the city, which, upon a
certain day, was to be attacked with a can-
nonade and florraed. After the affaffinatioti
of Demetrius, Vaffili Shuilki publicly af-
ferted in a manifello, that it was the in-
tention of Demetrius to have taken the op-
portunity, which the ftormrng of this tower'
prefented, of mafTacring many inhabitants
of Rlofcow, The gates of the city were to
be fuddenly fhut ; the cannon to be fired
among the people affembled upon the oc-
cafion ; and thole who eicaped were to be
hewn in pieces by the Cofl"acs andStrelitz.
At the fame time the Ruffian nobles were
to be murdered by the Polifti troops. This
account, I'o improbable in itfelf, is only

lupporttd

176 T R A V E L S I N T O R U S S I A.

'broke out againft liiQi. At length his marriage with a
' foreign lady clofed the fcene ; and it would have been a
" wonder if he had continued any longer upon the throne.''
Having in Poland betrothed himfelf to Marina, the
daughter of the palatine Mnifchek, he difpatched a fplendid
embaiTy into that country to demand her in marriage : the
efpoufals were performed at Cracow; and the bride, having
made her entry into Mofcow, accompanied with a large fuite
of Poles, was lodged in a nunnery imtil the folemnization of
the nuptials : during this interval he difturbed the devotion
of the holy fifterhood w^ith repeated fealls, concerts, and balls,
Whereby he excited publick horror, as the facrilegious vio-
lator of religious difcipline. By this infatuated behaviour
he inflamed the difailedfion of his fubjecSls to fuch a degree,
that a regular confpiracy w^as concerted againft him. The
leader of this confpiracy was prince Vaffili I vanovitchShuifki,
the fame perfon who had owed his life to the lenity of De-
metrius ; and on whom this atft of clemency had no other
.effedl than to render him more cautious in his fubfequent
machinations againit his benefador. Demetrius had fre-
quently received intimations from different quarters of -a
projected infurrection. The popular odium betrayed itfelf
by the moft alarming fymptoms. Perfons were heard crying
in the ftreets, " The tzar is an heretic worfe than aTurk, and
•" not the fon of Ivan Vaffilievitch." But, either from na-
tural magnanimity that braved all danger, or from the in-
conliderate levity of his character, which would not attend to
it, he was infenfible to all thefe prognoftics ; and by obfti-

fiipported by the fuppofed contefTion of t«o it to have been a calumny, invented by Vaf-

■ Polifh nobles, to whom Demetrius is f^id to fili Shuifki, to render the memory of his

hrvve revealed it a day or two before his al'- rival more odious. See S. R. G. vol. V,

lairmation ; but ue may more juitly bi.'licvc 34: — 346.

•nately

DEMETRIUS.

3v7

nately perfevering in his obnoxious and unpopular mode of chap.
conduit, feemed almofl to invite the dellrudion which
awaited him.

The infurredlion broke out early in the morning on the
27th of May. The confpirators polTeffed themfelves of the
principal avenues leading to the city ; the great bell in the
Kremlin, the common fignal of alarm, was tolled ; and a
confufed cry was fpread among the people that the Poles
were preparing to maflacre the inhabitants. Vaflili Shuifki,
who had fecretly fomented and inflamed the public difcon-
tents, led the way to the palace, bearing a crofs in one
hand, and a fabre in the other, accompanied by a vaft mul-
titude armed with the firft weapons which chance prefented.
This party, having overpowered the guards, burft open the
gates of the palace, and ruflied towards the apartment of
Demetrius. The latter, awakened by the tumult, fummoned
the few guards who were immediately about his perfon, and
rallying, without a moment's deliberation, againfl his aflail-
ants, hewed down feveral of the foremoft : being foon over-
born by numbers, he attempted to retreat into the interior
part of the palace ; but, clofely preffed by his purfuers, he
precipitated himfelf from a window into a court, and diflo-
cated his thigh with the fall.

Being difcovered in this deplorable condition, he was con-
veyed back to the palace, and brought before Vaffili Shuifki,
who loaded him with reproaches for his impofture. Not
difmayed, however, with the menaces of his enemy, he per-
fifted* in maintaining himfelf to be the real fon of Ivan
Vaffilievitch II. and, as a proof of the truth of his affertion,

* Mr. Muller fays, all the Ruffian writ- the convent to obtain the tzarina's declara-

ers declare, that he confeffed his impofture; tion, when his own confeffion would have

but it is certain that he did not ; other- been fully fufficient ?
wife, why did Vaffili Shuiiki repair to

Vol. I. C c c appealed

37» TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK appealed to the teftimony of his mother, who refided in the
«— ,^ neighbouring convent of Viefnovitfkoi. The firmnefs and
confiftency of his affeverations made a conliderable impref-
fion upon many of the Ruffian foldiers, who peremptorily
declared, that they would protect him from all injury, unlefs
Maria Feodorofna formally renounced him as her fon. On
this unexpedled declaration, Vaffili Shuifki, accompanied
with fome Ruffian nobles of his party, repaired to the con-
vent, and returned inftantly with the following anfwcr
from that princefs ; " That the real Demetrius was (lain at
" Ughtz ; that the perfon who at prefent affumed his name
" was an impoftor ; and that flie had been conftrained by
*' menaces to acknowledge him as her fon." Upon the de-
livery of this meffage, the unhappy monarch was inftantly
facrificed to the fury of his enemies. Neither was their ven-
geance appeafed by his death, but extended even to his in-
animate corpfe ;. it was pierced with repeated v/ounds, ftripped
naked, and exixjfed for three days in the ftreets to the infults
of the populace ; it was then depofited in the public charnel-
iioufe, and afterwards * reduced to alhes, from a notion that:
the earth would be polluted by the interment of fo unholy
a body.

The aiiaffi nation of Demetrius was followed by a general
tumult : the houfes of all the foreigners were pillaged, and
not only tlie Poles, who fell into the hands of the people, but
even many Ruffians who wore the Polifh drefs, w^re maf-

* .It fceras, by other accounts, thxi,tthe-i " fporathetnopth of a cannon." Selimidt

body was fiift buried withoin tb.e city ; and R. O'. vol. I. p. 362. The author of the

trtiat the mnhitiide flocked in crouds to the Ruffian Impoflor alfo writes, " The people

,, place. "^ The common people believed that " dug ijp his poor carcafs out of an obfcure

" mufick was heard in the night, and that " grave ; and after a rcpetitwn of barba-'

*^/lpedtr(.s were feen hovering about the •* rities upon him, they buret the body,.

" jjlare where he was buried. For thefe " and fcattered the aflies iin cheair."p. 125.
'■'leafons the body was dug up, and lliot

i facred,.

DEMETRIUS. 379

facred. Though this ilate of anarchy lafted only ten hours, chap.
yet more than two thoufand perfons loft their lives. The
dreadful fcene was finally clofed by the ele6lion of Vafilii
Ivanovitch Shuifki to the throne of Ruffia. Manifeftos *
were immediately publilhed, in which the new tzar juftified
his condu6t, and detailed the hiilory and adventures of his
predeceflbr, whom he pronounced an adventurer, whofe re^il
name was Grifka Otrepief. He afcribes to him an intention
of extirpating the principal Ruffian nobility, and of intro-
ducing the Roman catholic religion into Ruffia ; he accufes
him of holding a correfpondence with the pope for that pur-^
pofe ; he infinuates that he had even promifed to cede the
provinces of Smolenlko and Severia to the king of Poland ;
he reprefents him as an heretic and a forcerer ; he dilplays,
in the moft odious colours, his averfion to the manners and
cuftoms of the Ruffians, his attachment to foreigners;
and expatiates with much art upon every part of- his cha-
ra6ter which might excite the public hatred and abhorrence*
A few days afterwards a manifefto appeared in the name of
the tzarina Maria Feodorofna, in which flie apologizes for
having owned the impoftor for her fon, and again acknow-
ledges that the real Demetrius was alfaffinated a^ Uglitz ;
that the impoftor, upon their firtt interview near Mofcow,
firft accofted her alone t, and threatened her and her family
with the moll cruel torments, if fiie refufed to recognize him
as her offspring,

( - , '■ ■, '

• Mr. Muller found thcfe Rianifeftos in Margaret, on the contrary, who was pro -

the archives of Tflierdin. S. R. G. 347. bnbly prefent at this interview, fays exprefs-

364.. 366, ly, " apres conferences d'un quart d heijr.>

t Habe mit ihrgeredet ol^nedafs jemand •' en pnfatce des tous les noble.! et dc ccux de

von den Boiaren, oder andcrii Lenten, da- '■'■ la t;////-," Sec. p.' tzjv ' ' '

lK:y feyn doerfen. S, R. G. vol. V» p. 367.

C c c 2 ' All

|8o T R A V E L S I N T O R U S S I A.

All thefe allegations, however, thus urged againft the
pretenfions of Demetrius, could not efface the prepofTeffions
entertained by the generality of the Ruffians in favour of his
imperial defcent. A frefli inlurredtion was hourly expected ;
and fome tranfient tumults took place, in which Vaffili
Shuifki narrowly efcaped deftru6lion. In this critical ftate
of affairs he had recourfe to the following expedient, for the
purpofe of appealing the public fufpicions. A rumour being
fpread, that the body of the young prince, formerly mur-
dered at Uglitz, had performed miracles ; a deputation of
feveral bifliops and nobles was fent to that town to take up
the hallowed corpfe from the fepulchre, and to tranfport it
to Mofcow.

*' Upon opening the tomb," relates Mr. Muller from the
Ruffian archives, " an agreeable odour filled the whole
" church : the body was uncorrapted, an<l the very clothes
" entire; one of his hands grafped fome nuts that were
" fprinkled with blood, and which the young prince had
" been eating at the inftant of his affiiffination. His relics
" were carried in great ftate to Mofcow : on their approach
" to the city they were met by Vaffili Shuifki, the widow of
*'■ Ivan Vaffilievitch II. and a large concourfe of people, and
" depofited with much folemnity in the cathedral of St. Mi-
" chael. During the proceffion many troubled with various
*' diforders were miraculoufly reftored to health : after the
" body had been placed in the cathedral, thirteen fick perfons
" declared themfelves to have been relieved of their com-
*■' plaints by the interpofition of the faint ; and the fame
*' number were healed on the enfuing day *."

Let us contraft this account with the relation of the oppo-
fite party. *' On the 4th of June a difpute concerning De-

* S. R. G. vol. V.p. 371.

" metrius

DEMETRIUS. ' 381.

" metrius arofe between the Strelitz and the people, who af~ chap.
*' ferted that he was not an impoftor. The tzar and the < — ,— «
*' boyars cry out, The people (liall have ocular convidion
*' that the true Demetrius was killed at Uglitz ; his body is
" now removing to Mofcow, and has performed many ftu-
*' pendous miracles. The boyars procured a poor man's
" child, about thirteen years of age, cut its throat, and having
" committed it for a few days to the ground, conveyed it to
" Mofcow, fliowed it to the people, and declared this was the
" true Demetrius, whofe body, although fo long interred, was
" ftill uncorrupted, which the foolifli multitude believed,
" and were appeafed ••-."

The reader will judge which of thefe two accounts is moft
likely to be true.

Thefe are the principal circumftances in the adventures-
of the perfon, who feated himfelf upon the Ruffian throne-
under the name of Demetrius. His hiftory is greatly in-
volved in contradicflion and obfcurity : unbiaifed, however,,
by the prejudices of either party, let us compare with can-
dour their oppofite reprefentations; and endeavour to- afcer-
tain, whether he were an impoftor, or the real fon. of Ivan^
Vaffilievitch II.

They who contend that he was an impoftor, thus relate
his hiftory. He was of the family of Otrepief ; his real name
was George, which, upon his affuming the monaftic habit
in the fourteenth year of his age, he changed into Gregory,
and was generally known by the appellation of Grilka t
Otrepief : for fome time he refided at Sufdal, and having
afterwards wandered from convent to convent, he was con-
fecrated deacon in the monaftery of Tchudof at Mofcow,,

* Payerne ia Schmidt RufT. Gef. vol. I. little Gregory. He was called alfo Rolhiga,.
p. 364. or Defevter,. from having quitted his con-

f Grifiia, in the Ruffian tongue, figniSes vent.

where;

i8a

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK xvhere he was employed by the patriarch in tranfcribing
books for the fervice of the church. It is not afcertained,
even from thefe accounts of his Hfe, at what period he
firft ftyled himfelf Demetrius. Some report, that while
he continued in the monaftery of Tchudof, he obtained the
moft minute information relative to the perfon and character
of the prince, and even began to afTume his name, for
which he was deemed infane, and excited the laughter of the
monks. Others relate, that he was in pofleffion of feveral
jewels which had formerly belonged to Demetrius ; and,
having one day declared that he fhould afcend the throne of
Ruffia, he was confined, by order of Boris Godunof, in a
diftant monaftery, from whence he efcaped into Poland ;
his adventures in which country have been already deli-
neated. On the contrary, Margaret, who afferts that he is
the true Demetrius, gives the following detail.

Demetrius, being refcued from alTliffination by the fubfti-
tution-'- of another <;hild, was fecretly educated in Ruflia

until

* The princip:.! objeftion againft the ac-
count of Maigaret arifes from the diificiilty
of lubftituting a child in the place of De-
metri'.is, particularly if the fon of his nurfe
was one of the affallns ; and as Vaffili
Shuifki is faid to have examined the body
of the cieceaied, foon after the fuppofed af-
iaffination. ]n anfwer to this it may be
faid, that his mother had iiitficient rcafons
to be upon htr guard againft the attempts
of Boris Godunof ; and it is evident that
fuch attempts had been made previous to
the aHaffination, from the following paf-
fage in Fletcher, who was at Mofcow in the
beginning of I'eodor's reign. "' Belides the
" enipeior that now is, who hath no child,
" nor ever like to have, there is but one
" more, a child of lix or feven years old,
** iu whoni itHeth all the hope of the fuc-

'* cedion, and the po-fterity of that houfe.
" He is kept in a remote place from Molko,
" under the tuition of his mother, and her
" kindred of the houfe of the Nagaies ; yet
" not J'afe (as I have heard)yr(7« attempts of
" making aivay by praSlice of feme that afpire
" to the fucccffion^ if this emperor die 'Oiithoul
'* ifue." Fletcher's Ruffia, Chap. V.

" 11 eft alTez a prefuppoler," as ^largaret
jurtly obi'erves, " que la mere & Ics autres,
" 8ic. viiyant ce but ou le dit Boris tendoit,
" efTaycrent par tous moyens a delivrer I'en-
'* fant du danger ou il eftoit. Or je fcay
" et je crois que Tot) confeflera qu'il ti'y
" avoit nul autre moyen que dele changer
" et en fuppofcr un autre en fa place, et le
*' faire noiirrir fecretement, en attendant fi
" le temps ne changeroit ou empecheroit
*' point les defieins du dit Boris ledervits.

DEMETRIUS.

until the eledlion of Boris Godunof, when he was conveyed chap.

VII.

into Poland under the care of the monk Grilka, which after- »— ^-Lj
wards gave rife to the report that Grifka had perfonated De-
metrius. As a proof that they were two diitind pcrfons,
he informs us, that Boris Godunof fent repeated expreffes to
his guards upon the frontiers, to prevent all travellers from
quitting the country, even fhould they be provided with
paiTports, for there were f-zvo traitors who were endeavouring'
to efcape into Poland. Margaret adds, Grifka was thirty-
five years of age, and Demetrius fcarcely twenty-four ; he
accompanied the new tzar to Mofcow, and was feen by many
in that city, being a perfon well known, and having a bro-
ther who pofTefled an ertate near Galitz : he was notorious
before his flight into Poland for his infolence and drunken-
nefs, and, on account of his mifcondudt, he was baniflied by-
Demetrius to Yaroflaf. Margaret, moreover, was informed
by an Englhh merchant of Yaroflaf, well acquainted with
Grifka, that the latter, upon the news of the tzar's death,

" Ce qti'ils effe>.'^ucrent fi bien que niil«, " a Ouglitch par Boris; ils virent et re-

" fois ceux de la partie n'en fcurent rien," " connurent le corps dii tzarcvitch et

8ic. p. 154. «' hii rendirent les honneurs fhnebres. EhT

With refpeft to the piivity of the niirfe, " f;iit on ce qu'ont vu ces deux emiflaires

and hf r ion, the witnels of the bell-ringer, " de Boris, ce qu'ils lui ont rapporte en

and the teftimony of Vallili Shiiifki, " fecret ? I,e corps meme qu'ih exaniinc-

L'Evefque makes the following judicious " rent, defigurc par des blefTures, et garde

obfervations. " long-temps fans etre embaumi, devait

" Mais ces circoaftances font elles bien " etre meconnailfable. On ignore abfohi-

" confirmees. Tous Its affaffins dii tzarc- " ment ce qu'ils ont dccouvert, et ce qu'ils

*' vitch furent maffacres prefqu' aufli-tot " ont penfe. S'ils ont debite a leur retour

'* qu'ils eurent conmiis ce crime, lis n'ont " une fable concertee entr'enx et le mi-

** point ete interroges, on n'a ricn fu de " niftre, ils n'ont pu dans le fuite faire

" leur bouche. Un fonneur de la cathe- " connaitre la verite, fans avouer qu'ils

" drale fut temoin du mcurtre de Dmitri. " avoient ete dcs fourbes vcndus a un fce-

" Mais qui a tecu fen temoignage ? Eft il " lerat," &c. Vol. 111. p, 227, — In a word,

'* m^me certain que ce temoin ait exifte ? the belief that a child was fubftituted it»

** Si les alTaffins furent trompcs, n'ait il pas the place of Demetrius, though liable to

" pu I'etre lui meme, et prendre pour le many objeiftions, is yet attended with much

"tzarevitch un enfant di! muiie age! Ne fewer difficulties, than the notion that the

•'• convicnt-on-pas que Boris, &c. Mais tzar who reigned uricler the name of Deme- ■

*' Chouilki uiais Clechnin furent envoyes trius was an impollor.

and;

i34

TRAVELS INTO DENMARK.

BOOK jipni even after the election of Vaffili Shviifki, folemnly pro-
"^tefted that the faid Demetrius was the real fon of Ivan Vaf-
lilievirch ; and that he himfelf was Griika Otrepief, who had
conducled the prince into Poland. Soon afterwards Grifka
was conveyed to Mofcow by order of Vallili Shuifki, and to-
tally disappeared *.

If this narrative is authentic, according to the confefllon
of Mr. MuUer, it completely refutes the reprefentation of the
oppofitc party. In what manner then does this ingenious
author attempt to difcredit the pofitive teftimony of Mar-
garet ; for upon this the whole quellion feems to turn.
" But how," fays he, " can we imagine, that any one could
" ever hold two perfons to be the fame individual, at a time
" when the contrary could be fo eafily proved ?" The con-
trary indeed could be eafily proved during the reign of De-
metrius, when Grifka was at Mofcow or at Yaroflaf, and at a
time when few Rullians doubted the fad ; but the affer-
tion was not fo eafy to be refuted when Grifka was fent no
one knows where, and when no perfon durft contradict the
manifeflo of Vaflili Shuifl^i. " Let us fuppofe," adds Mr.
Muller, *' that the oppofite party, in defiance of all truth,
<' had firft invented fo groundlefs a fable ; let us fuppofe,
" that Griika was immediately baniflied, as foon as the
" enemies of Demetrius had made the latter pals for that
" monk ; how does it happen that no writer, befide Mar-
" garetl, has taken notice of fo remarkable a circumftances?"

*■ Margaret, 152 to 157. ferts, that Demetrius was the natural fon of

t Margaret, however, does not ftand fin- Stephen Bathori king of Poland, which is

gle ill i'upijofuig Griika and him who paflcd fufficient to fliow that the report was rife

for Demetrius to be dillinft perfons. For, at that time of Griflca and the other being

among others, Conrad Bulfau, who was different perfons, S. R, G.vol, V. p. 191.

prcfcnt at Mofcow during the troubles, af.

DEMETRIUS. S^S

• ■>•' ^

tt is generally allowed that one good evidence ouglit to chap.

^Outweigh a croud of prejudiced witnefles, fo that if Marga- « yl^

xet's credibility is fuperior to that of his opponents, we miift,
though he ftands iingle, aflent to the truth of his account.
And who are the writers who'fe authority is preferred to that
of Margaret? The native hiftorians, who wrote after the
acceffion of Vafiili Shuifki.— But their teflimony cannot
he admitted in this cafe ; for could any Ruffian venture
^o contraditft the manifefto of the fovereign, or call in quef-
'tion the fandity -of the relics eftabliflied by a decree of the
church*?

It mufb be cohfdTed, however, that there is one author
Avho is not liable to thefe fufpicions. ** Petreius," continues
Mr. Muller, " has given, in many inftances, the moft exadl
** intelligence ; and he has demonftrated the impofture of
<' the falfe Demetrius with many proofs. Is it poflible,
■*' therefore, to fuppoife him ignorant that Demetrius and
" Griflca were two different pcrfons, if that fa6l had been
'*' well grounded ?" Here then the teftimony of Petreius
is put in the fcale with that of Margaret-, both foreigners,

* It may perhaps be thoDght by inany proceeding witi not appear unjxiftifiable.

too bold to ict afide the authority cf all the 'Ot ;ill the Ruffiaa wriiiag': relating to the

■Ruluin hiftorians, who mjy be fuppofed to hiftnry of Demetrius, cited by Mr. MuUer,

have obtained better intelligence than fo- the principal are the manifeftos of Shuiflci,

reigners. But IVIr. Miitler calls in <]neftion and a nianiifcript account of the troubles,

the telVimony of a RulTian embaflador in compiled by order of the tzar Michael, and

favour of Demetrius, becaui'e h'.- wrote at a Icr, t to the king of Frjace as a j\iftitication

time when the latter was upon the throiie, of the war entered into againft Sweden-.

and acknowledged by the whole nation : But fuch documents iiiuing frofti govern-

for the fame reafon, therefore, we mufl fet ment miift in this inllance be allowed

afide the evidence of the Ruffians who wrote to be very exceptionable records. — In all

after his affaffination, and at a time whert affairs, wherein the national prejudices are

his being an impoftor was made an article not co-icerned, the evidence of a native is

of the public taith. to be preferred to that of foreigners ; but

And, indeed, if it is confidered from what The teftimony of the latter becomes liipe-
fufpicious memorials theRuflianauthors/ntill rior, when the former are Warped by feat-
have drawn their iviaterials, this mode of or prejudice.

Vol. I. D d d both

86 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK both prefent at Mofcow at the time of the infurredtion, and
™' and both fuppored to be unbiafTed by the civil and reUgious
prejudices of the Ruffians, and yet both of different fenti-
ments. Let us therefore examine their charader and fitu-
ation, and confider whether there are any circumftances
which render one writer more worthy of credit than the
other. Margaret was a Frenchman, who entered the Ruffian
fervice in the reign of Boris Godunof, was prefent in the
army which was fent out againft Demetrius, and always adted
with approved bravery and fidelity. Afterwards, when De-
metrius afcended the throne, he was continued in his fervice
as captain of the guards. He poITeflec], therefore, many op-
portunities of mvettigating his real hiftory ; and he has
recorded it in a work which, upon his return to France,
he publifhed at the command of Henry IV. *

Mr. MuUer, however, objedts to the authenticity of Mar-
garet's narrative in the following words. " A witnefs of this
" fort would not be admitted in any court of juftice, and
*' cannot, in this inftance, merit our belief. His judgement
*' might be warped, partly from confidering it as a difgrace
" to have engaged in the fervice of an impoftor, and partly
*' from not being well ufed by the oppofite party after the
" death of the falfe Demetrius. Hence he might be enticed,
" from motives of refentment, to brand with infamy the
** enemies of Demetrius, and to treat as mere falfehoods all
" the reports of the impoftor's real origin. We mull:, there-
" fore, accufe Margaret either of having advanced a falfe-
" hood, or fuppofe that he had heard of another Otrepief,
*' who was at that time prefent at Mofcow, and whom he
" ftrangely confounds with Grilkat."

• Eftat de I'Empire de Ruffie, &c. Par k C;!pitaine Margaret,
f S. R. G. vol. V. p. i8i and 193.

4 Thib

DEMETRIUS. 387

This is the only objeflion which even the ingenuity of chap.
Mr. Muller can urge againft Margaret.

Petreius, whofe authority is fo fondly preferred to that of
Margaret, was minifter '•'•=■ from Charles IX. king of Sweden
to the court of Mofcow in the reigns of Boris Godunof,
Demetrius, and Vaffili Shuifki. The clofe conne£tion of
Demetrius with Sigifmond king of Poland, the inveterate
enemy of Charles IX. induced the latter to tender his affill-
ance to Boris Godunof, upon the firft entrance of the new
claimant into Ruffia. Charles is alfo reprefented as greatly
alarmed at the fuccefs of Demetrius, and immediately after
his aflaffination entered into a treaty of the flridteft amity
with Vaffili Shuifki. It was therefore the intereft of
the Swedifli court to reprefent Demetrius as an impoflor,
and Petreius, as Swedifli minifter, was obliged to counte-
nance the report patronized by his mafter. But if we fliould
even allow that Petreius was not influenced in his judge-
ment by the politics of his own court, yet as an author,
he is liable to great exception ; for the nuniberlefs ficfti-
ons and grofs mifreprefentations, which he retails in his
Chronicle, prove his extreme pronenefs to credulity t.
Whereas, on the contrary, the credibility of Margaret
ftands unimpeached, and even the penetrating fagacity

* Dalin's Gefchichte von Schweden, vol. " doiNikititchRomanof ; but he delivered

IV. p. 475. " ittohisbrotherAlexaiider,whogaveittoa

f Mr. Muller has noticed and correiSled " third called John, who prcfented it to a.

innumerable errors relative to the moft im- " fourth called Michiel. The latterpafled i:

portant tranfaftions in the Chronicle of " toanothernobleman : atlaftthetzar threw

Petreius. It would be endlefs to mention " the fceptre from him, crying out in a pal-

them. I ftiall therefore only relate one, " fion, ' Take it who will;' upon v/hich

which will unquellionably prove the credu- " Boris took it up, and the tzar died iramcdi-

lity of Petreius. »• Feodor Ivanovitch," fays " ately." This idle fable is contradicted by

that author, " upon his death-bed, being the moft authentick records, by the whole

*' requefted by the nobility to name a fuccef- hiftory of the fubfequent eledion of Boris

♦' for, anfwered, ' That pcrfon to whom I Godunof; and yet this is the writer whofe

♦' (hall deliver my fceptre fliall be tzar after authority is oppofed to Margaret. See

*' me.' Soon afterwards he offered it to Feo- S. R. G. vol. V. p. 64, &c.

D d d a of

TRAVEL3 INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK. Qf ji^jj.^ Muller himfelf can only difcover in his work a few.
-•.trifling errors which are of no moment. It appears then,
that both as to character and fituation, the teitimony of Mar-
garet is preferable to that of Petreius ; and if the queftion is
to be ultimately decided by one of thefe two writers, whofe
authority is the moft unqueftionable, the tzar who reigned
under the name of Demetrius was no impoftor, but the real
fon of Ivan Vaffilievitch II.

1 fliall now throw together a number of particulars,
which, in addition to thofe already enumerated, induce me
to elpoufe the opinion that the tzar was no impoftor.

I. The conduit of Boris Godunof, 2. Suppofed refem--.
"blance between the real Demetrius and the perfon who,
reigned in his name. 3, His fuccefs and condudl upon the
throne. 4. Teftimony of Maria Feodorofna, 5. Arguments,
iifed by the Ruffians to prove the impofture.

1. The condud of Boris Godunof plainly demonftrates .
that he thought him the real Demetrius. For otherwile,,,
why did he not produce Maria Feodorofna, the mother off
Demetrius, and obtain her publick avowal that her fon was>
not alive*! Her teftimony at that time would hav&un--
queftionably afcertained the impofture of the perfon, who >
claimed the throne as her offspring. Probably Boris Go-
dunof examined her privately; and, finding her, to perfifc;
in her affertion,. that Demetrius had efcaped from Uglitz, ,
he removed her to a convent at a confiderable diftance
frqm Mofcow, that {he might not give a f:\n6lion to the pre-.
tenfions of his rival.

2. The fuppofed refemblance betwesri.the prince Deme-.
trius, who was.educated atUglitz,and the perfon who reigned ,

* '* Puis tant tie faufles allegations pour " ferroger la mere en public, pour tcmoig*-
" perfuail^r le peupte, qu'll eiloit un im^ " net dece <\uieHeftcit," Margaret, p. 171, .
"- poftcpr, fan§ jc^ue jamais Boris vouluft in*,

undier.

DEMETRIUS. 3S9

under his name, comes next under confideration. This re- ^^.f".^'
femblance coiififted in a wart vinder the right eye, and in< — ^— ;
one arm fliorter than the other. " But how is it known,"
fays Mr. Muller upon this head, " that the prince had thefe
*' defers ? for they are not mentioned in the Ruffian narra-
" tives, but are only related by foreigners, who had never
** feen him. May we not therefore fuppofe them mere in-
*' ventions, calculated to difplay fome refemblance between .
" the true and falfe Demetrius *." In anfwer to this we may
reply, that the Ruffian accounts, evidently compiled long after
the period in queftion, and chiefly taken from the mani-
feftos of government, would never record any circumftance
which might tend, in the flighteft degree, to favour any
likenefs between a perfon whom . they ftyled an impoftor^ ,
and the young prince. And it may be added, that if the
tzar alledged the wart under his right eye, and the fliortnefs
of his arm, as proofs of his being the real Demetrius, who-
can fuppofe that the prince had not thefe defedts, when there .
were fo many perfons of the firft diftindion who could con-
tradict the truth of the report? " But. even allowing the.
**fa61:," continues Mr. Muller, " the conclufion by no means
*' follows, . as the ftrongeft refemblance has been frequently
''■-obferved between two different perfons; and it is like- •
"wife poffible, that the falfe Demetrius might have imi-.
*' tated a wart in -Jiis -face, and have feigned a defedl in his
"arm." It is poffible, incleed, to account for thefe circum^
fiances in this manner; .(liil, however, they muff be conli-
dered, though jiot as pofitive, yet as flrong prefumptive evi-
dence, in his favour, efpecially when joined. to many othcc.
collateral proofs.

3. The fuccefsof his enterprize, and his condu>51: uponthe
tJxcoriej feem ta prove that he was the real Demetrius* lie

• S. R<.G. vol. V. p. 190.

entered

39°

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK ^ntej-gd Ruflia with an inconfiderable force, which encreafed
as he advanced ; and although totally defeated, and almoft
deferted by the Poles, yet his army was foon recruited, and
became more formidable than before his difcomfiture. Per-
fons of the firft diftin6lion joined him from all quarters;
and the more he became perfonally known to the Ruffians,
the greater number of partizans flocked to his ftandard.
Nor did this feem owing to any want of popularity in Boris
Godunof, whofe adminiftration was greatly refpedled for its
vigour and wifdom ; it rather proceeded from a general con-
vi6lion that he was Demetrius.

When he was feated upon the throne he did not a£t like
an impoflor. Had he been one, he would fcarcely have
pardoned Vaffili Shuifki, who had thrown doubts upon the
jeality of his defcent. Inftead of difbelieving, as he did, the
llrongeft reports of an impending infurredion, he would
have given a ready ear to the flighteft rumours of plots and
machinations, and have taken every precaution againft them^
In a word, his general characTter was as thoughtlefs and in-
confiderate as it was open and fincere ; and, above all, his
freedom from fufpicion and jealoufy were incompatible with
the principles of an ufurper *.

4. The condudl of Maria Feodorofna muft be admitted as
fupporting the fame fide of the queftion. After having

* ♦' Puis pailons," fays Margaret, " de " f^avoit bien qiic nul n'ofoit afpirer a la

" fa clemence, envcrs un chacun apres qu'il " couronne que la elite maifon de Chouitf-

" fut rcceu en Mofco, et principaleinent "qui. II pardonna audi a phifieurs autres ;

" envers Vacilli Choiitfq\ii, lequel fut con- *' car il eftoit fans foup^on," p. 171.
" v;iincu de trahifon, &c. et mefmes fut le- " Si il fe fut fenty coupable en aucune

•' dit Demetrius prie par tous les affiftans " chofe, ileufteujiiftefujet decroire lesma-

" de le faire mourir, veil qu'il s'eftait tou- " chinationsettrahifonscomploltcesettram-

•'jours trouve perturbateur du repos pub- " mces contrefaperfonne,des quelles il etoit

'• lie. Je parle comme ayant ouy et veu " affez adverty, et y euft pia remedier avec

♦' le tour de mes oreiiles. Ce non obftant " grande facilite," p. 174.

" il luy pardonna, comblcn que Demetrius

openly

DEMETRIUS.

391

openly acknowledged him for her fon, llie is faid to have ^hap.
publickly difowned him. If both the avowal and denial were « — , —
equally publick,they both might equally have been extorted
by fear ; and her teftimony muft be confidered as null. For
what credit can that woman deferve who could at one
time admit a perfon to be her fon, and at another rejed:
him as fuch ? We may obferve, however, this difference,
that in the former inftance fhe owned him in perfun ; in the
latter, fhe was not confronted with him, but her anfwer was
brought by Vaffili Shuifki •■, who was moft interefted to-
prove him an impoftor. It therefore follows, that if (aS'
feems to be the cafe) her avowal was publick, and her denial
was not, the former is more to be depended upon than the
latter, and her teftimony muft be admitted in his favour t.

5. The very arguments advanced by the Ruffians- to afcer-
tcin his impofture, ftrongly eftablifh the contrary pofition.
For how was the reality of his imperial defcent invalidated
by his being a forcerer, an heretic, or a mufician, by his
predileition to the Poles, not bowing to the image of St. Ni-
cholas, not bathing, eating veal, and fuch frivolous accufa-
tions |. Does not the adoption of thefe nugatory infinua-

* Mr. Muller fays, ValTili Shuilki icok poned to fo late a period ? and why was flie

the trouhle of repairing hiinfelf to xh.e. cons cm, not confronted with the tzar, when he <o

Gab fich felbft die muehe., repeatedly appealed to her teflimony as the

■j- The Ruffian authors aflert, that at the flrongeft proof of his being the real Deme-

time when the relics were conveying t» trius ? Have we not every reaibn to con-

Mofcow, flie publickly retraced the former elude, either that (he did not p\ib!ickly re-

teflimony which fhe had given in his favour, traft her former affeverations in his fivour ;

upon their firft interview near Mofcow ; or that, being in Vaffili Shuifki's power, fhe

confeffing, that (lie had been induced by had been finally compelled to act in iubkr-

threats, as well as from a defire of procur- viency to his mandate ?
ing her liberty, to acknowledge an alien for % Many Ruffians, while they confeffed

her fon. But how are we certain that (he that he was the real fon of Ivan ^'affilit-

really made this publick confeffion ? Its vitch, denied his right to the throne, bc-

truth entirely refts upon the Ruffian papers, caufe his motiier being the fcvenlh wife of

whichcannot beef.eemedaiithentickrccords. that tztip, he was illegitimate. Mjirgarot,

But why was her publick recantation poll- p. 17,1.

tlon&

\()Z

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK tions befpeak a great deficiency of fatisfadory arguments ?
rthey may incline, indeed, the Ruliians to believe him an
-iifurper, but do not prove him one in the eyes of difiDaffionate
judges. The truth feems to be, that as he began to lofe the
affe(5tion of his fubjects by his inconliderate contempt of their
cuitoms and religion ; thefe, and many other unfavourable
ireports, calculated to raife and encreafe the popular odium,
were circulated by the intrigues of VaffiU Shuifki, who, upon
his aflaffination, was raifed to the throne.

The fame remarks extend, with ftill greater force, to the
aflertion, that the body interred at Uglitz was that of the
teal Demetrius from its uncorrupted ftate, and the miracles
it performed. For the uncorrupted ftate of that body, when
it was firft conveyed to Mofcow, evidently prove it to have
been fuppofititious ; and the miracles it is faid to have per-
formed, will convert no profelytes without the pale of the
Ruflian church. When every other expedient failed of con-
vincing the generality of the Ruifians, that the late tzar was
an impoftor, recourfe was finally had to pretended miracles
and facred relics. And it muft be allowed, that this method
'of convincing an ignorant and fuperftitious people who
doubted (and there were many who iloubted) was a ftroke of
the motl confiimmate policy ; as by thefe means the afTer-
tions of VaffiU Shuifki were fandified by an ecclefiaftical de-
cree ; and the impofture of his rival became an article of
publick faith. Indeed, fuch is the fuperftition with which
the ufurpation of Grifka is ftill maintained, that even at
this diftance of time no Ruflian hiftorian could venture to
hint that Demetrius was not aflafTmated at Uglitz, and that
the perfon who affumed his name was not Grilka : for it
would be contradicfting a fundamental principle of belief,
I and

DEMETRIUS.

393

and reje<5ling the relicks of a faint much revered in this ^y^^'
Country.

But it is time to finifli this inquiry, which is already too
long. I fliall, therefore, conclude in a few words, that
having endeavoured to examine the hiftory of the tzar De-
metrius without prejudice or partiality, I am ftrongly inclined
to believe that he was not an impoftor, but the real perfonage
whofe name he aflTumed *,

* For the hiftory of Demetrius, fee Pe-
treius Mofcov. Chron. Margaret's Eftat de
la Riiflie, p. i8 and 19. — iii — 17;. Pay-
ern in Schmidt. Rufl". Gef. vol. II. and par-
ticularly Muller's S. R. G. vol. V. p. i8r
to 380. That ingenious author has drawn
together, in one point of view, the principal
events of this troublefome »ra, and has re-

conciled, as much as poffible, the contra-
diftory accounts of the different writers :
and though he has entirely adopted the
Ruffian prejudices, yet he has given the ar-
guments of the oppofite party with as much
candour as could be expefted from an au-
thor who wrote in Ruifia.

VOL.^.

E e e

CHAP.

C 394 3

CHAP. VIII.

Of the princefs Sophia Alexiefna. — Her charadler mifrepre^
fented — and from what caufes. — Her power and influence
during the reign of Feodor Alexievitch. — Upon bis demife
excluded from alljhare in the adminiflration of affairs. —
Peter appointed tzar to the prejudice of his brother Ivan. —
Proofs that he was not raifed to the throne by the nomination
of Feodor, and that his eleBion was not unanimous. — hi-
furreSiion of the Strelitz. — Tumult and maffacre. — Ivan
and Peter declared joint fovereigns^ and Sophia regent.—^
Probable caufes of that revolution. — The conduH 0/ Sophia
jufiifled from various afperfions. — Her fall and imprifon-
7nent. — Unjujlly accufed of attempting to affaffmate Peter.
-—Rebellion of the Strelitz. — Defeated. — Fruit lefs attempts
to conviB Sophia of a correfpondence with the rebels.'— She
affumes the veil. — Her death.

BOOK '^ I ^ HERE is fcarcely any portion in the annals of this
, -■- country more important than the minority of Peter
the Great, and no character more grofsly mifreprefented
than that of his fifter Sophia Alexiefna, who governed
Ruffia during that period. This illuftrious princefs united,
in a very extraordinary degree, a variety of perfonal and
mental accomplifliments ; but as flie headed a party in op-
pofition to Peter, the idolatry, which has been univerfally
paid to his extenfive genius, has greatly contributed towards
diminifhing the luftre of her adminiftration.

I was

SOPHIA ALEXIEFNA.

595

I was led into thefe reflexions from a vifit which I paid chap.

^ VIII.

to the nunnery of Devitz, in the fuburbs of Mofcow, where » — „— j
Sophia was confined during the laft feventeen years of her
life ; and as we have fcarcely any knowledge of her cha-
radter but through the medium of her adverfaries, I fliall
throw together a few particulars, which induce me to fee her
condu6t in a favourable light ; and fliall endeavour to refcue
her name from that obloquy, which has fo unjuflly perfe-
cuted her memory *.

Sophia

• Three foreign writers have principally
contributed to render the character of So-
phia extremely odious.

1, The firft of thefe writers is Gordon,
in his Life of Peter the Great. But his
teftimony is in this inrtance extremely ex-
ceptionable, as well on account of his noto-
rious partiality to Peter, as becaufe he was
particularly prejudiced againft prince Vaffili
Galitzin, Sophia's prime minifter, for hav-
ing degraded his relation and patron gene-
ral Patrick Gordon. See Korb Diariiun,
p. 216.

2. The fecond author is La Neuville, in
his Relation de la Mofcovie, who dignifies
himfelf with the title of envoy from the king
of Poland to the court of Mofcow ; and is
generally fuppofed to have been refident in
that city at the time of Sophia's fall. His
authority, therefore, is deemed unqueftion-
able ; and the enemies of this princefs have
not failed to cite it in proof of their afler-
tions. Any perfon, however, in the lead:
converfant with the hiftory of Ruffia, will
perceive in this work the grofieft contra-
didions, and the moll abfurd tales. The
author, after loading the portrait of Sophia
with more deceit and cruelty than ever dif-
graced a Tiberius, or a Cxfar Borgia,
affeils the moft perfefl knowledge of all the
feciet cabals between her and prince Ga-
litzin : he declares their intention of mar-
rying ; of re-uniting the Greek and Latin
churches ; of compelling Peter to aflume
the monaftick h.ibit, or, if that failed, of
affalfmating him ; of declaring the children

of Ivan illegitimate ; and of feciiring
the throne to themfelves and their heirs.
And as if this chimerical projcd had been
thought fure of fuccefs, he adds, that prince
Galitzin had ftill further views : he hoped,
that by re-uniting Ruflia to the Roman ca-
tholic church, he fliould be able to
obtain the pope's permilTion (if, as he flat-
tered himfelf, he fliould furvive Sophia) to
appoint his own legitimate fon his fiiccefTor
to the throne, in preference to thofe whom
he fliould have by the princefs, while his
wife was alive. But fuch abfurd accounts
carry their own refutation, and the writer
who retails them muft furely deferve no
degree of credit, even fhould he be " le
" temoin oculaire," as Voltaire ftyles him,
" de ce qui fe palfa." But the truth is,
that this envoy to Mofcow is a fuppofititious
perfon : the atithor was one Adrien Bail-
let, who llykd himfelf de la Neuville,
from a village of that name, in which
he was born, and was never in lluffia.
The Relation de la Mofcovie was publiQied
at the Hague in 1699 ; and was probably-
compiled by the author from the vague ac-
counts of feme of Peter's adherents, who
accompanied that monarch into Holland in
the year 1697. 1 fliall have occafion to men-
tion further proofs againft the authenticity
of this performance.

See Menkeni Bibliotheca, where La Re-
lation de la Mofcovie is mentioned amono
the works of Adrian Baillet. For an ac-,
count of that author, fee Niceron Hommes
lUuftres; article Ad. Baillet.
e e 2 3. Voltaire

396 TRAVELS INTORUSSI A.

Sophia was born in the month of Odober, 1658. Her
father, Alexey Michaelovitch, the fecond fovereign of the
houfe of Romanot, was twice married ; firft to Maria Jli-
nitchna of the family of JNlilolafiki ; fecondly, to NataHa
Xirilofna, of that of Narilkin : by the former he had Feodor,
Ivan, and feveral princeffes, among whom was Sophia ; by
the latter, Peter the Great. During Maria's hfe, her family
was diftingnilhed by Alexey, and enjoyed a con fiderable in-
fluence ; but after her deceafe, and upon his marriage with
Natalia, their power was eclipfed by the fuperior afcendancy
of the Narifkins, who fucceeded to the confidence and fa-
vour of their fovereign. Hence two parties were formed in
the court ; and perpetual quarrels took place between the
children of Alexey by his firft w^rfe, and their ftep-mother
Nataliav During this period, Ivan Michaelovitch Milolafiki,
the head of that family, endeavoured fecretly to undermine
theNariflcins : he attributed to their influence that the taxes
were increafed ; that the pay was with-held from the fol-
diery ; and, in a word, reproached them as the authors of
all the grievances which were urged-againft the government
of Alexey. By thefe and other artifices he laboured to render,
them unpopular ; and having gained.' over to his party z-.

^.Voltaire has contiibxited more than againft the memory orthisunfovtunatepria.
any other writer to TprL-ad reports injurious cefs begin to fubfid^. Muller Has venuired to
to Sophia; but the truth of his narrative juftify her character in Ibme inftances ; the
«f her rile, adminiftration, .md fall, is liablfe author of trie Antidote to the Abbe de
to the flrongell objeiftions ; he dra^vs many Chappe's Journey into Siberia, fpeaks of
fa£is, urged againll Sophia, from the work her in a favourable manner ; and L'Evefqne-
cf the luppcfed Polifli envoy, La NeuviUc, has evidently (liown, that her charafter has
which has been juft fliown to be of no au- been grofsly niiireprefented, that (lie was a
thority ; and extraiSts the remainuL^r almoft princels of great merit, aad by no means
folely from certain memoirs, wliich being deferving of the reproaches which have been'
trnnfmitted to him by order of the eniprcfs call upon her conduft. 1 had already finiflicd
Elifabcth, Peter's daughter, would natu- this chapter, as well as the laft, before his
rally throw the fevercft cenfures upon So- hlftory made its appearance; and though the
phia, and adopt all the mifreprefentations arguments of that judicious hiftorian had,
of her adverfaries. no fiiare in forming, they certainly con-
But the violent prepoflcffions conceived iirniedaiy opiaioD in favour of Sophia.

large

SOPHIA ALEXIEFNA. 3r>7

I-arge body of Strelitz *, waited for a favourable opportunity chap.
of executing his defigns t.

Upon the acceffion of Feodor to the throne, his relation3,
the family of Milolaflki,re-airumed their former importance,
and the Narilkins were excluded from all fliare in the admi-
niftration of affairs.

Sophia had gained the efteem and affedion of her brother
Feodor, by the fuperiority of her underflanding, her infinu"
ating addrefs, and unwearied attention during the long ill-
nefs which at length brought him prematurely to the grave.
To her that weak prince, whofe infirmities rendered him
unfit to govern, refigned the ablblute direction of affairs,
and, at her fuggeftion, placed his fole confidence in prince
Vairili Galitzin, a nobleman who had greatly diftinguiflied
himfelf, under the reign of Alexey Michaelovitch, for his
political abilities..

Upon the demife of Feodor without iffue, on the 27th erf
April, 1682, Ivan his brother, and rightful heir of the throne,
was excluded from the fucceffion on account of his incapa-
city, and his, half-brother Peter was declared tzar. In regard
to this event, the partizans of Peter endeavour to eftablifti
"two pofitions : i.. That he was raifed to this dignity in con-
fequence of Feodor's exprefs appointment; and, 2, By the
unanimous voice of the nation.

iv. With refpedl: to the firft pofition, that Peter was nomi-
nated tzar in confequence of Feodor's | exprefs appointment,
when we coniider, that Feodor was entirely governed by
Sophia and his own family, it is not probable, that he fhould

* The Ruffian regiinents of guards were J Feodor avant ri'expirer, voyunt q-.iefon

called Suelitz, or Strcltli, until they were frcre Ivaji, troj) difgracie de la nature,

fuppreffed,. and the name aboliflied, by Pe- etait incapable de regner, nomina pour he-

ter the Great. rilier des Ruffes fon fecond frcre Pierre, &c,

-j- Sumorokof's Aufruehr der Strelitzen, Voltaire,
P'4-

5 aa

398

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK a£t in dire6t oppofition to their interefts, and enfure, by the
'nomination of Peter, the adminiftration of affairs to the
Nariflvins ; and this ftate of the cafe has been lately efta-
bliflied by an hiftorian ••■■ of unqueftionable authority, who
informs us, after the moft authentic records, that Peter did
not owe his elevation to any declaration of Feodor in his
favour, but merely to the fufFrages of thofe perfons in whom
the right of nominating the fucceffor was vefted.

a. hi regard to the fecond pofition, the unanimity of Pe-
ter's election, MuUer, who has explored the Ruffian archives
with a view of afcertaining this point, can fupply us with
no better proofs than the following information +.

*' Soon after the death of Feodor, all the fervants of the
*' court, the officers, and ecclefiaftics, who were then at Mofcow,
*' afTembled in the palace and the court- yard to kifs the hand
" of the deceafed monarch ; after which ceremony they alfo
*' kiffed the hands of the two princes Ivan and Peter, the
*' former of whom was fixteen, and the latter ten years of
" age. The ill health of Ivan, the hopeful appearance of
*« Peter, and the well-known prudence and virtue of his
" mother |, induced all who were prefent to prefer the
" younger to the elder brother, and unanimoully to raife
" Peter to the throne. The aftoniffiing quiet and unanimity
" with which this important affair was accompliflied, feems
*' to prove, that it was preconcerted by the patriarch and
" principal nobility.

*' The patriarch Joachim, defcended from a noble
" family, was at the head of this tranfaition. As foon as

* Prince Sherebatof. See Bach. RufT. years of age, and liad hitherto given n3

Bib. vol. V. p. 502. proofs of her prudence and wifdom, —

•^- VoH Peter's des Groffen erftern Ge- L'Evefque more juftly ftyles her "jeune

langung zum Thron. in Jour. Pet. for 1780. " princeffe qui n'avoit pu fe faire encore

J This princcfs was then fcarcely 24 " aucune reputation."

4 " the

SOPHIA ALEXIEFNA.

399

" the principal courtiers, ecclefiaftics, nobles, officers, mer- chap.
" chants, and a great concourfe of people, were aflembled be-
<' fore the imperial palace, he demanded of them, whom they
" would nominate tzar, Ivan or Peter ? The queihon was
" extremely unufual^h\it^hQmg]\x^\^td by the circumftances,
" was immediately anfwered in favour of Peter. Probably the
" party of Ivan had not forefeen that a younger prince who,
" was a minor, would be preferred to his elder brother, and
*' were therefore not prepared to make a}ty oppofition to the ap-
" pointment of Peter.

" Two contradi61ory accounts of this nomination are
*' given in two of the moft authentic records in the ar-
" chives of Mofcow. The firit informs us that Ivan, as the
" eldeft, publickly renounced his right to the crown, before
** it could be conferred upon Peter : the fecond makes no
*' mention of this renunciation, but afcribes the nomination
** of Peter to the general wifhes of the nation."

The firft record in the office for foreign affairs thus re-
lates the tranfailion.

" And the patriarch Joachim, and the metropolitans and
** archbifhops, and all the clergy, and the Siberian and Kaf-
" fimovian princes, and the Boiars and Okolnitflii, and the
" Doumnie-Diaki, and theStolnics andStraeptflii, and the no-
" bility of Mofcow, and the Shilitfi, and the nobles from the
" country, and the foldiers and Gofti, and the merchants and
" people, entreated the princes, Ivan and Peter, that one of
" them would pieafe to afcend the hereditary throne of
« Ruffia,'' &c.

And the Tzarovitch Ivan faid, " It being advantageous for
'* the publick that my brother the Tzarovitch and great-duke
" Peter fhould afcend the throne of Ruffia, becaufe his -mother
" the tzarina Natalia is alive : I, therefore, the tzarovitch

" and

400

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK ii aj^j great-duke Ivan refign the throne to the tzarovitch
>— -v-^ " and great-duke Peter. And the tzar and great-duke Peter
" afcended the throne," &c.

According to the other record, which is in the Kofrad's
Buch [or a Journal of Occurrences at Court,] " the patriarch
" demands of the perfons affembled for the nomination of
" the new fovereign, whom they would chufe tzar, Ivan or
" Peter.

'^ And theStolnics and Straeptdii, and the nobles, and the
" Diaki, and the Shilitli,and the Dietiboiarlki, and the Gofti,
*' and the merchants, and the other people of different ranks,
" anfwered unanimouily, that the throne of all the king-
" doms of the great Ruffian empire belonged to Peter Alex-
" ievitch : and then the patriarch addrefled the Boiars,
" Okolnitchi, privy counfellors, and principal perfons be-
" longing to the court ; and the Boiars, Sec. anfwered una^
" nimoully. The tzarovitch and great-duke Peter is, by
*' the choice of all the ftates and people of the Mofcovite
" empire, tzar and great-duke of all Great, Little, and
*■' White Ruffia," &c. 8cc.

We may remark upon thefe extrads, that being evidently
compiled by the friends of Peter, even if they did not con-
traditft each other, their authority would be exceedingly ex-
ceptionable ; nor could their filence, with refpe(ft to any
oppofition, be conlidered as a fufficient teftimony that the
fuffrages in favour of Peter were unanimous, becaufe his
adherents would never record any particulars rending in the
fmallelt degree to invalidate his pretenfions, or to fupport
thofe of Ivan. Befides, when we recollecfl the power of the
family of Mololaffki during the reign of Feodor, the influ-
ence \\ hich prince Vaffili Galitzin muft have acquired from

his

SOPHIA A L E X I E F N A.

401

his office of prime minifter, and particularly the infinuating ^'Hap.
manners and popularity of Sophia, all of whom were bound, ^— .v—
not only by the ftrongeft ties of intereft, but even for their
common fecurity, to fupport the caufe of Ivan, we cannot,
with any degree of probability, fuppofe that the nomination
of Peter was as unanimous as it is reprefented. And indeed
it is certain "■, that a nobleman, named Sumbalof, abfolutely
objedled to the invalidity of the ele6lion,becaufe the younger
brother v/as preferred to the elder ; that his remonliance
was followed by thofe of many others, and that even the
patriarch Joachim, who is efteemed by Mr. Muller a ftrong
advocate of Peter, foon afterwards embraced the party of
Ivan : thefe circumftances feem to imply that Peter was not
raifed to the throne by the unanimous voice of the nation,
and that the fulfrages of the aflembly had been furprized
by the fecret machinations of the Nariikins.

Peter, however, by whatfoever means his nomination was
obtained, received, as fole fovereign, the fealty of his fub-
jeiSts, and the government was entrufted to his mother Na-
talia. But this ftate of affairs was of no long duration : the
party in oppofition to Peter was ilrong and powerful ; his
ele6fion was not as yet confirmed by the whole body of Stre-
litz, who, to ufe the fpirited expreihon of a Ruffian author,
poirefTed above 14,000 armed votes t ; and their peculiar
fituation at this important jun6lure rendered them fit in-
Itruments of a new revolution.

Juft before Feodor's demife, and even while that monarch
was at the point of death, nine of thefe regiments, quartered
at Mofcow, having tumultuoufly aflembled, demanded
redrefs of the ill-treatment they pretended to have received
from their colonels, and an inftant difcharge of all their ar-

* Siimorokof, p. 55 — 57. f 14.198 bewaffnete ftimme. Sumorokof, p. 19,

Vql.- 7, F f f rears.

402 T R A V E L S I N T O R U S S I A.

BOOK rears. Prince George Dolgorucki, their chief, ordered one of
' — ^wthe ringleaders to be feized, and having condemned him to
he ftripped for the infli6lion of the knoot, an immediate in-
furre6lion was the confequence ; the executioners were in-
fulted, and the prifoners refcued -•'•-. On the day fubfequent
to the interment of Feodor, the foldiers proceeded in a large
body to the Kremlin, and prefented a petition againrt nine of
their colonels, who being delivered to them by the miniilry,
as the only means of appeafing the tumult, they were pub-
licly whipped and difcharged t. Ivan Milolaffki inflamed
the difcontents of this mutinous body ; and though he was
confined to his chamber by a pretended ficknefs, he yet
contrived to hold feveral interviews with the ringleaders,
who affembled at night in his palace. Sophia is alfo
accufed of being prefent at thefe meetings ; of diftri-
buting money to the principal infiirgents ; and of exafpe-
rating them againfl: the family of Narifkin.- On the morn-
ing of the 1 5th of May, a report being fpread that Peter
was not unanimoufly eledled, the drums beat to arms by
order of Ivan Milolaffki, and the Strelitz being tumultuoufly
affembled, two perfons of his party entered their quarters,
crying, " The hour of vengeance is at hand, Ivan Alexie-
" vitch is airalTinated, and the Nariikins are mailers of
" Ruffia. Revenge the mnrder of the tzarovitch." The
foldiers,. being intiamed to fury by thcfe exclamations,
marched inftanta^eoufly wit±i drums beating and colours
flying to the KremUn, tolled the great bell, furrounded the
palace, and demanded the traitors who had afTafTmated Ivan:
alihough the tzarina immediately produced both Ivan and

* G 91 don, p. Jo. f Ibid, p. 72 ; and Voltaire.

Peter,

SOPHIA ALEXIEFNA.

403

Peter, yet they were not appeafed, but vehemently called chap.
aloud for the execution of the Narilkins, whofe ambition and v_v—
tyranny would entail ruin upon their country ; adding, that
although Ivan had hitherto efcaped their machinations, he
was yet in danger of being affaffinated at fome future period ;
and their fury was ftill further augmented by a rumour in-
duftrioufly circulated, that Ivan Nariikin, the brother of the
tzarina, had feized the diadem and royal robes. In the midft
of this tumult, one of the officers ventured to harangue the
foldiers : he affured them, that Ivan Alexeivitch was in per-
fedl fafety ; that all their grievances fhould be redrefled ;
and exhorted them to difperfe. This harangue feemed to
make a fenfible impreffion, and the tumult was fubfiding ;
when prince Dolgorucki imprudently threatened them with
the fevereft punifliment for their mutiny and rebellion : in-
flamed by this ill-timed menace, they feized the prince,
hurled him into the air, received him upon their pikes, and
hewed his body to pieces. This affaffination was but the
prelude to a more general maffacre, which took place in the
Kremlin, and in different parts of Mofcow, and continued
during three days without intermiffion. It would be need-
lefs, as well as fliocking to humanity, to enter upon a detail
of all the murders committed by this lawlefs rabble; it is fuf-
ficient to obferve, that not only the two brothers of the tzarina,
and a few others moft obnoxious to the infurgents, fell vidtims
to their fury, but feveral perfons, by no means unpopular,
were facrificed amidil: the general confufion ; and as the fol-
diers were roufed almoft to madnefs by intoxicatibn, the
houfes of many citizens were plundered, and the city under-
went a general pillage.

In order to clofe this horrid fcene, the principal nobles
aliembled on the i8th of May, and, by a compromife be-

F f f 2 tween

404 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK tween the two parties, Ivan and Peter were declared joint

TTT -^

'fovereigns; but as Ivan was judged incapable of governing,
and Peter was in his minority, the adminiftration of affairs
was veiled in the hands of Sophia. Hence conclulions have
been drawn unfavourable to that princefs : flie is accufed of
having for fome time maintained a fecret intelligence with
the ringleaders of the Strelitz ; of exciting them by falfe re-
ports to revolt, of ordering money and fpirituous liquors to>
be diflributed among the foldiers, and even of delivering to
them a lift - of forty nobles whom flie had prolcribed. All
her actions are malignantly mterpreted : when Ivan Narifkin
was led to execution, fhe publickly accompanied the tzarina
and the patriarch to intercede for his life, placed the image
of the Virgin Mary in his hands to flop the fury of the-
Strelitz, and endeavoured, though in vain, to footh his af-
faffins t. They who judge unfavourably of her condudf,
fay, that this compaffion was only feigned, and that flie fe-
cretly encouraged his alTaffination, though Ihe outwardly af--
feded to intercede for him |.

Upon this fuppofition the whole conduif of Sophia im-
plies fuch a deep-laid fcheme of hypocrify, artifice, and re-
venge, as feems rather adapted to a politician grown grey in
iniquity, and long pradifed in the arts of fediticn, than to a-
princefs like Sophia, only in the 25th year of her age.

Upon reviewing the caufes which led to this revolution,
they may be traced from feveral events in the reign of Alexey

* " Enfin Sophie," fays Voltaire, " fait tentively perufe the account of the enfuing.

*' remettre entre leurs mains une lifte de maffacie in Gordon, or even in Voltaire,

*' quarante feigneurs qu'elle appelle leurs will find that the fury of the Strelitz, ex-

" enemis, et ceux dcl'Etat et qu'ils doivent cept againft the Narilkins, was more di-

" maff.icrer." I cannot give credit to this rented by chance than by defign.
lift of forty nobles, which Voltaire refem- f Gordon, p. 8j.-

bles " aux profcripiions de Sylla et des J Sumorokof,
•' triumvirs de Rome." Whoever will at-

5 Michaelovitch,

SOPPIIA ALEXIEFNA. 405

Michaelovitch, lono- before Sophia had the lead influence in cii.vp.

, vin.

political affairs, and particularly from the domeilick feuds in ^ , ,■

the imperial family : it appears alio that the firft infur-
re6lion of the Strelitz was cafual ; that it was occalioned by
the arrears of pay, and the unpopularity of the colonels, and
cannot, with the leail degree of probability, be imputed to
the intrigues of Sophia ; and that therefore flie can only be
accufed, even by the moft malignant interpretation of her
condu6t, of availing herfelf of that mutiny to procure the
elevation of Ivan. But there is furely a wide difference be-
tween afferting the injuftice of his exchifion from the throne,
or, under the malk of moderation and candour, inflaming.
to madnefs the fury of a difafFe(5fed foldiery, and calmly
leading them from aiTafli nation to afTaflination *. And if
any unjuftifiable cabals were really employed on this occa-
fion ; why fliould the whole blame be laid upon Sophia ?
and why are her faults alone handed down to us with fo'
many heavy aggravations ?

But is it not more reafonable to fuppofe that Ivan Milo--
lafiki, who, as we have before obferved, had formed a ftrong.
party againif the Narifl<.ins, even during the reign of Alexey
Michaelovitch, fliould, in conjun6lion with his family, take
advantage of this fedition of the Strelitz, with whom he had
long entertained a fecret intelligence, and that Sophia was
but the oflenfible inftrument of their defigns ? In a word,,
that fhe was raifed to the regency by the cabals of a power-
ful party, who forefaw their own ruin and the advancement
of their rivals in the nomination of Peter ; and who held forth
the unalienable rights of Ivan to this licentious body in the
midit of an infurrecTtion. Examples were not wanting,

* Tandis que les Strelitz commeni^-aient qui ks animaitfous main, pour la eonJuirc de
ainfi k fe faire craindrc, la princeffe Sophie, crime en crime, &c, Voltaire.

tO)

.406 T R A V E L S I N T O R U S S I A.

BOOK fy p^-ove that the incapacity of Ivan was no bar to his ele6lion-4
a memorable inftance was exhibited in the perfon of Feodor
IvanovitchjWho, notwithftanding his abfokite imbecihty, was
raifed to the throne, and a regency entrufted with the admi-
niftration of affairs* : and it m viftalfo be con fidered, that Peter,
then only in his eleventh year, had not afforded any inflances
of that valf fuperiority of underftanding, which afterwards
-marked his chara6ler ; and that his mother, who was to
u\vay the reins of empire, was a perfon of no experience,
and extremely unpopular. Nor is it matter of furprize that
■the care of Ivan and the government fliould be committed
to Sophia. The vidlorioiis family would naturally choofe
a regent devoted from interefts and inclination to their party,
a perfon of imperial lineage, popular manners, refpedable
chara6ter, and great abilities ; and all thefe requilites cen-
tered in Sophia.

However authors may have cenfured the ambitious de-
figns of Sophia, they unanimoufly concur in delineating her
engaging manners, the beauties of her perfon t, the vigour

* S. R. G. vol. V. p. 19. a good imderflanding and great beauty,

-}• Weber, the Hanoverian envoy nt St. " Sic befnts groiren verftand und groflc

Pcteiftiiirgh in the beginning of this century, " fchoenheit," p. ic.

■lays of So^ihia, " Tlie tear was frequently Many other authors might be quoted to

•" heard to declare, that, excepting her in- the fame purpofe, but as there is nothing

" ordinate ambition, flie was a princefs of which party-malice will not invent to de-

■^' great ferfonal and mental aocomplifh- preciate an obnoxious charader, the fuppo-

" ments." Ver. Ruff. Vol. I. p. 143. fititious Polifh envoy La Neu\ille has mif-

Voltaire, in a very fpirited portrait, reprefented her perfon as much as lier con-

.clofes it by faying, " une figure agrlahle duft, in the following extraordinary paffage :

" relevoit tous ies talens." Perry dclcribes " Sophie dont I'efprit 8t le merite ne tien-

•her, at the time of the revolution, as a " nent rien de la difformite defon corps, etant

Landfome young lady, then upwards _of ^^ d'uncgrojjinr monjlrueufe, avec uite-titc large

23. He came into Ruffia in 1702, two '■^ commc un hoijfeau^dii poll an "vifnge, des

.years before her death ; and though he " loupi aux jamhcs & au nioins 40 ans ; mais

never faw her himfelf, on account of her '■* avn^nl que Jit taUle cfi large, couile, is! grof-

imprifoniTicnt, he muft have known many '■^ Jicrc autant fon efprit eft fin, delic Sc po-

perfons who had been perfonally acquainted " litique &: fans avoir jamais lu Riachiavel,

•with her. Perry's State of Ruffia, p. 143. " elle poffede naturellement routes fes max-

Sumorokof fays of her, that flie poffeffed " imes," &c. p. 151.

5 and

S O P H I A A L E X r E F N A. 407

and wifdom of her adminiftration, and her extenfive plans of ^^^'^j^'
reformation for the advantage of her country.

Sophia repofed her principal confidence in prince VafliU
GaUtzin, commonly known by the name of the Great Galit-
zin, a molt able minifter, and confummate politician. The
fcandaloiis chronicle of thofe times, or rather of a later pe-
riod, attributed her partiality for this miniiler to a fofter paf-
lion, though he was above fixty years of age ; and her ene-
mies have not even fcrupled to declare ■•'•■ that (he had formed
the plan of affallinating the two tzars, vifurping the throne,
and of efpoufing prince Galitzin, who was to obtain a divorce
from his wife; but this calumny, as it is not founded on
the leaft fublfantial evidence, deferves not to be refuted,

Sophia t has been alfo accufed, not only of negledling the
education of Peter, but of introducing him into the company
of the moll: profligate young men, and of encouraging his ^
propenfity to every fpecics of cxcefs which might enervate
his frame, weaken his underllanding, and render him averfe
to bulinefs. This calumny, however, has been amply re-
futed by Mr. Muller f, v\fho has fliewn from unqueftionable
authority, that Ivan and Peter had two different courts ; •
that the education of the latter was folely entruiled to his
mother; and that if improper perfons were placed about him, .
the blame muft fall upon her, and not upon Sophia. With
refpecTt to his propenfity to drinking, that vice was extremely
common in Hii-ffia, and prince' Vaflili § Galitzin alone was as •
remarkable for his ibbriety as the favourites of PeterjLeFoir, ■

* Cordon, p. 36, " forcing his comiTiiny to drink to exccfr, •

•^' Voltaire. " Brandy, the liqMpr which flowed at eveiy

j 'Juuriial of St, Pet. Mar. ijjSjp. i68, " other tahle, was feUioni fcen at his, who

ibg. " never dr;ink ;uiy hin)l^:lf, bat took nr:c\

i) " Galiizin was the only man of <|iiality " delight in rational and ingcnio.is conve:-

"•iaRuIiia who could -cn;crtain, without- " latiuri."- MottlcyVLifc oi Peter.

4o8 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK j^j^j Boris Galitzin, were notorious for their intemperance,
i" Le Fort," fays a writer, who was in Livonia when the tzar
and his fuite paffed through that country in his firft journey
to Holland, " is a man of a good underftanding ; very per-
" fonable, engaging, and entertaining ; a true Swiis for pro-
*' bity and bravery, but chiefly for drink'nig.. Open tables
" are kept every where with trumpets and mufick, attended
" with feafting and excellive drinking, as if his tzarifli ma-
*' jelly had been another Bacchus. I have not yet feen fuch
" hard drinkers ; it is not poffible to exprefs it, and they
" boaft of it as a mighty qualification-."

Thus then it appears that Peter had examples of intem-
perance in his own houfliold, and it will hardly be fuppofed
that Le Fort was the creature.of Sophia. The evident falfe-
hood of fuch virulent accufations Ihoukl induce us not to
give credit to other calumnies, and particularly to the charge
that Ihe attempted to deifroy Peter by poifon, which, though
it failed of its intended .effe(5f, difordered his conftitution, and
occalionally produced a fpecies of melancholy and defpair
that bordered upon madnefs. This re^xirt took its rife
from his pronenefs to epileptic fits, a diforder common in his
family, to which he was fubje6f from his infancy, which
gradually diminiflied as he grew ftronger, but never entirely
forfook him. Previous to an attack, the natural vehemence
and favagenefs of his temper broke out with redoubled vi-
olence, and rendered him the terror of all who approached
him. The rancour with which the enemies of Sophia have
calumniated her memory, is from no infiance more evident
than from this abfurd imputation, that the brutal ferocity

; * Account of Livonia, p. 293.

and

SOPHIA ALEXIEFNA.

409

^nd fanguinary difpofition of Peter was owing to tlic effefls chap.
■of poilbii adminiftered by her ■•■'". * — ^— .

But it is time to trace the principal caufes which contri-
buted to the fall and imprifonment of Sophia. That prin-
cefs, to whom Ivan had furrendered the abfolute diredtion
of affairs, affumed fome exterior marks of homage, which
feem to have been hitherto appropriated only to the fove-
reigns of Ruffia. While the heads of her two brothers were
impreffed on one fide of the coins, her image, arrayed with
the crown, fceptre, and imperial robes, was llamped upon
the reverfe ; in all the public a6ls her name was added to
the lignature of the two tzars t, and (he appeared in pro-
ceffions decorated with all the enfigns of royalty | : circum-
ftances which naturally gave umbrage to the rival family,
and afforded a fpecious pretence for inveighing againft her
ambitious defigns.

Peter, as he advanced in years and felt himfelf born for
empire, could not, without great dilTatisfadtion behdid all

* " II prenoit quelquefois cks accL-s
" d'hiimeiir chagrine, oudl fcmblait frappc
" dc I'idee noire qu'on voulait attenter A fa
*' perfonne, ct ou fcs amis Ics plus taniiliers
" craignaient ies emportemens. Ce^ acchs

" ETAtENT UN RESTE FATAL DU POISON,
*' (Vy'lL RECUT DE SON AMBITIEUSE SOEUR

" Sophie. On en coniiai.irait rapproche a
" certains mowvemeni cnnvuljifi de fa hotche.
" L'lmperntrice etait avertie. Kile venait
" liiiparler; k fon de cettevoixlc caliTi..it
" a Tinftant, Elle le failait afleoir, et s'em-
" parait en le cnjolant de fa tete, qu'elle
" grattait doucement. C'etait comme i:n
" charme, qui raffoufljfait en pen de mi-
" nutes. Pour re pas rroubler ion fommeil,
" elle foutenait fa tete fnr fon fein, fans fe
" TcttMcr pendant deux ou trois heurcs. Alors
*' il fe reveillait, entieremcnt raffis et rL-niis
" ail lieu qn'avant qu'elle eiit etiidic cette
" manicre ft fimple de le foulager, ces acxcs
" etaient la terrcur de ceux qui I'apprc

Vol. I. G

" chaient, aVant caufi dit on qiielques mal-
■♦' hevfrs, et etant fuivi de Irraiix de the
" affrcux, qui duraicnt dts journhi enticres."
Balfevitz in Huf. H. M. IX. j). 294.

Strange eftefts of poid [i given in his in-
fancy. Thofe who have been ufed to fee
peifons in epileptic: fits, will eafily difcover
all the efTerts of that diforder from the
words in Italics. Billiop Burnet fays, " that
" he was fubjert to com'iilfive motions all
" ovt'r his body, and that his head feemed
" to be aft'ecled witii thei'--."

f She did not fign her name in the pub-
lic decrees until 16S7. Buf. Hif. Mag,
V. I. p. 9.

J Thefe circumftanc^s cannot imply a
delign of ufurping the fovereign authority ;
for ftie was only accufed even by he; ene-
mies of fecretly confpiring againft Peter,
and not of an open attempt to feize the
crowR,

g§

the

4IO

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK fhe power lodged in the hands of a rival party ; ftill further
<—J-^ encoiiraged by his mother and her adherents, he claimed a
Ihare in the adminiftration of affairs; and took his feat, for
the firft time, in the privy council, on the 25th of January,
1688, and in the eighteenth year of his age. Sophia, though
unwilling to refign any part of her authority, could not
withhold her confent ; but as Peter's fpirit was above con-
troul, flie availed herfelf of fome violent altercations which
palied between them, and contrived to exclude him, for the
future, from a feat in the council. From this period the
diffentions between them arofe to fo great an height, as to
threaten an open rupture ; and the fall of one feemed ne-
teiTary to the fecurity of the other *.

Things remained in this ftate of jealoufy and variance,
imtil the month of September, 1689; when the afpiring
genius of Peter acquired the afcendancy, and fecured his
undivided authority by the fall and imprifonraent of Sophia.
By the advice of Boris Galitzin and the Narifkins, Peter re-
fohed to arreft his fifter, and to feizc the reins of govern-
)uent : and it is alierted by his adherents t, that Soj>hia and
prince Vaffili Galitzin, apprized of his intentions, determined
to prevent their own ruin by his affaili nation ; that they
had gained over the chief of the Strelitz and a corps cjf 600
men, and had actually commiflioned them to perpetrate
that infamous dQe^].

Peter had retired to fleep at his palace of Preobaflienfki
near Mofcow, when two X of the confpirators, it is faid, ftruck
with horror at their crime, quitted their companions, and
haftened to the young tzar with the information that a body

* Journ. of St. Pet. for 1778, p. 175, of two confpirators who were enwageJ to

!/('>• affaflinate Peter, but, repeniing, difcovered

f Gordon. the plot, is again related as happening in

J It is remarkable, that this fame flory 1697. Scliniidt. Ruff. Gef. V. IJ. p, 9-.

SOPHIA ALEXIEFN A. ^m

of Strelitz were upon their march to aflaffinate him. The S^'^^*
fame accounts add, that Peter refufed to give credit to their « — ^ — •
report, until it was confirmed by Boris GaHtzin and one of
his uncles, whom he immediately difpatched to reconnoitre ;
and that the confpirators were already fo near, that he had
fcarcely time to make his efcape *. He inftantly proceeded
to the convent of the Holy Trinity ; where his danger being
fpread abroad, troops flocked to him from all quarters, and
in fuch numbers, that in the fpace of three days he had an
army of 60,000 men under his command, and found himfelf
in a fituation to give law to the oppofite party.

In the mean time Sophia, in a i^ate of the utmoil: confter- '
nation, denied all intercourfe with the confpirators, exprelTed
the utmoft horror at their attempt ; difj")atched repeated
meffages to her brother to juftify her conduvfl ; and even fee
off in perfon to aflert her innocence ; but was ordered to
return without delay to Mofcow, and to deliver the ring-
leaders of the mutiny. Soon afterwards Peter himfelf re-
paired to the capital : the principal confpirators, being tor-
tured in his prefence, confelfed a defign againil his life, and
fuffered the fevereft punifliment. Vaffili Galitzin t was ba-
nilhed into Siberia ; and Sophia was imprifoned for life in
the nunnery of Devitz : Peter alone aflumed the reins of
government, and found fufficient fcope for his vaft and en-
terprizing genius ; while the name of Ivan was fiill inferted,

•* Voltaire, though convinced of Sophia's " ces Strelitz dcvaient s'eniparer de fa per-

intention to affaffinate Peter, and notvvith- " fonne. Les memoires fccrettes que la

fianding the intelligence he received from " cpur de Rulfie nii confies, aflurent que la

the court of Peteriburgh, can only give us " parti etoit pris de tuer Pierre Premier:

the following fcanty information: "La " le coup allait etre porta, et la Ruffic

*' Neuville refde/it alors a Mofcoiv, et lenioln " etait prive ii jamais dc la nouvcUe exil-

" oculairc de ce qui fe p(ij]u, pretend que So- " tence, qu'elle," &:c.
" phie et Galitzin engagerent le nouveau f This able minifter furvived his fill

" chef des Strelitz iileurfacrifier leurjeune 24 years ; he ditd in prifon at Pooftozerk

•' czar: 11 parair au moins que fix-cent de in 1713. L'Evefqiie, vol. IV p. 107.

G g g 2 as

4^4 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK as a matter of formality, in the publick adts until his death^
which happened in 1696.

Such are the principal circumftances of this extraordinary
revolution ; but we mult confider, that this is- the account
given by the viiftorious party ; and that the caufe of Sophia
never underwent a candid examination. It may be impoflible
tf) exculpate that prmcefs entirely from ambitious views; fhe
might be extremely unwilling to relinquifli a power which
Ihe had long enjoyed, aud which flie exercifed with great
ability ; (lie might eiteem the right of I-van to the throne as
fuperior to that of Peter ; and might conlider Peter's acquifi-
tion of the fole fovereignty as the certain prelude to her own
deftru(flion: but we have no pofitive evidence* which fhoulcl
induce us to believe that (lie confpired againft her brother's
hfe ; and perhaps the whole llory of the intended aflaffina-
tion was feigned by Boris Galitzin i and her enemies. Had
flie.been really guiky of that attempt, fhe wanted not op-
portunities of efcaping from Rufiia ; and flie never would.
txave imprudently demanded admittance into- Peter's pre-
Icnce, in order to affert her innocence, if the proofs of her
guilt haxl been as flrong as her adverfaries pretended |. In

^ We hnve no ccrtpin proofs that- any of J. " Avait elle," as L'Eveffjiie j\iclici-

tbe conlpirators accufed Sophia of being oufly reinari<s, " comine on I'en acciife,

privv to ;:ny defign iij on Tctcr's life ; and, " forme le deffein d'otcr la vie a Pierre?

tvcn if they did n.inie her as an accomplice, " voulait-elle feulement rerjlevcr, er le

theif evidence, as it was extorted by the " faire depofcr ? Fiit-elle memc complice

rack, is by no means to.be depended upon, "de I'entreprife de Stchcglovitii ? c'ell ce.

t It appears from the fr^lowing palfage " que nous n'oferions prononcer. II f.ni-

fhat the ddcovery of Sophia's defiijiis came "drait avoir des pieces authentiqvies pour

fiom that tpiarter. " Pi ince Boris Galit- " juger ce grand proccs. Les hilloriens.

" ziii, a faithful fubjei'^' of the ts.nr Peier, "• i*;icciii'ent ; aiicun ne dit qu'elle ait etd

" coming timely tc penetrate into his kinf- " iiommce par les coupab'es. Pierre de-

** mnn prince Balil's dcfigns, put the tzar " vait la craiiidre, il favait q^'elie etovl

" upon h:s guardi advifing him, v,'ithout " almee des Strolits et de leur chefs4 Elfe

" delay, to take the government into iiij " rcnait les rcnes da gouvernmeiit ; elle ne

" bands." Gy.-dca, V. I. p. S<^, " vouiait pas le* lachtr, et il voilats'cn

" faifir :

SOPHIA A L E X I E F N A, 4,3

a word, the conflidt between Peter and Sophia was the con- <^ha?.
fli<5t of two rivals impatient of controul, and llriving for^
pre-eminence ; the caufe of the fuccefsful party would ne-
cefTarily be deemed juft and equitable ; and the vanquiflied
faction was fure to be loaded with every fpecies of guilt and
enormity.

The reftlefs fpirit of Sophia, brooding in the folitude of a
convent, is faid to have excited frefli troubles and infur-
reilions ; and, during her life, no confpiracy was under-
taken againlt Peter, in which fhe was not fufpe<5ted of being
concerned. She was more particularly accufed of being-
privy to the rebellion which broke out in 1697; when
8000 Strelitz feized the opportunity of Peter's abfence upon
his travels to rife in arms upon the frontiers of Lithuania,
and to march towards Mofcow. The rebels were attacked
and defeated by the addrefs and courage of general Patrick
Gordon ; many were put to the fword, and the remainder
furrendered at difcretion. The tzar received at Vienna the
account of the mutiny and defeat of the Strelitz, and inltant-
ly hailened to Ruffia, that he might examine the delinquents
in pcrfon.

Peter, upon his arrival at Mofcow, was particularly anxious
to difcover the caufes of the rebellion, to karn bv whofe in-
trigues it was excited ; and, a')Ove all,, to convitfl Sophia,
whom he charged with fomenting the publick diicontents,
and Vy-'ith. holding a correfpondence with the ret)els. But as
no perfons could give immediate and pertinent anfwers to all
his queftions, he entertained fufpicions of all his courtiers,

*' fuifir : elk etok deteftee dc N;\ta!ie, & " centre elle: elk en i'ut la vidlim , e' !a

«' de tons Ics parents de cctte Princefle : " Calomiiie dcvait la pourfuivre lo <;-t m)

•' On I'acciilait d'inti'.giies ; elle en form:iit " encore npres fa difgracc, & mem aud.li

" fans doiite, ct fans cclfe il s'cn ftnnait " da tombeau," Vol. IV. p. 103.

and

414

TRAVELS I xN T O RUSSIA.

111.

BOOK ^p(^ determined to eredl a court of inquiry at his. palace of
Preobralhenfki, where the inftruments of the queftion were
brought. The tzar himfelf examined the accufed, urged them
to confellion, and ordered thole who maintained filence to
be racketl in his prelence. The cruelty of the tortures em-
ployed on this occafion was inexpreffibly dreadful : human
nature inudders at the recital, but it is neceffary to mention
them in a jultification of Sophia. Some of the rebels were
repeatedly whipped; others had their Ihoulders diilocated by
a cord and pulley, and in that painful polfure received the
llrokes of the knoot ; many after undergoing the knoot w- ere
roafted over a How fire, the raw parts being expofed to the
flame ■••. Phylicians were prefent to afcertain the degree of
pain the unhappy convids were capable of fupporting, and
to recover thofe who had fainted away, that the application
of frefli tortures might recommence upon the renewal of
their llrength. This dreadful inqnifition was continued,
without the leaft intermillion, through the whole month of
Oiftober. Not only every fpecies of puniQiment, the moft
refined which human cruelty could devife, was inflidled in
order to extort an accufation of Sophia, but promifes of par-
don, and even of great promotion, were offered for the fame
purpofe to the wretched lufferers even in the midlt of the
moft excruciating agonies t.

* It appears from Olearius, and other uitncffes to their influ'lif'n upon the Stre-

travellers into RulTia, th^t thefe tortures litz. Kerb's authority is alio the more to

were ordinarily ufed in that country for the be depended upon in this inftance, becaufe

p\irpc)(e of forcing cnnfelTion. he fpeaks highly in favour of Peter, and

t This account is extracted from the condemns the ambition of Sopliia. Gordon

Diary of Korb, fecretary of the Aullrian alfo, though fo partial to Peter, informs us,

cmbafly to Ruffia in the year 1697, and who that the rebels were tortured and examined

was prefent at Mofcow during ihefe horrid in his prefence. Vol. I. p. 129.

proceedings. He received information of " Pi iiiia, fays Korb, in the 164th page of

tnefe dreadful tortures from fcveral German his Diary, " poft adventum fo licit. ido de

officers in the fervice of Peter, who were eye- " rebellione tuit ; (juomodo compotita ?

" quid

SOPHIA ALEXIEFNA.

415

At length a few of the Strelitz, overcome by the feverity
of the torments, or feduced by hopes of pardon and the
promife of promotion, confefTed, that it was their intention
to fet hre to the fuburbs of Mofcow, to maflacre all fo-
reigners, to banifh or afTaflinate the principal nobility, to
raife the tzarovitch Alexey to the throne, and to appoint
Sophia regent during his minority ; while others declared
that the ringleaders had a6tually drawn np a petition, which
they intended to prefent to that princefs, praying her to ac-
cept the adminiftration of affairs.

Although none of the rebels charged Sophia with being
acceffory to their infurreflion, yet Peter was fo prejudiced
againft her, that he put to the torture one of her female at-
tendants ; and when no evidence of her guilt could be pro-

CHAP.

VIII.

" quid animi tiimultunntibus fuiffet ? qui-
" bus authoribus tantum nefas aufi ? cum
" autem nemo eflct, qui ad omni.i punfta
" acciirati: relpoiuiere poiTet, his fuam ig-
" norantiam, illif Streliziorum pertinaciam
" obtendentibus, omnium fidcm fiif'pefl.iin
*' habere & novs inquifitioni cogitationes
" fuas admovere cocpir. Qni in vicinis va-
" riis locis cudoditi aflervnb^ntur icbelle?,
" ii omnes per qiiatuor miiit'jm pretoiia-
" nonim regimina ad qnxftionem novam, Si
" torturam retraheCantur. Bebrafchentiko
" reduftis career, tribunal fuit, 8c equuleus.
•' Nulla dies qua-iitoribus vacua iafta aut
*' nefafta, omnes sd torquendnm idonei li-
" citique vifi. Quot rei, tol knults, quot
" qua;(itores, tot carnifices. Princeps P'eu-
*' dor Jurowiz Romadonowlki, quantum
•' ceteris feverior, tantum prseftabat in-
" quirendi aptitudine, Ipfemet Magnus
" Dux ob concept?,m in fuos diftidcntiam,
" inquifitoris officio funcftus eft. Ipfe in-
" terrogatoria poncbat, examinabat reos,
'* non confitentes urgebat, pertinacioris
*' etiim filentii Strelizios crudcii jubebat
•* fubjici tortiUiE, jam multa talii, de plu-
" ribus qua^rebantiir, qiios tormcntorum
" cxcelVus vinbus, mente, et ijjlii vijt non

" fenfibiis deftituit, medicorum induftria
" prilVinis fuis viribus per novos cruciatu*
" denuo enei'vandis cogebatur reftituere.
" Totus menfis Oftober rcorum tergoribus
" per knuttas & ignes excarnificandis infu-
** mebatur :' nulla die a flagris, aut flammis
" fuere iinmunos,quam quavel rota frattrs,
" ad furcam aftos, vel fecuri interemptos
" vita ipl'a re'iquerat."

And again, " Inaudita iuit adhibitae tor-
" turx inimanitas : flagris livvillime c:Eli, li
" pertinaciam filentii nondum rumperent,
" faucia reorum tergora fanie, & tabo flu-
" entia igni admnvebantiir, lit per lenfam
" cutis & carnis morbof.e adullionem acuti
" dolores, ad ima olTiumi &: extrema fcnfu-
" urn cum atrociilimis cruciatlbus delcen-
" dercnt. Hec tormentorum viciffitudo
" una Si altera vice repetebatur. Horrend^
" vifu. Si auditu tragadia. Ultra triginta
" in aperti campi planitie funelliflimi coUu-
" cebnnt ignes, tibi miterrimi inquiliti c>:m
" ejulatu tcrribili tornliantur ; parte ex
*' alia refonabant crudelirtimi Hagrorum ic-
" tus, ut ex jucundiffimA tcrrse vicinia fa;-
" villima hominum carnificina fada lit."
Diarium Itiueris in Mclcovum, &c. p. 162.

cured

~\r'

p6 TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

HOOK (_viied bv that horrid expedient, he even repaired to tlie
111 '

"~ nunnery of Devitz, and examnied her in jieribn. The

princefs, whofc high fpiritwas fubdaed by her misfortunes*,

and worn out by a long confinement, could not refrain from

\vccj)ing at the fight of her obdurate brother, and Ihe even

extorted tears from Peter himfelf, though without melting

jiis refentment t. But neither this, nor every other effort

that was employed to convidt her, was attended with fuccefs ;

and the only proof of her carrying on a fecret correfpondence

with the rebels was derived from the confefliion of a boy

belonging to an officer of the Strelitz, who declared, that

letters enclofed in loaves of bread had palled between Sophia

and his mafter|. The latter, however, peremptorily denied

the fadt even upon the rack ; and he was led to execution

perfilling to the laft moment m this affeveration.

The cafe feems to be, that the innovations of Peter created
a large number of malcontents ; that the introduction of
the European difcipline, and the partiality which he fliowed
to the foreign regiments, inflamed the difaffeclion of the
Strelitz to fuch a degree as to account for their rebellion,
without the fuppofition of any cabals on the part of Sophia;
that this princefs had long been the objeft of affecStion to all
the enemies of Peter, and was naturally the p^-rfon to whom
they would have configned the adminiftration of affairs, if
the revolt had been attended with fuccefs.

Peter was fo greatly exafperated againfi; Sophia, that he
had once determined to put her to death ; but, having

* " Quonindam pertinacia demum vjda." " piiblice enim nupcri tiimultiu vulgo rea

Korb. " habebatur : piiinus utriiifque introitus

■)■ " Ad mon.ifterhim Neo-virginum dif- " iibcrrimas amboriim lacrymas exciviflc

" celTit tzarus, ut fororem i'uain Sophiam, " dicitiir." Korb.

" c.ido moiiaflerio inclufain examiiiarct ; | Gordon, vol. I. p. 129 — 130.

changed

SOPHIAALEXIEFNA. 4,7

changed his refolution, he compelled her to affume the veil. chap.
In order to ftrike her with terror, and to announce to the " — ^-^
publick that he thought her privy to the rebellion, two
hundred and thirty Strelitz were hanged within fight of the
nunnery in which flie was confined ; and three of the ring-
leaders were fufpended upon a gibbet eredted ciofe •■' to the
window of her apartment : they held in their hands peti-
tions fimilar to that which, according to the confeflionjuft
mentioned, was to have been prefented to Sophia.

From this period hiftory is filent in relation to Sophia:
flie was confined under a fi:ri6l guard in the monaftery until
her death, which happened in the month of July, 1704.

' She was interred in the church of the convent ; the tomb
is covered with a black cloth, and contains the following in-
fcription : " A. M. 7 2 i 2 (or 1 704 of the Chrifi:ian asra) on
*' the third of July t died Sophia Alexiefna, aged 46 years,
" nine months and fix days : her monaftick name was Su-
" fanna. She had been a nun five years, eight months and
•" twelve days: flie was buried the 4th in this church, called
" the Image of Smolenfis.o. Slie %vas daughter of Alexey
" Michaelovitch, and of Maria Ilinitchna," &:c.

Although Peter always fufpedled the intrigues of his
fifter, yet he never failed paying a juft tribute to her genius
and abilities. " What a pity," he was frequently heard to
fay, " that Ihe perfecuted me in my minority, and that I
*' cannot repofe any confidence in her: otherwife, when I
"^ am employed abroad, flie might govern at home |."

One

* Gordon, p. 95 — 130. fered capital pimifliment. Peter broke at

Korb, who law them hanging, fiys, the i'lme time the whole body of Strelitz,

■■" Tnni prnpe ad ipias So|'hrjni culjiculi and al oliftied their name.

*' fcneflras, lit Sophia eofdem manu facile f O. S. the i4tl), N. S.

" poflet attingere." J This anecdote, which I received from

,Cn this occafion atiove zcoo Strelitz fuf- a Riiilian nobleman of j^reat difanflion, ij

"^'oL. 1. H h h coufirnr.ed

4i8

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA,

One ftriking feature in Sophia's character, which I had
no opportunity of mentioning, while my inquiry was chiefly
confined to her poHtical condudt, muft not be omitted in this-
place. She deferves the veneration of pofterity for the pa-
tronage which flie afforded to perfons of genius and learn-
ing, and for encouraging, by her own example, the intro-
dudlion of polite literature into Ruflia, then plunged in the
deepeft ignorance. At a period, when there was no national
theatre, and when the loweft buffooneries, under the name
of Moralities^ were the fole dramatick reprefentations even at
court; this elegant princefs tranllated the Medecin malgre lui
of Moliere into her native tongue, and performed one of the
charadters herfelf. She alfo compofed a tragedy, probably
the firfl extant in the RufHan language ; and flie compofed
it at a time, when the mofl violent cabals were excited
againft her miniftry, and when the moft weighty affairs
feemed to engrofs her fole attention.

confirmed by the following paflage in Per- " was a princefs endowed with all the ae-
ry's State of Ruffia. " I remember, that " compliftiments of body and mind to per-
*' upon a certain occafion, when mention " feftion, had it not been for her boundlefs
*' was made of her [i. e. Sophia], the czar *' ambition and infatiable defire of govern-
" himfelf gave hor this charadter, that flie " ing." Vol, I. p. 138.

TRAVELS

INTO

RUSSIA.

BOOK IV.

CHAP. I.

Departure from Mofcow. — Arrival at Tver. — Hijlory and
defer iption of that town. — ProduBions of the neighbouring
country. — ^adrupeds. — Birds. — Fi/b. — Defer iption of the
Sterlet. — Continuation of the journey. — Torfliok.- — Vifli-
nei-VoloOiok. ——Valdai hills and lake. — Bronitza. —
Wooden road, how formed. — Further account of the pea-
fants. — 'their cottages, manners and cujloms. — Of" the
Yamfliics, who furnijh pofl horfes. —Singing extremely
common among if/'^ Ruffians. — On thefubjeBs of their fongs^
&c. Sec.

\\ TE quitted Mofcow on the 14th of September, and chap.

^ ' traverfed a gently riling country, fome part of it open, ^ |^

and the reft overfpread with forefts. We palTed the night

H h h a at

4:o TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK -jt fj-^e fmall village of Parlki, as iifual, in a peafant's cottage^,

and changed hoiTes the next morning at Klin, fituated vipon-

the Seftra, a j^road rivulet; this village had been lately burnt,

and the peafants were engaged in rebuilding fheir huts :-

near it we obferved a fa w- pit, which, in this country, was

too curious an objed; not to attradl our notice. Beyond Sa-

vidof we croffed. a fmall river, and foon afterwards reached

the banks of the Volga, which we coafledto Gorodna. The

next morning the fprings of our carriage being ready to ftart,.

and one of the wheels being in a crazy ftate, we fent it on

ilowly, under the care of our fervants, and hired for our.-

felves the carts of the country, called kibitkis^ which we

filled with hay, and arrived, after a confiderable degree of

jolting, at Tver, which is magificently fituated upon the-

elevated banks of the Volga.

Tver '•'■• owes it origin to Vlodimir Georgivitch great-duke
of Volodimir, who in 1 182 raifed a fmall fortrefs upon the
point where the Tvertza falls into the Volga, in order to
proteift his territories agaiuft the incurfions of the inhabi-
tants of Novogorod. Afterwards, in 124.0, the great- duke
Yaroflaf II. built another citadel u})Gn the fpot now occu-
pied by the prefent fortrefs, and laid the foundation of a-
nevv^ town, which foon encreafed in population and wealth
to {o great a degree, as to become the metropohs of an in-
dependent fovereignty, called from the town the duchy of
Tver. Yarollof III. fon of Yaroflaf II. and brother of
Alexander NevULi, received this duchy as his inheritance,,
and tranfmitted the fuccellion to a long train of defcendants.-
The lall fovereign- of this hereditary line was Michael
Borifovitcli, whofe filler Maria was married to the. great-duke

* See Hill. Gcog. Befcbreibungder Stack Twer, Sic. Journ. Pet. fi)r November, 17S6.

5 Ivan

TVER. 421

Evan* Vaffilievitch I. The harmony which had for fome chap.
time fubfirted between thefe two neighbouring princes was >-^J.^
at firlt ilrengthened by this alliance ; but in the courie of a
few years, either mutual jealoufies, or the ambitious views
of Ivan, producedan open rupture ; and in i486 the latter
befieged Tver with a large army. Michael, unable to refill
fo formidable an antagonift, abandoned the town, and lied
into Lithuania, where he died in extreme indigence. Upon,
his retreat the inhabitants furrendered Tver to Ivan Vaffili-
evitch. who beftowed it and the duchy as a fief upon hiseldeft-
fon Ivan; that prince dying in 1-490, the great-duke an-
nexed the duchy to his other dominions in the form of a
province, and it has never been again difmembered.

Tver is divided into the old and new town : the former,,
fituated on the oppofite fide of the Volga, conliifs almoil en-
tirely of wooden .cottages; the latter, about fifteen years
ago, was, a fev/ buildings excepted, fcarcely fuperior ; but
being, in 1763, fortunately deilroyed by a dreadful con-
flagration, it has rifen with luftre from its afl:ies. The em-
prefs was no fooner informed of this calamity, than flie or-
dered a regular and beautiful plan of a new town to be
iketched by an eminent architeil, and enjoined, that all the-
houfes ffiould be re-conlhuded in conformity to this model.
She raifed, at her own expence, the governor's houfe, the.
bilhop's palace, the courts of juftice, the new-exchange, the.
prifon, and feveral other publitk edifices; and offered to
every perfon who would engage to build an houfe with,
brick,, a loan of ^300. for twelve years without intereft..
The money advanced by her majefty upon this occafion;
amounted to ;^6o,ooo ; and (he has fince remitted one
third of this fum. The Ikeets, which are broad and long,
iiiue in a Ifraight line from a fc^uare, or rather an o^51:agon,,

421 T R A V E L S I N T O R U S S I A.

BOOK in the center : the houfes of this odlagon and of the prin-
.. / . cipal ftrects are of brick ftuccoed white, and form a very-
magnificent appearance. Part only of the new town, when
we paiTed through it, was finiflied ; when it is completed,
it will confifb of two odagons, with feveral ftreets leading to
them, and interfering each other at right angles, and would
be no inconfiderable ornament to the moft opulent and
civilized country.

There is an ecclefiaftical feminary at Tver, which is under
the infpection of the bifliop, and admits 600 ftudents. In
1776 the emprefs inftituted a fchool for the inftrudlion of
200 burghers' children : they are taught to read, write, and
caft accounts, and a few of them are trained to handicraft
trades. In June, 1779, an academy was alfo opened in
this town, for the education of the young nobility of the
province, at the charge of the fame imperial patronefs. It
admits 120 ftudents; v.'ho are inftruded in foreign lan-
.guages, arithmetic^, geography, fortification, tadiicks, na-
tural philolbphy, mufick, riding, dancing*, 8cc.

Tver is a place of conliderable commerce ; and both the
Volga and the Tvertza were covered with boats. It owes
its principal trade to its advantageous fituation, being near
the conflux of thofe two rivers, along wiiich are conveyed
all the goods and merchandize fent by water from Siberia
and the fbuthern provinces towards Peterfburgh.

The Volga, the largeft river in Europe, rifes in the foreft

■ of Volkonfki, about the diftance of eighty miles from Tver,

and begins to be navigable a few miles above the town. It

is there about the breadth of the Thames at Henley, but

* Ibid.

exceedingly

TVER.

42.3

exceedingly fliallow ; it is, however, confiderably increafed ch.\p.
by the junction of the Tverza, which is broader, deeper, and^__J_
more rapid. By means of the Tverza, a communication is
made between the Volga and the Neva, or, in other words,
between, the Cafpian and the Baltic, as will be explained in a
future chapter. The number of barges which pafled by
the town in 1776 amounted to 2537 ; in 1777 to 2641 ;.
and the average number is generally computed at about ■
2550. The boats are flat bottomed on account of the fre-
quent flioals in the Volga, and other rivers which compofe
this long inland navigation. They are conftrudled with new
planks, which fhrink and leave wide intervals, that are
fometimes filled up with thin flips of wood cramped with
iron, and not unfrequently flopped with tow. The rudders
of thefe veflels have a very Angular appearance : the handle
is a tree of about 50 feet long; at the further end whereof is
a pole which defcends perpendicularly to the water, where
it is fixed to a broad piece of timber, which floats upon the
furf ace. The pilot flands upon a kind of fcaftbld at the dif-
tance of about 30 or 40 feet from the ftern, and turns the
rudder by means of its long handle. Thefe boats are only
built for one voyage ; for, upon their arrival at Peterfburgh, .
they are taken to pieces and fold for fuel.

I have already had occafion to mention the prodigious
wafte of wood arifing from the prevailing cuftom of
forming planks with the axe. This pra6tice, extremely de-
trimental to the forefts of the empire, was no lefs ufual
among the fliipwrights than among the peafants ; and the
former, either from ignorance, or prejudice, could only be
reconciled to the ufe of the favv by the following expedient.
Orders were ifllied from government, that each veflel, pafl%
ing by Tver, in which there was one plank fafliioned with
6 the

424 TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK (i-^e hatchet, fliould pay a fine of £6. In confequence af
this decree the officer, who was fent to levy the fine, col-
iefted the firft yearjCGooo ; the fecondjT 15001 the third
jTioo; and the fourth nothing. By this judicious regulation
the ufe of the faw has been introduced among the Ruffian
fliipwrights, and will probably in time recommend itfelf to
•the carpenters and pealants.

The rifing fpirit of commerce has added greatly within
thefe few years to the wealth and population of the town.
It contains at prefent at Jeaft 10,000 fouls; and the num-
ber of inhabitants in the government of Tver "has increafed
in a very furprifing degree-; a circumftance which fliews
the advantages arifing from her prefent majerty's new code
.of laws. Tver was the firft province of this empire which
was newly modelled according to that code ; and it has al-
ready experienced the beneficial effeils of thefe excellent
.regulations.

Tver being a large town, we concluded that we lliould
find no difficulty in obtaining the neceffiary repairs for our
carriage, fo as to enable it to carry us two or three days at
lealf without requiring any further affiftance. Trufting,
tlierefore, to the workmanlhip of a Kuffian fmith, we fat off
about fix in the evening with the expeftation of reaching
the next poll, where we purpofed to pafs the night, in about
four hours ; but we had fcarcely proceeded ten miles, before
we perceived that the wheel, inftead of being fl:rengthened,
had been weakened by the fmith's unlkilfulnefs, and feemed
every inftant in danger of coming to pieces. In this fituation
we llop[)ed at a fmall village, where it was not jooffible to
procure any accommodation, not even a candle to fmear the
wheel, which required a conftant fupply of greafe to prevent

TVER. 425

it from taking fire ; and as the next place in our route,
likely to afford a new wheel, was above fixty miles diftant,
we thought it moft prudent to return to Tver. I confoled
myfelf readily for this delay, as it gave us an opportunity to
pay more attention to the town and its environs than our
tranfient llay had hitherto permitted us. We took up our
abode at the fame houfe we had juft quitted : it was an inn
kept by a German, and was one of the new magnificent
brick edifices lately conitru6ted, but almoft totally without
furniture or beds.

On the following day we made an agreeable excurfion
into the adjacent country : we firil crofTed the Volga over a
bridge of boats, and the Tvertza over a raft, and rode be-
tween the banks of thofe two beautiful rivers. We then
left the Volga to purfue its courfe towards the Cafpian Sea,
watering, as it paffes, fome of the moft fertile provinces of
RufTia, and bathing the walls of Cafan and Aftrachan ; and
we made a circuit in the environs of Tver : we frequently
flopped to admire feveral delightful views of the new town
magnificently feated upon the fteep bank of the Volga, the
country gently floping towards the river.

Tver lies in the midft of a large plain, interfperfed here
and there with gentle acclivities, which can hardly be called
hills ; the country produces in great abundance wheat, rye,
barley, oats, buck-wheat, hemp and flax, and all forts of ve-
getables. Its forefts yield oak, birth, alder, poplar, moun-
tain-alh, pines and firs, junipers, Sec. The quadrupeds,
which rove in the neighbouring country, are elks, bears,
wolves, and foxes ; wild-goats, hares, and rabbits ; alfo
badgers, martens, weafels, ermines, ferrets, iquirrels, and
marmottes, &c. The principal birds obferved in this diftri<51:

Vol. I. I i i - are

426 TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK are eagles and falcons, cranes, herons, fwans, wild geefe and
ducks, partridges, quails, woodcocks and fnipes, black-game^
alfo crows and ravens, magpies and black-birds, fparrows
and ftarlings, together with nightingales, linnets, larks and
yellow-hammers. The filh which are caught in the Volga
are falmon, fterlet, tench, pike, perch, groundlings, gud-
geons, and fbmetimes, but i^arely, fturgeon and beluga.

The fterlet being a very uncommon fifli, and probably
peculiar to the northern parts of the globe, I am induced to=
give a defcription of it, and to enumerate the principal ri-
vers of RufTia in which it is found.

The flerlet, the acipenfer rutheniis of Linnaeus, is a fpe-
eies of flurgeon, and is highly efteemed for the flavour and
delicacy of its flefli, and for its row, from which the fineft
caviare is made. It is diftinguiflied from the other flurgeons
by its inferior fize *, being feldom more than three -t feet
in length, and by its colour. The top of the head and the
back are of a yellowifli grey ; the fides of the body whitifli,
and the belly white mixed with rofe-colour, efpecially to-
wards the mouth and vent. The eyes are of a fky-blue,
encircled with white. The fnout is long and pointed^ com-
prelTed and fluited. The mouth is tranfverfe with thick
prominent lips, which it has the power of drawing inwards,
with a beard, confifting of four fmall and foft cirrhi, or
wattles. It has five rows of pointed bony imbricated fcales,
one upon its back, two along its fides, and two under its
belly. The row upon its back begins from the neck and

* This defcription is chiefly taken from " iieber anderthalb ellen long,'' or an ell

I,epekin's Reife, in his account of the and an half long. By an ell, I fiippofe,

jiflitry of Sinbirik upon the Volga, Vol. ]I. is meant an arfliime =; 26 inches, and then

p. 154. the length of thefe will be 3 feet 1 inch.

t Mr, Pallas fays, that the fterlets of Sec Pallas' Reife. Part II. p. 446. Lepe-

the Irtifli are, next to thofe of the Oby, kin fays, that the fterlets of the Volga are

the largeft in Ruifja, being frec^iicntiy feldom more than two feet in length,

I reaches

TVER. 4i^

•reaches to the dorfal fin. Their number ^'•, by which Lin- chap.
nceus afcertains the fpecies, and fixes at 15, varies frnm t ' ,
14 to 17. The two fide rows begin from th& upper
angle of the gill-covers, and reach to the middle of the tail :
their form is fiat in the middle, with dentated margins
turning towards the tail ; their number varies from6o to 7 o.
The two rows, which lie under the belly, begin from the
pe6toral and reach towards the ventral fins : they are four-
fided, much fmaller than thofe upon the back, and thicker
than thofe on the fides. Belide thefe five rows, there are
alfo fome adepofe bony-fcales between the tail and the vent ;
their number is invariably five.

The reft of the fkin is totally without fcales, but is eX'-'
tremely rough to the touch. It has, like mofl other fiflij
two peroral fins, two ventral, one anal, one dorfal, and its
tail is forked t.

Many authors have erred in fuppofing this fifli to be pc-^
culiar to the Volga and the Cafpian fea ; for they frequent
many other rivers, lakes, and feas, of the Ruffian empire.
Muller informs us, that they are caught in the Dnieper,
and feveral rivers falling into the Frozen Ocean, parti-
cularly the Lena |. Lange afTerts, that they are found in
the Yenifei ; Pallas defcribes them as inhabiting the Irtifh,
Oby, and Yaik ; Georgi mentions them among the fifh of
the lake Baikal, and fometimes in the Angara.— We learn
from Linnaeus, that, by order of Frederic I. king of Sweden,

* Acipenfer Ruthenus cin'is 4. fciuamis nsus, in Le Bruyn's Travels, Vol.!, p. 89;

dorfalibiis 15. Miif. Fred. I. p. 54. and and in Lepekin's Reife, Tab. 9,
•Faun. Sue. 272. — In the Syft. Nat. p. 403, J S, R. G. IX. p. 4. Haygold's Rufl-

he defines it, Acipenfer ordinibus 5. fcjiia- land, Vol. II. p. 416. Pallas Reife, P. L

marum olfearum, intennedio officulis, 15. p. 284. P. II. p. 446. Georgi Reife, Vol. I.

■j- The reader will find an engraving of p. 177.
the flerlet ia the Mufeum Fred. I, of Lin-

I i i a fbmc

428 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK fome live fterlets, procured from Ruffia, were thrown into
t /-< the lake Maeler, where they propagated *.

They have been fometimes caught in the Gulf of Fin-
land, and even in the Baltick ; yet they are fuppofed not to
have been natives of thofe feas, but ftray fifli, which efcaped
from fome veflels that were beat to pieces in palling the
falls of the river Mafta t.

Sept. 19. Having obtained the valuable acqnifition of a
new wheel, we proceeded on our journey in the afternoon,
and were enabled to reach, before the clofe of the evening,
Torlliok, which is lituated upon the banks of the Tvertza.
It is a large ftraggling place, confilhng chiefly of wooden
buildings, intermixed with a few publick llrudlures and
houfes of brick, lately erected at the emprefs's expence.

Although Torfliok was only forty miles dillant from
Tver, we efteemed it a fortunate circumftance that, during
that fpace, no accident had happened to our carriage. But
"we were not fo fuccefsful on the enfuing day ; for the axle-
tree breaking about fix miles from Vidropulk, we walked to
that village ; and having procured a temporary axle-tree to
fupport our infirm vehicle, we again proceeded in kibitkh
as far as Vifhnei-Volofliok, a place remarkable for the canal,
which, by uniting the Tvertza and the Mafta, connects the
inland navigation between the Cafpian and the Baltick.

Vi{linei-V'^olofhok,one of the imperial villages en franchifed
by the emprefs, and endowed with conllderable privileges,
has already reaped many benefits from its new immunities.

* Habitat in lacuMxlerc, quem poten- " of Ladoga were beat to pieces, by which

tiflimus Rex Suecioe Fredeiicus I. ex Ruffia "accident the fifli regained their liberty ;

allatum in hoc lacu plantari curavit. Faun. " and ibnie of them were afterwards talten

Sue. No. 272. " at Cronftadt, and one catched at Stock-

•f- Bruce relates, in his Memoirs, that " holm, which were confidered as great

*' fome veflels going for Tcterfturgh with " curiofities, as none of them had ever

*• live fifli, called Sterlit, in paffing the falls " been feen in thofe feas before." p. 112.

The

JOURNEY TO PETERSBURG H. 429

The inhabitants, raifed from the lituation of Haves to that chap.
' I.

of freemen, feem to have fliaken off their former indolence,- — ^-j
and to have caught a new fpirit of emulation and indullry :
they have turned their attention to trade ; and are awakened
to a fenfe of the commercial advantages poiTeffed by the
place of their abode. The town is divided into regular
Itreets, and is already provided with a large range of Ihops
and warehoufes, which line each fide of the canal. All the
buildings are of wood, excepting the court of juftice erected
at the charge of the emprefs, and four brick houfes belong-
ing to a rich burgher. During our ftay at Vilhnei-Vololhock,
we did not fail to examine, with great attention, every part
of the celebrated canal, of which an account will be given in
a future chapter '-'•■■.

Having procured a new axle-tree, we quitted on the 21ft
Viihnei-Volofliok, crolTed the river Shlina, and continued
along a timber road, carried over extenfive moraffes, and
abounding with innumerable fmall bridges, without railing,
and moftly in a fhattered ftate. I obferved feveral villages,
as well as fields and gardens, furrounded with wooden pali-
fadoes, about twelve feet in height, which prefented a pic-
turefque appearance. This cuftom of encircling villages
in this country with flakes is very antient : for among the
earlieft laws of Ruffia we find one which enjoins t the pea-
fants, under pain of the knoot, to furround the towns and
villages with palifadoes. Thefe enclofures were probably-
intended as a kind of defence againfl the defultory in-
curlions of the Tartar hordes before the invention of
gunpowder ; and the pra61:ice has been preferved, though no

• On the inland navigation of RulTu in the next volume.
t Haygold, Vol. I. p. 357.

longer

43*

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK longer of ufe, among a people remarkably tenacious of old

' — . — ' ufages.

The country continued for fome way a bog, covered with
foreft, and the villages were built upon eminences of
land rifing out of the morafs. We palled the night at
KholilofF, a fmall village, which had alfo lately been confumed
by fire. We need not wonder at thefe repeated inftances
of conflagration which fo frequently occur in this country,
when we confider that the cottages are built v.ith wood,
and that the greateft part of the pealants, like thofe in Po-
land, ufe, inftead of candles, long flips of lighted deal, which
they carry about the houfe, and even into hay-lofts, without
the leait precaution. The next morning, the bad roads
having fhattered our new wheel, which was aukwardly put
together, and began already to difplay fymptoms of premature
decay, we flopped to repair : but the repairs were as trea-
cherous as the original fabrick ; for, before the end of the
ftage, it again came to pieces, and we were again delayed
fome hours at Yedrovo before we could v&nture to continue
our journey, when we thought ourfelves bleffed with the
affiftance of a very mallerly mechanick, as his workmanfhip
lafted to Zimagor, a fmall village, prettily fituated upon the
borders of the lake Valdai. The country around Valdai is
the moft agreeable and diverfified we traverfed fince our de-
parture from Mofcow. It riles agreeably into a variety of
gentle eminences, and abounds with beautiful lakes, prettily
fprinkled with woody iflands, and fkirted with forelf, corn-
fields, and pallures. The largeft of thefe lakes is called
Valdai, and feemed to be about twenty-miles in circumfer-
ence : in the middle is an ifland containing a convent, which
rifes with its nvimerous fpires among clufters of furrounding
trees. Valdai, which gives its name to the lake, and to the

range

JOURNEY TO PETERSBURGH. 43:

range of hills in the midft of which it is fituated, contains chap.
feveral new brick- buildings ; and even the wooden houfes (— ,^_-
are more decorated than the generality of Ruffian cottages :
it lies upon an agreeable flope, and commands a pleafant view
of the lake. The Valdai hills, though of no confiderable
elevation, are the highefl: in this part of the country ; and
feparate the waters which flow towards the Cafpian from
thofe which make towards the Baltick. From their foot, there
was no longer a beautiful diverfity of hills and dales, en-
livened with lakes ; but the country prefented, for a confider-
able way, an uniform flat, with a vaft extent of morafs.

On the 24th, in the afternoon, we arrived in good time at
Bronitza, a village upon the Mafta, within twenty miles of
Novogorod. We took up our abode for the night in the
houfe of a Ruffian prieft, which in no wife differed from the
other buildings either in fize or goodnefs. It was very
clean, however, and comfortable, having a chimney and be-
ing provided with a large plenty of wooden and earthen
iitenfils. The prieft, not being attired in his clerical habits,
was drefTed like the peafants,and was only diftinguiffied from
them by his hair, which hung loofe over his Ilioulders to a
confiderable length. He, his wife, and the reft of the family,
were bufily em]>loyed in extra6ting the row from large quan-
tities of fiffi, which are caught in the Mafta, and with which
an excellent caviare is prepared. Having procured from
our landlady fome of the choiceft of thefe filh, and having
purveyed in the village, by means of our fervant, a brace of
ptarmigans, a bird of the partridge fpecies, wefauntered out,
while fupper was preparing, towards a neighbouring hill,
which ftrongly attraifed our attention.

About two miles from the village, in the middle of a vaft
a i n, rifes an infulated hill of a circularfrm, a compound

^32 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK of fa^-jti and clay ; the lower part, and upwards, to about
^— v-^ half its height, is thickly lire wed with detached pieces of red
and grey granite, limilar to many others which make their
appearance about the adjacent country. I meafured one of
thcle mafles, and found it to be twelve feet broad, eight
thick, and five above the furface of the ground, but how
deep it was buried I could not afcertain.

Naturalifts greatly differ concerning the origin of thefe
granitical mafles, and by what means they were thus diftufed
about the face of the earth. Some conje6ture, that they
were brought and left there by the waters ; others fuppofe
them to have originally made parts of the jDrimitive rocks
which exifled in many places of the globe, and which by
lapfe of time, or by violent convulfions, have crumbled or
been broken to pieces, and have left every where thefe vail
fragments as monuments of their prior exillenc£ -.

Upon the fummit of this hill is a brick white-waflied
church, which is a pleafing objecSl from the adjacent grounds.
From its top we had a very Angular and extenfive profpe<5l.
Immediately at its foot the country, for three or four miles,
is fomewhat open, and divided into large enclofures of pallure
and corn. Towards the fouth rife the Valdai hills, fkirting
an immenfe plain, which flretches towards the north, eaft, and
weft, as far as the eye can reach ; a vaft expanfe without a
fingle hillock to obilrudl the view : it feemed little more
than an endlefs foreft, dotted with a few folitary wooden
villages, which appeared i^o many points in a boundlefs de-
fert. Beyond, at a great diftance, we obferved the fpires of

* See feme curious conjeftures upon veites dans plufieurs contrces de la Ruf-
thefe granite fioiies of Bionitza, in Pallas's fie, &;c. Vol. I. p. 42, &c.
Travels; and alfo in Hiftoire des Decou-

Novogorod,

JOURNEY TO PETERSBURG H. 435

Novogorod, and the lake Ilmen, fcarcely difcernible through C'H-\p.
the thick gloom of the trees. « — J-_j

The forwardnefs of the harveft in this northern climate
has been alreadj" mentioned * : it had been fome time taken
in, and the new corn was already fpringing up in many
places; that vegetable remains, during winter, buried under
the fno w ; at the melting of which, in fpring, it flioots up fpee-
dily in thefe countries, where vegetation, upon the return-
ing warmth of the feafon, is very quick in all its operations.
But as the fliortnefs of the fummer does not always allow
the grain time to ripen, the peafants ufe the following me-
thod of drying it. They conftru61 K wooden building, fome-
what fimilar to the Ihell of their common cottages, without
windows, and with only a fmall door : under this ilrudture
is a large cavity, in which, a fire being made, the new -cut
corn, in the ear, is laid upon the floor and dried ; it is then
hung upon frames in the open air, and afterwards threflied.

In this part of our journey we paffed by numberlefs herds
of oxen, moving towards Peterfburgh for the fupply of that
capital. Moft of them had been brought from the Ukraine,
the neareit part of which country is dillant 800 miles from
the metropolis. During this long progrefs the drivers
fcldom enter any houfe ; they ftop to feed their cattle
upon the flips of pafture which lie on each fide of the road ;
and they themfelves have no other covering in bad weather
but what is afforded by the foliage of the trees. In the
evening the ftill filence of the country was awfully
interrupted by the occafional lowing of the oxen, and the
carols of the drivers, while the folitary gloom of the foreft
was enlivened by the glare of numerous fires, furrounded
by different groups of herdfmen in various attitudes ; fome

* p. 252.
Vol. L K k k were

454 TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BpoK ^vere fitting round the flame, fome employed in drefling their
> — , — ptovifions, and others fleeping upon the hare ground. They
refembled, in their drefs and manners, a rambling horde of
Tartars.

The route from Mofcow to Peterfburgh is continued dur-
ing a fpace of 500 miles, almoft in a ftraight line cut
through the foreft, and is extremely tedious : 01 each fide-
the trees are cleared away to the breadth of forty or fifty
paces ; and the whole way lies chiefly through endlefs tracts
of wood, only broken by villages, round which, to a fmall.
diflance, the grounds are open and cultivated.

The road is of an uniform breadth, and is formed in the
following manner: trunks^- of trees are laid tranfverfely
in rows parallel to each other> and are bound down in the
center, and at each extremity, by long poles, or beams,.,
faftened into the ground with wooden pegs ; thefe trunks.
are covered with layers of boaghs, and the whole is fire wed-
over with fand or earth. When the road is new, it is re-
markably good ; but as the trunks decay or fink into the
ground, and as the fand or earth is worn away or wafhed off.
by the rain, as is frequently the cafe for feveral miles toge-
ther, it is broken into innumerable holes, and the jolting of
the carriage over the bare timber can better be conceived
than defcribed. In many places the road may be confidereds
as little elfe than a perpetual fucceflion of ridges ; and the

* Mr, Hanway makes the following cu- "expence of i, 100,000 trees." Hanwny's

lious calculation of the number of trees Travels, vol. I. p. 92.

employed to make a road of 1 50 verfts, or If we extend this calculation, over the

IQO miles. " Allowiog one tree with ano- whole extent of the Rulli.in empire, reach-

*' ther to be 9 inches diameter, and the ing 4000 miles in length, and take in the

"length 23 feet, and fuppofmg the foun- different crofs-roads, the expcnce of wood

*' dation and fides to be only lialf fo many mud: be amazing; but the forells are alfo

•'-more as the bridge is compofed of, and bouudlefs and jnexhaulUble.
** the road to be 46 feet v/ide, here is an

motion

JOURNEY TO P E T E R S B U R G H. 435

motion of the carriage a continual concuflion, and ranch chap.
greater tlian I ever experienced over the rougheft pavement. <—i~^

Tlie villages which occafionalJy line this route are ex-
tremely limilar to each other ; they ufually confift of a fin-
gle ftreet, with wooden cottages ; a few only being diftin-
guiflied by brick houfes. The cottages in thefe parts are
far fuperior to thofe we obferved between Tolitzin and
Mofcow : they Teemed, indeed, well fuited to a rigorous
climate ; and although conftrufted in the rudeft and moft
artlefs manner, are very comfortable habitations. The fite
of each building is an oblong fquare, which furrounds an
open area, and, being enclofed within an high wooden wall
with a penthoufe roof, looks on the outfide like a large barn.
In one angle of this enclofure ftands the houfe fronting the
ftreet of the village, with the ftair-cafe on the outfide, and
the door opening underneath the penthoufe roof. It con-
tains one, or at moft two rooms, one whereof is occupied by
the whole family.

I have frequently had occafion to obferve, that beds are by
no means ufual in this country ; infomuch, that in all the
cottages I entered in Ruflla, I only obferved two, each of
which contained two women at different ends with their
clothes on. The family flept generally upon the benches,
on the ground, or over the ftove* ; occafionally men, women,
and children, promifcuonfly, without any difcrimination of
fex or condition, and frequently almoft in a ft. te of nature.
In fome cottages I obferved a kind of ftielf, about fix or feven
feet from the ground, carried from one end of the room to
the other; to which were faftened feveral tranfverfe planks,
and upon thefe fome of the family flept with their heads and feet

* The fiove is a kind of brick oven ; it occupies almoft a quarter of tiie room, and is
flat at top.

K k k 2 Gccafionally

456 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA-

BOOK oceafionally hanging down, and appearing to ns, who were
not accuftomed to fuch places of repofe, as if they were upon
the point of falling to the ground.

The number of perfons thus crouded into a fmall fpace,
and which fometimes amounted to twenty, added to the heat
of the ftove, rendered the room intolerably warm, and pro-
duced a fuiFocating fmcll, which nothing but ufe enabled us
to fupport. This inconvenience was ftill more difagreeable
in thofe cottages which were not provided with chimnies,
when the fmoke, being confined in the room, loaded the at-
mofphere with additional impurities. If we opened the
lattices during the iiight, in order to relieve us from, this op-
preffion by the adraiffion of frefli air, fuch an influx of cold
wind ruilied into the room, that we preferred the heat and
effluvia to the keennefs of thefe northern blalts..

In the miiill: of every room hangs from the cieling a vef-
fel of holy water, and a lamp, which, is lighted only on par-
ticular occafions. Every houfe is provided with a picture of
fome faint coarfely daubed upon wood, which frequently re-
fembles more a Calmuc idol, than the reprefentation of a
human head : to this the people pay the higheft marks of
veneration. All the members of the family the moment they
rofc in the morniiig, and before they retired to flccp in the
evening, never omitted ftanding before the faint ; they
crofled themfelves during feveral minutes upon the fides
and on the forehead ; bowed very low, and fometimes even
proftrated themfelves on the ground. Every peafant alfo,
upon entering the room, always paid his obeifance to this
obje6t of worfiiip before he addreffed himfelf to the family.
The peafants, in their common intercourfe, are remarlf.-
ably polite to each other: they take off their cap at meet-
ing ; bow cercmonioufly and frequently, and ufually ex,-

change

JOURNEY TO PETERSBURG H.

437

change a falute. They accompany their ordinary difcourfe chap.
with much action and innumerable geftures, and are ex- . ^ .
ceedingly fervile in their expreflions of deference to their
fuperiors : in accofting a perfon of confequence, they prof-
trate themfelves, and even touch the ground with their heads.
We were often ftruck at receiving this kind of eaftern ho-
mage, not only from beggars, but frequently from children^
and occalionally from fome of the peafants themfelves.

In the appearance of the common people, nothing fur-
prized us more than the enormous thicknefs of their legs,
which we at firft conceived to be their real dimenfions,, until
we were undeceived by the frequent exhibition of their bare
feet, and by being admitted to their toilets without the
leaft ceremony. The bulk, which created our aftonifliment,
proceeded from the vail quantity of coverings with which
they fwaddle their legs in fummer, as well as in winter.
Befide one or two pair of thick worifed flockings, they en-
velop their legs with wrappers of coarfe fiannel or cloth
feveral feet in length ; and over thefe they frequently draw
a pair of boots, fo large as to receive their bulky contents
with the utmolf facility.

The peafants are well clothed, comfortably lodged, and
feem to enjoy plenty of wholefome food. Their rye-bread,
whofe blacknefs at firft difgufts the eye, and whofe foarnefs
the tafte of a delicate traveller, agrees very well with the ap-
petite ; as I became reconciled to it from ufe, I found it at
all times no vinpleafant morfel, and, when feafoned with
hunger, it was quite delicious : they render this bread more
palatable by ftu.Tmg it with onions and groats, carrots or
green corn, and feafoning it with fweet oil. The other ar-
ticles of their food I have enumerated on a former occalion * ;

*p. .55.

in'

^^5 TRAVELSINTOUUSSIA.

BOOK j^-j i-y^is place I fliall only obferve that muflirooms are fo ex-
^^ ' cecdino-ly common in thefe regions, as to form a very effen-
tial part of their provifion. I feldom entered a cottage with-
out feeing great abundance of them, and in palling through
the markets, I was often aftonidied at the prodigious quan-
tity expofed for fale : their variety was no lefs remarkable
than their number ; they were of many colours, amongft
which I particularly noticed white, black, brow^n, yellow,
green, and pink. The common drink of the peafants is
quafs, a fermented liquor, Ibmewhat like fweet-wort, made
by pouring warm water on rye or barley-meal ; and deemed
an excellent antifcorbutick. They are extremely fond of
whifky, a fpirituous liquor dilblled from malt, which the
pooreft can occafionally command, and which their inclina-
tion often leads them to ufe to great excefs.

The backwardnefs of the Ruffian peafants in all the me-
chanical arts, when compared with thofe of the other nations
of Europe, is vifible to the moft fuperficial obferver. As
we approached, indeed, towards Peterfburgh, and nearer the
civilized parts of Europe, we could not fail to remark, that
the villagers were fomewhat more furnifhed w4th the con-
veniences of life, and fomewhat further advanced in the
■knowledge of the neceflary arts, than thofe who fell under
our notice between Tolitzin and Mofcow. The planks were
lefs frequently hewn with the axe, and faw-pits, which we
had long conlidered as objeds of curiofity, oftener occurred ;
the cottages were more fpacious and convenient, provided
with larger windows, and generally had chimnies : they
were alfo more amply ftored with houlhold furniture, and
with wooden, and fometimes even earthen utenfils.

Still,

JOURNEY TO P E T E R S B U R G H. 439

Still, however, their progrefs towards civilization is very chap.
ioconfiderable ; and many initances of the grofleft barbarifm • — J — •
fell under our obfervation, during the daily intercourfe we
neceflarily maintained with the peafants. One inftance I
fliall mention, becaufe it will ferve to fliow into what a
wretched ftate of ignorance the common people are flill
plunged, when even the fmalleft trace of fuch immoral
praiSlifes flill fubfifts amongll them. In many families the
father marries his fon, while a boy of feven, eight, or nine
years old, to a girl of a more advanced age, in order, as it is
faid, to procure an able-bodied woman for the domeftick
fervice : he cohabits with this perfon, now become his
daughter-in-law, and frequently has feveral children by her.
In my progrefs through Ruffia, I obferved in fome cottages,
as it were, two miftreffes of a family, one the peafant's real
wife, who was old enough to be his mother, and the other,
who was nominally the fon's wife, but, in reality, the father's
concubine. Thefe inceftuous marriages, iandtified by in-
veterate cuftom, and permitted by the parifli-priefts, were
formerly more common than they are at prefent ; but as
the nation becomes more refined, and the priefts fomewhat
more enlightened, and as they have lately been difcouuie-
nanced by government, they are daily falling into difufe ;
and it is to be hoped, wilf be no longer tolerated ^h

Thofe ^

* The truth of this fafl, which fell un- " people not only marry their fons at four- •

der my own obfervation, and which I au- " teen and fifteen years of age, but even at

thenticuted by repeated inquiries from all " eight or nine, and that for the fake of

r;inks of people, is ftill further confirmed " having a work-woman the more in the

by. the following pallage in the Antidote to " perfon of their fon's wife : by the fame ■

the Journey into Siberia, although the au- "rule, they try to keep their daughters^

thor gives another realon for thefe early " fingle as long as pollible, becaufe they

tniirriages, ♦• The pcafanj* and common " don't chuft to lofe a work-woman. Thefe

" premature •

440

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

Thofe peafants who furnifli pofl horfes are called yam-
P.i'ics^ and enjoy feme peculiar privileges. They are obliged
to fupply all couriers and travellers at a moft moderate price,
namely, in the deareft parts at \\d. and in many other parts
at \d. per verft* for each horfe ; and, in compenfation, they
are exempted from the payment of the poll-tax, and from
being enlilled as foldiers ; notwithftanding thefe immunities,
the }Tice they receive for their horfes is fo inconfiderablc,
that they always produce them with the greatelf reluctance.
The inftant a traveller demands a fupply of frelli horfes, the
vamfhics afiemble in crouds, and frequently wrangle and
quarrel to fuch a degree, as to afford amufement to a perfon
who is not impatientto depart. Their fquabbles and difputes
upon this occafion are fo remarkable as to have llruck all
travellers who have given any account of this country.
Chanceler, the firrt Englifliman who landed at Archangel,
and w^ent from thence to Mofcow, could not fail to obferve
this circumftance, which equally prevailed at that period as
at prefent t. " ExpreflTe commandement was given, that
" poll-horfes Ihould bee gotten for him, and the reft of his
" company, without any money. Which thing was, of all
*' the Ruffes in the reft of their journey, ^o willingly done,
" thatthey began to quarrel, yea, and to fight alfo, in flriv-
" ing and contending which of them fliould put their poft-
«' horfes to the fledde."

In this defcription, however, Chanceler has made a ludi-
crous miftake ; for the obje6t of their fquabbles was not to

«♦ premature marriages are of very little ufe " their endeavours. It is only the inliabi-

♦' to the ftate ; for which reafon, methods " tants of fonic of the provinces in Rullia

"to 'get the better of this cuftom have " that ftill retain this bad cuflom." P. 3:3.

♦' been fought for, -nd 1 hope will foon take Antidote.

*' place: the biftiops are attentive to pre- * Three quarters of a mile.

" vent thefe marriages as much as poflible, -^ Hackluyt's Voyages, vol. I. p. 247.

'* and have of late fucceeded greatly iu

obtain

JOURNEY TO PETERSBURG H. 441

obtain, but to decline, the honour of furnifliing him with chap.
horfes. The fame fcene is frequently renewed at prefent ; — I — »
as I have occafionally obferved that an hour's unremitted al-
tercation produced no effect, and that the poli-maller at
length obliged the yamfhics to fettle the intricate conteil: by
drawing lots. Indeed, as I have before remarked *, it is
abfolutely neceiiary for any foreigner, who wilhes to travel
with expedition, not only to be piovided with a pafTport, but
alfo to be accompanied with a Ruffian foldier. The latter,
immediately upon his arrival at the poft-houfe, inftead of
attending to the arguments of the peafants, or waiting for
the flow mediation of the poll:-mafter, fummarily decides the
bufinefs by the powerful interpofition of his cudgel. The
boors, quickly Ji/enced by this dumd mode of argumentation t,
find no difficulty in adjufting their pretenfions, and the
horfes almolt inllantly make their appearance.

In our route through Ruffia I was greatly furprized at the
propenfity of the natives to finging. Even the peafants, who
adled in the capacity of coachmen and poftilions, were no
fooner mounted than they began to warble an air, and conti-
nued it, without the leall: intermiffion, for feveral hours.
But what ftill more artoniffied me v.as, that they performed
occadonally in parts ; and I have frequently obferved them
engaged in a kind of nmlical dialogue, making reciprocal
queflions and ref[)onfes, as if they were chanting, (if 1 may
fo exprefs myfelf ), their ordinary converfation.

The poftilions 7?«o-, as I have juft obferved, from the be-
ginning to the end of a ftage; the Ibldiers _y/;^i^- continually
during their march ; the countrymen 7?>2!§- during the mofb

* F. 356. •)• Argumentura BacuHnum.

Vol. 1. L 1 I laborious

442

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK laborious occupations : the public-houfes re-echo with
' ,' ■ their carols ; and in a ftill evening I have frequently
heard the air vibrate with the notes from the furrounding
villages.

An ingenious author*, long refident in Ruffia, and who
has turned his attention to the ftudy of the national raufick,
gives us the following information upon this curious fub-
jecft. The general mufick that prevails among the common
people in Ruffia, from the Duna to the Amoor and the
Frozen Ocean, confillis in one fpecies of fimple melody,
which admits of infinite variation, according to the ability of
the finger, or the cultom of the feveral provinces in this
extenfive empire. The words of the fongs are mofl:ly in
profe, and often extempore, according to the immediate in-
vention or recollection of the finger ; perhaps an antient
legend, the hillory of an enormous giant, a declaration of
love, a dialogue between a lover and his miftrefs, a murder,
or the defcription of a beautiful girl : Ibmetimes they
are merely letters and fyllables taken from fome old
accidence, metrically arranged, but feldom in rhyme,
and adapted to this general air. Thefe latter words are
chiefly ufed by mothers in finging to their children, while
the boors, at the fame time, perform their national dance
to the fame tune, unaccompanied with inftrumental mu-
fick.

I have been alio informed, that the fubjeft of the fong
frequently alludes to the former adventures of the finger,
or to his prefent fituation ; and that the peafants adapt the

* Staehlin. See his Nachrickten voa lagen, V. II. p. 60 to 65 ; where fpecimens
^er Mufik in Rufsland, in Haygold's Bey- of this air are given.

topicks

JOURNEY TO PETERSBURG H. 443

topicks of their common difcourfe, and their difputes with chap.
each other, to this general air ; which, altogether, forms « — »r— '
an extraordinary efFedt ; and led me to conjedlure, as I have
before exprefled myfelf, that they chanted their ordinary
converfation.

L I I s CHAP,

C 444 3

IV.

CHAP. 11.

Novogorod. — Its antiquity, power, grandeur y independence,
decline, Jubjeciion, and downfal. — Its prejent Jlate. — Ca-
thedral o/St. Sophia. — Early introduHion of painting into
Ruffia. — Price of provifions at Novogorod. — Incidents of
the Journey to Peterfburgh.

BOOK A T Bronitza M^e crofled the Mafta upon a raft compofed
; JL-L. of feven or eight trees rudely joined together, and
which fcarcely afforded room for the carriage and two horfes.
We then continued our route, through a level country, to
the banks of tlie Volkovetz or Little Volkof, which we pafled
in a ferry ; and, after mounting a gentle rife, defcended into
the open marfliy plain of parture, which reaches, without
interruption, to the walls of Novogorod : that place, at a
fmall diftance, exhibited a moft magnificent appearance ;
and if we might judge from the great number of churches
and convents, which on every fide prefented themfelves to
our view, announced our approach to a confiderable city;
but upon our entrance our expectations were by no means
realized.

No place ever filled me with more melancholy ideas of
fallen grandeur than the town of Novogorod. It is one of
the moft antient cities in Ruflia ; and was formerly called
Great Novogorod, to diftinguifli it from other Ruffian towns
of a fimilar appellation •'•'. According to Neflor, the earlieft

* Niflinei Novogorod and Novogorod Severlkoi.

a of

NOVOGOK.OD.

445

of the Ruffian hiftorians, it was built at the fame time with chap.
Kiof, namdy, in the middle of the fifth century, by a Scla-
vonian horde, who, according to Procopius, ilTued from the
banks of the Volga. Its antiquity is clearly proved by a
paflage in the Gothick hiftorian, Jornandes, in which it is
called Civitas Nova, or New Town '•■. We have little in-
fight into its hiltory before the ninth century, when Ruric
the firft great-duke of Ruflia reduced it, and made it the
metropolis of his vaft dominions. The year fubfequent to
his death, which happened in 879, the feat of government
was removed, under his fon Igor then an infant, to Kiof;
and Novogorod continued, for above a century, under the
jurifdidion of governors nominated by the great-dukes,
until, in 970, Svatoflaf, the fon of Igor, created his third fon
Vladimir duke of Novogorod : the latter, fucceeding his fa-
ther in the throne of Ruffia, ceded the town to his fon
Yaroflaf, who, in 1036, granted to the inhabitants very con-
siderable privileges, that laid the foundation of that extra-
ordinary degree of liberty which they afterwards gradually
obtained. From this period Novogorod was for a long time
governed by its own dukes : thefe fovereigns were at firft
fabordinate to the great-dukes, who refided at Kiof and Volo-
dimir ; but afterwards, as the town increafed in population
and wealth, they gradually ufurped an abfolute indepen-
dency.

But while they thus fhook off the yoke of a diftant lord,
they were unable to maintain their authority over their own
fubjedls. Although the fucceffion was allowed to continue
in the fame family ; yet, as the dukes were elected by the in-

* Sclavini a Civitate Nova et Sdavino Civitas Nova, Novogorod. S. R. G. vol. V.
Runjunenle, et lacu qui appellatur Mufi- p. 383.
anus, &c. Tnis lake is the Umen, and the f S. R. G. vol. V. p'. 397.

habitants,

44^ TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK habitants, they gradually bartered away, as the price of their
. ' . nomination, all their mo ft valuable prerogatives. They were
too fo frequently depofed, that, for near two centuries, the
lift of the dukes reiembles more a calendar of annual ma-
giftrates, than a regular line of hereditary princes : and, in
effed, Novogorod was a republick under the jurifdidion
of a nominal fovereign.

The privileges enjoyed by the inhabitants, however unfa-
vourable to the power of the dukes, greatly befriended the
real interefts of the town : it became the great mart of trade
between RufTia and theHanfeatick cities; and made the moft
rapid advances in opulence and population. At this period
its dominions were fo extenllve *, its power fo great, and its
fituation fo impregnable, as to give rife to a proverb, ^is
contra Deos et Magna jn Novogardiam f Who can refift the
Gods and Great Novogorod ?

It continued in this flourilhing ftate until the middle of
the 15th century, when the great-dukes of Ruffia, whofe an-
ceftors had reigned over this town, and who ftill retained the
title of dukes of Novogorod, having transferred their refi-
dence from Kiof to Volodimir and afterwards to Mofcow,
laid claim to its feudal fovereignty, a demand which the
inhabitants fometimes put off" by compofition, fometimes by
refiftance, but were fometimes compelled to acknowledge.
At length, in 147 1, Ivan Vaffilievitch I. having fecured his
dominions againft the inroads of the Tartars, and having
extended his empire by the conqueft of the neighbouring
principalities, ventured to aifert his right to the fovereignty
of Novogorod, and enforced his pretenlions by a formidable

* Its teriitory extended to the North ns Archangel, and a large rfiflrift beyond the
far as tlie frontiers of Livonia and Finland, north -weflern limits of Siberia,
and compriftd great part of the province of

army :

N O V O G O R O D. 447

army : he vanqiiiflied the troops of the repiiblick oppofed chap.
to him in the field ; and, having forced the citizens to ac- . / .
knowledge his claims, appointed a governor, who was per-
mitted to refide in the town, and to exercife the authority
formerly veiled in their own dnkes *. This power, however,
being exceedingly limited, left them in the entire pofTeffion
of their moft valuable immunities : they retained their own
laws ; chofe their own mugillrates ; and the governor never
interfered in publick affairs except by appeal.

Ivan, however, by no means contented with this limited
fpecies of government, watched a favourable opportunity
of extending his authority ; and, as a pretence is never
wanting to a powerful aggrelTor, he, in 1477, laid fiege
to the town. His defigns being abetted by the internal
feuds and diflentions which had long prevailed in this in-
dependent republick, the inhabitants were contained to
fubfcribe to all the conditions impofed by the haughty con-
queror. The gates were thrown open ; the great- duke en-
tered the place in the character of fovereign ; and the whole
body of people, tendering the oath of allegiance, delivered
into his hands the charter of their liberties, which unani-
mity would ftill have preferved inviolate.

One circumftance, recorded by hiftorians as a proof of the
unconditional fubjedlion of the town, was the removal of
an enormous bell from Novogorod to Mofcow, denominated
by the inhabitants eternal, and revered as the fymbol of their
liberty and the palladium of their privileges. It was fuf-
fpended in the market-place ; its facred found drew the
people inftantly from the moil remote parts, and tolled the

* Its government was fimilar to that of under the jurifdidion of their own magif-
the German republicks, who acknowledge trates,
the «mperor as their liege- lord, but are

4 fignal

^48 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK fjgnal of foreign danger or intefline tumult. The great-
> / , duke peremptorily demanded this objetft of the publick ve-
neration, M'hich he called *' 'The larwn of /edition ;" and the
inhabitants confidered its furrender as the iure prelude of
departing liberty *.

From this period the great-duke became in effecft abfolute
fovereign of Novogorod, although the oilcnlible forms of its
government were Ifill preferved ; in order to enfure the
obedience of his new fubje6ts, he tranfplanted at once above
a thoufand of the principal citizens to Mofcow and other
towns, and fecured the Kremlin, in which he generally re-
lided when he came to Novogorod, with ftrong walls of
brick. Notwithftanding the defpotifm to which the inha-
bitants were fubjed, and the oppreffion which they experi-
enced from Ivan and his fucceffors, yet Novogorod ftill con-
tinued the largeft and moil commercial city in all Ruffia,
as will evidently appear from the following defcription of
Richard Chanceler, who pafled through it in 1554 in his
way to Mofcow. " Next unto Mofcow, the city of Novo-
" gorode is reputed the chiefeft of Ruflia ; for although it
" be in majeftie inferior to it, yet in greatnefle it goeth be-
" yond it. It is the chiefeft and greateft marte towne of all
*' Mofcovie ; and albeit the emperor's feate is not there, but
** at Mofco, yet the commodioufnefTe of the river, falling
*' into that gulfe which is called Sinus Finnicus, whereby it
" is well frequented by merchants, makes it more famous
" than Mofco itfelf t."

* " Devenue fiijctte," fays L'Evefque *' ville importante : tant le fouffle dii poii-

witli great fpirit, " elle va chacpie jovir per- " voir arbitraire eft brulant & dellnideur.!''"

" lire de fon domaine, de fa population, de HiHoire de RufTic, Tom. II. p. 327.
*' fon commerce, de fes richcfles, &, dans •{• Hackhiyt, vol. I. p. 251.

" moins d*un Cede, a peiue fera-t-elle une

An;

N O V O G O R O D. 4^5

An idea of its populoufnefs, during this period, when chap;

compared with its prefent declined ftate, is manifeft from « J >

the fa6t, that in 1508 above 15,000 perfons died of an
epidemical diforder-; more than double the number of
its prefent inhabitants. In its moft flourilliing condition
it contained at leaft 400,000 fouls t. Under the reign of
Ivan Vaffilievitch II. the profperity of Novogorod experi-
enced a moft fatal downfall, from which it never recovered :
that monarch having, in 1570, difcovered a fecret corre-
fpondence between fome of the principal inhabitants and
Sigifmond Auguftus king of Poland, relative to a fiirrender
of the city into his hands, inflicted the moft exemplary
and inhuman vengeance upon them. He repaired in per-
fon to Novogorod, and appointed a court of inquiry, juftly
denominated the tribunal of blood. Contemporary hiftorians
relate, that its })roceedings continued during the fpace of
five weeks ; and that on each day of this fatal period more
than 500 inhabitants fell vidlims to the vengeance of in-
cenied defpotifm. According to fome authors, -25,000,
according to others, more than 30,000 perfons periilied in
this dreadful carnage. Thofe writers, who were the tzar's
enemies, have probably exaggerated the number of thefe
executions ; and it is but juftice to add, that fome % circum-
ftances in their relations are proved to be unqueftionably

* S. R. G. V(j1. V, p. 494,. " & I'on y prccipitnit les citoyens psr cen-

t It now contains lc;ircely 7000. " taines." Hill:, de Rufiie IT. p. 482.

X Both foreign and Ruffian authors relate Other hiftorians relate, thiit he aflembled

tlMt many of the condenanedvvere thrown in one I'pot the principal inhabitants of the

fiom the bridge into the river, and that town, that he rode amongft them, accom-

peribns were placed in boats, who prevented panied by his fon, and pierced the unfortu-'

them from et'caping by Iwimming, but they nate viftims of his fury with his own hands,

do not confider that this faft is faid to have until, fatigued with the maflacre, he ordered

palfcd in winter, « hen the rivers in Ruffia his guards to complete the butchery. Eut

are all frozen. L'Evcfque foftens this ac- fuch exaggerated accounts do not defervj

count, but without iuthcient authority, by much credit,
faying, " 11 fit ouvrir ks places du Volkhof,

Vol. I. M m m falfe ;

^$o

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

SOCK falfe ; but though we ought not to give implicit credit to all
the accounts recorded by his adveriaries, yet, even by the
confeffion of his apologifts, there ftill remains fufficient
evidence of his favage ferocity in this barbarous tranfatftion,
which equals, if not furpafles, in cruelty, the maffacre at
Siockhohii under Chriilian IL

This horrid cataftrophe and the fubfequent opprefTions
which the tosvn experienced from that great, though fan-
guinary prince, fo impaired its ilrength, that it is defcribed
as a place of ruin and defolation by Uhl field, the Danifli
embailador,. who foon afterwards paffed through it. But al-
though the fplendour of this onee flourifliing town received
a very conlkScrable diminution, yet it was not totally ob-
fcured until' the foundation of Peterfburgh, to which fa-
vourite capital Peter the Great transferred all the commerce
of the Ba-llickj, which before centered in Novogorod.

The iTrefent town is furrounded by a rampart of earthy
with a range of old towers at regular dirtances, forming a
circumference of fcarcely a mile and an half; and even this
inconfiderable circle includes much open fpace, and many
houfes which are not inhabited. As Novogorod was bviiit
after the manner of the antient towns of this country
in the Aliatick ftyle, this rampart, like that of the Semlaino-
gorod at Mofcow, probably enclofed feveral interior circles :
without it was a vaft exteniive ftiburb, which reached to.
the dirtance of fix miles, and included within its circuit all
the convents and cliurches, the antient ducal palace and
©ther ftrudures, that now make a fplendid, but folitary ap-
pearance, as they lie fcattered in the adjacent plain.

Novogorod ftretches on both fides of the Volkof, a beau-
tiful river of confider.able depth and rapidity, and fomewhat

broaden

N o y o G o R o a ^^,

broader than the Thames at Windfor. This river feparates chap.
the town into two divifions, the Trading Part, ,and the ■ ,' '
Quarter of St. Sophia, which are united by means of a bridge,
partly wooden, and partly brick.

The firft divifion, or the Trading Part, is, excepting the
governor's houfe, only a rude cluiter of wooden habitations,
and in no other refpeddiftinguiflied from the common villages,
than by a vaft number of brick churches and convents, which
ftand melancholy monuments of its former magnificence.
In all parts 1 was rtruck with thefe remains of ruined gran-
deur; while half-cultivated fields enclofed within high pali-
fadoes, and large fpaces covered with nettles, att^fted its
prefent defolate condition. Towards its extremity a brick
edifice, and feveral detached ftrudtures of the fame mate-
rials, ere6led at the emprefles expence, for a manufacture
of ropes and fails, exhibited a mod fplendid figure when
contrafted with the furrounding wooden liovels in the town.

The oppoiite divifion, denominated the Quarter of St.
5oj)hia, derives its appellation from th« cathedral of that
name, and comprehends the fortrefs or Kremlin, conftrudled
for the purpofe of curbing the inhabitants, and of prevent-
ing the frequent infurre6lions occafioned by the rifing fpirit
of opprefTed liberty. It is of an irregularly oval form, and
<furrounded by an high brick wail, ftrengthened with round
gnd fquare towers : the wall is fimilar to that which enclofcs
the Kremlin at Mofcow ; and was conllru6ted in 1490
by the Italian architect Solarius of Milan, at the order of
Ivan Yaflilievitch I. foon after his conqueft of Novogorod,
The fortrefs contains the cathedral of St. Sophia, the old
archiepifcopal manfion with its ftair-cafe on the out-
lide, part of a new palace which was not yet finiflied,

-M m rti 2 a

45»

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

HOOK J fe^^r other brick buildings, but the reaiaining fpace is a
wafte, overfpread with weeds and nettles, and covered with

ruins.

The cathedral of'St. Sophia is probably one of the moft
antient churches in Riiffia: it was begun in T044 by Vla-
dimir Yarollavitch duke of Novogorod, and completed in
105 I ■•'•. It was probably conftru6led foon after Chriftianity
was firft propagated in Kuffia by the Greeks, and was called
St. Sophia, from the church of that name in Conftantinople.
It is a high fquare building, with a gilded cupola, and four
tin domes. We entered this venerable pile through a pair
of brazen gates, ornamented with various figures in alto
relievo, reprefenting the Paffion of our Saviour, and other
fcriptural hilfories. The prieif informed me, that, according
to tradition, thefe gates of brafs were brought from the an-
tient town of Cherfon t, where Vladimir the Great was bap-
tized, and are fuppofed to be of Grecian workmanfhip : they
are in confequence of this perfuafion called Korfunfkie
Dveri, the doors of Cherfon. But if we admit the truth
of this tradition, how fliall we account for the following
Latin chara6lers, which I obferved upon them ?

p. e. WICMANNVS MEGIDEBVRGENSIS
ALEXANDER epe DEBLVCICH.
AVE MARIA GPACIA PLEHS DfTS TECVGL

The firft part of this infcription feems to prove rather, that
they came from Magdeburgh in Germany ; and it is a cir-
cumftance by no means improbable, as the inhabitants of
Novogorod, through their commercial connections, main-

* S. R. G. vol. V. p. 398. A wooden where this cathedral now flands. Ibid,
rhnrch of the hme name had been firft con- p. 394.

ftriKaed about the year 1000 by Joachim, f Now Kerfli, in Crim Tartar/,
the firft bifliop of Novogorod, on the fpot,

tained,

NOVOGOROD.

45J

tained, even in thofe early times, a no lefs frequent inlercourfe chap,
with Germany than with Greece. ->__J_/

In the infide of this cathedral are twelve maffy pillars
white-waflied, which, as well as the walls, are thickly covered
with the reprefentations of our Saviour, the Virgin Mary, and
of various liiints. Some of thefe paintings are of very high
antiquity, and probably anterior to the revival of the art in
Italy. The following reafons induce me to adopt this opinion.
Many of thefe figures are in ■A.hardflatJlyleoic6\.om\x\g upon
•a. gold ground^ and exa6tly fimilar to thofe of the Greek artifts,
by whom, according to Vafari, painting M'as firft introduced
into Italy in the following manner.

Towards the latter end of the i 3th century fome Greek
artifts were invited to Florence to paint the chapel of the
Gondi in that city. Although their defign and colouring
were very hard and flat ^ and they chiefly reprefented the
figures on a field of gold \ yet their productions were much
admired in that ignorant century. Cimahue, who was then
a boy, was fo ftruck with their performance, that he was
accuftomed to pafs all the time he could fleal from fchool
in contemplating the progrefs of their work. His entiiullafm
being thus kindled, he turned his whole attention to theftudy
of an art to which his natural genius feemed inclined. His
firft compofitions had all the defeats of the mafters whom he
imitated ; but he gradually improved as he advanc:ed, and
laid the firft rude foundation of that aftonidiing excellence
which the fchools of Italy afterwards attained.

As painting was thus brought into Italy from the Greek'
empire, when there was fcarcely any connctflion between
thofe two countries, we may be well affured that it was in-
troduced at a more early period into Rullia, from the fame
quarter; not only becaufe a conftant intercourfe hdd been

long

454 TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK long maintained between the great-dukes and the emperors
' — v^of Conllantinople ; and becaufe the patriarch of that city-
was formerly the h«ad of the church efl-abhllied in Ruffia ;
t)ut hkewife becaufe the Ruffians, being converted to Chrifti-
;anity by the Greeks, were accullomed, after their example,
■to decorate their temples with various figures, and muft
have received from them many portraits of faints, which
form in their religion a neceflary part of divine worfliip.
We may conclude, therefore, that the cathedral of St. Sophia,
which was built in the iith century, and is one of the
moll: antient churches of Ruffia, was necelTarily ornamented
with the figures of faints by fome Greek artills, which
the great-dukes of Novogorod drew from Conftantinople,
The daubings in queftion, indeed, are fo indifferent, as
not to have deferved a particular inquiry, if they had
not affifted in illuftrating the progrefs of the liberal arts,
and in afcertaining the early introduiflion of painting into
this country, at a period when it was unknown even ;n
Italy ^.

Several princes of the ducal family of Ruffia arc interred in
this cathedral. The firft is Vladimir Yaroflavitch, who was
born in 1020, died in 1 05 1 1, and was buried in this church,
which he himfelf had founded, and jult lived to fee com-
pleted. Befide his tomb, are thofe of his mother Anne,
daughter of the ealtern emperor Romanus, his wife
Alexandra, his brother Micilillaf, and, laftly, of Feodor,
brother of Alexander Nevlki, who dieil in 1228. The
moft antient of thefe fepulchres are of carved wood gilt and
filvered, and furrounded with iron rails ; the others are of

* Tnm din pinj^mit Rnthtni, er qnis ere- F.flai fvir !a fiib. &c. p. 19.
dat? I'tciilo diiodecimo, lays I'alconi, — See f S. R. G. vol. \ . p. 399,

brick

NOVOGOROD.

455

brick and mortar. Within the fandluary the walls are co- chap.
Vered with curious Mofaick compartments, of coarfe work-
manlhip, and feemingly very antient.

Our landlord was a German ; and his inn, though fhiall,
Was one of the moft commodious we had hitherto met with
in RuIIia : it was neatly furniflied, and afforded us beds,
a great article of luxury in this country, which we had no
final 1 difficulty to procure even in the city of Mofcow.

By the affill'ance of our landlord we obtained the follow-
ing lift of the price of provilions in thefe parts j

. d. s. d.

Butcher's meat per Ruffian pound*

if to o >

Black bread per ditto

Wliite common ditto

French ditto

Butter ditto

Ten eggs from

ijtoo J

Pair of fowls from

3 to I 8

Fatted goofe

Gouple of wild duck*

Tame ditto

Brace of partridges

Black game, cock and hen

Hare

Quart of milk

Beft fpirituous liquors per quart

Wora fort

Pair of peafants leather flwea

Boots

Round hat

Peafant's fhirt, no coHar or wriftbanrl, and very fhort

Our coaclnu was fo fhattered by the bad roads, that we
thought it moft prudent to leave it at Novogorod, and

* A Ruffian pound ^ ii,i Engiifti oancsir

^j,, r R A V E L S I N T O R U S S I A.

BOOK y^'Q continued our journey in the common carriages of
the country, called k'lbitkis. A kibitki is a Imall cart,
capable of containing two perfons abreaft, while the driver
fits upon the further extremity clofe to the horfes' tails. It
is about five feet in length, and the hinder half is covered
with a femicircular canopy, open in front like the top of a
cradle, made of laths interwoven and covered with birch or
beech-bark. There is not a piece of iron in the whole ma-
chine. It has no fprings, and is fattened by means of
wooden pins, ropes, and fticks, to the four wheels, the boxes
of which are of an extraordinary length, and projedt above
a foot beyond the orbit of the wheels. The Ruffians, when
they travel in thefe carriages, place a feather-bed in the
bottom, admirably calculated to break the intolerable jolts
and concuffions, occafioned by the uneven timber roads.
With this precavition a kibitki, though inferior in fplendour,
equals in comfort the molf commodious vehicle. The tra-
veller ftretches himfelf at his length upon the feather-bed,
and, if inchned, may dofe away the journey in perfeift tran-
quillity. But being novices as to the beft method of
equipping this fpecies of conveyance, we fuffered a layer
of trunks and other hard baggage to be fubftituted in the
place of feather-beds ; thefe fubttances, fo much more
bulky, and fo much lefs yielding than down, obliged us
either to lit under the canopy in a Hoping poiture, or upon
the narrow edge of the carriage ; in the alternate enjoy-
ment of which dele<51:able pofitions, we pafled twelve hours
without intermiffion, and with no refrelliment. Thofe who
have ever regaled themftlvcs amidll: a pile of loofe trunks
and boxes in ihe bafket of a heavy-laden ftage coach, over
6 ' the

NOVOGOROD.

457

the roiigbeft pavement, would efteem that mode of convey- chap.
ance kixury to what we experienced. Our impatience, hmv- ^ ' ,
ever, to reach Peterfburgh beguiled in Ibme meallire the
bruifes we received from our kibitkis and their contents ; and
induced us to perfe vere incur route till after ten at night, when,
upon our being depofited in a fmall village, 1 had fcarcely
ftrength remaining to crawl to fome frefli ftraw fpread for
our beds in the corner of an unfurnillied inn : with the
comforts of this delightful place of repofe I was fo ena-
amoured, that I could not be prevailed upon to relinquifh it
even for a few minutes, for the enjoyment of an excellent
ragout prepared by our fervant, and which a conftant faft-
iiig fince nine in the morning tended greatly to recommend.

A tolerable night's reft, and the profpetfl of only fifty
miles between us and Peterfburgh, induced us to reaflume
our former ftations, and to brave a repetition of our fatigue.

The country we palTed through was ill calculated to al-
leviate our fufferings by transferring our attention from our-
felves to the objects around us. Excepting the environs of
Novogorod, which were tolerably open, the road made of
timber, as defcribed on a former occafion, and as ftraight as
an arrow, ran through a perpetual foreil:, without the leaft
intermixture of hill or dale, and with but few flips of cultivated
ground. Through the dreary extent of no miles, the
gloomy uniformity of the foreft was only broken by a few
folitary villages at long diftances from each other, without
the intervention of a fingle houfe. Itchora, the lalt village
at which we changed horfes, though but 20 miles from the
capital, was fmall and wretched, and the adjacent country as
inhofpitable and unpeopled as that we had already pafled.
About ten miles from Itchora we fuddenly turned to the
rigbt, and the fcene inftantaneoufly brightened : the woods

Vol. L N n n gave

458 T R A V E L S I N TO R U S S I A.

^^^^ gave way to cultivation ; the country began to be enlivened'
n^with houfes ; the inequalities of the timber road were fuc-
ceeded by the level of a fpacious caufeway equal to the
fineft turnpikes of England; the end of each verft- was-
marked with fuperb mile-ftones of granite and marble ; and'
a long avenue of trees v;as clofed at the diftance of a few
miles with a view of Peterfburgh, the objedt of our willies^
and the termination of our labours*

* Throughout all the high roads of Ruffia, each verfl; (or three-quarters of a mile) i»-
parked by a wooden poll, about twelve feet in height, painted red.

C HAP.

C 459 3 <^..

CHAP. HI.

yujlification of Peter the Great for transferring the feat of
empire from Mofcow to St. Peterfburgh. — Defer iption of
the new metropolis. — Its foundation and progrefs, — Cir-
cumference and population. — Inundations of the Neva. —
Remarkable flood in the year 1777 . — Bridge of pontoons. —
Plan for a bridge of a fmgle arch acrofs the Neva. — ColofTal

Jiatue of Peter the Great. — Account of the pedeflal, and of
its conveyance to Peterfburgh. — General obfervations on
the weather at St. Peterfburgh during the zvinter of 1778.
•—Precautions againfl the cold. — Diverflons and winter

fcenes upon the Neva. — Ice-hills. — Annual fair upon its

frozen furf ace,

SAINT Peterfburgh is fituated in the latitude of 59' 56" chap,
23'" north, and longitude 30' 25'' eaft, from the . "^' ^
firfl meridian of Greenwich. It ftands upon the Neva, near
the Gulf of Finland, and is built partly upon fomeiflands in
the mouth of that river, and partly upon the continent. Its
principal divifions are as follow : i . The Admiralty quarter;
2. The VafTili Oflrof * ; 3. The fortrefs ; 4. The Ifland of
St. Peterfburgh; and 5. The various fuburbs, called the
fuburbs of Livonia, of Mofcow, of Alexander Nevfki, and
of Wiburgh. Their peculiar fituation, with refpedt to each
other, will be better explained by the annexed plan of the
town, than by the moft elaborate defcription.

Peterthe Great has incurred conliderable cenfure for trans-
ferring the feat of empire from Mofcow to Peterfburgh : it has •
been urged, with fome degree of plaufibility, that he was in

* Oftrof (ignifles Ifland.

N n n 2 eiFed

^6o TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK effect more an Afiatick than an Eviropean fovereign ; that
'' .' Morcow, lying nearer to the center of his dominions, was
better calculated for the imperial refidence ; and that, by
removing his capital, he neglected the interior provinces,
and facrificed every other confideration to his predilcvftion
for the fettlements upon the Baltick.

But it by no means appears, that although Peterfburgh.
was thus fituated at the extremity of Ruffia, that therefore
he negie(5ted any other part of his vaft dominions. On the
contrary, he was no lefs attentive to his Afntick than to his-
European provinces : his repeated negotiations with the
Chinefe: his campaigns again i\ the Turks; and his conquell
of the Perfian provinces which border upon the Cafpian
prove the truth of this alTertion. It is no lefs obvious, that
Europe was the quarter from whence the greateil: danger
to his throne impended, that the Swedes were his moft for-
midable enemies, and that from them the very exiftence
of his empire was threatened with annihilation. It was not
by leading his troops againfl: the defultory bands of Turk&
or Perfians, that he was able to acquire a folid military
force ; but by training them to endure the firm attack of
regular battalions, and to learn to conquer at laft by repeated
defeats : with this delign, the nearer he fixed his leat to the
borders of Sweden, whofe veterans had long been the terror
of the north, the more readily his troops vvould imb'ibe their
military fpirit, and learn, by encountering them, their well
regulated mancEuvres. Add to this, that the protetftion of
the new commerce, which he opened through the Baltick,
depended upon the creation and maintenance of a naval
force, which required his immediate and ahnoft continual
infpedion.

P E T E R S B U R G H. 461

To this circumftance alone is owing the rapid and re- chap.
fpedlable rife of the Ruffian power, its preponderance in the «. ^ . ^
north, and its political importance in the fcale of Europe,
hi a word, had not Peter I. transferred the feat of govern-
ment to the fliores of the Baltick, the Ruffian navy had never
rode triumphant in the Turkiih feas ; and Catharine IJ. had
never Hood forth what flie now is, the arbiirefs of the
north, and the mediatrix * of Europe.

Thus much with refpe6l to the political confequence
which Ruffia derived from the polition of the new metro-
polis : its internal improvement, the great obje61: of Peter's
reign, was confidcrably advanced by approaching its capital
to the more civilized parts of Europe ; by this means he
drew the nobility from their rude magnificence and feudal
dignity at Mofcow to a more immediate dependence upoa
the fovereign, to more polifhed manners, to a greater degree
of focial intercourle Nor was there any other caufe, perhaps,
which fo much tended to promote his plans for the civiliza-
tion of his fubjeifts, as the removal of the imperial feat from
the inland provinces to the fliores of the Gulf of Finland,
For the nearer the refidence of the monarch is brought to
the more polifhed nations, the more frequent v/i!l be the in-
tercourle with them, and tlie more eafy the adoption of their
arts ; and in no other parts could the influx of foreigners be
fo great as where they were allured by commerce.

In oppofirion to the cenfurers of Peter, we cannot but efieeni
this ad one of the moll beneficial of his reign : and one might
even venture to affert, that if, by any revolution of Europe,
this empire fhould lofe its acquilitions on the Baltick ; if
the court fhould repair to Mofcow, and maintain a fainter

* It mufl: be rememb red, that Catharine II. mediated the peace of Tefchen, in 1770,
between the ensperor of Gennany and tlie king, of Pniffia.

5 Gorvnedlioii

.46i T R A V E L S IN TO RUSSIA.

"^^^^^ connexion with the European powers before any eflential
►reformation in the manners of the people fliould have taken
place, Ruflia would foon relapfe into her original barbarifm-;
and no traces of the memorable improvements introduced
•by Peter I. and Catharine II. would be found but in the
annals of hiftory.

As I walked about this metropolis I was filled with afto-
nifhment upon refledting, that fo late as the beginning of
rthis century, the ground on which Peterfburgh now ftands
was only a vaft morafs occupied by a few fifliermens' huts.
The firft building of the city is fo recent as to be almoft
remembered by Ibme perfons -who are now alive; and its
-gradual progrefs is accordingly traced 'without the leaft dif-
ficulty. Peter the Great had no fooner wrefted Ingria from
the Swedes, and advanced the boundaries of his empire to the
fliores of the Baltick, than he determined to eredt a fortrefs
.upon a fmall ifland in the mouth of the Neva, for the pur-
pofe of fecuring his conquefts, and opening a new channel
of commerce *. As a prelude to thisvindertaking, a fmall
.battery was immediately raifed on another ifland of the
.Neva, upon the fpot now occupied by the Academy of Sci-
-ences, and it was commanded by Vaffili Dmitrievitch.
iKortflimin. All the orders of the emperor fent to this
-oflicer were direded Vaffili na Oftrof, to Vaflili upon the'
Ifland ; and hence this part of the tov/n was called Vaffili
.Oftrof, or the Ifland of Vaflili.

The fortrefs was begun on the 'i6th of May, 1703 ; and,
notwithftanding all the obftruL^ions arifing from the marfliy
jiature of the ground, and the inexperience of the workmen,

♦ See Hift. Geog, and Top. BefcKreib; ng d?r Stadt S. Pet, in the Journal oS St. Te.u

iox 177c.

PETERSBURG' H. ^C^

ST' fmall citadel furrounded with a rampart of eaitHj- and cliAr,
ftrengthencd with fix baftions, was completed in* fliort / .>
fpace of time. An author-, who was in Ruffia- at that
period, informs us, " that the labourers were iiot furniflred^
" with the neceffary tools, as pick-axes, fpades and fliovels,-
*' wlieclbarrows, planks, and the like; notwithftanding
*' which, the work went on with fuch-^ expedition, that it
" was furprizing to fee the fortrefs raifed within lefs thaiV'
*' five months, though the earth, which is very fearce there- -
" abouts, was, for the greater part, carried by the labourers
*' in the iknts of their clothes, and in bhgs made of rags
*' and old mats, the ufe of. wheel-barrows being then un--
**" known to them."

Within the foitrefs a few wooden habitations Wereerecfted,
For his own immediate refidence Peter alfo ordered, in the*
beginning of the year 1703, a fmall hut to be raifed in an'
adjacent ifland, which he Called the ifland of St. Peterfburgh,
and from which the new metropolis has taken its name ; '
this hut was low and fmall ; and is ftill preferved in memory
of the fovereign who condefcended to dwell in it. Near it
was foon afterwards conftruiled another wooden habitationj -
but larger and more commodious, in which prince Menzikof'
refilled, and gave audience to foreign minifters. At a fmall >
diilance was an inn, much frequented by the courtiers and
perfons of all ranks ; to which Peter himfelf, on Sundays
after divine-fervice, frequently repaired, and would there
cirink with his fuite and thofe who happened to be prefent, •
as fpedlators of fire-\\orks and other diverfions, which were-
exhibited by his orders;

* Perry's State of Ruffia, Vol. I. p. 300^

On
7 ^

464

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

On the 30th of May, 1706, Peter ordered the ramparts
of earth to be demoUflied, and began the foundation of the
new fortrefs on the fame fpot. In 17 10 Count Golovkin
built the firft edifice of brick ; and in the following year
the tzar, with his own hand, laid the foundation of an houfe,
to be ere6ted with the fame materials ■••■.

From thefe fmall beginnings rofe the prefent metropolis
of the Ruffian empire ; and in lefs tli^^m nine years after the
iirrt wretched hovels of wood were ereded, the feat of em-
pire was transferred from Mofcow to Peterfburgh.

The defpotick authority of Peter, his zeal for the im-
provement of the new capital, and his endeavours to make it
reiemble the other cities of Europe, will appear from the
following orders iffued by his command. In 1 7 1 4a mandate
was put forth, that all buildings upon the Ifland of St. Pe-
terfburgh, and in the Admiralty Quarter, particularly thofe
upon the banks of the Neva, fliould be conih^idled after the
German manner with timber and brick ; that each of the
nobility and principal merchants fliould be obliged to have an
houfe in Peterfburgh ; that every large veflcl navigating to
the city ihouid bring 30 lliones, every fmall one 10, and
every peafant's waggon three, towards the conflru<Slion of
the bridges and other public works : that the tops of the
houfes ihouid be no longer covered with birch-planks, and
bark, fo dangerous in cafe of fire, but fliould be roofed with
tiles, or clods of earth. In 1716a regular plan f for the new
city was approved and publiflied by Peter. According to which
the principal part of the new metropolis was to be fituated
in the ValTili Oftrof ; and, in imitation of the Dutch towns,

* Journal St. ?ct. for 1779.

jj- The reader will titid a delineation of this plan in Terry's State of Rufiia.

canals

P E T E R S B U R G H. 465.

canals were to be cut through the principal flreets, and chap.
to be lined with avenues of trees. This plan, however, wns ^ .'.-■
never carried into execution. Under the emprefs Anne
the imperial relidence was removed to the Admiralty Quarter.
The nobility loon followed the example of the fovereign ;
and at prefent, if we except fome of the publick edifices, and
the row of- houfes fronting the Neva, the Vaffili Oftrof is the
worft part of the city, and alone contains more wooden
buildings than all the other quarters.

Succeeding fovereigns have continued to embellifli Peterf-
burgh, but none unore than the prefent emprefs ; who may,
without exaggeration, be called its fecond foundrefs. Not-
withftanding, however, all thele improvements, it bears
every mark of an infant city, and is Hill, as Mr. Wraxall *
juftly obferves, " only an immenfe outhne, which will re-
** quire future emprelTes.and almoft future ages to complete.**
The flreets in general are broad t and fpacious ; and three
of the principal ones, which meet in a point at the Admi-
ralty, and reach to the extremities of the fuburbs, are at leaft
two miles in length. Moft of them are paved ; but a few
are ftill fuffered to remain floored with planks. In feveral
parts of the metropolis, particularly in the Vaffili Oilrof,
wooden houfes and habitations, fcarcely fuperior to common
cottages, are blended with the publick buildings ; but this
motley mixture is far lefs common than at Mofcow, where
alone can be formed any idea of an antient Ruffian city.

The brick houfes are ornamented with a white ftucco,
which has led feveral travellers to fay that they are built
with ftone; whereas, unlefs I am greatly miftaken, there are

* Wraxall's Tour, p 231.

■f They are moftly as broad as Oxford-Street : tliofe with canals much broader.

Vol. I. O o o only

466 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK Qjjiy t;^vo ftone ftrudtures in all Peterfburgh, the one is a pa-
.^ ,/ . lace, building by the emprefs upon the banks of the Neva,
called the marble-palace : it is of hewn granite, witn mar-
ble columns and ornaments ; the other is the church of St.
Ifaac, conftru6ted with the fame materials, but not yet fi-
niflied.

The manfions of the nobility are many of them vaft piles
of building, but are not in general upon lb large and mag-
nificent a fcale as feveral I obierved at Mofcow : they are fur-
niftied with great coll:, and in the fame elegant flyle as at
Paris or London. They are fituuted chif?tly on the fouth-
flde of the Neva, either in the Admiralty Quarter, or in tlie
fuburbs of Livonia and Mofcow, which are the fmeft parts
of the city.

The views upon the banks of the Neva exhibit the moft
grand and lively fcenes I ever beheld. That river is in molt
places broader than the Thames at London : it is alfo deep,
rapid, and as tranfparent as chryllal ; and its banks are lined
on each fide with a continued range of handfome buildings.
On the north fide the fortrefs, the Academy of Sciences and
the Academy of Arts are the moil: Itriking objects ; on the
oppofite fide are the Imperial palace, the Admiralty, the
manfions of many Rulfian nobles, and the Englifli line, fo
called becaufe (a few houfes excepted) the whole row is oc-
cupied by the Englifli merchants. In the front of thefe
buildings, on the fouth fide, is the Quay, which ftretches for
three miles, except where it is interrupted by the Admiralty;
and the Neva, during the whole of that fpace, has been lately
embanked, at the expence of the emjjrefs, by a wall para-
pet and pavement of hewn granite, a moft elegant and dur-
able monument of imperial munificence.

Peterfburgh,

PETERSBURG H.

467

Peterfbnrgh, although it is more compa6l than the other chap.
Ruffian cities, and has the houfes in many ftreets contiguous «■ v'-.»
to each other, yet ftili bears a refemblance to the towns of
this country, and is built in a very ftraggling manner. By
an order lately ilTued from government, the city has been
enclofed within a rampart, the circumference whereof is 2 1
vertl:s, or T4Englini miles.

The average population of Peterfburgh may be collected
from the following lift of births and deaths during feven
years.

Births.

Males
Females

Deaths,

Males
Females

1772
1773

1774

1775
1776

1777

Males
Females

Natives.

Males
Females

Foreigners.

Males
Females

2322

=4759
=-5483
2 839_ Males

2598~-^''"^^ Females

rr496l

2816
2581=5397

= 4727
= 5031

2899_
1559"

4458

2717
2618

265

254.

5854

Males
Females

Natives.

Males
Females

Foreigners.

Males
Females

= 3107

'1^^=4463
1769 ^^ -^

5660

Totalof birth for 7 years 36,672 Total of deaths 32,165

Annual average of births, omitting fmall fra;Slions 5238
of deaths 4594

By multiplyingthe births '1238 by 25, the Aim is 134,950 ;
and the deaths 4594 by 26, the fum is 1 19,444.

O o o 2 Bv

468 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

By taking the medium, therefore, between thefe twa
fums, we have i 26,697 tor the number of inhabitants *

Peterfburgh, from its low and marfhy lituation, is fubje6t
to inundations, which have occalionally rifen fo high as to
threaten the town with a total fubmerfion. Thefe floods are
chiefly occafioned by a well or fouth-weft wind, which,
blowing diretftly from the gulf, obftrudls the current of the
Neva, and caufes a vaft accumulation of its waters. On the
1 6th of November we had nearly perfonal experience of
this dreadful calamity : being invited to a mafquerade at the
Cadet's in the v'afuli Oltrof, on our approach to the bridge,
we perceived that a Itirmy weft wind had already fo much
fwelled the river as conliderably to elevate the pontoons ;
and the tendon of the bridge was fo great as to endanger its
being broken to pieces. Inftead, therefore, of repairing to
the mafquerade, we returned home, and waited for fome
hours in awful expectation of an immediate deluge. Pro-
videntially, however, a fudden change of wind preferved
Peterfljurgh from the impending cataftrophe, and the inha-
bitants from an almoft univerfal conftiernation, which their
recent fu'il'erings had imprcfled upon their minds. I allude
to the flood which overv>'helmed the town in the month of
September, 1777? and whofe effects are thus defcribed :
" t In the evening of the 9th, a violent ftorm of wind blow-
" ing at firft S. W. and afterwards VV. raifed the Neva and
" its various branches to fo great an height, that at five in

* Sufslick eftimates the population of there arc more births than deaths. Upon

Peterfourgh at 133, 196, by multiplying the tiie w'.ioie, the population of Peterfburgh

biiths with 28 ; and 132, ()90 by multiplying may be ellimatcd in round numbers at

the deaths by j6 ; neither of which num-, 130,000 of fouls. See Sutslick Gottliche

bers differs efleiuially from the average Orldnung. Vol. III. j) 6,0.
nitinber in the context : he adds, that Pe- f Journ. St, Pet. Sept. 1777.
tei (burgh is the only large town in which

" the

PETERSBURG H.

469

" the morning the waters poured over their banks, and Cv.d- chap.
*' denly overflowed the town, but more particularly the ^
" Vaffili Oftrof and the ifland of St. Peterfburgh. The
" torrent rofe in leveral ftreets to the depth of four feet
" and an half, and overturned, by its rapidity, various
" buildings and bridges. About feven, the wind fliifting
" to N. W. the flood fell as fuddenly ; and at mid-day moll
" of the ftreets, which in the morning could only be pafled
" in boats, became dry. For a fliort time the river rofe 10
*' feet 7 inches above its ordinary level *."

The oppofite divifions of Peterfburgh, fituated on each
fide of the Neva, are connected by a bridge on pontoons,

which.

* Mr. Kraft, profeffor of experimental
philofophy to the Imperial Academy of
Sciences, has written a judicious treatife
upon the inundation of the Neva, from
which the following obfervations are ex-
Irafted. Thefe floods arelefs alarming than
formerly, as the fwelling of the river to
about fix feet above its ufual level, which
ufed to overflow the whole town, have no
longer any effeft, excepting upon the lower
parts of Peterfburgh ; a circumftance owing
to the gradual raifing of the ground by
buildings and other caules.

• Upon tracing the principal inundations,
the profefior informs us, that the moft an-
tient, of which there is any tradition, hap-
.pened in t6gi, and is mentioned by Weber,
from the account of fome filhermen inha-
biting near Niefchants, a Swedifli redoubt
upon the Neva, about three miles from the
prefent fortreis of Peterfburgh. At that
period the waters ufually rofe every five
years ; and the inhabitants of that dillriift
no iooner perceived the particular ttorms
which they had been taught from fatal ex-
perience to confider as forerunners of a
flood, than they took their hovels to pieces,
and, joining the timbers together in the
form of rafts, faftened them to the fummits

of the higheft trees, and repaired to the
mountain of Duderof, which is diflant fix
miles from their place of abode, where they
waited until the waters fubfided.

The higheft inundations, excepting the
laft of 1777, were thofe of the ill of No-
vember, 1726, when the waters nife 8 feet
2 inches, and on the id of OiSober, 1752,
when they rofe 8 feet 5 inches.

From a long courle of obfervations the
profeffor draws the following conclufion.
The|highell floods, namely, thole which
rife about fix feet, have generally happened
in one of the four laft months of the year :
no fenfible effecft is ever produced by rain or
fnow ; a fwell is fometimes occafioned by
the accumulation of maffes of ice at the
mouth of the Neva; but the principal
caules of the overflowing of that river are
derived from violent ftorms and winds
blowing S.W. W. or N. W. which ufually
prevail at the autumnal equinox; and the
height of the waters is always in proportion
to the violence and duration of thole winds.
In a word, the circumftances muit liable to
promote the overflowings of the Neva, are
when, at the autumnal equinox, three or
four days before or after the full or new
moon, that luminary being near her peri- •

gaum,

4;o TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK ^vi^ich, on aGCount of the large maffes of ice driven down the
flream from the Lake Ladoga, is ufually removed * when they
firft make their appearance ; and for a few days, until the
river is Jrozen hard enough to bear carriages, there is no
communication between the oppofite parts of the town.

The depth of the river feems to render it impoflible to
build a ftone bridge ; and even if one could be conftru6led,
it mull neceffarily be dertroyed by the vaft flioals of ice,
which in the beginning of winter are hurried down the ra-
pid ftream of the Neva. In order to remedy this inconve-
nience, a Ruffian peafant has projected the fublime plan of
throwing a wooden bridge of a fingle arch acrofs the river,
which in its narroweft part is 980 feet in breadth.

The artift has executed a model 98 feet in length, which
I examined with great attention, as he kindly explained its
proportion and mechanifra.

The bridge is upon the fame principle with that of Scbaff-
haufen, excepting that the mcchanifm is more comj)licated,
and that the road is not fo level. I Ihall attempt to dcfcribe
it by luppofing it finilhcd, as that will convey the bell idea
of the plan. The bridge is roofed at the top, and covered
at the fides : it is formed by four frames of timber, two on
each fide, corapofed of various beams or truffes, which fup-

gaum, a violent N. W, wind drives the wa- mouth of the Baitick.

ters of tlie Nonhern Ocein, during the in- See Notices ct Reniarqiies f>ir les dehor-

flux of the tide, into the B.iltick, and is no- den)cn<! de ia Neva a St. t'e:erft>)urg ac-

companied, or inllintaneoully fueceedcd by conipagnces d'iinc cai te re]>refentant la

a S.W. wind in that fea and the Gulf of crue et la diminution des eanx, &c. — Iq

Finland. All thefe circumllances concurred Nov. Ac. Pet. for 1777, P. 11. p. 47. ro

at the inundation of 1777: it hippentd which excellent trcatiie 1 ivo;ild refer the

two days before the autumnal e<iuinox, four curious reader for further information,

beforethefulhnoonjtwoafterpali'tigthrongh * When I was at Peteriburgli, the bridge

tlK." periga-iim, and by a ftorni at S. W. which which had been taken away was replaced.

was preceded bv Ihong VV. wiatls in the and continued during the whole winter
^&rci.ern Ocean, ;ind llrong N. winds at the

port

P E T E R S B U R G H. 47,

port the whole machine. The road is not, as is ufual, car- chap.

Ill
ried over the top of the arch, but is fufpended in the middle.

The following proportions I noted down with the greateft

exatflnefs at the time when they were explained to me by

the artift.

Length of the abutment on the north end 6c8 feet.

Span of the arch , ogg

Length of the abutment on the fouth end 6c8

Length of the whole ftruftiire, including the abutments 2296
The plane of the road upon its firfl afcent makes an angle of five degrees

with the oidmnry furface of the river

Mean level of the river to the top of the bridge in the center i63

Ditto to the bottom of the bridge in the center 126

Height of the bridge from the bottom to the top in the centre 42

Height from the bottom of the bridge in the center to the road 7

Height from the bottom of ditto to the water 84

Height from the water to the fpnng of the arch r6

So that there is a difference of 35 feet between the road at
the fpring of the arch, and the road at the center ; in other
words, an afcent of 35 feet in half 980, or in the fpace of
490 feet, which is little more than eight-tenths of an inch
to a foot *. The bridge is broadeft towards the lides, and di-
miniQies towards the centre.

In the broadeft part it is 168 feet.

In the center or narrow eft 42

The breadth of the road is 28

The artift informed me, that to complete the bridge would
require 49,650 iron nails, 12,908 large trees, 5,500 beams
to ftrengthen them, and that it would coft 300,000 roubles,
or ;("6o,ooo. He fpeaks of this bold projed; with the ufual
warmth of genius ; and is perfedly convinced that it would
be practicable. I muft own that I am of the fame opinion,

* The afcent of the road of the bridge at SchafFhaufen is barely four-tenths of an inch
in a foot.

though

^^2 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK though I hazard it with great diffidence. Wliat a noble
v_ijj_^ efFe(5l would be produced by a bridge ftriking acrofs the
Neva, with an arch 980 feet wide, and towering 168 feet
from the furface of the water. The defcription of fuch a
bridge feems almoft chimerical ; and yet, upon infpedion of
the model, we become reconciled to the idea. But whether
the execution of this ftupendous work may be deemed pofli-
ble or not, the model itfelf is worthy of attention, and refledls
the higheft honour on the inventive faculties of that unim-
proved genius ; it is fo compadtly conftrudled, and of fuch
uniform folidity, that it has fupported 3540 pood, or
127,440 pounds, without having in the leaft fwerved from
its direction, which I am told is far more, in proportion to its
fize, than the bridge if completed would have occafion
to fuftain from the preffure of the carriages added to its own
weight.

The perfon who projedled this plan is a common Ruffian
peafant ; and, like the Swifs carpenter who built the bridge
of SchafFhaufen*, poffeffed of but little knowledge in the the-
ory of mechanicks This extraordinary genius was appren-
tice to a fliopkeeper at Nilhnei Novogorod : oppofite to his
dwelling was a wooden clock, which excited his curiolity.
By repeated examinations he comprehended the internal
ftrudlure, and, without any affiftance, formed one exadlly
limilar in its proportion and materials. His fuccefs in this
firO" eflay urged him to undertake the conftrucftion of metal
clocks and watches. The emprefs, hearing of thefe won-
derful exertions of his native genius, took him under her
prote6tion, and fent him to England ; from whence, on ac-

* For the account of the bridge of Schaffhaufen, fee the Sketches on the State of
Swjfl'orland. Letter U.

7 count

PETERSBURG H.

count of the difficulties attending his ignorance of the lan-
guage, he loon returned to Ruffia. I faw a repeating watch
of his workmanfliip at the Academy of Sciences : it is about
the bignefs of an egg ; in the infide is reprefented the tomb
of our Saviour, with the ftone at the entrance, and the cen-
tinels upon duty; fuddenly the ftone is removed, the centi-
nels fall down, the angels appear, the women enter the fe-
pulchre, and the fame chant is heard which is performed on
Eafter-eve. Thefe are trifling, although curious perform-
ances ; but the very planning of the bridge was a moft fub-
lime conception. This perfon, whofe name is Kulibin,
bears the appearance of a Ruflian peafant ; he has a long
beard, and wears the common drefs of the country. lie re-
ceives a penfion from the emprefs, and is encouraged to fol-
low the bent of his mechanical genius.

One of the nobleft monuments, as my ingenious friend
Mr. Wraxall obferves, of the gratitude and veneration paid
to Peter I. * is the equeftrian ftatue of that monarch in
bronze : it is of a Coloffal fize, and is the work of Monfieur
Falconet, the celebrated French ftatuary, caft at the expence
of Catharine II. in honour of her great predeceflbr, whom
llie reveres and imitates. It reprefents that monarch in the
attitude of mounting a precipice, the fummit of which he
has nearly attained. He appears crowned with laurel, in a
loofe Afiatick veft, and fitting on a houfing of bear-fkin :
his right hand is ftretched out as in the adt of giving bene-
diction to his people ; and his left holds the reins. The de-
fign is mafterly, and the attitude is bold and fpirited. If there
be any defeift in the figure, it confifts in the flat pofition of
the right hand ; and, for this reafon, the view of the left fide

* Wraxall's Tour, p. 224,

Vol. I. P P P Is

473

47+

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK J3 ii^Q nioft (hiking, where the whole appearance is graceful
and animated. The horle is rearing upon its hind legs ; and
its tail, which is full and flowing, flightly touches a bronze
ferpent, artfully contrived to aflifl: in fupporting the vaft
weight of the iratue in due equilibrium. The artift has, in
this noble effay of his genius, reprefented Peter as the legiflator
of his country, without any allufion to conqueft and blood-
flied ; wifely preferring his civil qualities to his military ex-
ploits •;•;:-. The contraft between the compofed tranquillity of
Peter (though perhaps not abfolutely charaderillick) and the
fire of the horfe, eager to prefs forwards, is very ilriking.
The fimplicity of the infcription correfponds to the fublimity
of the defign, and is far preferable to a pompous detail of
exalted virtues, which the voice of flattery applies to every
fovereign without diftinclion. It is elegantly finflied in brafs
characters, on one fide in Latin, and on the oppofite inRuilian.

PETRO PRIMOt,

CATHARINA SECUNDA

1^82.

PETROMU PERVOYU

EKATHERENA VTORAIYA

17-82.

The flatue, when I was at Peterfburgh, was not
ere6ted, but flood under a large w^ooden flied near the Neva,

* Monfier Falconet has ably refuted

the cenfures urged againft his flatue on this

ncconnt. See his Letter to Diderot, in

" Pieces written by Monf. Falconet," tianf-

lated by Mr. Tooke, p. 47, The reader

will alio find in that work an engraving of

the ftatue. " I' have endeavoured," faid'

IMonfieur Falconet to Air. Wraxall, " to

" catch, as far as p'jffible, the- genuine ftel-

" ings of the Mul'covite legiilatorj and to

" give him fuch an expieffion r.s himfelf

" would have owned. I have not decked

" his pcrfon with emblems of Roman con-

•♦ fulage, or placed a marcchal's baton in

"his hand: an antient drefs v.ould have

" been unnatural, and theRuffian he wiflied

*' to abolifli. The fkin on which he is

" featcd, is emblematical of the nation be

«' refined, Poffibly,"faid M. Falconet, " the

*' czar would have afked me why I did not

" put a fobre into his hand ; b\it, perhaps,

" he made too great a ufe of it when alive,

" and a fculptor ought only to exhibit thofe

" parts of a cluirader which refleft honour

" on it, and rather to draw a veil acrofs the

" errors and vices v.hich tarnifli it. A la-

" boured panegyrick would have been

" ef]ually injudicious and unnecefiliry, fince

" hiftory has already perfornied that office

" with impartial juftice, and held up his

" name to univerfal reg.ird ; and I mud do

" her prefcnt majefty the jiiltice to fay, flie

" had tafle and difcernment enough jjor-

'• fedly to fee this, and to prefer the px-

" fent n»ort infcription to any other which

" could be compofed." Wraxall's Tour,

p. 225—2:7.

% Catharine II. to Peter I.

within

PETERSBURG IL

475

tvithin a few yards of its enormous pedeftal. When Fal- chap.
conet had conceived the defign of his llatue, the bafe of' — A-
which was to be formed by an huge rock *, he carefully
examined the environs of Peterfburgh, if, among the de-
tached pieces of granite t, which are fcattered' about thefe
parts, one could be found of magnitude correfpondent to
the dimenfions of the equeftrian figure. After conliderable
refearch, he difcovercd a (lupendous mafs half buried in the
midft of a morafs. The expence and difficulty of tranf-
porting it were no obitacles to Catharine II. By her order
the morafs was immediately drained, a road was cut through
a foreft, and carried over the marfliy ground ; and the ftone,
which after it had been fomewhat reduced weighed at lealt
1500 tons, was removed to Peterfburgh.

This more than Roman work was, in lefs than fix months
from the time of its firll difcovery, accompliflied by a wind-
lafs, and by means of large fridlion -balls alternately placed
and removed in grooves fixed on each lide of the road. In
this manner it was drawn, with forty men feated upon its
top, about four miles to the banks of the Neva : there it
W3S embarked in a veflel conftrufled on purpofe to receive
it, and thus conveyed about the fame diftance by water to

* " Pour marquer a poftcritc, d'ou cet '* Ce qui furtout frappa d'etonnement^

^* h'jros legiflaceur ctoit parti, et quels " c'ctoit I'lnterieur tie la pierre. Un coup

" obrtacles il avoit I'urmonte — Defcription " de foudie I'avoit endoiiimage d'un cote.

*' d'une Pierre — pour fervir de Piedeftal, " On abbattit ce morceau & I'on vit, au lieu

" &c.inHaygold's.'' Rufsland, V.II.p.air. " de parties herraogenes, un afll-mblage de

f The pedeftal is a reddifli granite, in *' toutes fortes Jc pietres fines i^ frhieufcs,

which the micse are very large and refplen- " Cetoient JesCrifiaux, des Agatbcs, dcs Gre-

dent. This circumftance induced a perlon, *' nats, des Topa-:tes, dcs Cornulines, dis Amc-

who has publiflied an account of it, and " thyftes, qui offroient aux yeux des curicix

was willing to make a prodigy where there *' un Tpeiiacle, aufli nouveau que magnifi-

is none, to give the following ridiculous " que, & aux phyficiens un objet de re-

pnd exaggerated defcription upon breaking '* cherches des plus interelTans," Ibid,

part of it afundgr. p. 21 j.

P p p 5. the

476 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

ROOK ti^g fpQi; ^vhere it now ftands. When landed at Peterfbiirgh
»>: ■ ^ ,'-> it was 42 feet long at the bafe, 36 at the top, 2 1 thick, and
1 7 -high; a b^ilk greatly furpafling in weight the moft
boafted monuments of Roman grandeur, which, according
to the fond admirers of antiquity, would have bafBed
'the fkill of modern mechanicks, and were alone fufEcient
to render confpicuous the reign of the moft degenerate em-
perors.

The pedeftal, however, though ftill of prodigious mag-
nitude, is far from retaining its original dimenlions, as, in
order to form a proper ftation for the ftatue, and to repre-
fent an afcent, the fummit whereof the horfe is endeavour-
ing to attain, its bulk has been neceffarily diminiflied. But
I could not obferve, without regret, that the artift has been
defirous to improve upon nature ; and in order to produce
a refemblance of an abrupt broken precipice, has been too
lavifli of the chifTel. Near it was a model in plaifter, to the
fliape of which the workmen were fafliioning the pedeftal.
It appeared to me, that in this model the art was too con-
fpicuous ; and that the effe6t would have been far more
fublime, if the ftone had been left as much as poffible in its
rude ftate, a vaft unwieldy ftupendous mafs. And indeed,
unlefs I am greatly miftaken, the pedeftal, when finiflied
according to this plan, will have fcarcely breadth fufficient
to afford a proper bafe for a ftatue of fuch Coloflal lize ''^•.

* The ftatue was erefled on the pedeftal inftances of her clemency, flie pardons ail

■ on the 27th of Augiift, 1782. The cere- criminals under fentence of death ; all de-

niony was performed with great folemnity, ferters, who fliould return to their refpedive

and was accompanied with a folemn inau- corps within a limited time; and releafes

juration. At the fame time the emprefs all criminals condemned to hard labour,

iffued a proclamation, in which, among other provided they had not been guilty of murder.

Having

PETERSBURG H.

'4/t7-

Having pafled feveral months in Ruffia, I (liall here throw chap.

together luch faifts and obfervations as occurred to ine con-< ^1-

cerning the ftate of the weather, and the efFedls of the cold
in this fevere cUmate.

During our journey from Mofcow to Peterfburgh in the
month of September, we found the weather very changeable,
the autmnal rains being extremely frequent and heavy *.
The mornings and evenings were extremely cold, and, when-
ever it did not rain, we generally obferved that the grafs
and trees were covered with a white froft. Upon our arrival
at Peterfburgh on the 2 9th of September N. S. the winter
was not yet fet in: in 06tober the weather, for the firft,
twenty days, was the moft part rainy ; and the mercury, in
Fahrenheit's thermometer, was feldom below freezing point,
and moflly fludluated between 32 and 44. The firft fnow
made its appearance in fleet on the 9th, and the following
day it came down in flakes and in large quantities : on the
a4th the mercury fuddenly funk to 25 ; but in the enfuing
morning, it rofe above freez ng point, there came a fudden

* In 30 days it rained 24 ; and the quan-
•tity of water which fell at St. Peterfburgh
in the month of September O. S. was equal
to 2-| Englifli inches in depth.

From accurate obfervations during four-
teen years to afcertain the quantity of rain
and fnow which fell at St. Peterfburgh, the
refult was, that the average annual duration
of fnowy and rainy weather was equal to
42 times 24 hours, or iomething lels than
the ninth part of the year. From a courfe
of ten years obfervations it appeared, that
reign fell during fome part of 103 days, and
fnow during fome part of 72, and that if
the year was divided into twelve parts, a

fourth was fine weather, a third rain, and a 22,54; j

fifth fnow. The average quantity of rain which falls inj

The whole quantity of rain and fnow London in the courfe of a year is equal let
water, taken together, which fell ia the 19,3-^1*

thaw-

courfe of a year.

was in the following pro*

portion :

January

0,979'

February

0.979

March

0,801

April

1,246

May

i>335

June

3,116

July
Augufl

2,760
2,671

>InchcF^.

September

3,473

Oaober

^,493

November

1,513

December

0.979

4/s

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK th-aw, and all the fnow difappeared in a few hours. The
' v' 'fummer and winter are not, as in our cHmate, gradually
divided by a fpring and autumn of any length, but feem al-
moft to fucceed each other.

On the 1 5th of November the Neva - was entirely frozen,
and foon afterwards the Gulf of Finland was covered with
ice, and fledges began to pafs from Peterltbargh to Cronftadt,
the road being marked over the furface by rows of trees.

I found, that even during tlie months of December and
January, the weather was extremely changeable, as it fliifted
in a very fudden manner from a fevere froil to a thaw ; and
the mercury in the thermometer often rofe within the courie

* The freezing of the Neva is not at-
tended with any peculiarities which diftin-
guiQi it from other rivers. The following
circumtlances, which fell under my obfer-
vation, are extrafted from fnyjoiirnal,

Monday morning, Nov. 9. On Saturday
the 7th, fmali pieces, which came from the
lake Ladoga, were firll obferved floating
with the ftrcam : the fame day in the even-
ing the bridge of boats was removed, as in
thefe cales they coUcit and would carry it
away. Yefterday the pieces of ice were
more frequcirt and tr.afly : to-day they are
fmall floating illands, which alninft cover
the river ; the fdes of the Neva are frozen
only a few feet irom the banks : all the ca-
nals are covered with ice, and people are
•fcating upon them.

Nov. 12 and 13. The Neva is frozen
■above the place where the bridge was flati-

oned by the pieces of ice v.hich have col-
leifled and barred the pafliige : beloiv it the
flream is perfedly free from any floating
malTes, and the river is open for boats,
which are continually paffing to and fro.

Nov. 13. The bridge of boats is again
replaced, as there is no longer any danger
of its being carried away by the floating
mafles of ice ; and will continue during the
whole winter, a circumftance which has not
happened fince the foundation of Peterf-
burgh.

Nov. 1 5. The riKer about and below the
bridge is entirely frozen, and I iaw perfons
walking acrofs it, I am informed that yef-
terday the ice was ftrong enough to bear
foot palTengers ; this will convey fome idea
of the fevecity of the weather in this cli-
mate ; as the rapid current was open on the
13th, and on tlie next day ivas frozen.

Table of the freezing aad thawing of the lil^va for five fucceflive ye?rs, frorn ProfcfTor
Kraft 3 Obfervations :

1774. 1775. 1776.

April »

April
Nov.

Kew Style

<Jld Style

'773-

I 6

•aT

• «

May

2. 1
T

1 i

May

I a,

1777-

May

i P

Dec.

Open 21 7 days. 2.00

See Nov. Ac. Fet. for I/77. 1'. 11. p. 73,

204]

201

210

P E T E R S B U R G IT. 4-9,

of twenty hours from 20 to 34; and Aink again as rapidly chap.
in the fame fpace of time. Although I examined the ther-
mometer every day, yet I did not attempt to form a feries of
regular obfervations, which I now very much regret. 1 oc-
caiionally, indeed,, made a few remarks, which I fliall infert
in a note, as I find them fcattered in my journal ; they will
tend to confirm the truth of what I have advanced in relation
to the change of weather obfervable at Peterfburgh, and will
ferve to contradict thofe authoirs who have afferted that as
foon as the hard froit commences, the cold continues with
uniform fe verity, and with little variation, during the whole
feafon *.

When the froft was not very feverej namely, when the
mercury in Farei^eit's thennometer was not below 10, I
frequently walked out in a common great coat. When the
cold was more intenfe, I imitated the drefs of the native gen-
try, and wore, in n'vy daily excurfions through the city, a
pelijfe, or large fur cloak, fur boots or flioes, a black velvet

* Nov. 16. To-day. a thaw ; 'the then- Jan. i. 1779. Weather veiy changeable,.

niometer mounted to 40 : in the evening the thermometer one morning at — 8, the

fliarp froft again ; the mercury fallingto 20. next above freezing point: this winter it

Nov. 23, The thermometer at 4, 5, has not as yet been lower than — 13.
and 6. T^n. 6. Thc»' mometer at 14.

Dec, 3.. It. has been thefe few days 9. Tltermoine;LT at — yfj the barometer

moftly a thaw and changeable weather. mounted fuddenly very high lince laft night..

Dec. 6. The thermometer fell almofl 10. Early this morning riie thermome-

fuddenly from 33 to 10. ter at — 23, and at eleven at — 20'. Ba-

Dec. II; Thermometer Ftf — 10. ronieter' at 3o/„. The imoke of the

Dec. 14. A fudden thaw which conti- chimnies was prelled down to the ground,
nued The I 5th and 1 6th. 11. Th;."rmome:er at — zS, according to

Dec. 17. Thermometer at — 7. my own obfervation, at ten in the murning::

i8. Thermometer at — 5, and a-fog but earlier the mercry hud funk to — 31^-'

at the fame time. or 63' below freezing point,

19. Windy, thav/, thermometer nbove i;. Thermometrr. fince the nth, rofe

ficezing point. gradually; on the i^ih in th • mornirg it'

SI. Changeable weather all this week, ftood at — i ^ ; from th '.ice it fel' to o, tO'

ironi flurp froft to fudden chaw,. 15^5 and to. day ii is above freezing point,

Mtticorologicaii

4S0

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK Qj. f^j^. bonnet, that prevented the froft from nipping my

ears,

Meteorological Journal during four inonths, O.S. from the Obfervations in the Academy
of Sciences at St. Peterfburgh, 1778.

oa.

ilcloudy, fnow in great quantity
cloudy, fnow

3 cloudy, fnow

4 partly clear, pu tly fnow

5 cloudy, fnow, windy W.

6 fnow

7 cloudy, fnow and rain

9
10
II
I

fnow, windy S. W,
ftormy S. W.
rain
a cloudy, fnow, windy S.
windy N. W.
loudy, violent rain, ftormy S.
cloudy, fnow, windy S. W.

17
18

20
21

22
43

27
28

29
30

clear

fnow
cloudy
cloudy, fnow

foggy, rain
cloudy, rain

clear
clear
clear
cloudy
cloudy, fnow

cloudy, fnow

Nov. I

windy $. E. fnow

Nov. 16

clearifli

windy S. E. cloudy

windy S. E. cloudy u

windy S. E. cloudy, fnow

cloudy, rain

windy S. cloudy, fnow in great quant.

windy S. E, cloudy, fnow

cloudy, fnow in great quantity

cloudy, fnow

cloudy, fnow in great quantity

cloudy, fnow

cloudy, foggy, fnow

cloudy, fnow

cloudy

windy N. W.

cloudy, foggy

windy N. W. fnow

clearifh

cloudy, fnow

windy S. E. clearifla

windy S. E. clearifli, fnow

flormy S. cloudy

cloudy, ftorniy S. W. rain, fnow

cloudy, fnow

cloudy

windy 29 N. clearilh

clearifli

30 windy 30 N. W. clcarifh

Dec. ]

5
6

7
8

9
10
II

12
13
>4
'S

cloudy, liiow, flormy S. \V.

cloudy, Inow

cloudy, rain, fnow

cloudy

cloudy, much fnow, windy N. E.

windy N. W.

clear

cloudy, rain, fnow, flormy S. W.

wind fhifted to E.
cloudy, flormy W.
cloudy, foggy, flormy W.
windy W.

fnow, windy N. W,
windy N. W.
windy N. W.

Dec. i6|clear, ftormy W.

1 7 rain, fnow

18 rain, fnow, windy S.
iQfnow, windy S.
20jmuch fnow, windy S. E.

21 cloudy

22 windy N. E.
23jfnow, windy W.
24cloudy, fnow
25'cloudy, fnow
26 fnow, flormy S. E.

27
28
29
30
31

clear

cloudy, fnow, windy N. VvV
clear, fnow, windy W.
much fnow, windy W.

Jan.

PETERSBURG H.

481

ears, the part which I found the moft Hable to be afFeded. chap.

Durmg three days, namely, on the 9th, loth, and 1 ith of ^ ^

January, the froft was nearly as intenfe* as it had ever
been felt at Peterfburgh ; the mercury in the thermometer
falling at one time to 63 below freezing point, or—- 31.
This cold, however, did not detain me at home, but I walked
out, as ufual, with no other precaution than my peli/fe,
boots, and cap, and found it by no means unpleafant, as the
fun flione with great bi^ightnefs. As I traverfed the city
on the morning of the 1 2th, I obferved feveral perfons whofe
faces had been bitten by the froft : their cheeks had large
fears, and appeared as if they had been finged with an hot
iron. As I was walking with, an Enghfh gentleman, who,
inftead of a fur cap, had put on a common hat, his ears were
fuddenly frozen : he felt no pain, and would not have
perceived it for fome time, if a Ruffian, in paffing by, had
not informed him of it t, and affifted him in rubbing the
part affected with fnow, by which means it was inftantly

Jan.

5
6

7
8

9
10
1 1

fiio-.v, ftormy S. W.

fnow

f"ggy> fnow

fiiow

cloudy, fnow, windy S. W.

windy N.

fnow, windy N.

clear

foggy, clear

clear

clear, foggy

cloudy, windy S.
cloudy, fnow
cloudy, windy S. W.

* The winter in which profeflbr Braua
congeled quick fiher, the cold w;is fo in-
tenfe, that De Lifle's Thermometer funk to
204 3= in Fahrenheit's to — 33, or 65 be-

Vol. I. Q

Jan. i6'cloudy, llorray S. W.

i7|(;loudy, fnow, windy S. W.

18 cloudy, foggy

19 cloudy, fnow, windy W.
aocloudy, fnuw, ftorm^ S. W.
21 cloudy, fnow, windy S. W,
21 fnow

23 foggy

24 cloudy, fnow

25 (lor my W.

26 cloudy, v/indy W,
2 7 fnow

29 foggy, windy W.

30 ftormy N. W.

3 1 clear

low freezing point.

t The part frozen always turns quite
white, a fymptom well known, and imm8«
diately perceived by the Ruffians.

q q recovered.

4&Z TRAVELSINTOP. USSIA.

BOOK recovered. This or friction with flannel is the ufual remedy ;
but Ihould the perfon in that ftate approach the fire, or dip
the part in warm water, it immediately mortifies and drops
off.

The common people continued at their work as ufual, and
the drivers plied in the ftreets with their fledges feemingly
unaffedted by the fro It ; their, beards were incrufted with
clotted ice, and the horfes were covered with ificles. The
people did not (even during this extreme cold) add to their
ordinary cloathing, which is at all times well calculated for
the feverities of their climate.. They are careful in prcferv-
ing their extremities againft the cold, by covering their legs,
hands, and head with fur. Their upper garment of flieep-fliin,
with the wool turned inwards, is tied round the waifl: with
a fafli, but their neck is quite bare, and their breaft only
covered with a coarfe fliirt : thefe parts, however, are well
guarded by their beard, which is, for that reafon, of great
ufe in this country. I was greatly furprized with obferving,
that even at this time feveral women, whofe drefs differs but
little from that of the men, were engaged in wafliing upon
the Neva or on the canals. They cut holes in the ice with
an hatchet, dipped their linen into the water with their bare
hands, and then beat it with flat flicks. During this ope-
ration the ice continually formed again, and they were con-
ftantly employed in clearing it away. Many of them pafTed
two hours without intermiihon at this work, when the
thermometer was at 60 below freezing point ; a circum-
ftance which proves how the human body may be brought
to endure all extremes.

It fometimes happens that coachmen or fervants, while

they are waiting for their mailers, are frozen to death. In

order to prevent as much as pofhble thefe dreadful accidents,

6 great

/n Pyimrrr , Kii//i,iiT.

AlRUSSlANiiia Wi:^TEM. BRESS

ruhIi.r/nvi,uii^n/i'mft€^Ac{of'Par/fi!mtUirJafi:^i''ijS4-byTui.Mfm^h^ Sfra/hf

PETERSBURG H. 4§3

g^^at fires of whole trees, piled one upon another, are kindled chap. -
in the court-yard of the palace, and the moll: frequented v ^ -j
parts of the town. As the flames blazed above the tops of
the houfes, and call a glare to a confiderable diftance, I was
frequently much amufed by contemplating the picSturefque
groups of Ruffians, with their Aliatick drefs and long beards,
aflembled round the fire. The centinels upon duty, having
no beards, which are of great ufe to protedt the glands of
the throat, generally tie handkerchiefs under their chins •■•,
and cover their ears with fmall cafes of flannel.

Nothing can be more lively and diverfified than the winter
fcenes upon the Neva ; and fcarcely a day paffed that I did
not take my morning walk, or drive in a fledge upon that
river. Many carriages and fledges, and numberlefs foot
paflengers perpetually eroding it, afford a conflant fuccef-
flon of moving objedfs ; and the ice is alfo covered with dif-
ferent groups of people, difperfed or gathered together, and
varioufly employed as their fancy leads them. In one part
there are feveral long areas railed off" for the purpofe of
fcating ; a little further is an enclofure, wherein a nobleman
is training his horfes, and teaching them the various evolu-
tions of the manage, hi another part the croud are fpe6ta-
tors of what is called a fledge race. The courfe is an oblong
fpace about the length of a mile, and fufficiently broad to
turn the carriage. It can hardly be denominated a race, for
there is only a Angle fledge drawn by two horfes, and the
whole art of the driver confifts in making the fliaft-horfe
trot as faft as he can, while the other is jiuflied into a
gallop.

'•* The women life alfo this precaution,

Q q q 2 The

484 TRAVELS INTORUSSI A.

The ice-hills are exceedingly common, and afford a per-
petual fund of amiifement to the populace ; they are con-
ilrutfted in the following manner. A fcafiblding is raifed
upon the river about thirty feet in height, with a landing
place on the top, the afcent to which is by a ladder. From .
this fumniit a Hoping plain of boards, about four yards
broad and thirty long,defcends to the fuperficies of the river: .
it is fuppoited by ftrong poles gradually decrealing in height, .
and its fides are defended by a parapet of planks. Upon '~
thefe boards are laid fquare maflbs of ice about four inches
thick, which being firft fmoothed with the axe and laid clofe
to each other, are then fprinkled with water : by thefe means
they coalefce, and, adhering to the boards, immediately
form an inclined plain of pure ice. From the bottom of
this plain the fnow is cleared away for the length of 200
•yards and the breadth of four, upon the level bed of the
river ; and the fides of this courfe, as well as the fides and
top of the fcaffolding, are ornamented with firs and pines.
Each perfon, being provided with a fledge *, mounts the lad-
der ; and, having obtained the fummit, he feats himfelf
upon his fledge at the upper extremity of the inclined plain,
down which he fuffers it to glide with confiderable rapidity,
poifing it as he goes down ; when the velocity, acquired by
the defcent, carries it above 100 yards upon the level ice of
the river. At the end of this courfe, there is ufually a fimilar
ice-hill, nearly parallel to the former, w hich begins where,
the other ends ; fo that the perfon immediately mounts
again, and, in the fame manner, glides down the other in-
clined plain of ice. This diverfion he repeats as often as he
pleaies. I have frequently flood for above an hour at the

* Something like a butclier's tray, as Dr. King juflly obferves in his ingenious pam-
phlet on the eticiits of cold in RulPia.

7 bottom ■

PETERSBURG H. ^85

bottom of thefe ice-hills, obferving the fledges following chap,
each other with inconceivable rapidity ; but I never had the
courage myielf to try the experiment. The only difficulty
conlifts in Iteering and poiling the Hedge as it is hurried
down the inclined plain ; for if the perfon who fits upon it is
not fteady, but totters either through inadvertence or fear, he
is liable to be overturned, and runs no fmall rilk of breaking
his bones, if not his neck. And, as one failure might have
proved fatal, I contented myfelf with feeing others engaged
in the diverlion without partaking of it myfelf. The boys
alfo are continually employed in fcating down thefe hills :
they glide chiefly upon one fcate, as they are able to poife
themlelves better upon one leg than upon two. Thefe ice-
hills exhibit a pleafmg appearance upon the river, as well
from the trees with which they are ornamented, as from the
moving ol«je6ts which, at particular times of the day, are
conftantly defcending without intermiffion.

The market upon the Neva is too remarkable to be
omitted. At the conclufion of the long faft which clofes on
the 24th of December, O. S. the Ruffians lay-in their pro-
vifions for the remaining part of the winter. For this.pur-
pofe an annual market, which lafts three days, is held upon
the river near the fortrefs. A long ftreet, above a mile in
length, was lined on each fide with an immenfe ftoreof pro-
vifions, fufficient for the fupply of the capital for the next
three months. Many thoufand raw carcafles of oxen, fheep,
hogs, pigs, together with geefe, fowls, and every fpecies of
frozen food, were expofed for fale. The larger quadrupeds
were grouped in various circles upright, their hind legs fixed
in the fnow, with their heads and fore legs turned to-
wards each other. Thefe towered above the reft, and occu-
pied the hindermoft row ; next to them fucceeded a regular

feries

486 TRAVELSINTO RUSSIA.

BOOK feries of animals, defcencUng gradually to thefmalleft, inter-
mixed with poultry and game hanging in feitoons, and gar-
nillied with heaps of filh, butter, and eggs.

I ibon perceived that there were no laws for the prohibi-
tion of felling game in this country, from the profufion of
that article, particularly of partridges, pheafants, moorfowl,
and cocks of the wood. 1 obferved alfo the truth of what
has been frequently afferted, that many of the birds, as well
as fevcral animals, in thefe northern regions, become white in
winter, many hundred black cocks being changed to that
colour ; and fome, which had been taken before they had
completed their metajuorphofis^ exhibited a variegated mix-
ture of black and white plumage.

The moft diftant quarters helped to fupply this vafl ftore
of provifions ; and the fineft veal had been fent by land-
carriage as far as from Archangel, which is fituated at the
diftance of 830 miles from Peterfburgh ; yet every fpecies
of food is furprizingly cheap : beef was fold at \d. theRuflian
pound*, pork at five farthings, and mutton at \'-d.\ a goofe
for I od. and a pig for %d. and all other articles as cheap in
proportion, hi order to render this frozen food fit for
di'effing, it is firrt thawed in cold water.

* A Ruffian pound contains 14 ounces and |.

CHAP.

[ 487 ]

CHAP. IV.

Prefentation to the emprefs. — Court. — Bal/s. — Mafquerades,
— Publick entertainments. — Orders of knighthood. — Ac-
count of the palace called the Hermitage. — Dijiribution of
the Emprejfes time. — Ruffian nobility. — l^heir hofpitality,
— Politenefs. — AJfemblies. — Engliih merchants. — Club.-

ON the firft of October, in the morning, between eleven chap.
and twelve, we attended our minifter, Sir James Harris, '^^•
to the drawing room, impatient to behold Catharine II. It
was luckily the name-day, or, as we term it, the birth-
day of the Great-duke, in honour of whom a moft brilliant
court was afTembled. At the entrance into the drawing
room flood two centinels of the foot-guards : their uniform
was a green coat, with a red cufF and cape, and white waift-
coat and breeches ; they had filver helmets faftened uiider
the chin with filver clafps, and ornamented with an ample
plume of red, yellow, black, and white feathers. Within the
drawing room, at the doors of the paiTage leading to her
majefty's apartments, were two foldiers of the knights body-
guard ; a corps perhaps more fumptuoufly accoutred than
any in Europe. They wore cafques, like thofe of the antients,
with a rich plumage of black feathers, and their whole drefs
was in the fame ftyle : chains and broad pla<"e3 of folid filver
were braided over their uniforms, fo as to bear the appear-
ance of a rich coat of mail ; and their boots were richly or-
namented with the fame metal, .

la.

483 TRAVETLSINTORUSSIA,

111 the drawing room we found a numerous affembly of
foreign miniiters, Ruffian nobility, and officers in their dif-
ferent uniforms, waiting the arrival of the emprefs, who was
attending divine fervice in the chapel of the palace, whither
we alfo repaired. Amid a prodigious concourle of nobles,
I obferved beyond the foremoft the emprefs Handing by her-
felf behind a railing, the only diftin6tion by which her place
was marked. Immediately next to her flood the great-duke
and duchefs ; and behind an indifcriminate throng of
courtiers. The emprefs bowed repeatedly, and frequently
crofled herfelf, according to the forms ufed in the Greek
church, with great expreffions of devotion. Before the
conclufion of the fervice we returned to the drawing room,
and took our ftation near the door, in order to be prtfented
at her majelf y's entrance. At length, a little before twelve,
the chief officers of the houihold, the miltrefs of the robeSk,
the maids of honour, and other ladies of the bed chamber,
advancing two by two in a long train, announced the ap-
proach of their fovereign. Her majefty came forward with
a flow and folemn pace, walking with great pomp, holding
her head very high, and perpetually bov/ing to the right and
to the left as flie p-iifed along. She flopped- a little way
within the entrance of the drawing room, and fpoke with
great afflibility to the foreign minifters while they kifled her
hand. She then advanced a few fteps, and we were fingly
prefented by the vice-chancellor Count Oflerman, and had
the honour of kiffing her majefty's hand. The emprefs
wore, according to her ufualcuflom, aRuflinn drefs, namely,
a robe with a lliort train, and a veft wiLh fleeves reaching
to the wrift, like a Polonaife ; the vefl was of gold brocade,
and the robe was of light green lilk; her hair was drelTed
low, and lightly fprinkled with powder : Ihe wore a cap fct

thick

PETERSBURG H. 489

thick with diamonds, and had a great deal of rouge. Her chap.
perfon, though rather below the middle llze, is majeftick,' — .^i-j
and her countenance, particularly when fliefpeaks, exprelies
both dignity and fweetnefs. She walked llowly through
the drawing room to her apartment, and entered alone. The
great-duke and dachefs followed the emprefs to the door,
and then retired to their own drawing room, where they
had a levee ; but, as we had not yet been prefented to them
at a private audience, we could not, according to the etiquette
of the Ruffian court, follow them. The great-duchefs
leaned upon the arm of his imperial highnefs ; and they
both inclined their heads on either fide to the company as
they paired along the line which was formed for them.

In the afternoon, about fix o'clock, we repaired to a ball
at court. The private apartments of the emprefs, as well
as thofe in which flie holds her court, are on the third ftory,
and the whole fuite is remarkably grand and fplendid. We
found the company aflembled in the anti-chamber, who, as
foon as the great-duke and duchefs made their appearance,
all entered a fpacious ball-room.

The great-duke opened the ball by walking a minuet
with his confort ; at the end of which his imperial highnefs
lianded out a lady, and the great-duchefs a gentleman, with
whom they each performed a fecond minuet at the fame
time. They afterwards facceffively conferred this honour
in the fame manner upon many of the principal nobility,
while leveral other couples were dancing minuets in different
parts of the circle : the minuets were fucceeded by Polifli
dances ; and thefe were followed by Englilh country-dances.
In the midtl of the latter the emprefs entered the room : Ihe

Vol. I. R r r was

490 T BL A V E L S I N T O R U S S r A.

BOOK ^3g more richly apparelled than in the morning, and bore
' — ^ n])on her head a Imall crown of diamonds.

Upon her majcfty's appearance tlie ball was inftantly hx'i-
pended ; while the great-dvake and tkuhefs, autl the xwo^
Gonfiderable perfons who were prefent^ haftened to pay their
refpe*fts to their fovereign : Catharine, having addrefled a
few words tolbme ot" the principal nobility, afcended a kind
of elevated leat ; when, the dancing being again refumed,
flie, after a lliort time, withdrew into an inner apiutment.
We, in company with feveral courtiers, threw ourfelves into
her majefty's fuite, and formed a circle round a table, at
which fhe had lat down to cards. Her party confiikd of
the Dachefs of Courland, Countefs Bruce, Sir James Harrip,
Prince Potemkin, MarflialRofomoulki, Count Panin, Prince
Repnin, and Count Ivan Tchernichef. The game was-
Macao ; the pieces in circulation were imperials-'^ ; and a
player might win or lofe two or three hundred pounds.

In the courfe of tlie evening the great-duke and duchefs
prefented themlelves before the emprefs, and ftood by the
table for about a quarter of an hour,, during which time her.
majelly occaiionally entered into converfation with them.
The emprefs feemed to pay very little attention to the cards,,
converfed familiarly and frequently with great vivacity, as
well with the party at play, as with the perfons of rank
Handing near her. About ten her majefty retired, and foon
after the ball concluded.

On the 6th we had the honour of being prefented at a
private audience to the great-duke and d.i>chefs ; both of
•whom converfed with us in the moft affable and condefcend-
ing manner i according to the etiquette of this court, we.
kiifed her imperial highneffes hand.

* An imperial «= /:. 's-

' 5 There

PETERSBURG H. 491

There is a drawing room at court every Sunday morning, chap.
about twelve o'clock, and on other particular fellivais, at _ ^-1-/
which the embafladors are ufually prefent, and which all
foreign gentlemen, w^ho have been once preiented, are per-
mitted to attend : the ceremony of killing the emprelTes
hand is repeated every court day by foreigners in the pre-
fence chamber, and by the Ruflians in another apartment :
the latter bend their knee on this occafion ; an expreffion
of homage not exad:ed from the former. No ladies, ex-
cepting thofe of the emprefies houfliold, make their appear-
ance at the morning levees.

On every court day the great-duke and duchefs have
alfo their feparate levees at their ow^n apartments in the pa-
lace. Upon particular occafions, fuch as her own and the
emprelTes birth day, 8cc. foreigners have the honour of
killing her imperial highnefles hand ; but upon common
days that ceremony is omitted.

In the evening of a court day there is always a ball at the
palace, which begins between fix and feven. At that time
the foreign ladies kifs the cmpreffes hand, who fakites
them in return on tlie cheek- Her majefty, unlefs flie is
indifpofed, generally makes her appearance about feven ;^
and, if the aflembly is not very numerous, plays at Macao
in the ball-room ; and the great-duke and duchefs, afrer
they have danced, fit down to whift. Their highnefles,
after a lliort interval, rife, approach the emprelTes table, pay
their refpedfs, and then return to their game. When the
ball happens to be crouded, the emprefs forms her party,
as I have befoi^e- mentioned, in an adjoining room, which is
open to all perfons wlio have once been prefented.

The richnefs and fplendour of theRuflian court furpnfies
all the ideas which the moll elaborate defcriptiuns can fug

R r r 2 geft.

4^2

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK ggf^^ It retains many traces of its antient Afiatick pomp>
blended with European refinement. An immenfe retinue
of courtiers always preceded and followed the emprefs ; the
coftlinefs and glare of their apparel, and a profufion of pre-
cious ftones, created a fplendour, of which the magnificence
of other court? can give us only a faint idea. The court-
drefs of the men is in the French fafliion : that of the ladies
is a gown and petticoat, with a fmall hoop ; the gown has
long hanging-fleeves and a fliort train, and is of a different
colour from the petticoat. The ladies \vore, according to
the fafliion of the winter of 1777 at Paris and London, very
lofty head-drcfles, and were not iparing in the ufe of rouge^
Amid the feveral articles of furaptuovifnefs which diftinguifli
the Ruffian nobility, there is none perhaps more calculated
to ftrike a foreigner than the profufion of diamonds ai^d
other precious fi:ones, which fparkle in every part of their
drels. In mod other European countries thefe coftly orna-
ments are (excepting among a few of the richefi: and principal
nobles) almofl: entirely appropriated to the ladies; but in
this the men vie with the fair fex in the ufe of them. Many
of the nobility were almoft covered with diamonds ; their
buttons, buckles, hilts of fwords,and epaulets, were compofed
of this valuable material ; their hats were frequently em-
broidered, if I may ufe the cxpreflion, with feveral rows of
them : and a diamond-ftar upon the coat was fcarcely a dif-
tindion. This pafiion for jewels feems to pervade tbe
lower ranks of people, for even private families abound with
them ; and the wife of a common Ruffian burgher will ap-
pear with a head-drefs or girdle of pearls, and other precious
Hones, to the value of two or three hundred pounds.

After this general and particular defcription of the court
of Ruffia, it would be tedious to enumerate every particular

time

P E T E R S B U R- G H.

49'

time we attended the drawing: room. 1 fhall therefore only chap,

IV,

dwell upon fome days when the folemnity of the occafion - , ■
added fome variety to the general famenefs which charac-
terifes a court.

The emprefs, in days of high ceremony, generally wears
a crown of diamonds of immenfe value, and appears with
the ribbands of the order of St. Andrew and Merit, flung both
over the fame llioulder, with the collars of thofe ordersj
and the two ftars emblazoned one above the other upon
her veft.

On certain anniverfaries the emprefs dines in publick ;
two of thefe days occurred in the courfe of our ftay at Pe~
terfburgh. The 2d of December being the feaft of the So-
mohilof regiment of guards, her majelly, who as fovereign
is colonel of the corps, gave, according to annual cuftom, a
grand entertainment to the officers. Being defirous to be
prefent, we repaired to court at twelve. Her majelty was
drefled in the uniform of the regiment, which is green
trimmed with gold lace, made in the form of a lady's riding
habit. As foon as all the officers of the regiment had kilTed
her hand, a falver of wine was brought in by one of the
lords in waiting, and the emprefs prefented a glafs to each-
officer, who received it from her hands, and, after a low
obeifance, drank it off. At the concluflon of this ceremony
her majelfy led the way, about one o'clock, into an adjoining
apartment, in which a fumptuous dinner was fpread : flie
took her place in the middle of the table ; and the officers
were ranged on each fide according to their refpe6tive ranks.
The emprefs helped the foup herfelf, and paid the greateft
attention to her guefts during the whole repaft, which lafted
about an hour,, when her majeity rofe from table and with-
drew.

On--

494. TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK On a fubfequent occafion we attended another entertain-
^ / _■ ment, given by the emprels to the knights of the order of St.
Andrew. Her majefty had on a robe of green velvet, Uned and
faced with ermine, and a diamond collar of the order. The
drefs of the knights was fplendid, but exceedingly gaudy and
inelegant. They wore a green velvet robe, lined with lilver
brocade, a coat alfo of filver brocade, waiftcoat and breeches
of gold ftuff, red filk llockings, a hat a la Henry IF. orna-
mented with a plume of feathers, and interfijerfed with dia-
monds. As the order of St. Andrev/ is the moil: honour-
able in this country, it is confined to a few i^erfons of the
firit rank and confequence ; and there v/ere only twelve of
them at Peterfburgh who fat down to dinner with the em-
prefs ; thefe were Prince Potemkin, Prince Orlof, Marflial
Galitzin, Counts Alexey Orlof, Panin, Rofomouflvi, Ivan
Tchernichef, Voronzof, Alexander and Leon Nariikin, Mu-
nich, and Mr. de Betikoi. The emprefs before dinner, as
on the former occafion, prefented each knight %vith a glais
of wine : at the table flie was diftinguiflied by a chair orna-
mented with the arms of RuHia, and prefided with her ufual
dignity and condefcenfion. The foreign minillers and a
fplendid train of courtiers flood fpe6lators of the entertain-
ment, and many of them were occafionally noticed by the
emprefs.

The order of St. Andrew, or the Blue Ribband, tlie firft
ever known in this country, was inllitutcd by Peter I. in the
year i 698, foon after his return from his firft expedition
into foreign countries •'.

That of St. Alexander Nevfl<.i, or the Red Ribb;ind, was
created by the fame fovereign, but never conferred until the
"eiga of Catharine I. in 1723 t.

* Weber's Ver. RulT. Tan 111. p. lin. -f Ibid. p. j8.

Th(

P E T E R S B U R G H. 49.

The order of St. Anne of Holilein was inftitutcJ., in 1735,
by Charles Frederick duke of HoUlein, in menioi y of his
wife Anne daughter of Peter the Great, and intnxUued into
Rullia by her fon Peter HI. It is in the difpofal of the
great-duke as fovereign of Holflehi. The knights vveai a red
ribband bordered with yellow.

The military order of St. George, call-ed alfo the order of
Merit, and which has the precedence over that of St. Anne,
was created by the prefent emprefs in 1769. It is ajipro-
priated to perfons fcrving by land or by fea, and is never
bellowed in time of peace. The knights wear a ribband
with black and orange ftripes.

This order is divided into four claffes ;

The knights of the firlf clafs,^ called the Great Crofs, wear
the ribband over the right flioulder, and the flar upon the
left fide. Each receives an annual falary of 700 roubles

= ^140-

The knights of the fecond clafs wear the ftarupon their

left brealf, the ribband with the crofs pendent round their

neck. Each receives 400 roubles = ^'60 per ann.

The knights of the third chvis wear the fmall crofs pen-
dent round their neck. Each receives 200 roubles, or ^("40
per ann. This clafs admits 50^.

The knights of the fourth clafs wear the fmall crofs faf-
tened by a ribband to the button-hole like the French Croix
de St. Louis. Each receives 100 roubles, ov £10. per ann.

The fund of this order, affigned by the emprefs for the
payment of their falaries and other expences, is 40,000
roubles - ^Z^ooo per a7in. Of this 1680 is dellined for
the firft clafs ; and 2000 for each of the remaining three.

The number of knights is unlimited. In 1778 the firft
clafs, which is confined to commanders in chief, contained

only

496 :T R A V E L S I N T O R U S S I A.

BOOK Qjjiy four; namely, Marilial Romanzof, for his vi(5lories ovei"
' — .-l^the Turks; Count Alexey Orlof, for burning the Turkiili
fleet at Tchefmer ; Count Panin, for the taking of Bender.;
and Prince Dolgorucki, for his conquefts in the Crimea.

The fecond clafs comprifed only eight knights : the third
48 ; and the fourth 237.

No perfon can obtain this order without having performed
fome gallant exploit, or having ferved with credit in the
rank of officer 25 years by land, or 18 by fea*.

There is alfo the order of St. Catharine, appropriated to
the ladies ; it was inRituted in 1.7 14 by Peter, in honour of
his wife Catharine. The motto of " Love and fidelity" was
intended to commemorate the difplay of thofe virtues in her
behaviour on the banks of the Pruth.

This order is extremely honourable, as, befide the em-
prefs, the great-dutchefs, and a few foreign princeffcs, only
five RulTian ladies were decorated with it.

The order of St. Andrew is the firft and moft honourable
of thefe, which, befide the Ibvereign princes and foreigners,
comprifed, in 1778, 26 Ruffians; that of St. Alexander
Nevlki 109; and that of St. Anne 208. The emprefs
may alio be faid to have the difpofal of the Polifh orders of
the White Eagle and of St. Staniflaus.

Since our departure from Ruffia her majeity inftituted, on
the 4thofO<51ol>er, 1782, a new order, called St. Volodimir,
in favour of thofe who ferve in civil employments ; and it
is nearly on the fame footing as that of St. George with
refpe6l to the falaries annexed to the different claffes. There
are to be ten great crofles, twenty of the fecond clafs, thirty
of the third, and lixty of the fourth, befide a fifth for thofo
who have ferved 35 years, which gives them a right to wear it.

* Sec Ukaft; uebtr die Siifiunj tk-s St, Georg's^Ordcns, in Sciiraidts Btytn^c.

-7 Two

PETERS B^URGH.

♦or

lr Two or three times in the winter there are rtiafquerades chap.
at court, to which perfons of all ranks are admitted. At one'— _v^
of thefe entertainments which we attended, about eight
thoufand tickets were diftributed ; and from the great con-
courfe I lliould fuppofe that number to have been a6lually
prefent. A magnificent fuite of twenty apartments were
opened on this occafion, all handfomely illuminated. One
of thefe apartments, a large oblong room, the fame in which
the common balls at court are held, had a fpace in the mid-
dle enclofed with a low railing, appropriated to the nobility
who danced. A moft elegant faloon of an oval form, called
the great-hall of Apollo, nearly as big as the rotunda at Rane-
lagh, but without any fupport in the middle, was allotted for
the dances of the burghers, and other perfons, who had not
been prefented at court. The remaining rooms, in which
tea and other refrefhments were ferved, were filled with
card-tables, and crouded with perfons continually palling and
re-pafling. All the company had on their mafks, or took
them off at their pleafure. The nobles in general wore
dominos ; the natives of inferior rank appeared in their own
provincial clothes, embellifhed, perhaps, with a few occafi-
onal ornaments. An exhibition of the feveral drefles actu-
ally ufed by the different inhabitants of the Ruffian empire,
afforded a greater variety of motley figures than the wildefl
fancy ever invented in the mafquerades of other countries.
Several merchants wives were decked with large quantities
of valuable pearls, many of which were fplit in halves for
the purpofe of making more fliow.

About feven the emprefs made her appearance at the head
of a fuperb quadrille^ confifling of eight ladies led by as
many gentlemen. Her majefty and the other ladies of

Vol. I. S s s this

498 T. R A V E L S I N T O RUSSIA.

BOOK ^^js felevSl band were moft fumptuoufly apparelled in Greefc
N_v—' -habits ; and the gentlemen were accoutred in the Roman
military garb, their helmets richly ftudded with diamonds:
among the ladies I- particularly diftinguifhed the Duchefs of
Gourland, Princefs Rep in, and Countefs Bruce. Among
the gentlemen. Prince Potemkin, Marlhal Rofomoufki, and
Count Ivan Tchernichef. The emprefs led the way, lean-
ing upon the arm of Marllial Rofomoufki, and, paffing in
great itate through the feveral apartments, walked two or
three times round the hali'of Apollo, and then fat down to
cards in one of the adjoining rooms ; the company flocked
thither in crouds without diil:in6lion, and arranged them-
felves as they could find admittance round the table at a re^
fpe^fal diftance. The emprefs withdrew as ufual beibre
eleven.

A few days before our departure from Peterfburgh, Baron
Nolken, minifter from the court of- Stockholm, gave a.
mafquerade and ball on the birth of a fon to the prefent
king of Sweden, which the emprefs, great-duke and dutchefsj
honoured with their prefence-. Five hundred perfens of the
nobility were invited, together with the embaffadors, and
other foreigners who had been prefented at court. The
ball began at feven : tiie great-duke and dutchefs firft made
their appearance with a fmali fuite, and foon afterwards her
imperial majefty arrived at the head of a quadrille^ confifling
of nearly the fame perfons as at that lately defcrihed at
court. Madame Nolken conduced her" majefty and her
party through the ball-room tO' an inner apaftment, where
a rich canopy was ere<Eted for the occafion, wnder which fhe
fat down. to Macao. At;nine airnaM table was fpread, with
little ceremony, for the emprefs and her quadrille^ in the
iame room where they were eiigaged at cards Her majefty.

P E T E R S B U' R G H« " ^^9

who never fups, took nothing but a piece of bread and a chap.

glafs of wine. At the fame time a molt fplendid entertain-* J..^

ment was ferved in a large faloon to the great-duke and
dutchefs and the reJft of the company. Their imperial high-
nefles were feated at a central table, with a party of about
thirty perfons ; and the remaining gentlemen and ladies
were diftributed at different tables, which ran round the
fides of the room. The cheerfulnefs and complacency of
the great-duke and dutchefs, the attentioii and politenefs of
Baron Nolken and his lady, diffufed an univerfal gaiety
-throughout the aflembly, and rendered the entertainment
as agreeable as it was fplendid.

A fepai"ate edifice of brick ftuccoed white, called the Her-
mitage, communicates with the palace by means of a covered
gallery. It takes its appellation from its being the fcene of
imperial retirement, but bears no other r^femblance to an
•lierraitage except in its name, the apartments being ex-
tremely fpacious, and decorated in a fuperb flyle of regal
magnificence. To this favourite fpot the emprefs ufuaily
repairs for an hour or two icvery day ; and on a Thurfday
evening flie gives a private ball and fupper to the principal
perfons who form her court; foreign minifters and foreign
noblemen being feldom invited. At this entertainment all
ceremony is faid to be banifhed, as far as js xonfiftent with
that refpe(5t which is involuntarily paid to a great fovereign.
The attendance of fervants is excluded, while the fupper and
various refrefliments :y:e prefented on fmall tables, which
emerge through trap-doors. Many .diredions for the re-
gulation of this felecft fociety are difpofed in the various
rpartments : the meaning of thofe written in ;the Ruffian

S s § % tong^ie

5o5>- TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOH tongue was explained to me by a gentleman of the company,
and their general tendency was to encourage freedom from
etiquette, and to inculcate the moft imreftrained eafe of be-
haviour. One written in the French language I compre-
hended and retained. " AJj'cyez vous ou vous voulezy et
*' quand il vous piaira, fans qiCon le repete mille fois *."

Tiiis hermitage contains a numerous aflemblage of pi(51:ures,
chiefly purchafed by her prefent majefty. Its principal or-
nament was the celebrated colle6lion of Croflaf, which de-
volved by heritage to the Baron de Thieres, upon whofe
death the emprefs purchafed it from his heirs. The
Houghton colledlion, the lofs of which every lover of the
arts in England mull fmcerely regret, will form a molt va-
luable accefllon.

A winter and fummer garden, comprifed within the fite
of the building, are lingular curiofities, and fuch as do not,
perhaps, occur in any other palace in Europe. The fummer
garden, in the true Aliatick ftyle, occupies the whole level
top of the edifice : at this feafon of the year it was entirely
buried under the fnow, which prevented o;ir viewing it.
The winter-garden is entirely roofed and furrounded with
glafs frames : it is an high and fpacious hot-houfe, laid out
in gravel walks, ornamented with parterres of flowers, orange
trees and other flirubs, and peopled with feveral birds of
fundry forts and various climates, which flitted from tree to
tree. The whole exhibited a pleafing effeft, and was the
more delightful as being contrafted with the difmal and
dreary feafon of the year.

The ordinary diftribution of the emprelTes time at Peterf-
burgh, as far as I could collect from inquiries which I had

• Sit down where jou chufe and when you pleafe, witlxout its being repeated to you
a thoufaad times.

many

PETERSBURG H.

501

many opportunities of making, as it concerns fo great a cIRap.
princefs, cannot be unacceptable to the reader. ' — A-*

Her majefty ufually rifes about fix, and is engaged till
eight or nine in publick bufinefs with her fecretary. At ten
Ihe generally begins her toilet ; and while her hair is
dreffing, the minifters of ftate, and her aid-de-camps in
waiting, pay their relpeds and receive their orders. Being
drelTed about eleven, fhe fends for her grand -children the
young princes Alexander and Conftantine, or vifits them in
their own apartment. Before dinner Ihe receives a villt
from the great-duke and dutchefs : and fits down to table
rather before one. She has always company at dinner,
ufually about nine perfons, confiiling of the generals and
lords in waiting, a lady of the bed chamber, a maid of ho-
nour, and two or three of the Ruffian nobility, whom flie
invites. Their imperial highneffes dine with her three times
in the week, on which days the party is encreafed to
eighteen perfons. The lord of the bed chamber in waiting,
who always fits oppofite to the emprefs, carves one difii and
prefents it to her ; an attention, which, after having once
politely accepted, fiie afterwards difpenfes with. Her ma-
jeflry is remarkably temperate, and is feldom at table more
than an hour. From thence fbe retires to her own apart-
ment ; and about three frequently repairs to her library in
the Hermitage. At five flie goes to the theatre ••', or to a
private concert ; and, when there is no court in the evening,
has a private party at cards. She feldom fups, generally
retires at half paft ten, and is ufually in bed before eleven.

The great-duke is extremely fond of the manage ; and,
two or three times in the week, takes the diverfion of a tour-

* An Italian opera, a fet of Ruffian and another of French players were, in i7;8,
inaLntttined at her majefty's expence, at which the fpeftators were admitted gratis.

I n anient,

5oi T.R A V E L S I N T O RUSSIA.

BOOK i-uiment, which is thus defcribed in my friend Colonel Floyd's
. ' . Journal : ** Count Orlof, having obtained the great-duke's
" pcrmiffion for me to attend the manage of the court, I
*< accordingly went this morning to fee a tournament. His
" imperial highnefs and eleven of his nobles, drefled in uni-
<' forms of buff and gold, and armed with a lance, fword,
" and pillols, were affembled by nine o'clock, although it
*' was as yet dulk. The great-duke drew them up by pairs,
" and upon the found of the trumpet, himfelf and the
" knights immediately mounted their horfes, and retired in
" due order without the rails. Two rings were fufpended on
" oppofitc fides of the walls on each fide of the manage;
<' at each corner was a moor's. head of pafteboai-d, or, an
*' apple fixed iii)on a pole, and between them two heads
" with a fquib in their mouths. Thefe were all placed upon
*' {lands almoft as high as a man on horfe-back, and at fome
" paces from the wall ; at each end was alfo an helmet of
" parteboard raifed upon a ftand about a foot from the
^' ground, and about four from the wall. The two judges,
" with Lord Herbert and myfelf, who were theonly fpedators,
*' took our ftation on the outfide the rail. .Upon a fecond
" ilgnal from the trun^pet two knights entered at oppofite
" ends of the manage. A band of mufick played a quick
" air, while each knight, galloping his horfe to the right,
" and making a volt, faluted with their lances at the iame
" time ; then, continuing their courfe round the manage,
" each ran with his lance, iirrt at the rings fufpended from
" the walls, and next at the moor's heads ; after which they
*' delivered their lances, as tl'vey went on, to their fervants on
*' foot. The knights then drew their piilols, and each
" making a fecond volt round the other heads, difcharged

" them

P E T E R S B U R G H. 503

*' liiem ill order to fet fire to the fquib ; then, piu-fuing chap.
**■• their courfe round the manage, they drew their fvvnnlsj . ' ■
** and, making a third volt round the apple, endeavoured
" to ftrike it. to the ground. They finiflied their career
*' by {looping dawn and, as they galloped by, thrufting their
" fwords. through the helmets ; then poifing them in the air,
" they met in the middle, and, riding towards- the judge,
"'fainted him, related the attempts in which they had fuc-
*' ceeded, and demanded their prizes : the prize was about
"-four fliillings for each atchievement, and an equal value ..
"was paid for every failure.

" The whole wa3 performed on a continued gallop, and .
" always,tc>the right, hi running at the ring, the head, or
" the, helmet, it is efteeraed honourable to put the horfeinto
** -full career, which encreafeS' the difficulty.^ The Judg«
"having beftovved the rewards, or taken the forfeits, ordered
"the two knights to retire. The trumpet again foundinif,
**-two others made thjeir-appecirance, and perforncied the
" fame- manoeuvres,

"This exercife was repeated twice by each ' pair o-f
" knights. The whiole troop then entered at the- fame time,
" marched, charged, formed, drew and returned their fwords,
" and difmounted by word of command from the great-duke.
" At the conclufion they adjourned to the fire, chocolate was
" brought in, and, after a fhort converfation, the great-duke
" bov/ed,-and retired.^ '

The Ruffian nobility of Peterfciurgh kreno lefs than thrife
of Mofcovv dillinguiflied for their hofpitality towards fo^
reigners. We were no -fooner presented to a perfon of rank
and fortune, than we were regarded in the light of domeftick
vifitants. Many of the noblity keep an open table, to which
one invitation was confidered as a Handing pafsport of ad-

miffiou

^o^ TRAVELS INTORUSSI A.

BOOK miffion. The only ceremony neceflary to be obferved on
v-i^Ljthis occafion was to make inqviiry in the morning if the
mailer of the houfe dined at home ; and if he did, we,
without further ceremony, prefented oui-felves at his table.
The oftener we appeared at thefe hofpitable boards, the more
acceptable guefts we were efteemed ; and we always feemed
to confer, inftead of receiving, an obligation.

The tables were ferved with great profufion and tafte.
Though the Ruffians have adopted the delicacies of French
cookery, yet they neither afFedt to defpife their native diflies,
nor fqueamillily reje6t the folid joints which characflerize our
repafts. The plaineft, as well as the choiceft viands, were
coileiled from the moft diftant quarters : 1 have fre-
quently feen at the fame time fterlet from the Volga, veal
from Archangel, mutton from Aftr^chan, beef from the
Ukraine, and pheafantS',from Hungary and Bohemia. Their
common wines are chiefly claret. Burgundy, and Champaigne,
and I never tailed Englifh beer and porter in greater per-
feilion and abundance. Before dinner, even in the houfes
of perlbns of the firil diftin(5lion, a fmall table is fpread in a
corner of the drawing room, covered with plates of caviare,
dried and pickled nerrings, fmoked ham or tongue, bread,
butter, and cheefe, together with bottles of different liqueurs \
and few of the company of either fex omitted a prelude of
this kind to the main entertainment. This prad:ice has in-
duced many travellers to relate, that the Ruffians fwallov/
bowls of brandy before dinner. What are the ufages of the
vulgar in this particular I cannot determine ; but among the
nobility I never obferved the leaii violation of the moft ex-
treme fobriety : and this cuftom of taking liqueur before
dinner, confidering the extreme fmallnefs of theglaffes ufed
on this occalion, is a very innocent refrefliment, and will

not

P E T E R S B U R G H. 505

not convey the fainted idea of fuccefs. Indeed the Ruffians chap.

in no other wife differ from the French in this inftance, than > .' '
that they tafte a glafs of //^z/^^^r before their repaft, while the
latter defer it till after dinner.

The ufual hour of dining is at three : their entertain-
ments are moftly regulated according to the French ceremo-
nial, the wine being circulated during meals ; and the diflies
are no fooner removed than the company retire from table
into another room, and are immediately ferved with coffee.
Nor do the gentlemen, as in England, continue wedded to the
bottle, while the ladies withdraw into a feparate apartment.

Several of the nobility alfo receive company every even-
ing in the moft eafy manner : the parties ufually met about
feven ; fome fat down to whifl, macao, loo, and other games,
fome converfed, and others danced. Amid the refrefliments
tea was handed round no lefs frequently than in England.
At ten fupper was brought in, and the party generally
broke up between eleven and twelve. It is no exaggeration
to fay, that, during our continuance in this city, not one
evening paffed but we had it in our power to attend an
afTembly of this fort ; and if we had always frequented
the fame, we fliould always have found the greatefl
cordiafity of reception. From thefe circumftances there is
perhaps no metropolis in Europe, excepting Vienna, which
is rendered more agreeable to foreigners than Peterfburgh.

The houfes of the nobility are furniihed with great ele-
gance, and the fuite of apartments in which they receive
company is uncommonly fplendid. They are fitted up in
the ftyle of London and Paris, and the new fafliions make
their appearance as foon as in thofe two capitals.

I have, on a former occaiion, defcribed the modes of fa-
lutation pradlifed by the peafants and common people ; I

Vol. I. T t t fhall

5o6 T R A V. E L S I N T O' R U S S 1 A;

BOOK (hall here mention thofe which I obferved in vife among

« ,_L^perfons of higher rank. I'he gentlemen bow very low,

and the ladies incline their heads inflead of curtfying. Some-
times the gentlemen kifs the ladies hands as a mark of re-
fped,. which is ufual in many countries ; if the parties are
well acquainted, or of equal condition, or if the; lady is will-
ing to pay a compliment, Ihe falutes his cheek while he is
kiffing her hand. Frequently, while fhe ftoops to touch his
cheek, he takes that opportunity of laluting her. I have
often obfervcd this ceremony performed and repeated, as
well in the drawing room at court, as at the different affem-
blies. If the gentleman is a perfon.of very high rank, the
lady offers firft to kifs his hand, which he prevents by dilut-
ing her on the cheek. The men,, and particularly relation?,
exchange falutes in this manner, each kiffing the other's
hand at the fame inftant, and afterwards their cheeks.

The Ruffians, in their ufual mode of addrefs, never pre-
fix any title or appellation of refpecSt to their n?.mes ; but
perfons of all ranks, even thofe of the firft diilintSlions, call
each other by their chriftian names, to which they add a
patronymick. Thefe patronymicks are formed in fome
cafes by adding Vitch ■••• to the Chriftian name of the father^
in others by Of or Ef ; the former is applied only to perfons
of condition, the latter to thofe of inferior rank. Thus,

Peter Alexievltch "I Peter the fon of
Peter Alexeof J Alexey.

The female patronymick is Efna, or Ofna, as Sophia Alexe-
efna, or Sophia the daughter of Alexey i Maria Ivanofna,
or Maria the daughter of Ivan.

• Vitch is the faine as our Fitz, as Fitzherbert, or the fon of Herbert.

Great

Ivan Ivanavitch Vis Ivan the fon
Ivan Ivanof f otTvan.

PET E R S B U R G H. 50^

Ctreat families are alfo in general diftinguidied by a fur- chap.
(name, as the family of Romanof, Galitzin, Sheremetof, &c. « / _»

Any ftranger, who has ever experienced the great polite-
nefs and tafte, which are confj)icuous, as well in the beha-
viour and manners of the Ruffian nobility, as in their en-
tertainments and affemblies, mult naturally be furprized
that fcarcely fixty years ago the following regulations fliould.
have been thougiit neceflary by Peter the Great •■•.

Regulations for Affemblies at Peterfburgh in 1719.
«' Aflembly is a French term, which cannot be rendered in Riidian in one word: It
■*' fignifies a number of perfons meeting together, either for diverfion, cr to talk about
•" their own aft'airs. Frie<ids may fee each other on that occafion, to confer together oil
-" bufinefs or other fufcje^Sts, to enquire after doineftick and foreign news, and fo to pals
" their time. After what mr.r.ner we will have thofe aireiwblies kept, msy be learned
*' from what follows.

I. " The perfon, at whofe hoiifc the aiTcmbly is to be in the evening, is to hang out
■*' a bill or other fign, to gi-.e notice to all perfons of either ftic.

II. " The affembly fliall not begin fooner than four or five in the afternoon, nor co.i-
tinue later than ten at night.

III. " Themafter of the honfe is not obliged to go and meet his guefls, to candu<3:
" them out, or to entertain th.em ; but though himfelf is exempt from waiting on •them,
" he ought to find chairs, candles, drink, and all the neceffaries allied for, as alfo to
•' provide for all forts of ganjing, and what belongs thereto.

lY. " No certajin honr is fixed for any body's coming or going ; it is fufficient if one
** makes his appearance in the affembly.

V. " It is left to every one's liberty to fit, walk, or play, juft as he likes ; nor (lia'll
" any. body hinder him, or take exception at what he does, on pain of emptying tlje
" Great Eagle (a bowl filled with wine or brandy). As for the rell, it is enough lo
*' falute at coming and going.

VI. " Perfons of rank, as, for iKftance, noblemen, and fuperior officers, likewifc mer-
•' chants of note, and head-mafters, (by which are underllood fliip-builders), perfons

•** employed in the Chancery, and their wives and children, fuall h-ave liberty of fre-
■■" quenting the affemblies.

VII. " A particular place fhall be afflgncd to the footmen (thofe of the hoiife ex-
M teptfid) , that there n^ay be fufficient room in the apartments dcfigncd for the affembly.' *

* Perry's State of Ruflia, Vol. I. p. iS6,

T t t 2 The

5o8 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK 'j'j-^g Englifli merchants live in a very fecial and even
». / ; fplenditl manner. Befide conftant meetings at their refpedtive
houfes, they have, once in a fortnight, a regular affembly
in a houfe hired for that purpofe, to which they obligingly
invite all their countrymen who happen to be at Peterfburgh,
and occafionally fome Ruffian ladies. There is a ball, cards,
and fupper : twelve or fourteen couple ufually dance on this
occalion ; and the meeting is perfectly cheerful and agree-
able.

During my Hay at Peterfburgh I dined tvvo or three times
at a club, which confifts of about 300 members, moftly
Englifli; and Germans. None are admitted who have a
rank fuperior to that of major-general ; but a member who
afterwards attains a higher Ration is not excluded. Every
perfon, upon his adraiffion, p^ysjC^- *^^^^ afterwards j{" 2. /)fr
ann. They have a large houfe, which is open day and night,,
and fervants always attending. It contains billiard tables, a
coffee room, apartments for cards, a large apartment, in
which there is a fupper every evening, and a dinner three,
times in the week. Each meal cods 2s. exclufive of wine,
which is feparately paid for. Any member may introduce
his friend, firft entering his name in a day-book, and paying;,
his dinner at the ftipulated rate.

CHAP.

C 509 ]

CHAP. V»

Defcription of the fortrefs of Peterfburgh. — Cathedral of St..
Peter and Paul. — Tom^ and charaSler 0/ Peter the Great,
and thofe of the Imperial family. — Mint. — Hijlory of the
boat called The Little Grand fire, which gave rife to the
Pvuffian navy upon the Black. Sea.

THE origin of the fortrefs which occafioned the founda-
tion of this capital has heen already related in the
general defcription of Peterfburgh. Its walls of brick, and
ftrengthened with five regular baftions, encircle a fmall
ifland of about half a mile in circumference, formed by the
Great and Little Neva. Within the walls are barracks for
a fmall garrifon, feveral wards ufed as a common jail, and
dungeons for the confinement of ftate-prifoners.

In the middle of the ifland ftands the cathedral of St. Peter
and Paul, in a different flyle of architecture from that ufually
employed in the conftru6lion of churches for the fervice of
the Greek religion. Inftead of domes, it has a fpire of copper
gilt, the highelt part whereof rifes above 240 feet from the
ground. Its interior decorations are much more elegant and
lefs gaudy than thofe in the churches of Novogorod and
Mofcow ; and the paintings are done in the modern fiyle of
the Italian fchool, and not in the dry manner ot the Greek
mailers.

In this cathedral are depofited the remains of Peter the

Great,, and of all the lucceliive fovereigns, excepting thofe of

3 Peter

_5io

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK Peter II. buried at Mofcow, and of the late unfortunate Peter
■ / ■ HI, interred in the convent of St. Alexander Nevfki. The
tombs are of marble, of the fame form as thofe at Mofcow
and Novogorod, namely, in the fliape of a fquare cofEn ; and
have all, excepting one, an infcription in the Ruffian tongue:
\vhen I faw them, they were covered with gold brocade,
bordered with filvcr lace and ermine. 1 viewed, not without
a peculiar kind of veneration and awe, the fepulchre which
. contains the body of Peter I. who founded the greatnefs of
the Ruffian empire : the ifernnefs, or rather the ferocity, of
whole difpofition, neither fpared age nor fex, nor the deareft
coniiedfions ; and who yet, with a ftrong degree of com-
pun(5tion, was accuftomed to fay of himfelf, " I can reform
*' my people, but I cannot reform myfelf." A * royal hifto-
rian has juftly obferved of Peter, that he compenfated the
cruelties of a tyrant by the virtues of a legiilator. We muft
readily allow that he confiderably reformed and civiUzed his
fubjedls ; that he created a navy ; that he new-modelled and
diiciplined his army ; that he promoted the arts and fci^
ences, agriculture and commerce; and laid the founxlation
of that glory which Ruffia has fitice attained. But, inftead
of crying out in the language of panegyrick,

Erubefcc, ars ! Hie vir maximns tibi nliiil debuit :
Exulta, natura ! Hoc itupenclium tuum eft -j- :

We may, on the contrary, venture to regret, that he was
not taught the leffons of humanity ; that his fublime and

* Pieirel. mouriit dans ces circonflances, de Branbel)oiiL;g.
laiflant dans le monde plutot la reputation f Blu(li,art! this heroowecl thee nothiiig.

d'un homme extraordinaire, que d'un grand Exult, nature ! fcr this prodigy is all

homme, Si couvrant Irs cruaittes d'un Tiran thy own.

^is vcrtus d'un kgljlauur. Hift, dc la Maifon See Gordon's Life of Ftter. V, II.

,c unruly

P E T E R S B U R G H, 511

nnruly genius was not contronled and improved by proper ^^^^'
culture \ nor his favage nature corredled and foftened by tlie- — , — '
refinements of art. And if Peter failed in enlightening the
mafs of his fubjedts as much as he wiflied, the failure was
principally occaiioned by his own precipitate temper, by the
chimerical idea of introducing the arts and fciences by force,
and of performing in a moment what muft be the gradual
work of time ; by violating the eftabliflied cuftoms of his
people ; and, in contradi6lion to the dictates of found policy^
requiring an immediate facrifice of thofe prejudices which
had been fandtified by ages. In a word, his failure was the
failure of a fuperior genius wandering without a guide;
and the greateft eulogium we can juftly oifer to his extraor-
dinary chara6ler, is to allow that his virtues were his own,
and his defeats thofe of his education and country.

Peter the Great was born at Mofcow on the 30th of May,
O. S. 1672 ; and died at Peterfburgh on the 28th of Janu-
ary, 1725, in the 53d year of his age, and in the 44th of a
glorious reign.

I obfcrved near the tomb of Peter fome Turkifli colours :
they were taken in the naval engagement of Tchefme, dif-
played during a folemn proceffion in honour of that vidlory,
and then placed by the hand of the prefent emprefs at the
tomb of the fovereiffn who was the founder of the Ruffian

navy.

Near thofe of Peter repofc the aflies of his fecond wife
and fucceffor Catharine I. the beautiful Livonian, who, by a
wonderful train of events, was exalted from a cottage to un-*
bounded fovereignty ••■.

In the vault of this church, but without any tomb or in-
fcription, lies Alexey fon of Peter I. who fell a facrifice to»

* See the Acco\mt of Catharine I. in Chap, VJI.. of this Book,.

Vol .L T t t a the-

5'-

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK ti-^e artifices of the deiigning Mentchikof, and to the refent-
ment of an inhuman, though, perhaps, juftly offended father.
The recoUedion of his fate makes a ilrong imprefllon on a
feehng mind ; and muft l^ill more forcibly Ihike a fubjedl of
the Britifli empire ; where will is not law ; where the heir
apparent is as fecure as the fovereign himfelf ; and where
the right of fuccelTion flands irrevocable, not to be altered by
the caprice or jealoufy of a reigning monarch. The fpecu-
lative theorift may indeed argue for Peter, that there fliould
be a power inverted in the Ibvereign to exclude an unworthy
fucceffor, who fliould threaten to overturn his plans of re-
formation, and again to plunge his country into the barbarifm
from which he had raifed it with {o much difficulty. But,
in effedii this is nothing lefs than rendering the fate of a
whole empire abfolutely dependent upon the will of one
perfon, who, during his life, may change his heir as often
as he changes his opinion ; or who, like Peter, may expire
without nominating his fucceffor, and leave the crown to be
feized or difputed by thole who have not the leaft fliadow of
pretenfion. By this means the throne is open to every
claimant who may have a chance of fecuring the concur-'
rence of the army. If all the evils which might have
been expelled from this change of the fucceiTion have
not been hitherto experienced in Ruflia, it mult be
afcribed to the following confideration : that notwith--
Itanding the abfolute power which the fovereign poffelfcd
of nominating his heir, yet the notions of hereditary
i-.ioht,and the privilege of primogeniture, though annulled {)y
J:^eters law, ftill retained a coniiderable degree of influence in
5 ths

P E T E R S B U R G H.

S^l

the opinion of the nation. The exclufion, however, of chap.
Alexey, the decree- fubfequent to his death, and the unfet-' — , — >
tied ideas concerning the right of fucceffion necelTarily in-
troduced by that fatal mandate, have occafioned frequent
revohitions in the government of this country : and the
difpofal of the fceptre has in fome meafure depended upon
the regiments of guards t ftationed in the capital.
Though I do not mean to juftify the condu6t of Alexey,
yet I cannot but affent to the opinion of a judicious hifto-

rian.

* " In the month of February, 1722, a
" proclamation was made by the lound of
" trumpet, requiring every natural-born
" fubjcft of the Ruffian empire, and all fo-
*' reigners then refiding there, to fvvearand
" fign an oath, ' that they will acknow-
" ledge, as fuccelFor to the empire, the
" perlun whom his niajefty fliould nominate
•' for their fovereign after his death. This
" order flruck a damp on the fpirirs of every
" body, when they refieded on the iin-
*' doubted title of the young prince Peter,
" his majefty's gi'andfon, and only remain-
■" ing heir of the imperial family." Bruce's
Memoirs, ]). 226.

The oath was thus worded : " I do vow

*' and fwear before Almighty God, and up-

" on the Holy Evangelifts, that I own and

•' acknowledge the decree concerning the

" fuccefiion to the crown of Ruffia, puh-

*' liflicd the gihof February, 1722, by or-

" der of the moft illuftrious and miglity

-" prince, Peter I. emperor and fovereign

•' of all RutVia-, our moft gracious lord and

" mnfcer ; wherein it is ordained, that the

" pre/ctit, or any fucceeding emperor ofRuJJia,

" not only mnv at pleafure nominate and ap~

" point a Jucccffor to the croudn, but likcvjife

" alter the fuec Jjion, asoficn as he^ the prefeni,

" or any other juccceduig emperor /hall jee

" caufe, or ih'mk fit ■ This imperial ordi-

" nance, I the. under-named do acknowledge

" to be juil: and right, and proniii'e all due

"obedience to the perfon lo named and

Vol.. I. U u

" appointed fucceffir to the imperial crown
" of Ruilia ; I will hold and acknowledge
" him to be the only lawful heir, and my
" only fovereign, and accordingly will ha-
" zard life and fortune to maintain him on
" the throne, and defeat the defigns of his
" enemie;. Moreover, if I fliall ever be
" ibund to aft contrary to this oath, or to
" put any other conftruftion upon it, then,
" and in that cafe, I will be accounted a
" traitor, and not only be liable to an ig-
" nominious death, but alfo to the anathe-
" ma of the church. In confirmation of
" which, 1 kifs the Holy Gofpel and crofs,
" and hereunto do fet my hand."

•j- The licentious conduct of the guards
(foon after the acceflion of Catharine I.)^
which proceeded from their power of dif-
poling of the crown, was uncontroulabie.
" Although the emprcfs appeared to rule
" with an abfolute authority, yet it is cer-
" tain that file entirely depended upon the
" caprice of the Preobreflienfey regiment of
" guards, and the nobles who had placed
" her upon her throne, neither of whom
" file durft coutradiftorreduce. Catharine,
" well awai'c of her fituation, endea-
" voured to free herfelf from this depen-
" dent ilate, by declaring all the majors,
" who had moll authority, lieutcn-int-ge-
" nerals ; and^ imder pretence of thele
" promotions, to remove them from the
" regiment of guards, and, in their ftead,
" to appoint fcveial foreigners, wlio were
u " officer.

5^4

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

pooK ^.j^ri^ that as Peter I. opened by this law an abundant fource
'of troubles and confufion, it had been better for the country
if that weak prince, with all his defedts, had been fufFered la
reign*. And I may venture to add, that the re-eftablifll-
ment of hereditary right may be clalfed among the foremoft
of thofe excellent regulations, which diftinguhli the reign of
Catharine II.

Ill

" officers in the other regntienrs, to be
•' niaiors ; but as the captains of the guards
" were unanimoully diffatisfied w'nh thete
" regulations, llie was conftrained to place
" aftairs upon the old footing." Aullrian
Envoy in B. H. M. XI. p. 507,

Alto, upon Elizabeth's accellion, Man-

lltin lays, " Tlie whole company of grcna-

*' dicrs of the regiment of I'rcobrelhenlky

•' were ennobled and promoted. The pri-

" vate men h;.d the rank of licntenants ;

*' and the corporals of majors ; the ar-

" mouier and quarter- niafter that of lieu-

*' ten.int-coloneh ; and the ierjcants that

*' of colonels of the army. It was called

" the company of body-guards. Grunllein

" was made adjutant of this company, with

" the title of brigadier. He did not long

*■' keep his grotind ; accuftomed to the low

" ambition of a private foldier, his head

*' was too v.'enk to bear a higlter fortune,

" and growing giddy with his preferment,

" he was giiUty oi all kind of inlolences,

" broke out into difrefpeft to the empiel's

•' herfelf, and ended with undergoing the

" knout, and being baniflied to the lands

" which the emprcfs had given him when

*' (lie firlt promoted liim.

"This company comuiiited all imagin-
" able diforders for the firll months that
" the emprefs remained at Feterlbuigh.
*' The new noble lieutenants ran thrtnigh
" all the dirtieil public -houle:-, got drunk,
♦' and wallowed in the fireets. They cn-
" ttred into the houfes of the greateil no-
*' bkaieu, dciuaading money wiib tlvceats,

" and took away, without ceremony, what-
" ever they liked. There was no keeping
" within bounds, men, who having beeit
" all their life-time ufcd to be dilciulined
" by drubbing, could not prefently famili-
" arife themfelves to a more civil treat-
" ment. It muft have been the work of
" time to reduce them to good mnuners. I
" do not know whether they were ever
" brought to correft themfelves, but the
" moll unruly of them were expelled the
•' corps, and placed as officers in other re-
" giments of the army, where the vacancies
" were many. An admirable expedient
"this lor procuring excellent officers!"
Memoirs of Rullia, p. 319, 320.

* " Ceil h cette imprudente loi, qii'oir
" doit attribuer toutes les revolutions qiH
" ont aftiige la Ruilie. Cell Pierre I. qui
" a ouvert dans fon empire cette fourec "
" abondante de troubles ct de dclolationi,
" Ne valaii-il pas mieux qii' Alexis rcg-
" iiat >" L'Evefqce, vol. IV. p. 454..

An ingenious author, who has lately pub-
liflicd p;irt of a voluminous work upo'i
RulTia, controverts this jucRcious reflection,
jiiflities this decree of Peter, and denies
that it had the kail bad tendency, or has
been the caufc of any Fevolutions. See Le
Clcrc's Hill, Moderne de KulVie, p. 441 to

44 >•

His arguments, however, will fcarcely
appeJr ccn\iiiciiig to any perf.)n who h.is
perilfcd'wirk'TUtention the Hitloiy of Rullia
lir.ce the dcniifs of Peter tht Great ; and
auiii .appear of little v.eijj^ht, unltfs the fol-
low uis^

PETERSBURG H.

5^5

In the fame vault which contains the body of the unfor- chap.

tunate Alexey is placed that of Charlotte Chriftina Sophia < ^.j

princefs of Brunfvvick, his no lefs unfortunate wife, and
whofe fate is more afFe(5ting, becaufe flie deferved it lefs.
She was born in 1694, married in 171 1 the tzarovitch
who had feen her at her father's court, and died on the ift
of November, 17 15, partly of a broken heart occafioned by
her hufband's ill treatment, and partly by the confequences
of her delivery of Peter II. *

Among the imperial fepulchres is that of Anne of Hol-
ftein, eldeft daughter of Peter and Catharine, who is lefs
known, though far more deferving of notice, than her fillet*
the emprefs Elizabeth, becaufe her virtues were not enno-
bled by a diadem. Anne is defcribed t as a princefs of a

majeftick

lowing queries can be anfwered in the ne-
gative.

Was not the acceffion of Catharine I. a
revolution ? The abolition of defpotick au-
thority, and the eleftion of Anne, a revolu-
tion ? The refumption of defpotick autho-
rity by the fame emprefs a revolution ?
The removal of Biren from the regency a
revolution ? The acceiTion of Elizabeth a
reroluiion? The dethronement of Peter III.
and the accelTion of Catharine ^though
juftified by tlie peculiar fituation of the
empire) a revolution ? Were they not
all occafioned by the looie notions con-
cerning the right of fucccffion, and ac-
compliflied by the intervention of the
guards? Weie not the execution, Scourg-
ing, and baniflmient of many principal no-
bles, the confifcation of eftates, and the
confinement of numberlefs ftate-prifoners,
the fatal confequences of thefe frequent
changes ? the lad excepted, when the lenity
of the emprefs fparcd the ufual viftims to
policy and refentment. Have not thefe
civil feuds, which fo long convulfed this
■empire, been diminifhed by the well-ground-

U u u 3

ed expeftation of an unbroken hereditary
line in the pre'e it imperial family ? And
as the influence of Peter's fatal decree is
confiderably abated, and the mofl diftans
probability of another rovolution fcartely
exifts, has not the rapid increafe of com-
merce and population throughout every
part of this vaft empire proclaimed the be-
neficial effe£ls of the more flable govern-
ment of Catharine II. ?

* See an account of this princefs in Chap.
VIII. of this Book.

f " Aima Petrowna reiTembloitde vifage
•' et d'humeur a fon augurte pere, mais la
" nature et I'education avoient tout embelli
" chez elle. On lui paiToit plus de cinq
" pies de hauteur, en faveur d'une taille
" extrememcnt deliee, et d'une finefle par-
" faite dans toutes fes proportions. Rien
" de plus mijeilueux que ion port et fa
" phyfionomie, rien de plus regulier que
'• ies traits, et non obftant cela, des graces
" tendres dans le regard et le fourire ; des
" cheveux et des fourcils noirs, un teint
*' d'une blancheur eclatante, et ce vermil-
" Ion frais et dclicat qui reftera fans celTc

" inimitable

-5x(

T R A V E LS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK majeflick form and expreffive features, of an excellent and
improved underitanding, and of irreproachable morals.
While file was very young, count Apraxin, a Ruffian noble-
man, paid his addreffes to her, but was rejedfed with fcorn.
Not daunted, however, with this repulfe, he continued his
courtfliip, and, finding her one day alone, he threw himfelf
at her feet, offered his fword, and entreated her to put aa
end to his life and mifery. " Give it me," faid the princefs,.
ftretching out her hand, " you Ihall fee that the daughter
** t)f your emperor has ftrength and fpirit fufficient to rid
" herfelf of a wretch who iufults her.'* The count, appre-
henfive that fhe might execute her threat, withdrev/ the
fword, and demanded inftant pardon ; and, as the princefs
told the ftory with great humour, became the derilion of the,
court ■-.

Anne efpoufed, in 1725. Charles Frederick duke of Hol-
ftein-Gottorp, to whom Ihe had been long betrothed. Bred
up with the expectation of two crowns t, flie was difap-

pointed

** inimitable aii fard ; les^ yeux d'lane cou-
*' leur indiicile et d'lin feu eblouifant. Bref,
" 'de pied en cap I'envie n'y pouvoit troii-
" ver aucun defaut, Avec cela im jiige-
" nnent penetrant, une vraie candeur et
" bonfe de caraiftere, liberale, et nnagni-
•' fiqiie, ties bien inflruite, parlant elegani-
" ment fa langue mateinelle, le Francois,
*'■ I'AIlemand, I'ltalicn et le Suedois." Bafle-
witz in Buf. Hif. Mag. IX. p. 370, 371.

* Baffewitz, p. 37 u

■f Thofe of Sweden and Rnflia : the
fcirmer by marriage, and the latter by her
fcither's nomination.

With-refped to the former, her hulband,
the only fon of Hedwige eldeft lifter of
Charles Xll. was, upon that monarch's
death, the undoubted heir of the Swedifli
crown, but was fet alide by the Swedes,
who preferred Ubrica Eleonora Charles's
youngeft filler. See Geuf?]ogicaI Tabic of

the Houfe of Vafa, and the chapter on the
death of Charles XII. both in the next vo-
lume.

As to her expeftations of the Ruffian
crown, Baffevitz, her hulband's minifter,
pofitively aflerts, that Peter I. had formed
the refolution of railing her to the throne
" C'etoit dans les mains de cette princeflTe,.
" que Pierre le Grand fouhait«it de voir
" palTer fon fceptre." Buf. Hif. Mag. IX.
p. 371.

Afliort time before his laft illnefs he ex-
phiined to her and the duke of Holftein the
fyilem he had purfued during his reign, and
inllrufted them in the details of govern-
ment. While he lay upon his death-bed,
having recovered his underftanding by a
momentary intermiffion of the delirium (fee
Chapter VIII. on Catharine I.), he called
for Anne to diftate his laft fentiments, but
upon her arrival herelapfed into his former

ftate

PETERSBURG H.

5*7

ix>inted of both ; nominated by her mother Catharine I. one <^hap.
of the council of regency daring the minority of Peter II.; >
excluded from that council after having only once taken her
feat, by the defpotifm of prince Menzikof, whom (he herfelf
had promoted with all her influence; driven from Ruffiai
by the mandate of that arrogant minifter, flie retired with:
her hufband to Kiel, where (lie died in 1 7 a 8, in the 2 2d y^ar
of her age, and leaving one fon, the unfortunate Peter III.

Her coufin the emprefs Anne *, fecond daughter of
Ivan Alexievitch, lies interred in the fame cathedral.
She was widow of the duke of Courland ; and refided
at Mittau when fhe was unexpededly called to take-

flate of infenfibility. Ibid. p. 372.

I talfo appears, from the following extra<ft:s
from Sir Luke Schaube's papers, in the
pofleflion of the Earl of HartUviclic, that
Peter had even taken fome lleps towards
fettling the crown upon his daughter Anne.

" Le Cardinal [Dubois] ne parok guere
" touche de I'injuftice qui feroit faite au
" fils du czarowitz ; et il dit, que li le czar
" reglcroit la fuccejion en favciir de fa fille^ il
" faudroit bien que ceux qui voudroient fe
" lier avec lui de fon vivant, promiflent de
'*-la maintenir <apres fa mort, apr^s laquelle
" toutefois il arriveroit vrayfcmblablement
" de cette difpofition comme fi elle n'avoit
" jamais exille," Extraft of a letter from
Sir Luke Schaube to Lord Carteret, dated
Paris Jan. 20, 1722.

" Ce que les miniftres Mofcovites dL^bi-
*' ent au Monf. de Campredon que le czir
'• voulut fe procurer une garantie pour la
^^ /ucce[jion a fes ctats Je la maniere qu'il fc
" prnpoje deVctahlir, paroit fort fingulicr, &c.
•' Par rapport a Vcxdufwn de fon pctit-fih en
'■'■ favcur de fa file, fans raarquer en m;!me
" temps a quel prince il la deiline." Ex-
trad from a Letter of Lord Carteret to the
Cardinil du Bois, dated Jan. (721-2.

The decree which he iffucd in February,
1722, feeincd aprelude to this appointmeii:^

which was probably prevented by the fud*
dennefs of his death.

Catharine L was no lefs inclined to ap-
point Anne her fucceffor, and a ftrong.
party was formed in her favour ; but that
emprefs was prevented from following her.
inclinations in this inftance by the (hort-
nefs of her reign, and the danger of ex-
cluding Peter Alexievitch, who, as the
grandfon of Peter the Great, was fupported
by a flill more powerful party.

* " The czarina is about my height,
*' but a very large made woman^ very well
" fliaped for her fize, and eafy and grace-
" ful in her perfon. She has a brown com-
" plexion, black hair, dark and blue eyes ;
" (lie has an awfulnefs in her countenance
" that ftrikes you at firft fight; but when file
" fpeaks, flie has a fmile about her mouth
" that is inexpreffibly fwcet. She talks a
•' good deal to every body, and has fuch an -
" affability in her addrtfs, that you feem
" talking to an equal; and yet file does
" not, for one moment, drop the cffypity
" of a fovereign. She feems to have great
"humanity; and is, I think, what one
" would call a fine agreeable woman wcr»
" flie a private perfon," Letters by a Lady
from Ruffia,

poffellion'.

i8 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK pofTeflion of the empire. Upon the death of Peter II. with-
L_l^ out ifllie, the fceptre, according to Catharine's will, ought to
have reverted to her grandfon, afterwards I'eter III. fon of
Anne of Holrtein ; but as hereditary right was aboHfhed by-
Peter's decree, and no fucceflbr was appointed by Peter II.
a privy council of eight nobles, in whom the regal power
was veiled at the deceafe of the emperor, formed a plan for
limiting the enormous prerogative of the crown ; leaving the
title and pomp of royalty to the reigning monarch, but re-
ferving to themfelves the whole fupreme authority. Hav-
ing, according to this projedt, drawn up certain conditions to
be ratified by the future fovereign, they chofe the princefs
Anne in preference to the family of Peter the Great, and to
her eldeil filler Catharine of Mecklenburgh, becaufe, having
no legal claim, flie would more readily be induced to agree
to any terms which might fecure her the fucceflion. Anne
figned the articles without hefitation, only for the purpofe of
breaking them with greater facility ; and fhe had fcarcely
arrived at Mofcow before flie was enabled, by the alliftance
of the guards, to annul the aft of renunciation, to diflblve
the privy council itfelf, and to re-alTume the imperial autho-
rity in as unlimited a form as it had ever been enjoyed by
any of her predecelTors. This emprefs refigned herfelf im-
plicitly to the dire6tion of Biren, a native of Courland, who,
from the lowell extraflion, had rifen to be abfolute fa-
vourite of his miftrefs, and regulated all her councils with
the moft arbitrary fway.

Anne has generally been cenfured for her feverity,
and is faid to have ruled the Rullians with the knoot
in her hand. But the cruelties which tarniflied her
reign muft be attributed to the brutal temper of Biren.
The emprefs herfelf was naturally of an humane difpofi-
tion ; flie frequently oppofed the fanguinary meafures of

her

PETERSBURG H.

5^9

her favourite, and in vain endeavoured to foften his mercilefs chap.
difpofition, by fubmitting frequently to intreaties, and inter- 1
ceding even w^itli tears, for the unfortunate objects of b's
refentment*. But, in effeit, the fovereign who permits cru-
elties is, and ought to be, equally guilty in the eyes of the
world with the fovereign who commands them ; and pofle-
rity juftly imputes to the miftrefs the vices of the fervant
who is uncontrouled in his abufe of power. Anne died on
the 17th of O^lober, 1740, after having nominated for her
fuccefTor her nephew Ivan, then an infant, with a view of
prolonging the reign of Biren, whom ihe appointed regent
dviring the minority of that emperor.

As I viewed the tomb of Elizabeth, I recalled to my re-
colledlion the motley character of that indolent and volup°
tuous emprefs, who, by the revolution of 1 741, renewed in
her perfon the line of Peter the Great upon the throne of
Ruflia. Elizabeth was born in 1709, and, when arrived at
years of maturity, was extremely admired for her great per-
fonal attradlions t.

Hep

* " J'ai ete prefent," writes Count
Mvinich, " lorfque Fimpcratrice pleuroit a
" chaudes lannes fur ce q le Biron fulmi-
" noit &c menacoit de iie voiiloirplns lervir
'* li I'impcrafrice ne facnfioit Voliniki Si
" ainfi des arures. ' Ebauche, &c. p 119.

Mrs. Vigor fays of her, " I have often
" leen her melt inti> tears at a mt-lancholy
" ftory, and flie (hews inch imatfefted, hor-
" ror at any mark of cruelty, that her
" mind to me feems compofed of the moft
" amiable qualities that I have -wcr ob-
" ferved in any one perlon ; which leems a
" particular niaik of the goodncljj of Pro-
" vidcnce, as fiie is pofTefied of fuch power»'*
Letters fiom Rr.ifia, p. 89.

t Mrs. Vigor thus delcribes the j)erfoti
of Elizabeth in. the 24th year of her ajje.

" The princefs Eiixabeth, who is, you
" krrow, a daughter of Pctsr I. is rety
" handfome. She is very fair, with light
" bro'vn hair, fargefprightly bhie eyes, fine-
" teeth, .'.nd a pretty mourh. She is in-
" clinablc fo be fat, but is very genteel,
" and dances better than any one I ever.
" faw. She fpeaks German, French, and,
" Italian : is extremely gay, and talks to
" every body, 111 a very proper manner, in .
" the circle, but hates the ceremony of a
" court."'

And again, " She has an affability and
" fueetncfs of behaviour that iufcnfibly in-
" fpires love and refpec;. In publick flie
" has an unaffected gaiety, ai;d a certaia
" air of giddinefs, t'-uu feem entirely to
" pofiefs hex whole mind; buit in private, I

" have

y^o T R A V E L S I N T O R U S S I A.

Her beauty, as well as her rank and large dowry, occafi-
oned feveral offers, none of which, however, took place, and
flie died fingle. During the life of her father Peter I. a nego-
tiation had commenced for her marriage with Louis XV. but
although not ferioully adopted by the court of France, it was
never relinquifhed until the daughter of Staniflaus, titular
king of Poland, was publickly affianced to the young mo-
narch. By the will of Catharine, Elizabeth was betrothed to
Charles Auguftus, bifliop of Lubeck, duke of Slefwick and
Holitein, and brother to the late king of Sweden, but he died
before the completion of the ceremony. In the reign of
Peter II. flie was demanded by Charles Margrave of Anipach;
in 1741 by the Perfian tyrant Kouli Khan; and at the time
of the revolution the regent Anne endeavoured to force her
to efpoufe prince Louis of Brunfwick, for whom flie enter-
tained a fettled averfion *. From the period of her acceffion
fhe renounced all thoughts of the connubial ftate, and
adopted her nephew Peter. Her diflike to marriage, how-
ever, certainly did not proceed from any difincHnation to
man ; for flie would freely and frequently own to her con-
fidents that (lie was never happy but when fhe was in love t,
if vVe may dignify by that name a capricious paflion ever
changing its obje6l. The fame charaCferiftick warmth of
temper hurried her no lefs to the extremes of devotion : fhe

" hsve heard her talk in fuch a drain of * See Manftein's Memoirs, p. 25. 285,

" good fenle and Heady reafoning, that I 309.

" am perfuadcd the other behaviour is a t " Elle ctoit vohiptueufe a I'exccs, nee

"feint; but flic ieems eafy : I fay /•<•;«.-, " de fang volupt\:eux, & elle difoit fouvent i

«' for who knows the heart ? In fliort, fhe " fes contidentes, qu'elle n'ctoit contente

•' is an amiable creature ; and though I " que tant qu'elle ctoit atrmureufe ; mais

•' think the throne very worthily filled, yet " elle etoit avec cela fort inconftante &

_" I i-.aniiot lulp wifliing £he were to be the " changeoit foiivent dc favons. ' bbauche,

" fiiccefior at leaft." Letters from Rulfia, &c. p. 170.
p. 73 and 76.

was

P E T E R S B U R G H. 521

Was fcrupuloufly exa6t in her annual confeflions of the chap.
wanderings of her heart, in exprefling the utmoft contrition, < ..y'.. ..;
and in pundtually adhering both in pubHck and private to the
minuteft ceremonies and ordinances of the church.

With refpedit to her difpofition and turn of mind, fhe is
generally Ityled the humane Elizabeth, as fhe made a vow
upon her acceffion to infli6l no capital punifhments* during
her reign ; and is reported to have fhed tears upon the news
of every victory gained by her troops, from the refle<Stion
that it could not have been obtained without great bloodlhed.
But although no criminal was formally executed in publick, yet
the ftate prifons were filled with wretched fufFerers, many of
whom, unheard of and unknown, perifhed in the damp and
unwholefome dungeons : the ftate inquilition, or fecret com-
mittee, appointed to judge perfons fufpecSled of high treafon,
had conftant occupation during her reign ; many upon the
flighteft furmizes were tortured in fecret ; many underwent
the knoot and expired under the infli6lion. But the tranf-
adion which reflecfts the higheft diigrace upon her reign,
was the publick puniftiment of two ladies of fafliion ; the
counteffes Beftuchef and Lapookin : each received fifty
ftrokes of the knoot in the open fquare of Peterfburgh,
their tongues were cut out, and they were baniflied into
Siberia. One of thefe ladies, Madame Lapookin, efteemed the
handfomeft woman in Ruffia, was accufed of carrying on a
iecret correfpondence with the French embafTador ; but her
real crime was her having commented too freely on the
emprefles amours. Even the mere relation of fuch an af-
feding fcene, as that of a woman of great beauty and high
rank publickly expofed and fcourged by the common exe-
cutioner, muft excite the ftrongeft emotions of horror, and

* See Remaiks on her celebrated edift, which aboliflied capital pun'ifliments, in the
chapter on the Penal Laws of Ruffia in the next volume.

Vol. I. X x X forbid

552

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK forbid us to venerate the memory of a princefs, who, with
fuch Uttle regard to her own fex, could iffue thofe barbarous
commands.

But let us lament the inconfiftency of human nature ;
and, in coniidering the character of Elizabeth, let us not deny
that her heart, perhaps naturally benevolent, was occafionally
corrupted by power, and fleeled with fufpicion ; and that
although mercy might predominate whenever it did not in-
terfere with her paffions and prejudices, yet fhe by no means
deferves the appellation of humane, the moft noble * attri-
bute of a fovereign, when it interpofes to temper and miti-
gate the fe verity of juftice. Elizabeth died in 1761, in the
twenty-firft year of her reign, and in the 53d of her age :
Ihe expired in December, the fame month in which flie was
born, and in which (he acceded to the throne.

In the fortrefs is afmall arfenal, which, among other mi-
litary ftores, contains fome antient cannon, caft in the middle
of the fixteenth century under the reign of Ivan Vaflilie-
vitch II. and which I was furprized to find of fuch good
workmanfhip. I had occafion to mention in a former chap-
ter, that the art of carting cannon was introduced into Rulfia
under Ivan Vaffilievitch I. by Ariftotlc of Bologna. Ivan 11.
did not fail to imitate the exami:>le of his grandfather in pro-
curing, by means of foreign artilis, the beft artillery ; and it is
to this precaution that both thefe monarchs were chiefly in-
debted for their fuccelTes in war, and for the conqueft of fe-
veral provinces, which they annexed to their hereditary do-
minions.

* I '.vas informed from undoubted nil- crctly to order the executioner to knoot to

thority, that it ^vas impoflible to obtain dc^'.th thofe delinquents who wcie found

Elizabeth's confcnt for the execution of guilty of the moll atrocious crimes. It is

a felou who had even committed the a pity that the did not refene her hnim-

B-ioft hoiridfpccicsof preiiieditattd murder, nity, which in this inftance was cruelty to

jiul that the mafter i>f the police ufcd fe- her people, for more refpectable objeifts.

7 in

PETERSBURG H. 523

. In a feparate building of the fortrefs is the mint. The chap.
gold and filver is fent from the mines of Siberia, and the >. J . >
reparation is performed in its laboratory. We furveyed the
whole procefs from the fuft fmelting of the ore to the coin-
ing. Among the filver we obferved a large quantity of Dutch
dollars, which were melting down in order to be recoined in
roubles. Peter I. wanting filver for the new coinage, ifTued out
a decree, that all the cuftoms fliould be paid in Dutch dollars :
at prefent half the duties are ftill difcharged in that money by
all foreign merchants, excepting the Englifh, who are ex-
empted by treaty. Butasthegoldandfilverobtained from the
mines of Siberia, with the addition of the dollars, are by no
means fufficient for the money in circulation ; a confider-
able quantity of both thefe metals are annually imported.
The coinage, in its prefent debafed ftate, mull: be very ad-
vantageous, as in the gold there is fo much alloy, that a
profit of 48 /)£'r cenf. is gained, and in the filver of 37 "-••■.
This fiate of the Rufiian money renders ufelefs the prohibi-
tion againft exporting it, and is productive of one mifchievous
effecft, that it promotes the contraband introduction of falfe
coin from foreign countries, upon which a confiderable profit
is acquired.

Among the remarkable objccfts in the mint, the machine
for ftamping the coin deferves to be mentioned becaufe it
was invented by her prefent majefiy, and is efteemed a very
ingenious and fimple piece of mechanilm.

Within the fortrefs is a four-oared boat, which is fecured,
with great veneration, in a brick building, conftrudted for
that purpofe, and preferved as a memorial to future ages of

* ''ee ElVai Tiir !e coniiiievcc dc RulTie, tliat of the former reigns is kid down, as I

C. X. where rlie reader wil! find a veiy ac- was informed from good authority, with

c\irate ftate of theRulllan coinage, in which great exactiicfs, p. 254 — :^^.
tJic ditlererKc of the prefent money from

X X X 2 its

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK j{5 [)eing the origin of the Ruffian fleet. Peter I. ufed to call
lit the Little Grandfire\ and, in the latter part of his reign,
ordered it to be tranfported to Peterfburgh : it was conduced
in folemn proceffion, in order to excite the admiration of
the people, and held up that they might compare in what
condition he had found the marine, and to what perfedtion
he had brought it. The hiftory of this little boat is worthy
of notice, as well becaufe it comprehends the firft rife of the
navy, as becaufe, during the courfe of this narrative, I fhall
be enabled to obferve fundry errors which have been ad-
vanced by many hiltorians of Peter the Great ; and which,
if not duly correcfled, will be confecrated by time, and be
admitted as truths.

I fliall begin by remarking, that there is not the leaft
foundation in the report - that Peter was naturally afraid of
the water, and that he had the utmoft difficulty in furmount-
jng this averiion : on the contrary, he feems to have always

* L'Evefque has adopted this notion, and
he cites for his authority a Hiftory of Peter
the Great in the Sclavonian tongue, firft
printed at Vtnice, and repubhdied at Pe-
terftingh, with Notes, by Prince Sherebatof.
He feems to cite from the text, and not
from the notes. But I may venture to con-
tradift this notion from the tnidnubted au-
thority of General Patrick Gordon, cited by
Mr. Muller, in his Nachricht von der Urf-
pung, &c. in Journal of St. Pet. for 1778,
p. 241.

General Gordon uas a native of Scotland,
and was born in 1635 : having I'ervcd with
glory in the Swedifli and Polifli armies, he
entered into the kuffi^in fcrvice in 1601, in
which he continued to the end of his life.
He wrote his Journal in the Englifli tongue :
it is now in the archives at Mofcow, and
has never been piinted. Mr. MuUcr,
who has made great u<e of it in fome of his
writings, propofed toextr.ift and publifli all
ihe circumilances relating to RuJiia ^ but

to the great regret of all lovers of hiflory,
has been prevented by other occupations
from carrying his defign into execution.

I find, from Bachmeiller's RuiT. Bibl. for
1782, that a German tranflation of it is
given in Part IV. of the Journal of St. Pe-
terfburgh for 1782, which 1 have not yet feen.

Gordon died in 1699, fo much regretted by
the tzar, that, to ufe the words of his rela-
tion, '• His majefiy vifited him five tijnes
" during his illnefs, was prefent the mo-
'* mcnt he expired, and fliut his eyes with
" his own hand."

The iajr.e author alfo fays of him, greatly
to his honour, " General Gordon was a
" foher man, in a country where drinking
" is much in fafhion ; and though he ufed
" to be much in the czar's company, his
" majefty, knowing his inclinations, would
" never allow him to be urged. He was
" ever mindful of his bufinels, anil did great
" feivice to the Ruirian nation." Gordon's
Hill, of Peter the Great, vol.1, p. 137, i3(>.

expreffed

PETERSBURG H.

expreffed a ftrong attachment to that element. The boat, chap,
which has given rife to this detail, was conftrudled, during v J —
the reign of Alexey Michaelovitch, by Karftens Brandt, a
Dutch fhip-right, whom Alexey Michaelovitch had invited
into Ruflia. Peter ■■■■, about the year 1691, accidentally fee-
ing this boat at a village near Mofcow, inquired why it was
built in a different manner from all thofe which he had hi-
therto obferved : Timmerman, a foreigner, who taught him
fortification, and to whom he addrefTed the queftion, in-
formed him that it was a velTel t fo contrived as to go againft
the wind. Peter's curiofity was roufed by this intelligence,
and Brandt, who was ftill in RufTia, being inftantly fum-
moned, repaired it without delay, provided it with a maft
and rigging, and, having launched it upon the Yaufa, failed
in it, to the furprize and aflonifliment of the young tzar,
who immediately embarked in it himfelf, and, under the
dired^ion of Brandt, foon learned to comprehend the ma-
nagement of the veirel.

Having repeated thefe experiments upon the Yaufa, as
well as upon a neighbouring lake, to which it was tranf-
ported, he ordered Brandt to build a yatch I upon the banks
of the Mofkva, which was launched in 1691, and in which
Peter embarked and failed as far as Columna. Animated
with the fuccefs of this expedition, he commanded the fame
fliipwright to conftru6l, upon the lake of Periflaf, feveral
fmall vefTels carrying guns, in which the tzar failed on the

* This part is taken from L'Evefque, Angloife; but wc mufl prefer the authority

who cites for his authority the Life of Peter, of General Gordon, who fays it was btiilt

by the archbifliop Theophanes, with Notes, by Brandt. Perhaps Timmerman might

by Prince Sherebatof, Hill, de Ruflie, vol. think it an Englilli veffsl.

IV. p. III. t I'rom hence I fjllow implicitly Mtil-

t L'Evefque fays, from the authority of let's Extrads from General Gordon's

Prince Sherebatof, that it was une chaloupe Journal.

6 8tli

526 TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK 3th of February, the 3d of March, and the sth of April, of
the following year. On the firft of May another veffel was
launched, and on the 9th Peter returned to Mofcow. The
death of Brandt, which foon followed, feems to have inter-
rupted the increafe of this little fleet, but did not prevent
Peter from continuing his expeditions upon the lake. The
following extrads, from General Gordon's Journal, will fliow
with what eagernefs the young monarch purfued his new
occupation, Mdien fuch trifling incidents as weighing anchor,
and failing acrofs a lake, are circumftantially delineated.

" Gordon went on the 1 ith of Auguft to Pereflaf ; on
" the 14th he was entertained in due form and ceremony on
*' board of the admiral's * fhip ; on the i Sth," he adds, " we
" failed from one fide of the lake to the opi^cfite bank ; on
" the 2 ill we got under way, and failed to the other fide,
" where we again came to an anchor ; on the 24th Gordon
*' attended the tzar on fhip-boi^rd ; on the 28th we departed
*' from Pereflaf, and on the 3111 reached Alexaeffk."
But as the confined limits of a lake were become too inade-
quate to the riling ideas of the tzar, he hurried to Archangel,
where he arrived in the month of June, 1693.

" On the 17th," fays Gordon, " the poll brought the
" news that the tzar had been upon the White Sea, and
*' was happily arrived into port, and on the i ich of Odlober
" he came back to Mofcow. In the beginning of May,
" 1694, he returned to Archangel, and continued in thofc
" parts until September, during which time he made fre-
" quent expeditions upon the lea, and improved his know-
*' ledge of navigation."

* Mr. Muller conjecliues that Lc Fort was the ailmiral of :his little fqijadron.

Thefe

PETERSBURG H. J27

Thefe little adventures, which feemed nothing more than chap.
mere youthful amuferaents, were, however, foon afterwards'
productive of the moil: glorious event which diftinguifhed
the reign of Peter. When the tzar, in his campaign of
1695 againll: the Turks, helieged Azof, he found it impolli-
ble to take the town without blocking up the harbour, and
as he did not at that time poflefs one fliip, he was compelled
to raife the fiege.

His fpirit being excited, rather than extinguiflied, by this
difappointment, he gave orders for the immediate conftruc-
tion of feveral velTels : fome were framed at Occa, and tran-
fported over land to the Don ; but the greateft part were
built at Veronetz. In lefs than a year he renewed the fiege
of Azof, and brought before it, to the infinite furprize of the
Turks, two men of war, 23 gallies, two galleots, and four
fire-lhips ■^■. With this little iquadron, which failed down
the Don into the Black Sea, he blockaded the harbour, gained
a naval viclory over the Turkifii galUes, and took Azof. He
fignalized this wonderful event by a triumphal entry into
Mofcow, and by a medal reprefenting the taking of Azof,
with a motto in Ruffian, " Vicftor by thunder and the waves."
This fuccefs was only the prelude to (till greater atchieve-
ments ; and as the fecurity of his new conquefis upon the
Black Sea leemed to depend upon a powerful navy, the tzar
having colleifted from all quarters the molt expert fiiip-
builders, and himfclf fuperintended the neceflary prepara-
tions at Veronetz, Azof, and Taganroc, iat out uj)on his firft
expedition into foreign parts. In 1699, foon after his re-
turn, he v.'as prefent at a naval review upon the Black Sea,
in which ten frigates were engaged, the largefi carrying
fil'ty, and the fiTnalleft twenty-fix guns i : and the Ruffian

» S. R. G. vo!.Il. p. -0. -t Ibkl. p. 184.

navvj

,jj TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK navy, in the harbours of the Euxine, conftru6led and upon
. ^y* - the flocks, is defcribed, only three years after the firft prepa-

rations, as confifling of nine fliips of 60 guns, ten of 50,
ten of 48, two of 42, fourteen of 34, two of 32, three of
30, one of 26, one of 24, four of 1 8, three of 14, and four
of 8 guns; befide 18 triremes, 100 brigantines, and 300
boats in the Dnieper. This ftupendous account would be
almofl incredible if it was not recorded by the fecretary *
to the Auftrian embaily, then refident at Mofcow. It is
fcarcely paralleled by the naval exertions of the Romans in
the firft Punick war.

The rapidity with which Peter created his fleet for the
Black Sea, was equalled by fimilar exertions upon the Bal-
tick after the acquifition of Cronftadt and the foundation of
Peterfburgh. But to return to the boat which occafioned this
interefting detail, and which, according to Peter I. was the
original caule of the RufTian navy. In 1 7 2 3 Peter, at the clofe
of the Perfian expedition, ordered it to be tranfported from
Mofcow to the new metropolis, and gave a publick entertain-

* Korb Diniium. The reader will find, " after the Englifli biiilt, two bored for 74

in p. 236, a catalogue of the names of all " guns, and two for 60 or 64; the fifth,

thefe veiTels, together with the breadth, " which is called after his majelly, becaiife

length, depth, number of guns, and com- " he had the direction of her upoQ the

plement of men. " ftocks, is bored for 86 guns. They were

Le Bruyn, who was at Veronetz in 1703, " at work alfo upon a packet-boat ; and

mentions the flapping in the following " afliore, on the other iide of the river,

words : " With regard to the fliips here, " were about 200 brigantines, moll of them

■■" we faw fifteen in the water, four men of " built at Veronis ; and at this time there

'' war the bi<'geft of 54 guns, three vidu- " were 400 flout brigantines upon tlie Nie-

" allers two fire fliips, and fix bomb- "per, and the Boryfthenes, in the neigh -

•'ketches. On fliore, and ready to be " bourhood of Crim Tartary ; and 300 flat

"launched, were five men of war, after "bottomed veflels upon the Volga; be-

" the Dutch fafliion, from 60 to 64 guns, " fides 18 men of war at Afoph, a bomb

" two after the Italian from 5c to 54, a " veffel, and ayatcht. The czar has feveral

" caleafs after the Venetian, and four gal- " other fliips, the largeft of which is of 66

** lies, befides 17 gallies at Siefofskie, two " guns, four from 41 to i;o, five of 36, two

•« verfts from the town. Befides all this, " of 34, and others fmaller, the leafl of 28

" they were at work upon five men of war *' guns," Le Bruyn's Travels, vol. I. p. 6j.

ment,

^ E; T E R S IS U R G H.

5*9

ment, which was called the Confecration of the Little Grand- chap.
Jire, The. fleet, ajiifilling of tvventy-feven men of war,
was rangetl at Cronftadt in theform of an half moon, when
his majefty embarked in this boat, himfelf (leering, while
three admirals and prince Menzikof i^erformed the office of
rowers ; being then towed by two floops, it made a fmall
circuit in the Gulf, and, returning by the fleet, the fliips, as
it pafled along, flruck their flags and faluted with all their
guns, while the Little Grand/ire returned each falute by a
difcharge of three fmall pieces. It was then brought into
the harbour, and furrounded by the men of war.

A few days afterwards the Little Grandfire was conveyed
•to St. Peterfl)urgh, where its arrival was folemnized by a
mafquerade upon the water ••■ . This memorable boat, freighted
with the emperor, proceeded to the fortrefs, and was con-
dudled, Peter himfelf aflifling in the ceremony, under the
difcharge of all the artillery, to the place where it was de-
pofited as a memorial to pofterity, and where it now re-
mains enfhrined.

From the fortrefs we took water, and landed at an adja-
cent fpot in the Ifland of Peterfburgh, near a wooden hovel,
which is dignified by its having ferved for the habitation of
Peter the Great while the fortrefs was conftrucling. It ftill
exifts in its original ftate ; and ftands under a brick build-
ing, purpofely erected to preferve it from deftru(5lion. The
houfe is no more than a ground floor, and coniifts of three
rooms, which I had the curiolity to meafure. They are
only eight feet in height i the apartment for the reception
of company, as it was called, is 15 feet fquare ; the dining

* Codfett'f prefent State of Ruflu, p. i\%.

Vol.. I, ^11 room

53<^

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK room is 1 5 by 1 2 ; and the bed-chamber ten feet fquare.

^ — ^-L-'Near this houfe is another four-oare^ boat, the work of
Peter's own hands, and which has been erroneoufly called
the Little Grandjire, an honourable appellation due only to
that juft defcribed.

CHAP.

C 55^ 3

CHAP. VI.

Palace and gardens of Sarfko-Selo.— ^Oranienbaum; — Hif*
tory of Prince Menzikof. — Fortrefs, — Apartments of Peter
III. — Palace and Gardens (?/Peterhof. — Dutch houfe built
by Peter the Great.-— Schluffelburgh. — Origin., hijiory, and
defcription of the fortrefs.

S, upon our arrival at Peterfburgh, the feafon of the chap.
year was far advanced, we had no time or opportunity .

to vifit many places in the neighbourhood of that capital.
We contrived, however, before the approach of winter, to
make excurfions to Sarfko-Selo, to Oranienbaum and Pe-
terhof, and, laftly, to Schluffelburgh ; an account of which
places forms the fubjed of the prefent chapter.

Sarfko-Selo, an imperial palace, about fifteen miles from
Peterfburgh, is the favourite fummer refidence of the em-
prefs, -where fhe lives in a more retired manner than
when file is at Peterhof. This palace, which was built by
Elizabeth, is a brick edifice ftuccoed white; is of difpropor-
tionate length, and in a moft heavy ftyle of architecSlure,
The capitals of the outfide pillars, many other exterior orna-
ments, and the feries of wooden ftatues which fupport the
cornice and adorn the roof, are all gilded, and exhibit a molt
tawdry ajjpearance. The apartments are large and magnir
ficent : feme are fitted up in the old i^yle of gawdy profu-
iion ; others in a lefs fplendid, but more elegant tall:e, bv-
her prefent majefty. One room is much admired, being
richly incrufted with amber, a prefent from the king of
Pruflia.

Y y y 2 Having

53i

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

Having viewed the palace, we walked round the gardens,
which are laid out in the Englifli tafte, and are prettily
diverfified with, lawn, wood, and water. Among feveral
bridges, we were particularly ftruck with one built after the
model of Lord Pembroke's Palladian bridge at Wilton. It
is exadlly of the fame fize, but more magnificent, the lower
part being of granite, and the colonade of marble. The
latter was hewn and worked in Siberia by an Italian artift,
who employed nine years in completing it. Prom Siberia
it was tranfported by water to Peterfburgh, . and from the
capital to Sarlko-Selo by land. It was a plealing fatisfaclion
to obferve our works of taile introduced into thefe diftant
and, formerly, inhofpitable regions. Several buildings were
fcattered about the gardens, many of which were raifed in
honour of thofe perfons who dil^inguiflied themfelves in the
imperial fervice : among thefe I remarked a triumphal arch
to Prince Orlof, for repairing to Mofcow in order to check
the progrefs of the plague, which raged with great violence
in that city ; a building to Count Alexey Orlof, in memory
of the naval victory at Tchefme ; and an obclifk to Marlhal -
Romanzof, for his fuccefles againil the Turks.

Our next excurfion was to Peterhof, Oranienbaum and
Cronftadt •'%

The road lay at a fmall diftance from the Gulf of Fin-
land, at firft through a flat country, chiefly marfliy, pro-
ducing pafture and little corn; On our left ran a ridge of
low h:ils, v.'hich once formed the boundary of the Gulf,
when it fpread over a larger fpacethan it covers at prefent.
We afcended this ridge, obferved on our left the convent of St.

* Cronftadt will be cfefcribed ia the chapter whkh ireats of the Riiflian navy. See
Book VI. in the oext'volume.

7 Serge,

PRINCE MENZIKOF.

533

Serge, and on our right the palace of Strelna, begun by Eli- chap.
zabeth, but never finifhed. >

About four miles further we pafled by Peterhof, and pro-
ceeded to Oranienbaum, through a country covered -with
foreft.

The palace of Oranienbaum, which ftands near the fhore
of the Gulf of Finland, about the diitance of 27 miles from
Peterfburgh, was erected by Prince Menzikof, while he was
in the meridian of a power, to which fcarcely any fubje<St-
but himfelf has ever arrived. The rife of this extraordinary
man is varioufly related by different authors. Some affert-
that he was apprentice to a paftry-cook, and fold pies in the
llreets of Mofcow; that Peter, once flopping to coverfe with
him, was fo ftruck with his ready wit and quick repartees,
that he took him into his fervice, and advanced him, by
rapid promotions, to the height of favour which he after-
wards enjoyed : others declare, that he was the fon of a
groom belonging to the court, and was cafually placed about
the perfon of the emperor *. Both thefe accounts, however
contradidory to each other, fufEciently (how the lownefs
and uncertainty of his origin ; and indeed we need not'
wonder that the genealogy of an upftart favourite fhould
not be exactly traced. The earlieft account upon record
concerning him is that, in the year 1687, he was one of the
youths! whom Peter I. formed into a corps, and difci-
plined after the European manner. The young tzar was
only fifteen years old, and Menzikof, then known by the

* The former opinion, that he was a ties Preobafchenkifc hen, &c. in Journal of -

paftry cook's boy, feems to be the moft St. Peterfburgh for March, 1778, p. 173.

probable^ as it is preferred by Weber, Furft Menzikow war einer den erften Po-

Manflcin, Bruce. tefclinii. Sec alfoManftcin, p. 11.

f Muller's Nachricht von der Urfprunge

naBQ€

534

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK i^ame of Alexafca, or Little Alexander, about the fame aq-e;'

XV J ' <->

k—vl-'and as the latter was remarkably a6tive in his exercifc, he
was obferved by Le Fort, and by him recommended to Pe-
ter. Several perfons of this company were afterwards
promoted very high in the Ruffian fervice, and many cir-
cumftances concurred to forward the advancement of Men-
zikof. He rendered himfelf remarkably nfeful to the tzar
in his plans of reformation ; he paid a particular attention
to foreigners, whom Peter was continually drawing into his
fervice ; he ftudied his matter's character and temper, and
knew how to fubmit to the groffelt infults. " The tzar,"
fays Gordon, who was himfelf an eye-witnefs, " often
" kicked him publickly, and beat him like a dog ; fo that
«' the by-flanders concluded him undone ; but always next
" morning the peace was made up, which people believed
" could not proceed but from fome preternatural caufe ■-■•."

One inllance of his implicit obedience to the commands
of the tzar, and his dexterity in performing them, is re-
corded by Korb, fecretary to the Auftrian embafly. It is a
Avell-known fa6l, that Peter was accuflomed to affift at the
■examination of the prifoners who were accufed of high-
treafon ; that he would be prefent at the tortures inflifled
upon them in order to force confeffion ; that he would fre-
quently attend at their execution ; that he would fometimes
himfelf perform the office of executioner t ; and would oc-

cafionally

* Gordon's Life of Tctcr, vol. IT. p. 278. L'Evcfqne maT<es the follow ing jiidicioiw

Korb alio fays, " Alexafcara vcro favori- remarks upon this rem.irkable cucuniihnce.

•' tarn fuum, gladio accinclum inttr tripu- " Pcut ctre ces fortes d'ejceciitions, dont

»' dia deprehendens, deponendi gladii mo- " les grands ctaient les miniftres, et aux

*' rem inflirto colapho docuit ; cujus impe- " quelles le prince liii-meme j)renait part,

" turn fangiiis ex naribus abiindt: .defluus " etaient-elles fondees fur quelqiie ufage

*' fntis tellatus efl." p. 84. *' oufur quelque loi doiit on a perdu le

■ t " QuinqMc rebellium capita a nollUf- " fouvcnir. Elies cioiint rcfervees, fans

"/wfl3///to'-^/.r »;i7/;k fccuri elle nniputata." " doute, pour ces guindes rebellions qui

K.aib Piarium, p. 170. " mcna-

PRINCE MENZIKOF.

535

cafionally confign that tafk to his favourites and principal chap.
nobles *. Korb relates, that, foon after the infurredtion of > — ^J-j
the Strelitz in 1698, Peter fcornfuUy reproached many of the
nobles who trenibled at being compelled to behead fome
rebels, adding, in a ftrain of fanguinary juftice, " that there
" was no vidim more acceptable to the deity than a wicked
" man." Menzikof, however, does not feem to have la-
boured under fuch delicate feelings ; for, as a prelude to the
execution of 150 Strelitz, he drove about the flreets of
Mofcow in a fledge brandilhing a naked fword j:, and boafted'
of his adroitnefs in cutting off twenty heads.

" mena^aient I'etat et le fouverain. La
" nobleffe, en frappant elle-meme Ics cou-
" pables, prouvait qu'elle avoit horreur de
" leurcomplot; et le prince grievement of-
•' fenfe, fe rcfervait qiielque part a la ven-
*' geance. Ce qui femble confirnier ce
*' fentiment, c'eft que Pierre punit les Stre-
*' lits de la menic maniere, que !e tfar Tvan
*' s'etait venge des nobles qui lui etaient
*' fufpeds. Ce rapport entre le crime et
** la punition prouve qu'elle ne dependait
" feulement du caprice du fouverain.
*' Pierre, dirnit-on, devait abolir cet uftge.
" Mais pouvait-il changer fi promptement
*' les coutumes, les loix, fa nation & lui-
•' nieme." Vol. IV. p. 147.

* Gordon mentions the fame circumt-
llance, but he only fays " that feveral of
" the great men, whom the tzar fufpcded
" to have been engaged in this confpiracy,
'' he caufed tn take the i.xe into their hands,
•' and obliged :hcm to ci.t off the heat's of
"I'ome others of the conlpirators." Vol. I.
p. 130. Korb mentions, among others, the
names of Blumberg and Le Lorr, whom the
tzar defired to become executioners, but
who excufed thenifelves.

" Quotquot i'cjarinorum & magnatum
*' conciiio intererant, quo contra rebelles
" Strelizios certaraen decretum efl, hodier-
'f nus dies ad novum vpcav it tribunal, ilngulis
•• finguli rei prcpofiti ; qvemvis oporteb.it
•' f£ntenti-m,quamdicta\erat,fecuriexequi.
'^Erinceps Romadonowiki, amequam tu»

" multuarentur, quatuor regiminum dux
" quatuor Strelizios urgente majeflate eo-
" dem ferro ad terram proftravit ; crudcUor
" Alexafca de •vighiti dcci/JJis capltlbus gloria-
'■^ bat/tr ; infelix Gallizin, quod male feri-
" endo dolores damnati multum adauxerit,
" 330. Una. fimul edu£li ad feralem fecuris.
" iftum late patentem planitiem civili qui-
" dem, ftd impio fanguine purpurarunt.
" Ad idem liftoris officium cum Barone de
" Blumberg Gener.ilis Lefort invitabatur;
" fed exculantes, id domi fuas moris ncn
" efle, auditifunt. Ipfemet tzariks in fella
" fcdens totnm tragoediam, taiT,qi;e horren-
" dam tot hominum lanienam ficcis oculis
" infpeftabat, hoc unum indignatus, quod
*' Bojarinorum plurimi Jnfueto huic muneri
" tremulas manus admoviffent ; cum tamen
•' nulla jiinguior viiSima Deo maftari polfit,
" quiim horaofceleratus." p. 88,89.

And again : " QuiN'is incertum librabat:
" idtum, novo et infolito muneri tremulas
*'" manus admovens, infelicillime omnium
" feriebat Bojarinorum ille, qui aberrantem a
" coUo gladium in tergus miferat, et Stre-
" lizio fic in medium tcrm^ dillefto, dolores.
"•ad dcfperationem auxiifet, nifi Alexajla
'■'■ fccuri niilius itifelkii rei collum tctJ^iJJct,'
Ibid. p. I 72,

\ OJlendit adhuc eo fcfperc fa-pe di^iis
Alexander ^ carpenio per omnia urbis compiiia
I'cilus, crclerrima audi ciijis ojhntatiene, ijuam-
fnngiiinoleutam crcjiini did tragadiam ex-
pedurct.

But

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA,

But it was not merely by adts of buffoonery ajitl cruelty
that he acquired the efteem and confidence of Peter, but by
bis fuperior abiUties, both as a ftatefman and a foldier *,
Being chofen for the companion of his travels into foreign
parts, he was, in 1706, created prince of the German em-
pire, and was rapidly elevated to the higheft employments
both in the civil and military line. On particular occafions
he was even permitted to perfonate his fovereign, by giving
publick audience to foreign embafladors ; while Peter, averfe
to the pomp of royalty, appeared as a private perfon in his
fuite. So great indeed was the afcendancy which this fa-
vourite acquired over the emperor (an afcendancy confirmed
and maintained by the influence of Catharine t), as to give
rife to a report among the Ruffians, that he had fafcinated
by witchcraft the mind of his matter.

Upon the death of Peter his power was flill more un-
bounded. Catharine, who was chiefly indebted to his in-
trigues and abilities for her elevation to the throne, grate-
fully refigned to hira the fole adminiftration of affairs, and
flie may be called the oltenfible, while he was the real fove-
reign X' His authority continued undiminiflied to the mo-
ment of her deceafe ; and the claufe in her will §, by which
{he ordered her fucceflbr Peter II. to efpoufe the prince's
daughter, was at once a proof of his afcendancy, and her
gratitude,

* At the battle of Pultawa he had thrc« § Gordon fiippofes that this will was

horfef fliot under him, forged by prince Mcnzikof; a fupnofitioa

+ Catharine more thnn once prevented for which there is n<>t the lead proof. Wa

Menzikof's difgrace, which had been ine^ roiifl ciiftjuguini between jhofe parts of Oor-

vitable wit!;otit her interc^ffion, BaflevitJ don's hiftory, nliich rel.;tc to events while h^

ID Bi;fc H, M, IX. p. «94> w-'is inRullia. and the others which hewrotp

J <* Le goiivernt'ment," fays Count Mil- ftfter he cj-.iltted tiuu coimtry to Jyii,

jitch, '* n'dtoit autre chofQ cjue Iq voulm'r He fpeakswojfe cf prince Men^ikof than hp

♦' Mfi'i<iu( ^u frina Menjihikow,'* Rbauche, fsema to deferve, and partieulwly srrsijjn*

tut p. 63, 1)14 cowraget

His

PRINCEMEN2IK0F. j37

His intrigues and power, his ambition and arrogance, chaf.

Iiis difrepeiSlfiil behaviour to Peter II. "■ and the pecuUar cir- > ^Lj

cumftances of his difgrace, are all related in the Memoirs of
Manftein t, a book which cannot be too highly commended
as an authentick and impartial work.

Two days before his fall the prince repaired to his palace
of Oranienbaiim for the dedication of a chapel, having
previoufly invited Peter II. to be prefent at the ceremony ;
the latter however excufing himfelf, under pretence of in-
difpofition, the chapel was confecrated ; and it did not efcape
notice, that Menzikof feated himfelf on a throne which had
been raifed for the emperor.

Being arreiled, in the month of September, 1727,
he was imprifoned at Berefof, a fmall town upon the river
Oby, in a wooden hovel enclofed with palifadoes, where
he ended his days. He is faid to have fupported his dif-
grace with firmnefs and refignation I ; he received a
tiaily allowance of ten roubles §, fi^om which he eveii
faved a fiifficiency to build a wooden church, and amufcd
himfelf by affifting the workmen in its conftru6tion.
fie furvived his fall about two years and five months, dying
in the month of November, 1 7 29, of a repletion of blood ||.

*. Munich gives, amongft others, the fol- The authority of Manftein, however, is in

lowing inftanccs of his arrogance : " Lorf- this ip.lliiice to be preferred to that of We-

*' qu'il ilcrivoit au jeiine empereur il le ber ; as he had frequent opportunities dur-

*' traitoit de fils et fous-fignoit la lettre : ing his refideuce in Ruffia of making in-

*' Votre Pere IVlenlchikow. Aux eglifes il quiries concerning the death of prince Men-

•' fe mettoit a la tribune de I'Enipereur,'* zikof, after his family had been releafed by

&c. Ebauche, &c. p. 67. the emprefs Anne. Whereas Weber had

f P. 2 to p. 13, quitted RuiMa before that p;riod ; and he

X Manftcin, p. lo. Weber, on the con- inferts his accoiuit of the prince's death'

trary, aiierts, that he was wretched and im- merely as a report, " iind mm mcidete

patient, and became fo weary of Ms exift- " damals," &:c. Ver, RulT. v. III. p. 178,

ence, as to refufe all nouriQiment, and § /-•

could be prevailed upon to fwallow nothing || See Schmidt Materia'iei, S-'c. who has

but water. Having continued in this ftate collciued every thing relating to prince

a few days without uttering a finglc word, Menzikof, p. J.)8, &c,
he expired on the 2d of November, ly^c).

Vol. I. Z z z The

538 TRAVELSIN TO RUSSIA.

BOOK Yhe wife of Prince Menzikof was fo aiFe(fled with hep
. ' ■ hiifband's difgrace, that ilie became blind with weeping, and
expired on the road to Berefof. His daughter, who had been
betrothed to the emperor, died before her father in prifon ;
and the remaining part of his family, confifting of
a fon and a daughter, were releafed on the acceffion of the
emprefs Anne. The daughter was married to Guftavus
Biren, brother to the duke of Ccurland ; and the fon was
promoted in the army by the fame emprefs. A grandfon of
prince Menzikof is now living : he is an officer in the Ruf--
fian army, and inherits only the name, but none of the--
riches or power of his grandfather.

Soon after the fall of Menzikof, his palace was converted^
into an hofpital for failors ; but was afterwards chofen by
Peter HI. for his favourite refidence. The middle part of
the edifice is the fame as erecfbed by Menzikof, and confifts
of two ftories, containing a^ range of fmall apartments ::
the emperor added the wings, which-are long buildings of
one ftory.

Having pafTed through the palace, in which there was^
nothing worthy of remark, we went to the fortrefs. In our
way we did not omit obferving a modef in miniature of a
citadel, which Peter III. when he firft contradled a fondnefs-
for military ftudies, ordered to. be made for the pur-
pofe of learning practical fortification. A little further we
came to the fortrefs, which is furrounded with a ditch and
rampart, and fti\;ngthencd with baftions. Itwas raifed by
the late emperor when, he was great-duke, and contains a;
building called by him the govcrnai''s houfe, which he ge-
nerally inhabited himfelf, and into which he admitted only
his officers and favourites, while his court rclided in the pa-
lace..

O R A N I E N B A U M.

539

Jace. Near it were barracks for a fmall garrifon, a few chap.
wooden houfes for the principal officers, and a fmall Luthe-
ran chapel, where his Holflein foldiers affembled for divine
fervice.

The governor's houfe is a brick building ftuccoed, feveu
or eight windows in front, conlifting of about eight fmall
rooms. It remains exadlly in the fame ftate as during the
iife-time of the emperor, neither the furniture nor the bed
in which he flept the night preceding his depofition being
removed. It had a white fattin coverlet, and was on a large
four-poft bedtlead, with curtains of pink and filver brocade,
and ornamented at the top with a plume of red and white
feathers. Adjoining to this apartment is a neat cabinet,
hung with light brown filk, upon which werefeveral figures
worked by the emprefs.

From the fortrefs we were condu6ted to a large gallery of
pictures, colledted by the fame emperor. Among feveral
portraits of that unfortunate prince, one was pointed out to
us as a ftriking refemblance : he is painted in his Holftein
uniform ; the complexion is fair, and the hair light ; there is
no ex-preffion in the features, and the countenance has a
very effeminate look.

In the garden is an elegant pavilion, conftru6led by order
of the emprefs when fhe was great-duchefs ; it contains
eighteen apartments, each, furnifl:ied in different taftes,
namely the Greek, Turkilh, Chinefe, Sec. and is lituated in
the midft of a thick wood : its approaches being circular,
we had not the leaft glimj)fe until we arrived at it ; and as it
generally caufes an emotion of furprize, it has, for tl>at
reafon, received the appellation of Ha !

Peterhof is at the diftance of about feven miles fromOra-
liienbaum, and twenty from the capital : the palace was be-

Z z z a gun

54®

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

fJOOK g-^^ri by Peter I. and finiflied by Elizabeth. It is feated upon
. / . an eminence, and commands a fuperb view of Cronftadt,,

^ Peterfburgh, the intervening gulf, and the oppofite coaft of
Carelia : it is magnificently furniflied ; and the ftiite of
apartments princely. The prefence chamber is ornamented
with the portraits of the fovereigns of the houfe of Romanoff
who have reigned over Ruffia iince the year 1613. The
moft confpicuous amongtt them was a whole length of the
prefent emprefs, as flie made her triumphant entry into Pe-
terfburgh the evening of the revolution which placed her

upon the throne. She is reprefented drefTed like a man in
the uniform of the guards, with a branch of oak in her hat,
a drawn fword in her hand, and mounted vipon a white fleed.
The gardens of Peterhof have been celebrated for their
tnfle and elegance, and from the number of jet d'eaus, foun-
tains, bafons, cafcades, parterres. Sec. they have been com-
pared to thofe of Verfailles ; and indeed in one refpecfl they
are far fuperior ; for the water-works of the latter only play
upon particular occafions, while thofe of Peterhof are peren-
nial. Thefe gardens, which, at the time of their formation,
were greatly admired in this country, though not congenial
to the tafte of the emprefs, are fuffered to remain in their
prefent flate ; as during fummer her majelly principally re-
lides at Sarfko-Selo, where the grounds arc difpofed in a
more modern and pleafing manner. I fhall not detain the
reader with a defcription of the fdver dolphins and gilded
ttatues, which are fcattered in great profulion ; but I cannot
omit mentioning thofe of two gladiators placed in a bafbn of
water ; they are reprefented, not with the antient ^^eapons,
the fword and buckler, but with the more modern inflru-
ments of war, a brace of piftols, which as they point to each

otheif

P E T E R H O F. ^41,

other in threatening attitudes, the water dafhes impetuoufly chap.
from the barrels.

Part of the garden hes between the palace and the gulf,
and contains, among other buildings, one lituatedclofe to the
water, which is worthy of particular obfervation, becaufe it was
the favourite retreat of Peter I. As the houfe and furniture
have been preferved with a kind of religious veneration ex-
actly in their original ftate, we can form fome idea of the
plain and frugal limplicity in which that monarch was ac-
cuflomed to live. This houfe was built foon after his return
from Holland, and fitted up in the tarte of that country, for
which reafon it was known by the apj^ellation of the Dutch
houfe : He ufed alfo to call it Monplaijir, the name by which
it is now diftinguilhed.

Being fubje6t to fevers, he was prepoffeffed that the air *
from the water was the moffc wholefome for his conftitution;-
and for that reafon conlfruiied this fmall houfe clofe to the
Gulf of Finland, It is of brick, of one ftory, and roofed,
with iron : the windows reach from the ground to the top;,
which, added to the length and lownefs of the building,
give it the appearance of a green-houfe.. The habitable
part confillis of an hall and fix fmall rooms, which are all
furnilhed in the neateil and plaineft manner.. The mantle
pieces are ornamented with curioiisokl porcelaine, which he
greatly prized as being brought into Rulfia wlien the com—

* " Le czar prit :\ Rig.i une forte attn- " nait en ets a Pcterdioff, I'air des valles-

*' qnede fievre cnaude. Four s'en rcmettre, "jirclinsds ce palais lui femblait eioufte^,

*' il in togea une huitaine de jours d.ms \\n '• ct il couchait a BLnpluJir, rr.aifon, dont

" vaifTeau. A fon avis, I'air des caux re- " les flots de la mer lavep.t un coti, et dont

" llaurait la fmte. Peu de journces ptirks " I'autre confine aii grand pare de Peter--

♦' fans le refpirer. Se levant au point dj " flioft". C'etait fa rerraite favorite. II-

*' jour, ct dinant il onze heures ilu iuatin, il " I'aviit nieublie de t ibleaux flamans, re--

«* avait coutume de tairc tm fomme il apr s " prcientant Hes fcenes champetres cr ma-

" Ik rcpas. Un lit de repos pour cet ufage •' ruiines, plaifantes pour la plapart." 13af-

•' etait drcde dans la frjgattc, et il y p.llait fevitz, in B. H. M. IX. p. 339.
•' cn toute failon. Meme lorfqu'il fejour-

m.unicatioa'

^4« T R A V E L S I N T O R U S S I A.

.BOOK niunication was firft opened with China. The bed-room is
fmall, white-\^'aflied, and the floor covered with a coloured
fait-cloth. It contains a barrack-bedftead without curtains ;
and I obferved that the flieets were remarkably fine. The
galleries on each fide, and two fmall rooms, are hung with
pictures of the Dutch and Flemiih fchools ; among thefe
were feveral portraits of himfelf under the charadler of
mailer Peter when he worked at Sar<Jam ; and one of his
favourite millrefs the beautiful Dutch girl.

In the gardens of Peterhof is a very extraordinary build-
ing, denominated the Mountain for Sledges, and called alfo
by fome travellers the Flying Mountain. It Ifands in the
middle of an oblong area, enclofed by an open colonade
with a flat roof, which is railed for the convenience
©f holding £iie<51;ators. The circumference of this colonade
is at lead half a mile. In the middle of the area ftands the
flying mountain, flretching nearly from one end to the other.
It is a wooden building, fupported upon pillars, rcprefenting
an uneven furface of ground, or a mountain compofed of
three principal afcents, gradually diminifhing in height with
an intermediate ipace to refemble valleys : from top to bot-
tom is a floored w^ay, in which three parallel grooves are
formed. It is thus ufed ; a fmall carriage, containing one
perfon, being placed in the center groove upon the higheft
point, goes with great rapidity down one hill ; the velocity
which it acquires in its defcent carries it up a fecond ; and it
continues to move in a fimilar manner until it arrives at the
bottom of the area, where it rolls for a confiderable way on
the level furface, and flops before it attains the boundary :
it is then placed in one of the fide grooves, and drawn up by
means of a cord fixed to a windlafs. To a perfon unac-
quainted

S^GHLUSSELBURGH.

i^3

qiiainted with the mechanifm, this entertainment would ap- chap.
pear tremendous ; but as the grooves always keep the ■
carriage in its right direction, there is not the leaft danger of
being overturned. At the top of the mountain is an hand-
fome apartment for the accomodation of the court and prin-
cipal nobility ; there is alio room for many thoufand fpe6la-
tors- withia the colonade and upon its roof.

Near the flying mountain* is a fpacious amphitheatre,,
in which tournaments are ufually exhibited'.

As I was anxious to vifit every remarkable place in the'
neighbourhood of this city, I did not fail repairing to
SchlulTelburgh, a fortrefs often mentioned in the Ruffian
hiftory, and celebrated for the number and rank of the ftate
prifoners who have been there confined*

SchlulTelburgh lies at the diftance of 40 miles from Peterf-
burgh ; the road runs the whole way by the fide of the
Neva, which flows with a full ftream in a broad and winding
channel ; its banks, which are fteep' and high, are ftudded
with many villages, and feveral country houfes prettily dif-
perfed and hanging over the edge of the water.

The village of SchlulTelburgh, which is lituated on each
flde of the Neva, contains about three hundred wooden
houfes, and about 2800 inhabitants.

The fortrefs is built upon a fmall ifland of the Neva, at
the point whete that river iiTues from the lake Ladoga. The-
breadth of the il:ream in that part is about three quarters of
a mile, and the current is remarkably rapid.

* Pr. King, in Ills EfTay on the Effefts of Selo : it w.is taken down when I faw the
Co'd, has dcfcribed anotiier kind of Flying place, her prefent majelly not being fo toad-
Mcuntaio, which w.is eieited at Sarlko- of thcfe iliveiiions as the lat^- emprcfs.

3. Thar

-544

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK Yhe origin of this fortrefs is thus traced by the Rullian
* — ^w hiftorians. hi 1324 George Danilovitch, great-duke of
Mofcow, being upon an expedition againft Wiburgh, built a
fmall fortrefs in the middle of this iiland, which was then
called, from its oblong fliape,OrekofikiOftrof, or Nut Ifland;
from this appellation the fortrefs took its name of Oreko-
vetcb, which was corrupted into Orefliek. Being befieged
and taken by Magnus king of Sweden, the Swede"- tranflated
the name into their own language, and called -c Noteborg.
It again came into the pofleflion of the Ruffians, who retained
it until I 614, when Guiiavus Adolphus forced the garrifon
to capitulate. It was probably fince this laft period, that the
Swedes encircled the whole iQand with a wall and battle-
ments, the fame which fubfiil at prefent.

In 1702 Peter advanced to the frontiers of Sweden with
a confiderable army ; and, having made feveral ineffed:ual
attempts againft Noteborg, he fent prince Galitzin, colonel of
the guards, at the head of a felecSt corps to take it by ftorm.
That officer having, by means of rafts, landed his foldiers
dofe to the fortifications, which advance almoft to the edge
of the water, they were received with fuch cool intrepidity
by the garrifon, and expofed to fo dreadful a carnage, that
Peter, conceiving the affault to be impradable, fent imme-
diate orders for the Fxuflians to retire : Prince Galitzin, how-
ever, refufed to obey. " Tell my fovereign," added he,
" that I am no longer his fubje£l ; having thrown myfelf
*' under the protection of a power far fuperior to him*"
Then, turning to his troops, he animated them by his voice
and example, and, leading them to the attack, fcaled the
walls and took the fortrefs. Peter was fo much ftruck with
this exploit, that, upon his next interview with Galitzin, he
faid to him, " Afk what you chufe, except Mofcow and Ca-
I *' tharine."

S 'C H L U S S E L B tr R G H.

545

iharine." The prince, with a magnanimity which refleiSls chap.
the higheft honour upon his character, inltantly requefted
the pardon of his antient rival prince Repnin, who had been
degraded by Peter from the rank of marflial to that of a com-
mon foldier : he obtained his requeft, and with it the confi-
dence of his fovereign, the efteem of Repnin, and the ap-
plaufe of the pubHck *.

Peter changed the nameof thefortrefs intoSchluffelburgh,
its prelent appellation, becaufe, from the importance of its
lituation, he confidered it as the keyi of his conquefts.
From this period it has continued in the poffeflion of the
Ruffians : but, fincc tlie boundaries of the empire have been
confiderably extended, it is no longer of that importance as
it was when it was lituated upon the frontiers of the Swedifh
territory ; and for its great ftrength and infulated lituation,
it has been chiefly ufed for a ftate prifon.

The ifland, which lies juft midway between the oppofite
banks, is, as I have before obferved, of an oblong fliape,
fcarcely more than 600 yards in length, and 260 in its
greatell: breadth. The walls, which ficirt almoil its whole
circumference, are conftrucfted with ftone and brick, about
fifty feet in height, and from eleven to twenty thick,
and are ftrengthened according to the antient mode of for-
tification, with battlements and eight round towers. We
pafled over a draw bridge into the fortrefs, which we exa-
mined, but without being permitted to enter any of the
wards wherein the prifoners are confined. A range of cor-
ridors open on the inner fide enclofes a large area, and con-
tains feveral dungeons for the prifoners. We obferved the

* 1 received this nnecdote from one of f SchlufTel in German fignifies a key ;

(he deiceiitl.ints of Prince Galitzin, nnd its and Peter affected to give many places a

truth was confirmed by ar.wy R\iiiian no- German appellation,
b'.emen.

Vol. I. 4 A windows

£46 . TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK windovts of tliefe dungeons dofed with brick, leaving to-
IV. -

wards their top only a vacant ipace of a few inches lq;oare,

which admits i'o little light, that tlie unfortunate inhabi-
tants have only a kind of twilight gloom, hi the middle
of the area is the governor's houfe, and a fmall wooden cot-
tage, wherein a ftate prifoner was confined. Further on we
entered through a portcullis-gate into the interior fortrefs,
which was built by George Danivolitch in the year 1324:
it is about 140 feet fquarc, open at top, with (lone walls re-
markably high. Within we obferved a brick houfe of one
flory, which reaches from one fide to the other, and contains
eleven rooms, each about feventeen feet by twelve. It is
ftill unfiniQied, the floors not being laid down, and has
never been inhabited. This houfe was built by order of the
late emperor Peterlll. with fuch expedition, that it was begun
and brought to its prefent ftate in lefs than fix v^eeks ; but
his depofition put an immediate ftop to its progrefs. The
conftruiSlion of fo large a building in fo fecure a place, and in
fuch a fmall fpace of time, has always been deemed a myf-
tery ; but there is every reafon to fuppofe that he intended it
for his confort the prefent emprefs, whom it is now well
known he had determined to divorce and imprifon.

That mifguided and unfortunate prince came a few weeks
before his depofition to SchlufTelburgh, to fee prince Ivan,
when he examined this houfe with great attention, and
fcemed fatisfied with the expedition of the workmen *.

* Bufching fuppofes that Peter con- did not know that Ivan was removed to

ftruf^ed a houfe for prince Ivan in the for- Kexholm the beginning of June. Buf.

trefs of Schluiillburgh. This can mean no ching, vol. VI. p. 531.

other houfe than that defcribed in the con- See the account of prince Ivan in Book

text, which I am coavinced was defigned V. Chap. U, in the next volume,
for the emprefs ; but Bufching probably

5 Several

S C H L U S S E L B U R G H.

547

Several ftate-prifoners of high rank have been confined in chap.
this fortrefs ; amongft the mort remarkable are th€ follow-v— v—
ing: Maria-:, fifter of Peter the Great; Eudociat firftwifeof
the famcmonarch, whowas/^^rcimprifoned inoneof themoft
gloomy cells. Count Piper, minifter to Charles XII. who was
taken at the battle of Pultava, died here after a lingering cap-
tivity. Biren duke of Courland, favourite of the emprefs Anne,
and regent Of Ruffia, here exchanged the pomp of palaces

; and the ill-fated Ivan, after an

for a loathfome dunpeon

* Maria was imprifoned upon fufpicion
= of being concerned with Alexcy ; was ag.iin
releaied, and died at Peterfturgh in 1723.

f Eudocia was married, in i6Sg, to Pe-
ter the Great, then only in the iSth year of
his age; and was delivered of Alexiy in
1690. Her oppofition to Peter's plans of
reformation, and herrepeated remonllrances
againft his incontinence, occafioned her di-
" vorce, which took place in 1696 ; when (lie
was compelled to affume the veil, and was
confined in a convent at Sufdai. During
her rcfidence in that convent, (he is reported
to have contraced a connexion with a ge-
neral Glebof, f nd even to have entered in-
to a contract of marriage by exchanging
rings with him. Encouraged by the pre-
dictions of the archbifhop ofRoftof, who,
from a dream, announced to her the death
of Peter, and her immediate return to court
under the reign of her fon Alexey, flie
re-alfumed her- fecular drefs, and was pub-
lickly prayed for in the church of the
convent under the name of the emprefs
Eudocia. Being brought to Mofcow in 171 S,
and examined, flie was, by order of her iii-
hviman hufoand, fcourged by two nuns,
and imprifoned 'in the convent of New La-
doga, w itbout being fuffercd to fee any one
.hm the perfons who brought her food,

which (lie dreffed herfelf, for fhe had no
fervant to do the moft flaviQi oiKces, nor more
than one cell for her perfon. See Letters
from a Lady in Ruffia, p. 46. From thence
(lie was removed to the fortrefs of Schlul-
felburgh. Being releafed upjn the accef-
fion of hergrandfon Peter III. (lie repaired
to Mofcov/, was prtfent at his coronation,
as well as that of the emprefs Anne, and
expired in the nunnery -of Devitz, where
(lie held her court, in 1731, in the 59111
year of her age \.

This princefs, though certainly a weak
woman, perhaps was not fo guilty as (he was
reprefented by Peter. Mrs. Vigor, who faw
and converfed with her at Mofcow in the
year 1731, a(rures us, that Glebof" un-
" derwent fuch repeated tortures, as it was
*' thought po creature could have borne,
"with great conllancy, perfilling in his
" own and her innocence during his tor-
" ments. At laft the czar himfclf came to
*' him, and offered him .pardon if he woul4
'" confefs. He fpit in the czar's face, and
•' told him, he fliould difdain to fpedk to
" him, hut he thought himfelf obliged to
" clear his milfrefs, who was as virtuous a
" woman as any in the woild,"&c. See
Ibid. p. 44. See Voltaire, Schmidt, Sec.

.t Schmidt, Gcii. Tab. in his RuIT. Gef,

4 A a

impri-

548 T R A V E L S I N T O R U S S I A.

BOOK imprifonment of three and twenty years, here fuffered an
untimely death.

Thefe melancholy ideas, heightened by the dreadful,
gloom, the dead filence, and the awful appearance of a few
folitary centinels, communicated fuch an impreffion as will,
not eafily be obliterated ; and even at this diftance of time
and place, I Ihudder at the recollection of a Ruffian ftate-
prifon.

CHAP,

549- J

C HA P. VII.

0/" Catharine I. — Her origin and early adventures. — Married
to a Swedifli dragoon. — Captured by //'^Ruffians. — Be-
conies the ^nijlrefs, confort, and fuccejfor of Peter the Great.
——Death of that monarch without appointing his fuccejjor.
— Hijiory of Catharine's elevation to the throne. — Her
death and cbara^kr,

TV /Tan Y authors have exprefled great furprize at the chAp.
•*-'-■■ contradicftory reports relative to the origin of fo , ^^^'
extraordinary a perfonage as Catharine I. But when we
conlider the lownefs of her extra6lion, the variety of un-
common adventures which befel her during the early pe-
riod of her life, her equivocal fituation with general Bauer
and prince Menzikof, before her connedion with Peter the
Great ; and that fhe did not excite the imblick curiofity until
flie became the favourite of that emperor, when flie and her
friends could prevent, as much as poflible, all inquiries into
her former fituation ; I am fo far from being furprized that
we know fo little, that I rather wonder v/e know fo much about
her birth and early adventures. To expeil that the hiftory of a
pcrfon of low extraction, who gradually rofe to the moft ex-^
alted ftation, Iliould contain no uncertain and difcordant ac-
counts, is to exped: impoffibilities. All that remains, there-
fore, is, without prejudice or partiality, to examine and
compare the various hiftories of Catharine I. and to colle<5t
from the whole the moft rational and probable narrative.

7 Catharine

S50

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

Catharine was the natural daughter ■••• of a country girl ;

aiTd

* I fliall here fay a few words concerning
the authors from whom I hnve principally
cxtrafted this accovitit of Catharine I. The
firll and moil: authentic of tliefe is Weber.

1. Weber was the Hanoverian refident at
Peterftiurgh during part of the reign of
I'eter K and took extraordinary pains to
obtain the beft information relative to the
origin of Catharine. He learnt theRulFian
language of Wiirmb, who had been tutor to
Gluck's children at the time when' Catha-
rine was in that minifter's houfe at Marien-
burgh, and who was at Peterfburgh in 1714 :
from him, therefore, he was able to obtiin
the moll; aivthentick intelligence. Can we
vifli for more accurate information ? We-
ber may pollibly have been millaken in a
few trifling incidents, but his narrative upon
the whole is to be depended upon. See Ve-
randertes Rulsland, Vol. III. p. 7— 10.

2, La Motraye, in his Travels, has given
a fliort account of Catharine's family, S:c.
Among other intelligence, he coUefted much
information from a IJvonian girl, who had
been fold by the Rufiians to the Turks, and
Avhom he bought in Turkey of the jani-
zaries : this girl knew Catharine at ivlari-
enburgh, and told him fevcral particulars
relating to her, which were afterwards con-
firmed to him in Livonia. The account of
La Motraye correfponds with that of Weber
in the principril events, differing only in a

, few trifling points.

3. Bruce has alfo given an account of

■ the origin of Catharine in his Memoirs
lately publiflicd, which he relates as hs
heard it told by thofe who knew her from
her infancy. His narrative correfponds,
upon the whole, with that of Weber in all
elfential circumftanccs. In the courfe of
this inquiry I fliull point out one or two
immaterial inilances wherein they differ,

.Thele three perfons are the principal au-
thors who were in Ruffia towards the be-
ginning of this century, and who colleftcd
inforaiation upon the fpot : we may there,
fore rely upon them u ith more fafety than
upon later authors ; and they all agree in

confirming the lownefs of her birth and her
marriage with the Swedidi dragoon.

Voltaire, in his Life of Peter L has
flighily paffed over the early adventures of
Catharine: he mentions nothing of her
birth, her marriage with the Swedifti fol-
dier, as circumftances derogatory from the
honour of the mother of the emprefs Eli-
zabeth, by whofe delire he wrote the Life
of Peter the Great. But, willing to enno-
ble the family of Catharine L he records a
flrange ftory, which has all the air of a ro-
mance, of a brother of Catharine, named
Scavronfki, who was found to be the fon of
a gentleman of Lithuania. Voltaire cites
for his authority " le manufcrit curieux
" d'un homme qui etait alors au fervice
" clu czar Scquiparle comme temoin ;" but
without mentioning his name.

From Voltaire many fucceeding authors
have advanced that Catharine was of the
family of Scavronfki ; and it is certain that
the emprefs Elizabeth acknowledged that
family as her relations, and conferred feveral
honours upon its members.

This anecdote concerning Scavronfki is
pofitively contradiiSed by a palTage in Baffe-'
vitz, who alniled Menzikof in raifing Ca-
tharine to the throne, and who muft have
known if any brother of Chathanne had
been at Peterfourgh during the life of Peter.
He aflerts, that Catharine did not produce
any of her relations durii-.g Peter's life:
that after his death a pcrfon made his ap.
pearance at Peterfourgh as her brother' tin-
der tl:e name of count Hendrikof ; thatJie
lived in obfcurity during the reigns of Peter
IL and Anne ; and that Elizabeth made his
fon a chamberl.iin. Bufching IX. p. i'qj.

Weber alfo lipon this heaci relates, " that
" a near relation of Catharine came to Pe-
*' tcribargh with his family, coniifting of
" three fons and two daughters. He was
'• called count Ikavoronfki" [certainly the
fame as Scavronfki]; " the elded dauuhtcr
♦' Sophia was taken by the emprefs to be
" her maid of honour ; the other children
" were educated by their father. The ar-

■" rival

CATHARINE

55t

and was born at Ringen, a fmall village upon the Lake chap.

Wirtzerwe, ^ — , —

" rival of tliej'e Jlrangers gave rife to many
" reports concerning the origin of Catha-
" rine ; that her tather, whofe name was
" faid to be John Rabe, was a qiiarter-
•' mailer in a SwediQi regiment ; that her
" mother was the daughter of a town-fe-
" cretary of Riga, and was delivered in
"1682 of Catharine. Tlie widow, after
" her huiband's death, went to her rcla-
" tions at Riga, but djing foon after-
" wards, Gluck took the foundling into
*' his family. Thefe reports, which began
•' to circulate, occalioned a public decree,
*' forbidding all perions, upon pain of
" death, from uttering diiVeipeftful ex-
" preffions againft the late emperor, or the
" reigning emprefs and her tamily." Ver.
Ruff vol. III. p. 76.

We may indeed take it for granted, that
if Catharine's fariiily had been nobly de-
fcended, the lecret would have been difco-
vered daring ihe life of Peter,, and have
been favourably received by that emperOr,
who was prevented by the obfcur'ityof her
llrth from carrying her with him to Paris,
aot willing to expofe her to any i-nfult : " 11
" ne voialoit pas I'expofer, dit-on, aux re-
" buts qn'il craignait pour elle, '■ju Volfcu-
•' rite dc fa naijfance, de la dilicateffe Fran-
*' caife." Eafievitz in Euf. Mag. IX. p. 3.16.

An Auftrian envoy, who was at Peter-
fcurgh in 1725, and wrote an account to his
court of her acceffion to the throne, fays,
*' that flie was a natural daughter of a
" Livonian nobleman, whofe name was Al-
"vendhel; that her mother afterwards
" married a rich peafant, from whom file
*' had a fon and a daughter : that the.
" former was put to death by Peter for
♦' openly declaring himfelf to be the bro-
*' ther of Cathaime; and that the filler
" received for fome time a penfion cf 300
*' roubles from the eniprei's ; but was af-
" terwards confined in a houfe of correftion
" during the reign of Peter I. by Catha-
" rine's defire." He adds, " that Catlui-
" rine was brought up in Giuck's houfe ;

"that (he became the roiftrefs of Tiefen-
" houfen, a captain of i SwedHli troop, by
" whom (lie had a fon ; that he afterwards
" gave htr in marriage to a dragoon of his
" troop, with whom (lie lived three years ;
" until ilie was taken pnfoner at Narva by
" the Ruffians." But this miniftcr, who is
well informed in what relates to the latter
part of Catliirine's life, and the means by
which (lie afcended the throne, feems to
have retailed many idle reports about her
family and early hiftory. Buf. Hift. iMag.
XL p. 48.

Before I clofe this note 1 muft neceffarily
mention the opinion of Buiching, who, dur-
ing his rcfidence at Peterfourgh, collected
a confidcrable degree of authentick infor-
mation upon the various parts of the Ruf-
fian hiftory : amongft others, he has given
anecdotes of Catherine I. u hich he opens
by faying, " all tlie accoun.ts which writers
" have hitherto given, or rather conjectured,
" of the birtc and family of Catliaiine I.
" arefalfe." Ibid. HI. p. 19c.. Hefays, that
her family was from Lithuania, her father's
name was Samuel, her brother was count
Charles Scavronflci, one fitler was Chriilina
married to count Simon Hendrikof, and the
other, v.'hofe name was Anne, to Michael
Yefimofiii. Lie confirms her marriage with,
the Swedlili dragoon, but places thefeene at
Fraulladtjn Poland, and nor at Marien-
burgh. He inf:)nTis us, that he obtained
this information from an old lady whofe
name he conceals, who died lately at Peter,
fourgh, and who knew Catharine from her
firf: appearance in Ruffia, and was greatly
in that empreffes favour. He adds alfo, an-
account of an ofiicer who brought Catha-
rine's filler Anne from Lithuania to Peter-
(burgh. With great deference, however,
to fo refpeftable an authority, we cannot,
merely upon this hearfay evidence, fet afide
the tellimonies of Weber, La Motraye, and
Bruce : this (lory feems, in effecl:, the fame
flying report as that in Voltaire; and the
lady who gave the iiUtlligeuce to Bufching

juight

^,^ TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

ROOK wirtzcnvc, near Dorpt, in Livonia. The year of her birth -is
. ^ " . vmcertain ; but, according to her own account*, flie came into
the world on the 5th of April, 1689. Her original name
was Martha, which flie changed for Catharine when fhe
embraced the Greek religion. Count Rofen, a lieutenant-
colonel in the Swedifli fervice, who owned the village of
Ringen, fupported, according to the cuftom of the country,
both the mother and the child, and was, for that reafon,
fuppofed by many perfons to have been her father. She
loft her mother when flie was but three years old ; and, as
count Rofen died about the fame time, flie was left in fo
deftitute a lituation, that the parifli- clerk of the village re-
ceived her into his houfe. Soon afterwards Gluck, Lutheran
minifter of Marienburgh, happening in a journey
through thofe parts ; to fee the foundling, took her under
his protedion, brought her up in his family, and employed
her in attending his children. In 170T, and about the
fourteenth year of her age t, fhe efpoufcd a dragoon of the
Swedifli garrifon of Marienburgh |. Many diflrerent accounts
are given of this tranfacftion : one author § of great credit
affirms that the bride and bridegroom remained together
eight days after their marriage ; another |j, of no lefs au-

niioht have been willing to ratify the cur- and to him I am greatly oLIiged for

rent report in Elizabeth's time in honour abridging the trouble neccllary in fuch a

of her friend and patronefs Catliarine I. complicated inquiry.

It appears, however, as well from this in- * Baflcvitz in Buiching IX. p. 375,

telligence as from the inforn)at!on of We- Some fay ftie was born fo early as 1683,

ber and Baffevitz, that feme real or pre- Bufching IX. 48 1 .

tended relations of Catharine I. made their + Weber fays in her eighteenth year;

appearance at Peterfburgh during her reign, but if, according to h£r own account, (he

that they were acknowledged and promoted was born in i68y, (he was only thirteen.
by her, and afterwards by Elizabeth, not X Wurn.b aHured Weber, thst dining

unsvilling, perhap?, to believe, without in- her refldenccat Marienburgh ihc was a pat.

quiry, her mother's family to have been fern of virlue amt good behaviour, which

nobly dcfcen led. ccntradirts the report that fhe had been a

Schmidt, in his Materialicn, Sec. has co".- common wom;in in Livonia,
lifted in one point of view great part cf § V/tber.
^i t intelligence which rehitestoCathariue I. jj Bruce, p 74-

thority,

CATHARINE

55^

thority, afferts, on the contrary, that the morning of the chap.
nuptials, her hufband being fent with a detachment for Riga, " — >r— '
the marriage was never confummated. Thus much is cer-
tain, that the dragoon was abfent when Marienburgh fur-
rendered to the Piuffians ; and Catharine, who was leferved
for a higher fortune, never faw him more *.

General Bauer t, upon the taking of Marienburgh, faw
Catharine among the prifoners ; and, being fmitten with her
youth and beauty, took her to his houfe, where llie fuper-
intended his domellick affairs, and was fuppofed to be his
mirtrefs. Soon afterwards fhe was removed into the family
of prince Menzikof, who was no lefs ftruck with the attrac-
tions of the fair captive : with him flie lived until 1704,

* What became of her hufband is un-
known.

Weber fays, that Catharine, for fome
time after fhe lived with prince Menzikof,
ufed to inquire about her hufband, and
that flie fent him occalionally, though pri-
vately, fmall prefents ; and that, in 1705,
he was killed in a Ikirmifli.

Gordon fays, that on the day of his mar-
riage he was killed in an encounter, for
from that time he was never heard of.
Vol. 11. p. 255.

Motraye, who made many inquiries about
him, concludes by faying, he could be af-
fured of nothing from the common report
of the country concerning the fate of this
new-married man, it being fo varioufly re-
lated.

f Weber relates, that marfhal Shereme-
tof was the general who firft brought Ca-
tharine mto Ruflia. 1 fliould certainly have
fubmitted to his authority, if Bruce had not
aflerted that general Bauer was the perfon.

Bruce begins his narrative by faying " as
*' general Bauer was the perfon by whofe
" means the empreis Catharine arrived af-
" terwards to fo gtett an height :" and

Vol. I. 4 B

Bruce's authority mud be preferred in this
inftance, becaufe he probably obtained his
information from his uncle general Bruce,
who wjs intimately acquainted with general
Bauer, and could not be millaken in this
faa.

Perhaps this contradiflion may be recon-
ciled by confidering, that although marflial
Sheremetof commanded the Ruffian army in
Livonia, yet, as general Bauer was the next
in command, he might either have headed
the party which entered Marienburgh, or
have taken the fair prifoner under his pro-
teftion. Perfons have doubted whether flie
were really the miftrefs of general Bauer:
but when Bruce fays general Bauer " gave
" immediate orders for her fafety and recep-
*' tion into his houfe, of which he give her
" the whole charge, with authority over all
•' his fervants, by whom flie was very much
•' beloved from her manner of ufmg them ;
" the general afterwards often faid, his
" houfe was never fo well managed as when
" flie v.as with him," p. 75. We can have
no doubt of the faft, as otherwife a general
would hardly place a girl under fixtcjn at
the head of his houfliold,

when,

554

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK ^]^en^ in the feventeenth year of her age, flie became the
>■ ■>— 'mlftrefs * of Peter the Great, and won fo much upon his af-
fections, that he efpoufed t her on the 29th of May, 171 1.
The ceremony was fecretly performed at Jawerof in Poland,
in the prefence of general Bruce ; and on the 20th of Fe-
bruary, 1 7 1 2, it was publickly folemnized witli great pomp
at Peterfburgh.

Catharine, by the mofl: unwearied affiduity and unre-
mitted attention, by the foftnefs and complacency of her
difpofition, but, above all, by an extraordinarj^ livelinefs and
gaiety of temper, acquired a wonderful afcendancy over the
mind of Peter. The latter was fubjed: to occafional horrors,
which at times rendered him gloomy and fufpicious, and
raifed his paffions to fuch an height, as to produce a tempo-
rary madnefs. In thefe dreadful moments Catharine was
the only perfon who durft venture to approach him, and
fuch was the kind of fafcination j Ihe had acquired over his
fenfes, that her prefence had an inftantaneous effect ; and
the lirft found of her voice compofed his mind and
calmed his agonies. From thefe circumftances fhe feemed
neceffary, not only to his comfort, but even to his
very exiftence : fl^e became his infeparable companion on

* Weber writes, that the emperor firft faw marriage in 1 707.

her as flie was carrying fome ciiflies through The foUowinj; paflage, ho\ve\'er, in Bruce's

the hall : the Auftrian minifter fays fhe was Memoirs, is abioliitely decifive.

laundiefs to prince Menzikof ; that at the " On the 17th (May, 1711) we arrived

clofe of an entertainment at the prince's, "atV/arfaw, and at Jawerof on the 29th,

when the emperor and company were in- " where we found the czar and czarina,

toxicated, flie was recommended to Peter, " and they were privately married, at iidiicb

&c. Bufchiiig XI. p. 482. ''^ceremony the gejural ivas prefent ; and

•J- Gordon fays, that (he had feveral chil- " upon this occaiion he was made mallcr-

dren by the czar before he efpoufed her, par- " general of the ordnance, in the room of

ticularly the princefs Anne. The czar, he " the prince of Melita, who died a prifoner

adds, was married to her in 17 10. Life oi '■ in Sweden," p. 36.

Peter, Vol. II. p. 258. J " £lle avait un afcendant fur fes fens,

Weber only relates, that the marriage, " qui tenait prefque du prodige." Bafle-

which was before kept fecret, was made witz in Bufch. IX. 294. See alfo the firft

publick in 171 1, Voltaire places the fccrct note to p. 409 of this work.

7 his

C A T H A R I N E I. ^j^

his journeys into foreisn countries, and even in all his mill- chap.

, /■,■ VII.

tary expeaitions. i ^ ,

The peace of Pruth, by which the Ruffian army was
refcued from certain deilruition, has been wholly attributed
to Catharine, though llie was little more than an inftrument
in procuring the confent of Peter. The latter, in his cam-
paign of 17 1 1 againll: the Turks, having imprudently led
his troops into a difadvantageous fituation, took the defpe-
rate refolution of cutting his way through the Turkifli army
m the night. With this refolution he retired to his tent in
an agony of defpair, and gave pofitive orders that no one
Ihould be admitted under pain of death. In this impor-
tant jundture the principal officers and the vice-chancellor
Shaffirof •■'■• affembled in the prefence of Catharine, and drew
up certain preliminaries in order to obtain a truce from the
grand vizier. In confeciuence of this determination plenipoten-
tiaries were immediately difpatched, without the knowledge
of Peter, to the grand vizier, and a peace obtained upon more
reafonable conditions than could have been expedled. With
thefe conditions Catharine, notwithftanding the orders ifllied
by Peter, entered his tent, and prevailed upon him to fign
them: Although the honour of this peace, fays Gordon,
was wholly attributed to Catharine, yet, as he juftly remarks,
the generals, together with the vice-chancellor Shaffirof,

* Motiaye attributes the principal fac- " there made. All that the czarina did

cefs of the negociation with the grand vizier " was to carry to the czar, when he was

to the vice-chancellor Shaffirof: " It was " retired to his tent, and weuld fee none

" folely to his ability, and not to any pre- " but her, the counfels and methods which

*• tended prefents of the czarina, that the " that great minifter fiiggefted, in order to

" czar owed his deliverance at Pruth. I "a treaty, and to induce him to agree to

*' was well informed by the Pacha, with " them, and to give him a full power of

" whom 1 was then, and by other Turks, " aiSing." Motraye's Travels, Vol. III. p.

" even enemies to the vizier, of whatpafled 151, note. See alio p. 103.
*' there, and of the prefents which were

4 B a had

356 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK i^a^ |3gen tl-^e main fprings that diredted this machine. Ca-
(tharine, however, by her conduct on this occafion, acquired
great popularity ; and the emperor particularly fpecifies her
behaviour at Pruth, as one of the reafons which induced
him to crown her publickly at Mofcow with his own hand.
This ceremony- was performed in 1724, and, although
defigned by Peter only as a proof of his affedion, was the
principal caufe of her fubfequent elevation.

Some authors have aflerted that Peter placed the crown
upon her head as a prelude to his future intention in her fa-
vour, and even abfolutely appointed her his fuccelTor ; but
their aflertions are without the leaft foundation ; for no traces
were ever difcovered that he had made fuch a difpofition,
either by will or otherwife : nothing indeed affords a ftronger
proof of the contrary, than the very manifefto of Catharine's
acceffion, in which flie rerts her right folely upon her coro-
nation at Mofcow, and upon the refolutions of the fenate,
the clergv, and the body of the generals t. From thefe con-
fiderations, let us inquire by what extraordinary means a
woman of her low birth could fucceed in fetting afide the

graudfon

* The render will find a very circum- " the e,th of February, 1722, <vMch ivas pul-

fiantml account of the coronation, with all " HJIkJ t> the -vhole nation, and confirmed hy

the ceremonies and entertainments, in Bruce, *' the oaths of all thcjlates ajfemlled together ;

who was himfelt" prcl'eiit. Bnice's Me- " namely, that he or Jhe, whom it flmuld plcafe

nioir?, p 551 to 363. " his imperial majejly to appoint, JImuUI fuecccd

■j- " He it known to all and every one by " to the throne : and accordingly he was pleafcj

" thefe prel^ints, that it hath pleafed Al- " that, in the year 1724, his dear cenfort, our

•' michty God to take, after a violent fick- " mojr gracious cmprcfs, Catharine Alexiefna,

" nets of twelve days, from this world the ^'- Jliauld receive, as fie did efi'cBually receive,

•' moft ferene and moft powerful prince " the crown and the facred inauguration, ly

•'Peter the Great, emperor, and abfolute ^^ reafon of the uumberlfs ?rcat and important

♦' fovercign oi all the Ruffias, father of his ^'^ fcrvices ■-jahich Jhe performed for the advan- _

«' country, and our moft gracious lord, in •' tage of the Ri/JJian empire; as -Mas fuffici'

•" order to raife hin( to eternal glory. " ently and amply declared in the manifejlo^

" The order of fucccjfon to the throne of '■'■ dated the l^lh of Novemher, i-jzi.

*' RuJJia being regulated by his imperial majejly " For ivhlch reafons the fenite or council of

*' of mojl glorious memory, in hii decree, dated «' regency, and the facred fynod, inconjunc-

" hon

C A T H A R I N E I. ^^7

grandfon of Peter the Great, who was the lineal heir of the chap.
Ruffian empire ; and afcend the throne, to which fhe could ■ , ' -
have no preteniions but by the exprefs appointment of Peter.
Her influence continued undiminifhed until a fliort time
before the death of that emperor, when fome circumftances
happened which occafioned fuch a coolnefs between them,
as would probably have ended in a total rupture if his death
had not fortunately intervened. The original caufe of this
mifunderftanding arofe from the following difcovery of a
fecret connexion between Catharine and her firft chamber-
lain, whole name was Mons. The emperor, who was fuf-
picious of this connexion, quitted Peterfburgh under pre-
tence of removing to a villa for a few days, but privately re-
turned to his winter palace in the capital. From thence he
occalionally fent one of his confidential pages with a com-
plimentary meflage to the emprefs, as if he had been in the
country, and with fecret orders to obierve her motions.
From the page's information the emperor, on the tl.irl
night, furprized Catharine in an arbour of the garden with
her favourite Mons; while his fifter Madame Balke, who was
firft lady of the bed-chamber to the emprefs, was, in com-
pany with a page, upon the watch without the arbour.

Peter*, whofe violent temper was inflamed by this dif-
covery, ftruck Catharine with his cane, as well as the page
who endeavoured to prevent him from entering the arbour,
and then retired vv'ithovit uttering a lingle word either to

Mons

" tion with the body of generals, have una- " prefs Catharine Alextefnn, abfolute fove-

" nimoully ordained, and do notify, by the " reign ol all the RiilTias." See Dumont

" prefent printed edict, that all, as well ec- Corps Dipiom. Vol. VIII. P. II. p. 104.
" clefiaflical as militaryand civil, of .ill ranks * Bcflevitz and Voltaire relate this tr.inf-

" and conditions, be fiibjcA and faitl-.ful to aftion in a ui.fercnt manner but neither of.

*♦ the mort ferene and moil powerful em- them would reprefcnt any circumfi.Tice
I tcndiii.!!

55S T R A V E L S I N T O R U S S I A.

BOOK Mons or his fifter. A few days after this tranfadion thefe
" — .r— 'perfons were taken into ciiftody, and Mons was carried to
tlie winter palace, where no one had admiffion to him but
Peter, who himfelf brought him his provifions. A report'
was at the fame time circulated, that they were iraprifoned
for having received bribes, and making their influence over
the emprefs fubfervient to their own mercenary views.
Mons being examined by Peter, in the prefcnce of major-gene-
ral Ufchakof, and threatened with the torture, confeffed
the corruption which was laid to his charge. He was be-
headed ; his fifter received five ftrokes of the knoot, and was
banilhed into Siberia ; two of her fons, who were chamber-
lains, w^ere alio degraded and fent as common foldiers among
the Ruflian troops in Perfia. On the day fubfequent to the
execution of the fentence, Peter conveyed Catharine in an
open carriage under the gallows, to which was nailed the
head of Mons : the emprefs, without changing colour at this
dreadful fight, exclaimed, " What a pity it is, that there is
" fo much corruption among courtiers ■-'•• !"

This event happened in the latter end of the year 1724,
and as it was foon followed by Peter's death, and as Catharine,
upon her acceflion, recalled Madame Balke, it has been
fufpedted that fhe fliortened the days of her hufband by poi-
fon. But, notwithftandingthe critical fituation for Catharine
in which he died, and her fubfequent elevation, yet this
charge is totally deftitute of the leaft fliadow of proof; for
the circumftances of Peter's diforder were too well known, and

tending in the lead to criminate Catharine. EafTevifz himfelf mentions the anecdote

The Aurtrian envoy, from whom the above of his driving her under the gallo'.vs, which

elation is chiefly cxtra.^led, fays, that he re- feems to imply that Peter certainly thought

ceived information of the whole affair from Catharine guilty of an intrigue with Mons.
the page fent by Peter, whofe name was * BaiTcvitz in Bufc. Hii^. Mag. IX. p.

Pre\enich, Bufc. Hift. Mag. XI. p. 49. 372,

the

C A T H A R I N E I. 559

the peculiar fymptoms '••■■ of his laft illnefs fufhciently account chap.
for his death without the neceliity of recurring to poifon. < — ,— ;

Peter having, in the year 1724, decreed that the reigning
fovereign fliould have the power of appointing his fucceffor,
ovight, in common prudence, to have provided one in cafe
of his fudden death ; but he was feized witli his laft illnefs
before he had performed that neceffary duty. The diforder
with which he was attacked was a ftrangury, which at firft
did not carry with it any alarming fymptoms of immediate
danger ; but fuddenly increafing to a violent degree, occafi-
oned fuch excruciating tortures, as, in a lliort time, totally
deprived him of his fenfes. hi a lucid interval he demanded
pen and paper, and endeavoured to write, but he could only
trace characters that were not legible. He then called for
his daughter Anne, but before flie arrived his fpeech and his
underfianding entirely forfook him, and he remained in a
ftate of perfect imbecility, but ftill breathing, for fix and
thirty hours before he expired t.

From this account, drawn from the moft unqueftionable
authorities, it is evident that he did not appoint his heir :
and though fome perfons have concluded that he purpofed

* "Peter,'' fays the Aiiftrian envoy, " ended in his death. Upon his death-bed

" had formerly contraded from one of his " hegrievoufly repented ot his fins, confefi'ed

" miOrefles a complaint, which on account " that he had ilied much innocent blood, ex-

" of his exceffes was never completely era- " prefled the greateft concern for his beha-

" dicnted ; and, upon his drinking, at the " viour to his unfortunate fon, adding, how-

*' lidiculous electionof themock])atriarch I, " ever, that he hoped God would forgive his

" an enormousquantityofwine, beer, mead, " lins in conlideration of the gf od he had

" and brandy, it increafed to fuch a degree " conferred on his country." Bufc. Hifi.

" as to become incurable ; but as there ap- Mag. XI. p. 496.

" peared no external fymptoms of the com- Gordon fays, " he caught cold, which,

" plaint, thtphyficiansconceivedthediforder " with a violent ftrangury and retention of

'■ to be the (lone, and treated it accordingly. " urine, occafioned by an impolthume in his

" By thefe means the virus at length gradu- " bladder, put an end to his life on the 2Sth

«' ally gained fuch an height as to form an " of January, 1725."

«' abfcefs in the bladder, which, in his laft + Baffewitz in BufchinglX. p. 373. alfo

•' illnefs, brought on a flrangury, that foon Weber Ver. RufT. Vol, II. p. 199.

^ See an account of this in Bruce's Memoirs.

entailing

^(o T R A V E L S I N T O R U S S I A.

BOOK entailing the crown upon his grandfon Peter II.; yet it is

^ ^^' . moft probable that he had deftined his eldeft daughter

Anne to be his fucceffor ; but was prevented by the fudden-

nefs of his death from carrying that defign into execution "^^

But

* I have already given my reafons for
adoptingthis opinion. Seep. 516.111 the note.
Monlieur Le Clerc, in his Hirtoire, Pliy-
fique. Morale, Civile, et Pohtique de la
Rulfie Moderne, affeits, that Teter I. abfo-
lutcly appointed Peter II. his fuccelTor. As
the whole paffage relative to this hitherto
unh:o-xH anecdote is extremely curious, I
fliall here inlert it, and accompany it with a
few obfervations.

" Lorfque ce prince (Pierre I.) vit arri-
" ver I'inllant de fa mort, il fit un dernier
"effort pour fe lever de fon lit, et pour
" ecrire I'ordre qui exclnoit dii Trone Ca-
*' tharine I. et qui y pla^oit Pierre II. fils de
♦' I'infortune Alexis. On verra dans la
, " fuitedecetouvrage, )es raifons qui deter-
♦' minirent Pierre I. a exclure Catharine
*' qui lui avoit ete fi chere. Nous nous
" bornons ici a dire que I'ordre etoit ecrit
•' lorfqu'il toniba en foiblefle, et qu'il mou-
** rut quelques heures apres.

" Pierre I. mourut entre les bras du
*' prince Menzikof, descomtes dello\unent-
" zof et Tolftoe, et de deux majors de
•' gardes — a-Pied nommes Mammonof.
" Avant d'annoncer la mort de I'empereur,
" leur premier foin fut de lire fes dernicres
" volontcs, et d'opiner fur I'ufage qu'ils en
" devoient faire.

Le prince Tolftoe porta la parole aux au-
tres, et dit : " Les intentions de Pierre
*' nous font connues ; mais prenons garde a
" ce que nous aliens faire. Pierre II. nous
" doit hair, il nous hait ; fi nous le pla^ons
" fur le Trone, nous ferons les premieres
" vidimes qu'il immolcra a la vengeance
*' de Ion pcrc.

" Tollloc etoit naturellement eloquent
" et perfuafif ; et dans cette conjuncture,
" I'eloquence etoit jointe a la verite. On fut
'* d'avis de dcroger aux intentions de I'em-

" pereur defunt, et de fupprimer I'ordre
" d'exclufion. Alors les majors de gardes
" annoncerent la mort de Pierre I. le regne
" de Catharine, et les gardes la proclame-
" rent en criant Oura, felon I'ufage du
" pays. Cette anecdote fecrette eft exafte
" dans tous fes points." Hift. Mod. de
Ruflie, p. 443.

I will frankly oivn that I muft fufpend my
judgement with refpeft to the truth of this
ftcret anecdote, exaft in all its circum-
ftances, until the ingenious author fliall
condefcend to cite his authority. For as it
pofitively contradicts the relation of Bafle-
witz, who had fo great a fliare in raifing
Catharine to the throne ; of count Munich,
who was fo well verfed in the political en«
trigues of the RulTian court ; and of the
Auftrian envoy, who was prefent at Peterf-
burgh dining the accelTion of Catharine ;
it would require ftronger evidence in favour
of its authenticity than the mere affirmation
of an hiftorian, however ingenious, even if
it did not contain many circumftance*
which feem to be falfe.

Can Peter be faid to have crc/H^i/ Catha-
rine from the throne by the appointment of
Peter II. even fuppofing that appointment
to have formally taken place ? E.\.clufion
implies right j and what right had Catha-
rine but from the nomination of Peter ? and
it does not appear that he had ever formed
the moft diftant views of making that no-
mination.

The fpeech of Tolftoe is improbable in
itfelf. and contradifted by the moft pofitive
teftimony. It is improbable : becaufe
though we imagine that Tolftoe, who
was a creature of Menzikof, might have
hinted to that prince a fuggeftioii tu d.ftroy
any written appointment of the fucceiTor,
yet we cannot fuppofe that he would openly

make

CATHARINE

561

But, without dwelling upon fads which are foreign to the chap.
prefent hiftory, let us haften to the eledtion of Catharine. u_^^l-

While Peter was yet lying in the agonies of death, feveral
oppofite parties were caballing to difpofe of the crown. At
a confiderable meeting of many among the principal nobility,
it was fecretly determined, on the moment of his diflblution,
to arreft Catharine, and to place Peter Alexievitch upon the
throne *. BalTewitz, apprized of this refolution, repaired in.
perfon to the emprefs, although it was already night. *^ My
" grief and confternation," replied Catharine, " render me
" incapable of ailing myfelf : do you and prince Menzikof
" confult together, and I will embrace the meafures which
" you fliall approve in my name." BalTewitz, finding
Menzikof alleep, awakened and informed him of the prefling
danger which threatened the emprefs and her party. As

make that propofal before count Romantzof
and the two majors, Without having firll
founded thcin, and endeavoured to gain
them over to his purpofe.

It is contradifted by the moll: pofitive
teftiniony, btcaufe it appears from Baffe-
witz, that, during the feveral hours in
whicli Peter lay in a llate of infenfibility,
and before he expired, iMenzikof had taken
pU the neceil'ary precautions for the accef-
fion of Catharine,

Witli refpeft to the orjt-r of toe cxrhjion,
and the afpoiulmcnt of Peter II. flippofcd to
be written by Peter hinifelf in the midft of
his laft illnel's, it is moll probiible that fiich
an order was never written : for the dernier
effort pour fc Ici'cr fon lit, ice. is the fame al-
luded to by BaJfewitz, from whom it ap-
pears that Peter only traced illetjible cha-
racters ; and this ftate of the cafe is con-
firmed by the Hanoverian envoy, Weber,
who had no connection either with Menzi-
kof or Balfewitz : Schrieb auch etliche
wortc, abcr fo luilcicrlich, &c. lie wrote a
f'e-J.' words, hut fo illegibly, that no one cetld
make ct:t their mc.ini"^. Veran. RiifT, vol, H.

Vol. I. ^

p. 199,

The Aiiftrian envoy alfo fays, that '« da
" er dann etwas aufsclireiben woilcn, aber
" vor Schwachheit nicht gekonnt : be wat
" de/irous of ivrit/iig fontetbing, hut could
" not through taeaknefs." Bui. HilK Mag.
XI. p. 496.

BalTewitz alTerts, that Peter expired irt
the arms of Cuharine.

" L'Eniptreur expira entre les bras de
«' fon epoufe." Buf. Hid. IX. p. 37;.

This is alfo confirmed by V/'eber, " End-
" lich in der Nacht," U<z. " At lall this
*' great monarch expired without making any
" will, while the emprefs threw herfelfupon
" her knees, and cried out, " God open thy
*' paradile, and take this great foul unto
" thyfelf." Ver. Ruif vol. II. p. 199.

TJiefe are the reafons which induct mc
to doubt whether this fecret anecdote of
Moiif. le Clerc is as exaft in all its circum-
ftances as he affirms it to be.

* Tant qn'on lui favoit un foufle de vie,
perfounc n'ofoit I'cntreprcndre. Telle t-coit
in force du refpeit ft de la tevrcnr, qu'im-
prima ce h-cros, B-flcv. itz, p. 374.

. C no

^62 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK no time remained for Ions; deliberation, the prince inftantiv
IV ■ ' -

feized the trcaiure, lecured the fortrefs, gained the officers

of the guards by bribes and promifes, alfo a few of the no-
bility, and the principal clergy. Thefe partizans being
convened in the palace, Catharine made her appearance :
Are claimed the throne in right of her coronation at Mofcow;
(lie expofed the ill effe6ls of a minority ; and promifed,
that, *' fo far from depriving trhe great duke of the crown,
" fire would receive it only as a facred depofit, to be reftored
*' to him when ilie Ihould be united, in another world, to an
" adored hufbantl, whom flie was now upon the point of
" lofing."

The pathetick manner with which flie uttered this addrefs,
and the tears which accompanied it, added to the previous
diftribution of large fums of money and jewels, produced the
dcfired effeft : at the clofe of this meeting the remainder of
the night was employed in making the necelTary preparations
to enfure her acceffion in cafe of the emperor's death.
Feb. 8, Peter at length expired in the morning of the 28th of Ja-
nuary, O. S. This event being made known, the fenate, the
generals, the principal nobility and clergy, hallened to the pa-
lace to proclaim the new fovereign. The adherents of the
great-duke feemed fecure of fuccefs ; and the friends of Ca-
tharine were avoided as perfons doomed to deftrucflion. At
this jun6ture Baflewitz whifpered one of the oppofite party^
*' The emprefs is miftrefs of the treafure and the fortrefs ;
" fhe has gained over the guards and the fynod, and many
" of the chief nobility ; even here flie has more followers
" than you imagine : advife therefore your friends to make
*' no oppofition as they value their heads." This informa-
tion being rapidly circulated, Baffewitz gave the appointed
fignal, and the two regiments of guards, who had been gained

N. 6.

•CATHARINE L 5$3

by a lamers- to declare for Catharine, and had already fur- chap.

VII

rounded the palace, beat to arms. " Who has dared," p\- > ^ '_.
claimed prince Repniii, the com.mander in chief, " to order
" out the troops without my knowledge !"— " I," returned
general Butturlin, " without pretending to difpute your au-
*' thority, in obedience to the commands of my moft graci-
*' ous millrefs." This fliort reply was followed by a dead
lijence. hi this moment of fufpenfe and anxiety Menzikof
entered preceding Catharine, fupported by the duke of Hol-
Itein. She attempted to fpeak, but was prevented by fighs t
and tears from giving utterance to her words : at length,
recovering herfelf, " I come," fhe faid, " notwithlianding
*' ,the grief which now overwhelms me, to afllire you, that,
"*' fubmiffive to the will of any departed hufband, whofe me-
*' mory will be ever dear to me, I am ready to devote my
"*' days to the painful occupations of government, until Pro-
*' vidence fhall furamon me to follow him." Then, after a
fhort paufe, fhe artfully added, *• If the great-duke will pro-
^' fit by my inftruiftions, perhaps I fliall have the confolation,
"' during my wretched widowhood, of forming for you an
.^' emperor worthy of the blood and the name of him whom
■*' you have now irretrievably loft." — " As this criiis," re-

* The Auftrian envoy fays, that the Baflewitz alfo rehates the grief of the

. guards received each £b. emprefs, which he, on the contrary, hkc a

•)• " The lame pel ton alTerts, that Catha- true courtier, affirms to have been real.

*' rine,althougli flieliicretly rejoiced atPetei-'s " Infenfible a tout autre fentiment, qua

" death, played the farce admirably ; flie " celui de I'afiliction, I'litiper.itrice n'avait

«' ceafed not her lamentations and groans ; "pas quitte fon chevtt de trois niuis.'*

" fhe repeatedly UilTed the body; fcrcamed And again,

.*' and fsvooned without ceafmg J fo that the " Catharine, an lieu de h:\fer fes pas vers

" by-fcanders,'who were not acquainted with " cux et le fceptre, erabr.iinit vainement

■"the; real ftate of the circumrtance, were " fon Epoux agi,nifant, qui nt la connoilfoit

"moved with compalfion, while the others " plus, et ne pouvoiji s'en detacher. Ibid,

-«' could hardly refrain from laughing." IX. p. 373. et feq.
Bijf. Hid. Mag. XI. p. +97.

4 C 2 plied

^^4 TRAVELSINTO RUSSIA.

BOOK p]ied Menzikof, *' is a moment of fuch importance to the
. I' _■ " good of the empire, and requires the moft mature dehbe-
" ration, your majeily will permit us to confer without re-
** flraint, that this whole aftair may be tranfacfled without
" reproach, as well in the opinion of the prefent age, as in
*' that of pofterity." — " A<fting as I do,"anfwered Catharine,
" more for the publick good than for my own advantage, !•
" am not afraid to fubmit all my concerns to the judgement
" of luch an enlightened affembly ; you have not only my
*' permiffion to confer with freedom, but I lay my commands
" upon you all, to deliberate maturely on this important
" fubje(5l ; and promife to adopt whatever may be the refult
" of your decifions." At the conclufion of thefe words the
aflembly retired into another apartment, and the doors Vv'-ere
locked.

It was previoufly fettled by Menzrkof and his party that
Catharine fliould be emprefs ; and the guards, who fur-
rounded the palace with drums beating and colours flying,
effedually vanquiflied all oppofitioUi The only circum-
iiance, therefore, which remained, was togive a juft colour to
her title, by perfuading the afTembly that Peter intended to
have named her his fucceflbr.. For this purpofe Menzikof
demanded of that emperor's fecretary, whether his late mafter
Lad left any written declaration of his intentions. The fe-
cretary replied,., " That a little before his laft journey to
«' Mofcow he. had deftroyed a will ; and that he had fre-
*^ quently exprefled his defign of making another, but had
" always been prevented by the refledion, that if he thought
*•' his people, whom he had raifcd from a Hate of barbarifm
'^ to an high degree of power- and glory, could be ungrate-
" ful, he \vould not expofe his final inclinations to the infult
" of a refufal ; and that if they, recolledlcd what they owed,,

" to^

' C A T H A R I N E I. 565

" to his labours, they would regulate their conduit by his chap.
*' intentions, which he had dilclofed with more folemnity v J',_f
" than could be manifefled by any writing." An altercation
now began in the affembly, and fome of the nobles having
the courage to oppofe the accellion of Catharine, Theophanes,
archbifhop of Pkfcof, called to their recolle6tion the oath
which they had all taken in. 1722, to acknowledge the fuc-
ceflbr appointed by Peter; and added, that the fentiments
of that emperor delivered by the fecretary were in effedt
an appointment of Catharine. The oppolite party, however,,
denied thefe fentioients to be fo clear, as the fecretary chofe to
inlinuate ; and infilled, that as their late monarch had failed:
to nominate his heir, the eledtion of the new fovereign fliould
revert to the ilate. Upon this the archbifhop further tellified,
that, the evening before the coronation of the emprefs at
Mofcow, Peter had declared in the houfe of an Englidi mer-
chant, that he fliould place the crown upon her head with no
other view than to leave her miftrefs of the empire after
his deceafe.. This atteftation being confirmed by many per-
fons prefent, Menzikof cried out, " What need have we of
" any teifament ! A, refufal to conform to the inclination of
*' our great fovereign, thus authenticated, would be both
*' unjuft and criminal. Long live the emprefs Catharine!"'
Thefe words being inftantaneoufly repeated by the greateft
part of thofe who were prefent, Menzikof, fainting Catharine
by the title of emprefs,. paid his firrt obeifance by killing hef
hand; and hisexample was followed by the whole aflembly.
She next prefented herfelf at- the window to the guards, and
to the people, who Pnouted acclamations of " Long live Ca*
" -tharine," while Menzikof fcattered among them handf'uls
of money *.. Thus, fays a. cotemporary, the. emprefs was

raifed"^

*• Tills account of the eletllon of Cathnrine is ch'efl;." extraLl d fr in-E,:ficu-itSj; .

VUA3

^66 TRAVELS INTORUSSI A.

BOOK r'^ifed to the throne by the guards, in the fame manner as the

V ^ ' , Roman emperors by the praetorian cohorts, without either the
appointment of the people or of the legions ->■.

The reign of Catharine may be confidered as the reign of
Menzikof : that emprefs having neither inclination nor abi-
lities to'diredt the helm of government ; and fiie placed the
mort implicit confidence in a man v/hohad been the original
author of her good fortune, and the fole inftrument of her
elevation to the throne.

During her lliort reign her life was very irregular: flie
was extremely averfe to bufinefs ; would frequently, when
the weather Vv'as fine, pafs whole nights in the o])en air ;
and was particularly intemperate in the ufe of tokay-wine,
in which flie often indulged herfelf to excefs t. Thefe ir-
regularities, joined to a cancer and a dropfy, haftened her
end ; and flie expired on the 17th of May, 1727, a little
more than two years after her acceffion to the throne, and in
about the 39th year of her age.

V ho affifted prince Menzikof in this revolu- But we have already feen, from the au-
tion, and certainly mull dcferve credit as far thority of Baffewitz, that many of the no-
as he chofc to difiover the fecret cabals, b'es, &c. repaired to the palace in oppofi-
Some aulhors relate this event fomev/hat tinn to prince Menzikof ; that general Bnt-
cliferently ; but this difterence is ealily re- tiirlin had high words with prince Repniti
conciled, and the main facts continue the and the oppofite party; that prince Men-
fame. Bufch ng aflcrts, as he was informed zikof's prcfence utterly dlfconcertcd them;
by count Mvinich, that Peter was no fooner and it is probable that both prince Menzi-
■dead, than the fenate anri nobles aliembled kof and Butturlin might have threatened
in the palace unknown to prince Menzikof. the nobles, which Balicwitz might not chufe
The latter, bciaig informed of the meet- to record, as he was willing to make the
ing, repaired to the palace, and was re- nomination of Catharine as unanimous as
fulcd admittance ; upon which he feiit for poffible : altho\igh he fays, " Cell ainll
general Butturlin, with a company of " que Cathar.ne faifit le fccptre, qu'clle
guards; and, burfling open the door of " meritoit a li jufte titre."
tiie apartment in which the meeting was In a word, thele tluee accounts arecafily
held, declared Catharine emprefs. Buf- -reconciicable to each other ; they all prove
ching, Vol. I. p. I 5 ; alfo Ebauche, &^c. one taft that Menzikof, 'richer by himiclf or
p. 10. Ms agents, by bribes, prtiuifes and liircats,

Tlie Auftrian envoy fays, that general forced ilie nobility to proclaim Carliarine.
Butturlin threaiencd to mali.icre the Unatc if "^ Aiil'^rian envoy in dufchiiig XI. p. 502.
tliemerubers did not acknowledge Catharine. f Buf. HiiL Mhg. 111. p. 192.

CATHARINE I. 567.

As the deaths of foverciGns in defpotick countries are fcl- <^hap.

dora imputed to natural caufes, thar ot Catharine has alfo" — , 1

been attributed to poifon ; as if the diibn^ers which preyed
upon her frame were not iufticient to bring her to the grave.
Some affert, that Ihe was poifoned in a glafs of fpirituous
hquor ; others by a pear given her by general Diever. Suf-
picions alfo fell upon prince Menzizof, who, a fliort time
before her deceafc, had a trifling mifunderllanding with her,
and who was accufed of haftening her death, that he might
reign with ftill more abfokite power during the minority of
Peter IL But thefe reports deferve not the leaft credit, and were
merely did:ated by the fpirit of party, or by popular rumour, .

Catharine was in her perfon under the middle fize, and
in her yovith delicate and well formed,, but inclined to cor-
pulency as file advanced in years. She had a fair com-
plexion, dark eyes, and light hair, which flie was always ac-
cuftomed to die with a black, colour *■. She could neither
read nor v/rite t ; her daughter Elizabeth ufuaily figned her
name for her, and particularly to her laft v/ill and teftament;.
and count Overman generally put her fignatnre to the pub-
lick decrees and difpatches. Her abilities have been greatly
exaggerated by her panegyrifts. Gordon, who had fre-
quently feen her, feems, of all writers, to have reprefentcd-
her chara6ler with the greatell: juftnefs, when he fa-ys,.
" She was a very pretty well-lookt woman, of good fenfe,.,

* Bufching f^ys, " Ihr fchwarzcs haar thra-ine's hair was black, or her hands

*■' war nicht iiatuerlich, fondern gefaerbt," coarle, although (lie might be deceivtd in.

Sec. Hift. Mag, vol. III. p. 190. what relates to her family.

" P.er black h ur was not natural but t Baflewitz fays, •' Elle n'apprit jamais

"coloured. On her lirrt rile the coarfeners "a ccrire. La piinceiTe Elizalieth ligua

" of her har.J'i proved that (lie had been " tout pour elle, quand el.le flit fur le trone

" ufed to hard labour, but they gradually " meme fon ttlkment." P. 2^5.
■" grew whiter and v/hiter." Thefe circum- The Auftrian minifter fays, count Ofter--

ftances we may readily believe, bccaufc the m ,n ufed to fign her name to ail the dil-

lady fnim whom Bufching received the in- patches, Buf. XI. p. 481.

formation could eafily- know.wkether Ca-

" but

568 T R A V E L S I N T O R U S S I A.

BOOK « -but not of that fublimity of wit, or rather that quicknefs
" of imagination, which fome people have beheved. The
" great reafon why the czar was fo fond of her, was her
" exceeding good temper ; fhe never was feen peevifh or
" out of humour ; obliging and civil to all, and never for-
" getful of her former condition ; withal, mighty grateful."
Catharine maintained the pomp of majefty with an air of
eafe and gaandeur united ; and Peter ufed frequently to
exprefs his admiration at the propriety with which flie fup-
ported her high ftation, without forgetting that flie was not
born to that dignity *.

The following anecdotes will prove that flie bore her
elevation meekly ; and was never, as Gordon aiferts, for-
getful of her former condition. When Wurmb, who had
been tutor to Gluck's children at the time that Catharine was
a domellick in that clergyman's family, prefented himfelf
before her after her marriage wdth Peter had been publickly
Iblemnized, flie recolledled and addreffed him with great
complacency, " What thou good man, are you fliil alive I
" I will provide for you." And flie accordingly fettled
upon him a penfion. She alfo was no lefs attentive to
the family of her benefador Gluck, who died a prifoner
at Moicow : (lie penfioned his widow ; made his fon a page ;
portioned the two eldell: daughters ; and advanced the
youngell: to be one of her maids of honour. If we may
believe Weber, flie frequently inquired after her firft huf-
band, and, when flie lived with prince Alenzikof, ufed fe-

* " Son cpciife ttnit nvec lui, erahmr, " lalfer, d'admirer Ics talens qu'clle poiTe-

" c ni'ornumtnt a la volontc dii inonaique, " dait, felon Ion expreirion, de fe crcer inu

«' la pompe imj eriale, qui Ic gcnait, ct la " peratrice, fans oublier qu'elle ne le na-

" loutenaiu avec ua air lurprenant de gran- " quit point." Balfcuitz Fn Buf. p. 35S.
" dcur et d'ailance. Lc czar ne pouvait ie f I-'t-c ^ Peter, vol. III. p. 258.

a crctly

C A T H A R I N E I. 565

cretly to fend him fmall fums of money, until, in 1705, he chap.
was killed in a Ikirmifli with the enemy. In a con fere ncev_^-L^
with general Schlippenback, who, in 1702, commanded the
Swedifli army, when fhe was taken captive by the Ruffians,
llie afked him " whether her fpoufe John was not a brave
<' foldier ?" Schlippenback returning, " am not I one alfo ?"
Her majefty anfwered in the affirmative : but, repeating the
queftion, he replied, " yes, pleafe your majefty ; and I may
" boaft to have had the honour of having him \inder my
" command*."

But the moft noble part of her chara(5ler was her peculiar
humanity and compaffion for the vuifortunate. Motraye
has paid an handfome tribute to this excellence. " She had
*' in fome fort the goverment of all his (Peter's) paffions ; and
*' even faved the lives of a great many more perfons thnn Le
*' Fort was able to do : ffie infpired him with that humanity,
" which, in the opinion of his fubjedls, nature feemed to
" have denied him. A word from her mouth in favour of
" a wretch, juft going to be facrificed to his anger, would
*' difarm him ; but if he was fully refolved to fatisfy that
<* paffion, he would give orders for the execution when
" flie was abfent, for fear flie lliould plead for the vi(5lim t."
In a word, to ufe the expreffion of the celebrated Munich,
" Elk etoit proprement la mediatrice entre le ?mnarque et
^ifesfujetsX'*

* Bufching had this anecdote from a % Ebauche, &f. p. 54.. " She was the

lady who was prefent at this conference. " mediatrix between the monarch and his

Hid. Mag. vol. III. p. 190. " i'ubjefls."

t Motraye's Tratels, vol. Ill, p. [31.

Vol. I. 4 D CHAP.

C 570 ]

CHAP. VIIT.

Account of Alexey Petrovitch. — Principles by which Peter
juflified bis exclufion from the throne.— Effe^s of his bad
education. — Dread of his father. — His ejcape from Peterf-
burgh. — His trial atid cojtdemnatiojt. — Inquiry into the
caiife of his death. — Hiflory of his wife Charlotte Chriftina
Sophia /)r/>c^ o/Brunfwick. — Circumjiances of her death.
— Falfe rumours of her efcape and fubfequent adventures.

ALEXE'Y, the fole fruit of the inaufpicious marriage
between Pe^er the Great and Eudocia of Lapukin, was
born in the year 1690 ; and never was the birth of any
prince more unfortunate to himfelf, to his parents, and to
his country.

I fliall introduce the account of this perfonage by a tranf-
lation of a curious letter, written in 1715, from an Auftrian
envoy atPeterfburgh to the prime minifter at Vienna, which
will ferve to develope the principles upon which Peter at-
tempted tojuftify the exclufion of his fou from- the throne.

" ■••• In my laft I informed your excellency that I had an
*' opportunity of penetrating the fentiments of the tzar ;
*' and I fliall now acquaint you with the particulars, which
*' will furprize you. Being at dinner laft Sunday at the
" vice-chancellor Shaffirof's, in company with the tzar, his
*' majefty did me the honour to converfe with me upon dif-
*' ferent topics, when, the difcourfe turning upon the late
*' king of France, his majefty faid, * Certainly France was
" never governed by a greater man than Louis XIV. never-
*' thelefs,' added he, ' when 1 conlider the little care which

* Buf. Hift. Mag. III. p. 1S5, &c.

"he

ALEXEY PETROVITCII.

SJt

" he took to perpetuate the glory of his kingdom after his chap.
*' demife, I have no longer the fame efteem for his memory > -y .
*' which I have hitherto held for his great and heroick a6tions.
*' Louis XIV. at his advanced age, could not reafonably have
** indulged the hope of a much longer hfe : if, therefore,
" he difcovered in the infant (Louis XV.) his fucceflbr any
« evident marks of a future incapacity to reign, why did he
" entruft him to the care of a man who will not fail to adopt
" any means, however defperate, that may tend to fecure the
*' throne to himfelf ? Why did he not exclude the duke of
<« Orleans from any fhare in the regency ? Or, if he knew
" the duke to be a man of a fuperior genius, as he un-
<*= doubtedly is, and his great-grandfon, either on account
*' of his tender age or fome corporal infirmity, incapable
** of governing, why did he not declare a perfon of
<' fuch abilities as the duke of Orleans his fucceffor? By
*' thefe means his grand fyllem would have ftood un-
** fhaken even by his death ; whereas we have now every
*' reafon to conclude that France will decline.' I made an-
*' fwer, ' that as, according to the fundamental laws of the
" kingdom, the firlt prince of the blood is necefTarily regent
" during the king's minority, Louis XIV. could not exclude
<^ the duke of Orleans from the regency without breaking
" the law of fucceffion, which no king of France could ven-
" ture to infringe,' &:c. ' Therefore,' replied the tzar, ' a
" prince, who, by facrificing his health, and even frequently
" expofing his life, had at length rendered his country re-
" fpecSlable and formidable, would, according to your hypo-
*' thefis, be conftrained to fuffer the fruits of his labours to
" be deftroyed in the hands of a madman, provided he was
*' his neareft relation. I own I am not of your opinion. It is
" by no means, as it appears to me, fufficient, that a monarch

4 P 2 " ihould

^ya TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK <' fliould exert hiaifelf to aggrandize his ftate, and to ren-
^^' , " der it fiourifliing during his Hfe ; but he ought alfo by
" wife precautions to perpetuate its glory after his demife^
»< which can in no other manner be cffecStuated than by ap-
" pointing an heir who fliall be capable, not only to main-
*' tain his acquifitions and preferve his eftablifliments, but
" alfo to execute the reft of his defigns, were he even to
*' feledt him from the croud of hi^ fubjc6ls.' You,' added he,
" ' would tax a prince with cruelty, who, in order to fave
" his ftate, which ought to be dearer to him than the blood
" in his veins, fliould attempt to alter the fucceflion of his
" blood ; and I, on the contrary, conceive it to be the greateft
" of all cruelties to facrifice the fafety of the ftate to the
<' mere right of an eftablilhed fucceflion. Let us fuppofe
*' that the fucceflbr has not the qualities requifite for a fove-
" reign, a convent, and not a throne, is a proper afylum for
" weak princes. David, for example, had many fons, but,
*' as he found not in the eldeft the qualities which a king of
*' Ifrael ought to have poffefled, he chofe the youngeft for his
" fuccefibr : God himfelf approved the choice, inftead of
" blaming him for not paying any regard to pretenfions of
" primogeniture, which was neverthelefs highly refpefted by
" the Jews. If the gangrene (making me touch at the fame
*' time the end of his thumb) attacks my finger, am I not
*' obliged, notwithl^.anding it is part of my body, to cut it off,
*' or fliould I not be guilty of fuicide ?'

" In ftiort, 1 now comprehend the caufe of the law lately
" introduced by the tzar, which adjudges all real eftates of a
<' family to one of the male children, but which leaves to the
*' father the abfolute power of appointing his heir without
** confuLiing the right of primogeniture ; and I am now

*' convinced

ALEXEY PETROVITCH.

573

" convinced that the tzar has in his own mind decreed the chap.
*' exclufion of liis eldeft fon ; and that we fliall one day fee ^— v-^
Alexey with his head fliaven thruft into a monaflery, and
obhged to pafs the remainder of his hfe in praying and
" chanting hymns. Nov. 15, 17 15."

Tlie prophecy of this writer was afterwards fulfilled,
though, inftead of being fliut up in a convent, the wretched
prince expired in a prifon. The circumftances which oc-
cafioned his exclufion and death are well known ; but as
we have received them through the medium of his accu-
fers, we ought to be very careful in giving credit to all the
charges with which his memory has been ftigmatized. One
fa6l •*- is incontrovertible, that his education was mod fhame-
fully negle6tcd, and that he was a ftranger to the reftraints
neceffary at his age, until the time of introducing proper ha-
bitudes had almoft elapfed. He was committed to the care
of women, and to the inftruilion of the Rufiian priefts, the
lowell and molt ignorant of men, who inlhlled into him all
the prejudices of their religion, and were continually inveigh-
ing againft his father for the abolition of many barbarous
culloms, which they had long conlidered with a reverential
awe. Nor was he releafed from this wretched fpecies of
tuition before the eleventh year of his age, when Baron Huy-
fen, a man of great merit and ability, was appointed his go-
vernor. Under this judicious inftruvftor he feems to have
made no inconfiderable progrefs, and his early prejudices
might have gradually worn away ; if prince Menzikof had
not contrived to remove from him the only perfon who was
likely to inftill into him proper principles of action, and
taken upon himfclf the fuperintendence of his education.

* See Memoiie abiegi fur la vie du tzareviich Alexei Petrovitch in Buf. Hift. Mag.
p. igs.

But

574

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK gut as that prince * fcarcely ever Taw him, and placed about
him the molt improper perfons, he feems to have intention-
ally given a full fcope to his vicious inclinations, and to have
abandoned him to the company of the lowefl wretches, by
^vhom he was encouraged to continual ebriety, and to every
kind of the loweft excefs : yet this defigning minifter art-
fully extorted from the tzarovitch, in prifon,a confeffion that
he was the only perfon who had taken any care of his edu-
cation t.

It appears, from feveral fads, that Peter had conceived a
very early prejudice againft his fon ; and infpired him with fuch
terror, that, in order to avoid drawing before his father, the
young prince once difcharged a piftol againft his right hand.
All perfons, however, join in condemning the imprudence and
obftinacy of Alexey, which feem to have warped his judge-
ment, and, at times, to have tranfported him to a degree of
infanity. Bruce, who knew him well, gives the following
account of his perfon and manners ; and, as he was not pre-
judiced againft him, his teftimony mutt be efteemed more
valid than all the laboured accufations of his enemies.

"The czarovvitz arrived in Mofcow this winter (1714) where I faw him for the firft
•' time. He kept a mean Finlandifli girl for his mirtrefs. I went often with the general
" to wait on him ; and he came frequently to the general's houfe, attended by very
•' mean and low perfons. He was very flovenly in his drefs ; his perfon wns tall, well
" made, of a brown complexion, black hair and eyes, of a flern countenance, and ftrong

" voice.

* Buf. H. M. p. 196. " &c le plus outrageant? Si on le contraig-

•}• L'Evefque makes the following jufl: " nit a louer le favori de Pierre, I'ami da

reflections upon this unaccountable circum- " Catharine, ne peut-on pas lui avoir difte

ftance. " Croira-t-on qu'il ait fait fincc- " de nicme tout ce qii'on voulai: lui faire

" rement 8i de lui-memc I'cloge des foins ♦• dire ?" Hill, de Ruflie, torn IV. p. 442.

" que Menchikof avait pris de fon iduca- This conjecture is greatly ftrennthened

" tion ; lorfqu'on fait d'ailleurs que Men- by confidering that the eulogium of prince

" chikof approchait de lui tout au plus Menzikof was obtained from Alexey in

" trois ou quatre fois par an, & ne lui par- prifon by Tolllo^ the creature of Menzikof,
" kit qu' avec le tondu mcpris le plus Uur

[alexeypetrovitch: ^75

" voice. He frequently did me the honour to talk with me in German, beings fully CKAP.

*' mafter of that language; he was adored by the populace, but little refpefted by the Vlll.

" fuperior ranks, for whom he never fhewed the lead: regard ; he was always furrounded^

" by a number of debauched ignorant priefts, and other mean perfons of bad chnradler,

*' in whofe company he always reflefted en his father's conduft forabolifhiug the antient

" cuftoms of the country, declaring, that- as foon as he came to fucceed, he flioukl foon

" rellore Ruffia to its former flate ; and threatening to dellroy, without refcrve, all his

•' father's favourites. This he did fo often, and with fo little referve, that it could not

*' mifs reaching the emperor's ears ; and it was generally thought he now laid the foun-

" dation of that ruin he afterwards met with."

And again, " It was very remarkable, that the prince never appeared at any of the
" publick meetings, when his majefly was attended by ail perfons of quality and rank,
*' fuch as birth-days, celebrating of viftories, launching of fliips, &:c. General Bruce,
*' who lived next door to the prince, had orders always to give the prince notice the day
*' before of fuch publick days or meetings, and I had the honour to carry and deliver
" the meffage ; but his highncfs, to avoid a])pearing in publick, either took pliyfick or
'* let blood, always making his excufe, that he could not attend for want of health ;
*' when, at the fame time, it was notorioufly known that he got drunk in very bad com-
*' pany, when he ufed conftantly to condemn all his father's a£lio«s *."

Being inflamed by continual drunkennefs, and worn out by
a feries of perfecutions, he was driven to a ftate of defpera-
tion, and at length, in the year 17 16, iuddenly renouncing
his right of fucceihon in favour of Peter's fon by Catharine,
he demanded permiilion to retire into a convent. But,
foon afterwards adopting the advice of his principal ad-
herents, he made his efcape to Vienna, where he put him-
felf under the proteilion of Charles VI. That emperor,
in order to flicker him from the refentment of his father,
feat him firfl to Infpruck in the Tyrol, and afterwards
removed him, for itill greater fecurity, to the caftle of
St. Elmo at Naples. Being fecretly betrayed by his Fin-
landilh raiftrefs, whom he is reported to have married, and
influenced by the moft folemn promifes of perfetff forgive-
nefs, he was prevailed upon, by the emiflaries of his father,
to return to Mofcow. Having there folemnly renounced all

* Bruce's Memoirs, p, lOO & 127.

I right

576

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA,

BOOK right of fucceflion to the crown, he was conveyed to Peterf-
' burgh, thrown into the fortrefs, tried by a feled: committee,
and condemned to fufFer death. The ads of his procefs and
condemnation are well known, being put forth by order of
the emperor, and are to be found in feveral publications •'•■.
Whatever prejudices we may have entertained againft
Alexey, we cannot perufe the trial without being ftiocked at
the cruel and unjuft mode with which it was conduced :
when his mercilefs profecutors eagerly laid hold of every
advantage which was afforded by his youth and fimplicity ;
when his Finlandifli miftrefs, who was afterwards penfioned
for her atteftations, depofed every angry expreffion againft
his father which flie ever recolleded to have fallen from
him in the moft unguarded moments ; when not only his
words and ailions were brought to witnefs againft him, but
his very thoughts were fcrutinized, and his own confellion t

* Mottley, vol. II. And more circum-
flantially in Perry, vol. II.

f " On remarqiie, que dans ce proccs on
" fuivait les formes infidieufes de I'inquifi-
" tion. C'efait a raccuft a chercher labo-
*• rieufement fes fames, a faire dcs efforts
" de memoire pour les aggraver. Son in-
" nocence dependait de fe declarer, de fe
" prouver criminel. Un oubli, une reti-
*' cencc innocenteou meme louable devenait
•' un crime. Ou plutot, epie, preffe, fur-
•' pris de tons cotes, il ne pouvait eviter fa
" condemnation. S'il taifait fes fautes, fon
" filence le rendait conpable : S'il les de-
*' voilait, il ctait convaincu par fon aveii."
L'Evefque, vol. IV. p. 427.

The reader, I flatter myfelf, will not be
difpieafed at my introducing to his acquaint-
ance fiich fpirited i^afTages as the one jiift
fjuoted, and the following ui)on the depo-
iition of the tzarovitch.

" La fimplicite enfantine de toute cefte
" derniere declaration ell precieuic ; Etle
" prouve que le tzarevitch pouvait avoir
*' les vices ii la groffierete d'une mauvaife

" education, mais qu'il ne pouvait etre
*' criminel."

And again, " Mais que ferait-ce, fi ces
" aveuxles plus forts lui avaient ete diftes,
" arraches, extorques ? fi I'on avait mis a
" profit fa timidite, fa faihleffe, pour le
" forcer, a fe montrer plus coupable qu il
" ne I'etait en eftet ? Si, chaque jour des
" mauvais traitements nouveaiixfatiguaient,
" domtaient fa patience, Sc I'obligeaient a
" faire les aveux qu'on exigeait de lui f fi
" Ton emplojait meme les tortures pour
'* vaincre fa rcfiftance ? fifes cris & le bruit
" des coups qu'il recevait etaient cntendus
" par un prifonnier qui etait en meme
" temps dans la forterefle, & qui a devoile
" depuis cct odieiix fecret ? fi le tzar lui
" meme etait le fpeclateur & peut-etre le
" miniilre des tourments de fon fiis ? On
" ne peut s'empecher de rapporter cette
"tradition: mais eile afflige I'liumanite
" qui fe plait ii la revoquer en doute ; elle
" femble <n meme temps chequer la vrai-
" femblance." lb. p. 440, 441.

extorted

A L E X E Y P E T R O V I T C H. 577

extorted from him in prifon employed to ccnvicft him. In- chap.

VIII

deed many of his own depofitions, which tended moft to cri-
minate him, by dilcovering intentions of rebellion, were not
openly acknovv'ledged, but only figned by him in prifon ;
and a fignal difference is remarkable between his confeffions
during his firil: examination at Mofcow, which was more
publick, and thofe made at Peterfburgh, when his trial was
chiefly carried on in private before Peter and his immediate
confidents ; circumllances which feem to prove the infiiflion
of torture.

With refpe(5l to the circumflances of Alexey's death, there
are two prevailing opinions ; one, advanced in the manifefto
of Peter, that he was feized with an apople6tick fit, and died
of convulllons, occalioned by the violent paflions of his
mind and the terrors of death ; and the other, that he was
fecretly executed in prifon. And the latter of thefe feems
moft entitled to belief, notwithflanding the afTertions of
Peter, and the apology of his panegyrifts, particularly of
Voltaire who has fupported his innocence with the mofl
plaufible arguments.

Of all the accounts of his death, that given by Eufching
feems to be the moil probable and authentick. This author*
poiitively affertSjthat he was beheaded by order of his father,
and that marfhal Weyde was the perfon who performed the
ofSce of executioner. He received the intelligence from a
lady at Peterfburgh, named Cramer, who was in high con-
fidence both svith Peter and Catharine, and who was em-
ployed \r\ fewing the prince's head to his body previous to
its lying in flate. During my flay at Peterfburgh I was at
fome pains to authenticate this fa6l, but I found it extremely
•liliicult to obtain any pofitive information upon fo fecret a

♦ Buf. Hif, Mag. vol. III. p. 224. Alio Introduiftion to vol. IX.

Vol. I. 4 E tranfadlion.

yjS TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK' tranfaclion. The moft material circumftances I could colle<fl

. ^l«/were communicated to me by an intimate acquaintance of

the above-mentioned lady ; he affured me that he had fre-
quently attempted to converfe with her upon the death of
Alexey, but had always found her extremely avcrfe to hold
any difcourfe upon the fubjedt ; flic feemed exceedingly
fliocked whenever this topick was introduced ; and
nothing could be further extorted from her, than that
fhe was the perfon who prepared the body for the ceremony
of its lying in ftate. This unwillingnefs of the lady to enter
upon the fubjeil:, together with her declaration that flie pre-
. pared the body, feems to add a great degree of confirmation
to the account of Bufching ; and it is not improbable, from
the confidential intercourfe which fubfifted between them,
that ihe might, on fome particular occafion, have diiclofed
to him a ftate-fecret of fuch moment, which, excepting in
this fingle inftance, (he invariably concealed.

An additional proof, in favour of the authenticity of this
fail, I lately received from an Englifh gentleman, on whofe
veracity the publick may rely. That gentleman affured me,
that he had been informed by prince Cantemir's fecretary,
with whom he was intimately acquainted abroad, that Alexey
was beheaded in prifon. As prince Cantemir was in high
favour with Peter, the intelligence of his confidential fecre-
tary muft carry with it great weight.

This fa^l appears fo well attefted, that many of the Ger-
man hifl:oriaDS, who have written upon Ruffia, have adopted
it without referve ; and, in feveral genealogical tables of the
Imperial family, Alexey is put down as beheaded. A pafTage,
however, in Bruce's Memoirs, feems at firft fight to invali-
date this concurrent evidence, and to prove that he was

poifoned.

ALEXEY PETROVITCH,

579

polfoned. This paffage is too curious not to be introduced <^hap.
to the reader.

" The trjjl * was begun the 2^th of Ji:ne, and continued to the 6th of July, when
" this fupreme court, with unanimous confent, pafled fentence of death upon theprinee,
•' but left the manner of it to his majeily's determination : the prince was brought be-
♦' fore the court, his fentence was read to him, and he n-as re-conveyed to the fortrefs.
'« On the next day, his majefty, attended by all the fenators and bifliops, with feveral
" others of high rank, went to the fort, and entered the apartments where the tzarovitch
*' was kept prifoner. Some little time thereafter, marflial Weyde came out, and ordered
*' me to go to Mr. Bear's th; druggifl, whofe iliop was hard-by, and tell him to make
•' the potion ftrong which he had befpoke, as the prince was then \'ery ill : when I deli-
«' vered this meflage to Mr. Bear, he turned quite pale, and fell a (baking and trembling,
*' and appeared in the utmoft confufion ; which furprized me fo much, that I aflced him
*' what was the matter with him, but he was unable to return me any anfwer ; in the
*' mean time the marftial himfelf came in, much in the fame condition with the drug-
♦• gift, faying, he ought to have been more expeditious, as the prince was very ill of an
*' apoplei£tick fit ; upon this the druggift delivered him a fiver cup with a cover, which
*' the marflial himfelf carried into the prince's apartment, fl.iggering all the way as he
*' went like one drunk. About half an hour after, the czar, with all his Attendants,
*' withdrew, with very difmal countenances ; and when they vient, the marflial ordered
♦' me to attend at the prince's apartment, and, in cafe of any alteration, to inform him
" immediately thereof. There were at that time two phyficians and two furgeons in
*' waiting, with whom, and the officer on guard, I dined on what had been dreffed for the
" prince's dinner. The phyficians were called in immediately after to attend the prince,
*' who was ftruggling out of one convulfion into another, and, after great agonies,
*' expired at five o'clock in the afternoon. I went direftly to inform the marflial, and he
*• went that moment to acquaint his majefly, who ordered the corpfe to be embowelled,
♦' after v/hlcK it was laid in a coffin, covered with black velvet, and a pall of rich gold
" tiflue fpread over it ; it was then carried out of the fort to the church of the Holy
♦' Trinity, where the corpfe lay in ftate till the nth in the evening, when it was carried
«' back to the fort, and depofited in the royal burying vault, next the coffin of the prin-
«' cefs his late confort ; on which occafion the czar and czarina, and the chief of the
♦' nobility, followed in proceffion. Various were the reports that were fpread concern-
" ing his death : it was given out publickly, that on hearing his fentence of death pro-
*' nounced, the dread thereof threw him into an apopleftick fit, of which he died ; very
*' fe-jj believed he died a natural death, but it ivas dangerous for people to /peak as they tl>ought.
•* The minifters of the emperor, and the ftates of Holland, were forbid the court for
♦' fpeaking their minds too freely on this occafion, and, upon complaint againft them,
" were both recalled."

* Bruce's Memoirs, p. 185-^-187.

4_ E 2 From

5So T R A V E L S 1 N T O R U S S I A.

From this account it appears that the prince was ffilF
alive when Peter, with the nobles and bifliops, remained in
the fortrefs, and that he died in the interval between their
departure and the afternoon : but it by no means follows,,
even from this ftate of the cafe, that the tzarovitch was poi-
foned. For, can we fuppofe that Peter would order a dofe
of poifon to be prepared for his fon at a chy mill's fliop, and
that marfliall VVeyde would openly fend for it without the
leaft myftery. May we not rather infer that the potion was
moft probably a medicine limilar to thofe which had been
already prefcribed for the prince, who had for fome time
been extremely indifpofed. The fright of the chymift
might proceed from his delivering a medicine for the tzaro-
vitch, who was faid to be in the agonies of death ; as, in a
dcfpotick country, and under fuch a fovereign as Peter, his
own fafety might be involved in the event of this cataftrophe.
The agitation of marlhal Weyde will be ftill more eafily and
fatisfa^lorily accounted for, if, according to Biifching, he was
preparing to perform, or had already performed, the exe-
cution.

The principal circumftance which feems to contradicft the
opinion that he was beheaded, is, that if Bruce's narrative is
to be depended upon, the prince, when he fell afterwards
mto repeated convulfions, was vifited by the phyficians ;
and yet, if Bufching's account can l)e relied on, he muft have
been already beheaded, as mardial Weyde, according to
Bruce, had finally quitted the fortrefs. But it is poffible that
the phyiicians, although ordered to attend upon the prince,
might be prevented from feeing him ; it is poffible that
marfhal Weyde may have fecretly returned to the fortrefs
without the knowledge of colonel Bruce ; it is poffible that
Bruce himfelf, as being an intimate friend of marlhal Weyde,

might

ALEXEYPETROVITCH. 581

might have been entrufted with the fecret, but v/as unwill- chap.

VIII.

ing to record, in his Memoirs, fo horrid a catallrophe, which v ^ ' . '
was totally repugnant to the manifefto of the emperor ::-
and indeed it plainly appears from his narrative, that he
knew more than he chofe to difcover.

When the fecret execution of the heir apparent of a
defpotick empire becomes the fubje6l of inquiry, it muft
always be difficult to afcertain the truth ; and it would be
unreafonable to exped: that no contradi(flory circumllances
fliould occur in the diiierent relations of fuch a myfterious
tranfadlion, when, even in the moif common occurrences, no
two perfons would relate the fame event precifely in the
fame manner.

Catharine is not free from fufpicion of being concerned
in. this horrid aftair, as well becaufe her fon by Peter was de-
clared fuccellbr, as becaufe Tolttoi, to whom the manage-
ment of the procefs and the private examination of Alexey
were chiefly entrufted, was well known to be a creature of
Menzikof, whofe interefts were clofely connected with thofe
of the emprefs. But this accufation of Catharine could
be only a mere furmife, and her interference, if flie really
interfered, mull have been conducted in fo fecret a man-
ner, as not to have been difcovered. Peter himfelf ex-
culpated her; openly teftifying *, that flie interceded for
his fon's life, and requefted, that, inftead of being put
to death, he might be confined in a convent. Not to
mention that fuch proceedings militate ftrongly againlt
the well-known humanity of Catharine ; there was no
occafion to irritate the favage temper of Peter, too much-
inclined to inflidl the feverell punifliment upon his

* Baflewitz.

58a TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

j^ooK fon, who had threatened to overturn all his plans of re-

IV. .

formation, and to deftroy, in a moment, that vait fabri^k of

glory and power which he had employed many years in

ereiting. The monarch who could himfelf attend the in-

flidion of torture, who had occafionally performed the office

of executioner, and who had even ordered the firft partner

of bis bed to be fcourged, would not require any incitement

to command the execution of that fon, whom he had

publickly treated with the moft inhuman ferocity.

The following note, written with Peters own hand to
count Romanzof, who, in conjuncftion %\ iih count Tolftoi,
■brought the unfortunate Alexey from Naples, will ferve to
difplay the inflexible fpirit of that monarch, who forgot the
feelings of a father in his anxiety for the publick good.
" 1 grant you the ranks of major-general and lieutenant-
" general, and the eilates of Alexander Kikin and Kuril
*' Matulkin ■■•■, in confideration of the fignal fervice which
** you have juit conferred, not only upon me, but, what is
** more, upon your country, in bringing back him, who by
■*' birth is my fon, and, by his actions, the enemy of liis fa-
*' ther and of his country +."

The wife of Alexey, Charlotte* Chriftina Sophia, whofe
fate has already been briefly related, was daughter of L-ouis
•Rhodolph of Brunfwick-Blankenburgh, and filler of Eliza-
beth Chriftina, confort of the emprefs Charles VI. She
was born on the 29th of Auguft, 1694, efpoufed, on the
25th of Oilober, 1711, at Torgau, the tzarovitch Alexey,

* Two of Alexey's unfortunate adhe- f This note, which has not yet appeared
rents, who, with many others, were exe- in print, was communicate.! to me by a
cutcd upon this occafion. Ruffian nobleman, who favoured me with

a tranflation from the original.

and

CHARLOTTE CHRISTINA SOPHIA. 583

and in July of theenfuing year made her entrance intoPe- ^^^m^'
terfbur!.;h *.

Alth )ugh this amiable princefs feems to have been the
choice of Alexey, who faw her at her father's court, yet he
always treated her with the utmoft negledt ; and gave up his
whole time and attenrion to his favourite miltrefs Euphro-
fyne, a FrndlandiH:! girl of the loweft extraction. It does
not, indeed, appear, that the prince treated her in that in-
human manner as is reported by fome writers, namely, that
he frequently ll-ruck her ; for even if he had been fuffici-
ently brutal as to have been inclined to fuch a conduct, he
would have been retrained by his apprehenfions of his fa-
ther, who, as well as Catharine, always exprefPed the ftrongeft
compaffion for her wretched fituation, and fliowed her con-
Itant proofs of his affedlion and regard. Her hufband's un-
conquerable antipathy feems to have been chiefly derived
from his fufpicions that llie lodged complaints againft him
to the emperor, who frequently and roughly expoitulated
with him on this inftance of his ill-conduit. Unfortunately
her domeftick uneaiinefs was increafed by Juliana princefs
of Eaft-Friefsland, who accompanied her into RufTia, to
whom flie ufed to unbofom her grief and anxiety, and who
imprudently fanned the flame inftead of endeavouring to
quench it.

The fruits of this ill-aflbrted union were Natalia, who
was born at Peterfburgh in 1714, and died at Mofcow
in 1728; and a prince, afterwards the emperor Peter II.
who was brought into the world on the 23d of Od:ober>,

1715-

* This account of the pruiccfs is chiefly " chen KronprinceflTn," in Biif. Ili^. M'Jg.
taTcen from Muller's " Von der Princeffin XV. p. 234.
•' von Wolfenbuettcl als ver ^Inhltcn riiflif-

IV.

^84 TRAVELSINTORUSSIA.

BOOK ^ fe^v days after the prince's birth, the confequences of her
-delivery, and the melancholy which had long preyed upoa
lier frame, hurried her prematurely to the grave, and fhe ex-
pired on the 2d of November, in the 21ft year of her age.
The approach of her death was afFedting to all but her huf-
band and herfelf ; and her fpirit had been fo fubdued by af-
flidlion, that flie confidered her dilFolution as a welcome re-
leafe from all her fufFerings. Impreifed with this fentiment,
file faid to her phyficians, *' Do not torment me any more,
" for I will live no longer ■•••."

On the day which preceded her deceafe, fhe ditflated the
following petition to Peter the Great, which may be confix
dered as her will.

" The moft humble and lafl entreaties from the under-
" written to his imperial majefty.

I. " His Imperial m?jell:y will order my funeral as he
*' fliall think proper. I could wifli, neverthelefs, that my
" body may be buried in a place where it may remain un-
** diilurbed until the fecond coming of our Saviour.

II. " Both my beloved children I recommend to the care
*' and affecStion of his imperial majefty, my gracious father-
*' in-law, that they may be educated according to their birth
" and ftation.

III. " I leave my jewels and other valuable things in gold
<* and filver to my children ; and a reafonable part of my
*' clothes and linen to my coufin the princefs of Eaft-Friefs-
*' land.

IV. '* I befeech his imperial majefty gracioufly to permit
'*' thofe perfons who accompanied me hither to return, and
-" to defray the expence of their journey.

* Bruce's Memoirs, p. 148,

V. " On

CHARLOTTE CHRISTINA SOPHIA. 585

5. "On account of the dearnels of this place, and becaufe chap.
" my fervants were Grangers, 1 have contradted fome debts,
" which 1 intreat his imperial majefty to difcharge, that I
" may be remembered with honour, and that no unworthy
" reports may be circulated after my death. The funis,
*' which the crown will fave by my deceafe, may be em-
*' ployed in difcharging thefe debts, iince it is God's will that
" I depart from this world fo prematurely and unexpectedly.

6. " My unfbrefeen and untimely death is alfo the caufe
" of my being unable to recompence my domefticks, who
** had the care of regulating my expences ; - and as I am per-
" fed:ly fatisiied that my lecretaries Cluver and John Cle-
** ment, who had charge of my difouriements, have ferved
** me with fidelity and honour, 1 humbly entreat that therr
*' accounts, which have receipts, may be paffed, and that the
*' other expenditures may be admitted upon their oath.

" I repofe fuch confidence in his imperial majefty, that I
*' truft he v«7ill not rejeil this my laft requeft, more particu*-
*' larly when I refledl on the repeated inftances which I have
" experienced of his paternal tendernefs and afFedtion.

*' 1 have this alfo to add, that my death is not fo grievous
" to me, but that I am much concerned to leave this world at
" a time when his imperial majefty is indifpofed ; a circum-
" ftance which has prevented me from thanking him in per-
" fon for the frequent proofs I have received of his kind-
*' nefs and regard. May the Almighty be his aid and pro-
" tecflor ; and may he add thofe years to his life which are
" taken from mine ; which I likewife faithfully, and with
'* my whole heart, implore for her majefty the emprefs ;
*' and, after returning my acknowledgements due to them
*' for the repeated inftances of their love and goodnefs, I ex-
" pire, the moft humble and moft obedient daughter of both
" their majefties, Charlotte Christina Sophia *,"'

" St. Peterfburgh, Ofl. zi, N> v. i, N. S. 1715."

* Muller ill Buf. XV. p. 237,
V/->T T /I T? Ti,

585 T R A V E L S I N T O R U S S I A.

It is a fiiilicient proof of the bad terms in which the prin-
cefs lived with her hu(baiid, that (lie had not once mentioned
his name, unwilling, perhaps, to diilurb her lad moments
with any dilh'elhng reliedlions. Her ardent delire to fee the
emi^eror before flie expired, was gratified. Peter, who was at
SchluIIelburgh at the time of her delivery, had fet off upon
the firft news of that intelligence for Peterfourgh; but, upon
his arrival in the capital, was feized with a fudden illnefs,
which confined him to his chamber. Upon perufing, hovi'-
ever, the alleitionate expreffions of her attachment, he was
placed upon a machine rolling upon wheels, and thus con-
^^eyed to her apartment. Their interview was awful : flie took
leave of him in the mort moving language and afFecling
manner, recommending her children to his care, and her fer-
vants to his prote(5lion ; and received from him every con-
folation which her fituation would admit, and the ftrongeft
affiirances that all her wiflies Ihould be fuliiUed. She then
embraced her children, and, having bedewed them with
tears, delivered them into the hands of her hufband,
wdiom decency obliged to be prefent at this tender Iccne.
After having fuffered the moft acute pains, and Ifrugglcd
with fucceeding agonies, flie expired at midnight *.

She died a member of the Lutheran religion, which flie
had in vain been folicited to renounce ; and nothing conveys
a ftronger proof of the high efteem in which (lie was held by
the emperor, than that, although flie had not embraced the
Greek perfuafion, her remains were interred in a Ruffian
•church : they were depollted on the 8th of November in
the cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul, with all the funeral
lionours due to her exalted ftation.

* MuUcr and Eruce.

c I have

CHARLOTTE CHRISTINA SOPHIA. 5S7

I have been thus particular in relating the principal cir- ^^'^^^
ciimllances which attended the death of this princefs, not ^—v— /
only becaufe her fate is interefting to every feeling mind, but
alfo becaufe a few years ago there appeared in France the
•following extraordinary account of this princefs. Soon after
her delivery, as the emperor happened to be abfent from Pc-
terfburgh, Ibe perfuaded fome of her attendants to circulate
a report of her death ; and her hufband, who had paid no at-
tention to her during her illnefs, ordered her to be buried
without delay : a piece of wood was fubftituted in the place
of the body, and interred in the cathedral ; and the princefs
made her efcape into France. Apprehenfive of being there
difcovered, flie embarked for Louifiana, where flie married
a French ferjeant, who had formerly been at Peterfburgh, to
whom (lie bore a daughter. In 1752 flie came with her
hufband to Paris, was difcovered as Ihe was walking in the
Thuilleries by" marfhal Saxe, who promifed fecrecy, and
procured a commiffion for her hufband in the lile of Bour-
bon. Having loft her hufband and child, flie, in 1754? re-
turned to Paris with a negro woman. The bills upon the
Eaft India Company, which flic brought in her hufband's
name, being refufed becaufe fhe could not prove herfelf to
be his wife, a gentleman, whom Hie had known in the Ifle
of Bourbon, offered his affirtance, which Qie declined. She
confeffed, it is faid, to this gentleman her real chara<5ler; and
from him the author of the account pretends to have re-
ceived thefe anecdotes; adding, that flie foon afterwards
difappeared, and vv^as fuppofed to h sve retired to the court of
her nephew the duke of Brunfwick. In this wonderful
narrative, the king of France is alfo faid to have privately
acknowledged her, and even to have enjoined the governor
of the Hie of Bourbon to pay her thole honours which v/ere
due to her rank. It is added, that the fame monarch, in a

4 F 2 letter

588

TRAVELS INTO RUSSIA.

BOOK letter written with his own hand, communicated this difco-
. ' . very to the emprefs of Germany (then queen of Hungary)^
who thanked the king for his intelligence, and immediately
wrote to the fuppofed princefs, as to her aunt ; advifed her
to quit her hufband and child, whom the king of France had
promifed to provide for, and invited her to Vienna.

Although I had little reafon to give credit to an anony-
mous author, and the whole ftory carries with it the air of
fidlion, I yet made it the fubject of my refearches. I found,,
vipon inquiry, that the circumftances of her death were
fuch as could not be doubted, and accorded with the ac-
counts which I have before related ; and I was, moreover,,
informed by a Ruflian nobleman of high diiiindlion, that
his mother attended the princefs in her illnefs ; that (he was
a witnefs to her laft moments, and faw herfelf the corpfe
laid in ftate, when perfons of all ranks were admitted to
kifs the hand of the deceafed *v

* In L'Evefque's Hiftory of Ruffia there
is an ample detail of the rife and progrefs
of this aiiecdote of the prlncefs's efcape and
sdventures. It firft made its appearance in
Richer's continuation of the Abbi Marcy's
Hiftoire Moderne; afterwards in Boffu's
Kouveaux Voyage dans 1' Ainerique Scpten-
trionale ; and lately was revived in " Piece."!
*' intereff.intcs et pet; connues, pour fervir
" a I'Hiftoire ;" in which, as an additional
authority, it is qualified as an extraft found
among the papers of the late Duclos.fecre-
tary of the Royal Academy and Hiftorio-
grapher of Fra;>ce. The anecdote, like all
other flories which are improved in their
progrefs, is drefl'ed in fomewhat different
Ihapes : in one the name of the hufband is
d'Auban, in the other Moldack ; in one flie
marries a third time, and again becoraes a
widow : the circumftances of her efcape are
alfo varioully related, and in all with the
aioft evident marks of falii;hood, aad abfo-

lute contradi(fkion to the mod undoub'.ed^
fails ; fuch as that (he was aflifted in iier
efcape by the countefs of Koningfniark,
when there was no lady of that name about
her perfon, or at Peterfburgh ; that the
body of the princefs was interred almoft.at
the inflant of her decen.le, and without any
funeral honours; that Peter I. was noLiat
Pettrfbiu-gh when (lie died ; that flie was
brought to bed before her time of a prfn-
cefs, with many other fimilar afferticns,,
which fcarcely deferve any ferious refuta-
tion. The reader, who is delirous of fnr-
thcrii>forjiiation upoa thcfubjeft, is referred
to L'Evefque Hifloire de Ruilic, Tom. IV.
p. 384 — 389 ; and to the latter part of
MuUer's account, Von der Princeli-n von
Wolfenbuttel in Buf. Hift. Mag. XV p..
ajgtoij.!. — An extraft alfo of the prin-
cipal circumftances of this ftory is given in
the Gcnrlem.m's Magazine, and from thence
is jaferttd in the Annual Reoifter for 1776.

APPENDlXo

C £8<, 3

APPENDIX.

Catalogue of the principal Books cited in the Courfe of
this Work, with their References.

A. Antidote, S:c. to a Book, entitled A Jeurney

into Siberia, made in MDCCLXI, &c.

by the Abbe Chappe d'Autcroche, 1772.

Antidote to the Abbe Chappe.

B. Ruffifche Bibhothek. von Hartw. Ludw.

Chrifti Bachmeifter 1771 — 17S2.

Bachmeiftor's Rufl". Bib.
B. Memoirs of Peter Henry Bruce, Efq; &c.

London, 1782. Bruce's Memoirs.

B. EfTai fur la Bibliotheque et !e Cabinet de

Curiofites et d'Hiftoire Naturelle de I'A-

cadcmie des Sciences de St. Peterfbourg,

par Jean Bachmeifter, 1776.

B. BuCching's Hiftorii'chcs und Geographifchcs

Magazin, 17 vol. B. H. M.

Neue Erdbefchicibung. Buf. Erd. Bcf.

C. Hiftoire D'Eric XIV. Roi de Suede traduite

du Sucdois de Mr. Olaf Cclfius, &;c.

1777-
Gcfchichte Koenig Guftavs des Erften von
Olas Celfio — Aus dem Schwedilchen
Ucberzctzt, z vol. Svo. 1753.

C. Biblicthecx' UpiklicBfis Hilloria Auftore
Cclfio, 174-,. ilift. Bib. Up.

C. Connoi's Hil'tory of Poland, 2 vol. Svo.

CoNnor.

C. Reglements dc Catharine It. Pour I'Ad-
niinirtration dts Gouverntments dc I'Em-
pirc des Ruliles, 177S.

Reglcments de Catharine.

C. luftruftion dc Catharine II. Pour la Com-
milfion Chnrgf e de drcll'er le projct d'un
Kouveau Code dc Loix, 1769.

Inftruftiun do Cathaiinc.

C. Mcmoires pour fcrvir a la Connoillancc des
Adaires I'olif.qucs et Etonomiqucs du
Royaume de Suede jufqu'a la fin dt 1775
me Annee, by Caiitzler, 2 \"ols. 410.

Cantzicr.

C. Voyages and Travels through the RuHiau
Empire, Tartary, and Part of the King-
dom of Pcrfia, by John Cook, M. D. at
Hamilton, 2 vols. bvo. i7^S.

C. Cromerus Dc Origine et Rebus Gcflss Po!o-
norurn. Cromei.

C A Relation of three Embafiics from His Sa-
cred Majoflie Charles J I. to the Great
Duke of J.Iofcovie, the King of Sweden,
and the King of Denmark. Performed
by the Righl Hon. the Earle of Carlillc

Vol. I.

in the Years 1663 and 1664 — 1669,
Carliile's EmbaflV.

C. Coyer'! Hiftoire de Jean Sobiefki, 3 vol. li.

Vie de Sobiefki.

D. Dlugoffius— Hiftoria Polonica Libri XIII.
Dlugofs. and Dhigothus.

Olof DahlinsGefchichtedcsReiches Sweden
aus dcm Swedifchen uebcrfetzt, IV. vol.
4to, ,756—1763. Dal.lin.

Hirtory of Ruliia, kc. by Giles Fletcher,
fometime Fellow of Kmg's College in
Cambridge, and employed in the Englifii
Embalilc 1591. Fletcher.

Samuel Gottlieb Gmcfin's Reifc dutch

Ruiriand zur untcrfuechung der drey

Naturrciche, III. Vol. 410, 1770 — 1774,

Gmclin's Reife,

Gordon's Hiftory of Peter the Great, 2 Vols.
Svo. Goidon.

H. Hannay's Travels.

H. Luduig Freyhcini von Holberg Daenifche
Reichs Hiftorie ins Dcutlchc uebcrfetzt,
IV. vol. 4to. i7 57_,7<;q. Holberg.

Ilcrberftcin's Rerum Mol'coviticarum Com-
meurarii in Mof. Auftores. Heiberftein.

Hackluyt's Voyages, 2 Vol. fol. Hackluvt.

Kobicrzicky Hiftoria; Uladiflai III.

Diarium itineris in Mofcoviam, &c. Ann.
MDCXCVIII. defcriptum a Joanne
Gcorgio Korb. Fol. Korb.

L. Scriptorcs Rerum Danicaium Medii .^vi,
partim haflcnus incdiri, partim emen-
datiusediti; quos collegit Jacobus Langc-
bek, ><!cc. 5 Vol. Fol. ,772—778?, begun
. by Langcbck, an/d continued by Suhm.

r .r , • n ■ ~r. Laugcbek.

I,. I.ubicnsiki Tres Epiftolarura Decades.

L. Lcngnick Jus Publicum Regni Poloni.-p, i
vol. iimo. Lengnick Jus Pub.

Pafla Convcnta Augufti III. Lengnick
Pa'c. Con. Aug. III. ^

Hilloria Pplonia; a Lccho ad Annum i-4li.
Lengnick Hift. pul.

I.. Lind's Preicnt State of Poland.

L. Lcvefque's Hiftoire de RuHie, 5 Vol. ,2mo.
■7S2. L'Evefque.

L. Le Clcrc's Hiftoire Phyfique, Morale, Ci-
vile et Politique de la Rulhc Ancienne et
Modcrne, 3 Vol. 4ro, ,783. Lc Clerc.

M. IVIuller's Samlung RuHifchcr Gel'chichtc.
9 vols. Svo. from 1752 to 1764. S. R. G,

4 <^ M. Iter

H.
K.
K.

S9^

A r P E K D T X.

M
M.

M.
M.

KI.

O.
O.

7.
P.

Iter ill Mofcoviam I,iberi Baroiiis de May-
cr!>(rg, &c. AiiiHi MncLXI. Mavcibcig.

Account of Denmark, as it was in the year
i6<. ;, by Lord Molefwwlli, '"iff-

Molcfworth.

A. ic la Motravc's Travels thiniigh Eu-
rope, Afia, and into Part of Afiica.
IIJ. Vol. Fol. Motrayx's Travels.

Milton's Brief KWory of Molcovia.

Manllcin's AIemoir^. "f Ruliia, Uiftorical,
Political, Military, fiom i-i-, to 1744,
printed in 1770. jMcinftein.

Eliauchc pt'ur donncr iinc idee de la Forme
c4 Couvernement de lEmpiie de Ruflie,
Bv Count Munich. Ebauchc.

. Eftnt dc I'Empire de Ruffle ct<5randc DjcKe
de Moicovic, avec ce qui s'y cil pafle de
plus memorable et tragique, pendant le
legnc de quatre Empercurs : a f^avoir
dcpuis I'an nqo, jufques en I'an i6s6«n
Siptembre. Par Ic Capitaine Margcrct
Paris ibf.g. Margaret.

Johannis Mertenii Scondia Illuflrata.

Meil". Scon. 111.

Hiftoire de Danneraarc, par Mallet, 3 vols.

4to, 175?

Mallet.

Orichovii ,'Vnnales. Orichovitrs.

Vovage de Perfe et de MeCcovie par Adam
Oicarius. Olcarius.

Marmora Danica Scleftiora, &c. ab Eiico
PontoppidiRO-, 2 vol. Fol. 1739 — 1741.

Joiiinal of St. Peterfburgh, 1776 to 1782.

Jour. St. Pet.
This periodical publication in the Ger-
man tongue contains many curious dif-
quifitions on the hiftory of Ruliia, and
particularly fevcial by the celebrated
Muller.

P. S. Palla? Reifc durch Verfchiedene Pro-
vinzcn des Rulfifchen Reichcs, III. Parts,
V. Vol. 4to, 1771 — 1776. PallasRerfc.

Joh. PerinlkioldMonumenta Sucogothica,
Uplandiae partem primara Thiundiam
contir.ens. Fol. 1710. Perinf.

Monumenta Ullerakerenfia — cum Upfalia
Nova illuftrata. Fol. 1719. — Perinlkiold
Upfala Nova.

Paftoiii Florus Polonicus, 1679. FiorusPol.

R. Roger's Lcttrcs fur le Daunfmarc, z Tohi
Svo. 1764 — 176$. Ltttres fur lo Danne-
mavc.

R. Account II Sweden,, as it was in the vcar
i5HK,by Bifliop Robinfon, 17^8.

S. A Hiftorv of the late Revolution in Sweden^
Sec. bv Charles Francis Sheiidan, Efq;-
Secretars- to the Britilh Envoy Ui Sweden
at the Time of the late Revoluticin.

Sheridan.

S. S:;raicius — Amiales Polonici. Sarnifci.

S. Schloti2cr"s Beylaeen zum Nucveraendartes
Riifsland, publillied under the fiflitious
iniifre of ITaygold, ;"Vol. 1769— 1770.

Ha3rgo^d, 01 Haygald's Bcylagen.
Schloetzcr's BfiefwechlVi

S. Probe Rufllfcher Annalen von Auguft Lud-
wig Schloetzer, 8vo. 17&8.

Schloetzer's Probe.

S; Schmidt's Ruffifchc Gcfthichte, 2 vol.

Schmidt Rufs. Gef.
Beytrage zu Kcntniifs der Staatfverfaf-
fung von Rufsland, 17-;.

Schmidt's Beytrage,
Materialrcn zti der R'uflifchen Gefchichte
ftit dem Tode des Peter dcs Groflcn.
Part ift. Schmidt Materialien.

S. Gefcliichtc Daenncmarks, &c. Aufdem
Daenifchcn ueberletzt von Peter Fried-
rick Sulini, 1777.

S.- Die errte und wichtigfte-Aufftand der Strc-
litzen in Molkau im J. i6Sj, in Alay
Alls dem Ruffifchen des Staatraths Alex-
ander Snmorokow, 1772. Sumorokof.

V. Voltaire's Hiftoire de I'Empire dc Rulhe.
Hilloire de Charles XII. Roi de Sueufc.

V. Letters from a Lady (Mrs. Vigor) who re-
fidsd fo.-ae years in Rulfia to her Frit^nl
in England, 1775. Letters from RuiTia.

W^ Wraxall's Tour throvjli the Northern Par-ts
of Europe, &e. 1776. Wraxall's Tour.

W. Weber's Verandcrtcs Ruffland, 1739. 1744.

Weber.

V/. Danicorum Monumentoium Libri fex, oic.
ab Olao Wormio. Fol. 1743.

Z. Zavodiky Hiftoria Arcana.

Z. Zalulki Epiftolse HiUorico familiares, 4 vol.
Fol. Zalulki Ep.il.

.END OF VOLUME L

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