THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESENTED BY PROF.CHARLES A. KOFOID AND MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID SKETCHES OF THE HISTORY AND PRESENT STATE OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE. " H. flryer, Printer, Bridge -street, BJackfriafs, Lomlpii. SKETCHES OF THE HISTORY AND PRESENT STATE OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE; OF THE PROGRESS OF CIVILIZATION FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE MONARCHY TO THE ACCESSION OF THE HOUSE OF ROMANOF, (THE PRESENT REIGNING FAMILY;} AND PARTICULARLY UNDER THE SOVEREIGNS OF THAT HOUSE ; CONNECTED WITH POLITICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF THE IMPERIAL COURT. " L gggg BY THE REV. WILLIAM ANDERSON, PRINTED FOR GALE, CURTIS, AND FENNER, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1815. ADVERTISEMENT. THE empire of Russia had for many years attracted the attention of philosophers ; but in consequence of recent events it has ex- cited universal curiosity. The history of its present race of princes is interesting from their talents, virtues, exploits, misfor- tunes, vices, and follies. To combine, in a moderate compass, the particulars respect- ing them, which are scattered in several bulky volumes, with a general view of the country, which they have for two centuries governed with various fortune, is the object of the present work. If it has been exe- cuted in a manner at all suitable to its importance, it will meet with the public approbation. KJittl CONTENTS. CHAP. 1. Extent and Boundaries of the Russian Empire Climate Stepps Mountains Rivers Lakes Mineral Waters Soil Production Minerals Metals Vegetables and Animals p. 1 CHAP. II. Population of Russia Form of Government Imperial Col- leges Viceroyalties Latvs Army Navy Revenue Variety of Nations Character of the Inhabitants Nobles Peasants Middle Class Commerce Religion Lite- rature Cossacks Tartars Samoyedes p. 34- CHAP. III. Abridgement of Russian History, from the Foundation of the Monarchy, to the Accession of the House of Romanof Ruri&kOlegIgpr Olga Sviatoslof Vladimir- Intrc* CONTENTS. duction of Christianity Consequences of partitioning the 1 Kingdom Ivan the Great Ivan the Tyrant Intercourse with England Conquest of Siberia Revolutions Election of Michael Romanof -His Ancestors and Life ... p. 65 CHAP. IV. Tyranny of Morosof Submission of the Malo- Russian Cos* sacks War with Poland Rebel/ion of StenJco Razin Labours and Death of Alexey Feodore Peter's Election Revolution Sophia's Government, and Fall Birth, and early Life of Peter I. His attention to Naval and Military Affairs Campaigns toward Azof Travels Sedition of the Strelitzes Innovations ., p. 84* CHAP. V. War with Sweden Success of Charles XII. Progress of the Tzar Building of Petersburgh Advance of Charles XII. into Russia Battle of Pultava Its consequences Con- quests of Peter I. Affair of Pruth , p. 110 CHAP. VI. Victories of the Tzar- His Travels Alexey the Tzarovitch Establishments of Peter Peace with Sweden Acquisitions on the Caspian sea Death and Character of Peter the Great Early Life of Catherine L Her Danger Acces- CONTENTS. ix sion to the Empire Rise and Character of Prince Mentchi- kofD eath of Catherine L Peter II. p. 133 CHAP. VII. Accession of the Empress Anne Character of Biren Peace with Persia War with Turkey Death of the Empress Anne Fall of Biren Regency of the Princess Anne Re- volution Ivan's Imprisonment Interview with Peter III. and Assassination Insolence of the Guards War with Sweden and with Prussia Death and Character of the Empress Elizabeth p. 159 CHAP. VIII. The Princess Anne Duke of Hoktein declared Successor to Elizabeth His Marriage with the Princess of Anhalt-Zerbtf, afterwards Catherine II. The Grand Duke labours under the Jealousy of Elizabeth Intrigues to exclude him from the succession Soltikof Poniatowsky Grand Dutches reconciled to Elizabeth Parties in the Court at her death Accession of Peter III. Beginning of his Reign His Follies Conspiracies against him Their progress and Fall of Peter III, ., p. 186 CHAP. IX. First acts of Catherine Returning Sentiments in favour of Peter III. His Assassination Character and Funeral Catherine cultivates Peace with neighbouring Powers, and L CONTENTS. endeavours to reconcile the Russians to her Government Her Conduct to the Conspirators Poniatowsky Orlof Firm- ness of the Empress Her labours to conciliate her Subjects Panin prevents her Marriage with Orlof- Conspiracies Election of Poniatowsky to the Throne of Poland Orlo and Panin at variance Catherine's derive of Praise She acquires an Ascendency in Poland Undertakes a new Code of Laws Promotes Learning Escapes Assassination and is inoculated , p. 227 CHAP. x. War with Turkey Destruction of the Turkish Fleet Vic- tories of the Russian armies Unhappy fate of the Princess Tarrakanof- Partition of Poland Plague in Moscow Negotiations with the Turks Disgrace of Orlof- Cam- paign on the Danube Conclusion of the War Migration of the Calmuck Tartars Rebellion of Pugatchef- and In- trigues in the Court of the Empress , p. 265 CHAP. XI. Laudable pursuits of Catherine Recal of Potemkin Jour- ney of the Empress to Moscow Affairs of Poland Po- temkin ordered to retire, but disobeys Disgrace of Razu- mofsky Marriage of the grand duke Fall of Zavadofsky Visit of Gustavus to Petersburgh Conduct of Catherine in the Crimea Korzakojl a serjeant in the guards, favourite CONTENTS. XI ~ Armed neutrality Interview of the Empress with Joseph If. Turkish Affairs Settlement of the Jesuits in Poland Acquisitions of Catherine on the Euxine Death of Panin Orlof and Lanskoi Commercial Treaties Ger- man professor of Geography Toleration Momonof favourite Progress of Catherine to the Crimea. . . . p. 306 CHAP. XII. War with Turkey and Sweden Success of Catherine Peace with Sweden Reduction of Ismail Disgrace of Momonof Disasters of the Turks Peace Death and Character of Potemkin Dismemberment of Poland Ca- therine's opposition to the French Revolution Usurpation of -Courland- Singular disappointment Projects on the Caspian Sea Death and Character Paul p. 344 CHAP. XIII. Funeral of Peter III. Absurdities of Paul. War with France and with England. Paul's challenge to the po- tentates of Europe. Tyranny and Assassination Alexan- der Peace with England and France Interview of the Emperor Alexander with the King of Prussia. War with France. Battle of Austerlitz. Campaign in Poland. Battle of Eylauof Friedland.Peace of Tilsit. Turkish war. Conferences at Erfurth Progress and termination of the Turkish War * p. 374 XII CONTENTS. CHAP. XIV. Invasion of Russia Progress of the French Zeal of the Russians Fall of Smolensk Battle cf Borodino Cap- ture and Conflagration of Moscow Firmness of the Em- peror Alexander Buonaparte's barbarity and difficulties Success of the Russians Destruction of the French Armies Passage of the Berezina Flight of Buonaparte Loss of the French in the campaign Laudable conduct of Alexander Advance of the Russians into Germany Battles of Lutzen y Bautzen, and Wurtschen Armistice Progre&s of the Allies Total defeat of Buonaparte at Leipsic Consequences of this Battle Declaration of the Allied Sovereigns from Frankfort Efforts of Buonaparte Negotiations at Chatillon Progress of the War Capture of Parts Fall of Buonaparte 'Conclusion p. ^CH HISTORICAL SKETCHES HOUSE OF ROMANOF. CHAP. L and boundaries vf the Russian Stepps Mountains Rivers Lakes Mineral maters* Soil Productions Minerals Metals Vegetables -~an& Animals. THE empire of Russia, the largest upon the earth, is bounded on the north and east by the Frozen and Pacific oceans, on the west by Sweden and the Baltic, and on the south by Prussia, Austria, Turkey, the Euxine and Cas- pian seas, Persia, China, and various barba- rous nations. Extending from the extremities of Asia to the mountains of Olonetz, and from the mouths of the Don> the Volga* and the Kuban to the Frozen ocean, independently of islands and promontories, it comprises a hun- dred and sixty-five degrees of longitude, and thirty-two degrees of latitude, being 9,684 miles ia length and 2,400 in breadth. It contains perhaps 4,100,000 square miles, a space nearly three times the extent of the Itoman empire. 2 STATE OF RUSSIA. The climate of Russia is extremely various In the northern regions, from the 60th degree of latitude to the boundaries of the empire, the weather is intensely cold and severe. Cora seldom ripens beyond the 60th degree of lati- tude. Even at Petersburg!! there are only two months in the year in which snow may not be expected, and the thermometer some- times sinks 65 degrees below the freezing point. Usually two-thirds of the year are rain or snow, and in that capital the shortest day is not above five hours and a half long. In the eastern provinces the same degrees of la- titude are found much colder than the western, a circumstance that must be ascribed to the in- fluence of the mountains, covered with perpe- tual snow, which separate Siberia from the southern parts of Asia. In these northern re- gions the atmosphere is dry even in snow, and while the severe weather is not prejudicial to human life, it affords the means of a vast in- ternal commerce ; as the frost no sooner sets in, than sledge-ways covered with carriages, are opened from the gulph of Archangel to the mouth of the Don, and from the banks of the Irtish to those of the Neva. In the central re- gions of Russia, from the 55th to the 60th de- grees of latitude, though the winter is severe, the fruits of the orchard ripen. From the la- titude of 50 to 55 the temperature is mild STEPPS. and agreeable ; while in the southern districts the plants of China flourish in the open air. The appearance of Russia is not so diver-, sifted as many other countries of less extent, it being 1 remarkable for uniform plains of great magnitude, often sandy, barren, without even wood or water. These plains are called stepps, and are very numerous. All the northern and eastern parts of Siberia, including the vast spaces between the rivers Kovyma, Lena, Yenisei, Ob, and Irtish, appear, indeed, to form but one immense plain, although distinguished by dif- ferent names. The stepps of the Lena betweea the Lena and Kovyma, of the Yenisei, between the Yenisei and Lena, and of the Ob between the rivers Ob and Yenisei, are covered with forests of pine, birch, and fir toward the south, but toward the north there is little but brush- wood. The stepp of the Irtish lying betweea the Tobol, the Irtish, the Ob, and the Alay, is overstrewn with salt lakes, among numerous forests of pine, and generally adapted for pas- ture and agriculture. It comprises what is called the Barabiniari stepp, a fine well-wa- tered plain, between the Irtish and the Ob, 400 miles in length, and 300 in breadth, with scarcely a single elevation. Another stepp con- nected with that of the Irtish, seems to extend under various names, over the Volga, and the Don, to the banks of the Bog, and the Dnieper, B 2 * STATE OF RUSSIA. occupying the southern provinces of the Rus- sian empire in Europe, and the tracts lying be- tween the mouths of the Don and the Volga, and between the Volga, the Caspian sea, and the lake Aral. This prodigious plain presents numerous salt lakes, and salt plats, districts of sand void of wood and water, and many spaces fit for the purposes of agriculture. It has been maintained, that this vast level formed the bed of a great mass of water, which by the burst- ing of the Thracian Bosphorus, flowed into the Mediterranean. Its surface covered with salt and salt lakes, its strata of recent formation and abounding with marine substances, and the peculiar structure of the Greek islands, seem all favourable to this supposition. The stepp of Petshora, which lies chiefly between the Petshora aud the Dvina, and extends perhaps westward into the government of Petersburg and Novgorod, is very marshy, has few inha^ bitants, and bears pines, firs, birch, and beau- tiful larch. Of the mountains of the Russian empire, the most extensive, as well as important, are the Uralian and Altaian. In the centre of Asia, an elevated plain, supported on all sides by lofty mountains, extends no less than thirty degrees of longitude, Forming the northern abutment of this unparalleled plain, the Altaian moun- tains stretch from the sources of the Irtish to MOUNTAINS. O those of the Ob, and the Yenisei, and from hence, under the name of the mountains of Sayansk, to the lake Baikal. These moun- tains, here called the mountains of Daouria, now take a north easterly direction, and under the name of the Yablonnoy, or apple moun- tains, pursue their course to the Pacific ocean, throwing- out great branches to the north. This chain of mountains, of the greatest magnitude of any in Asia, and among- the most extensive on the earth, is 5,000 miles in length, and from the Irtish to the Amoor, forms the boundary between the Russian dominions, and the em- pire of China. The western part of the Al- taian chain, between the Irtish and the Ob, which from the lake Kolhyvan, is called the mountains of Kolhyvan, consists chiefly of ar- gillaceous and granite rocks, being precipitous, and covered with snow. The Blue mountain is about 3,000 feet above the level of the sea, and sends ridges of granite to the north arid west, which furnish abundance of silver, cop- per, and zinc ores. Of the mines in this chain the Shlangenberg is the most productive. One of the mountains, in the range, which extends from the sources of the Ouba and Uba on both sides of these rivers in a north west direction, rises 5,691 feet above the water of the Ouba. The portion of the Altaian mountains, between the Ob and the Yenisei, is but little known ; STATE OP RUSSIA. but it furnishes granite, porphyry, jasper, and marble, with breccia, slate, serpentine, cor- nelian, and chalcedony. On the Kondoma there are also iron mines. About the sources of the Abakan lie the highest mountains, among which is the famous mount Sabin. The moun- tains of Sayansk are composed of rugged gra- nite and porphyry summits, interchanged with various kinds of schistus, and, between the Yenisei and the Angra, under-run with chalk, clay and sand. Both sides of the sea of Baikal, are formed of mountains, which consist like- wise of granite, present promontories 300 feet high of milk-white quartz, and towards the Lena afford coal. The mountains of Daouria, which have their highest elevations about the sources of the Ingoda and the Amoor, consist- ing of rugged granite tops, and extend to the Yablonnoy Krebet, send out a ridge between the rivers Onon and Argoon, the richest in minerals of any in Asiatic Russia. Here are found all kinds of granite, porphyry, and jasper, with beryl, jacinth, agate, onyx, genuine topaz, large smoaky topazes, chalcedony, and corne- lian. In the same district are salt lakes, warm springs, with vitriolic pyrites, alum ore, and native sulphur, as well as mines of zink iron, copper and lead ore containing gold and silver. The Stanovoi Krebet, a continuation of the mountains of Daouria, which extends to the MOUNTAINS. Pacific ocean, and throws out branches north* ward over the Lena, and between the principal rivers in the eastern extremities of Asia, though little explored, seem to afford the same sub- stances as the former, with inconceivable quan- tities of beautiful red and green jasper. The Ural mountains are the natural boundary between Europe and Asia, and extend in a di- rect line, from north to south, above 1500 miles. Rising between the Aral lake and the Caspian sea they attain their greatest height about the sources of the Tobol and the Ural, and passing between those of the Petshora and Sosva, form the two promontories of the Karean haven, and the mountains of Nova Zemlia, sinking at last into the Arctic ocean. The greatest height of these mountains is not more than 4512 feet above the level of the sea. Of this chain, the northern and southern districts are almost en- tirely unknown ; but the central, from the sources of the Salva and Kolva, to those of the Tobol and Yemda, abound in valuable ores. The summits are composed of granite, the sides of schistus and wackes, and the projections, par- ticularly on the western side, of sand stone, chalk, and gypsum. In European Russia are likewise the mountains of Olonetz, which rise in the northern extremities of Lapland, run about 15 degrees from north to south, and probably send off branches that form the hills of Valday. 8 STATE OP RUSSIA. northern part of this ridge, covered with snow, i reported to consist of granite : more to the south is found a variety of ores, particularly iron. The mountains of Valday, between Petersburg!* and Moscow, rise not more than 1200 feet above the level of the sea, and are formed of clay and sand, with blocks of granite. Oa the Masta are beds affording great quantities of iron ore, coal, sulphur-pyrites, vitriolic earth, and petrifactions. The Caucasian mountains, extend between the Black and Caspian seas 350 miles, being at their greatest height five miles in breadth, covered with snow. The ridges are granite, and the sides slate and lime-stone, which runs out into a promontory that contains iron-stone, sul- phur-pyrites, vitriol, and petroleum. By the Terek is found silver and iron ore. The moun- tains of Taurida are not so remarkable on ac- count of their height or magnitude, as of the beautiful and romantic scenery which they pre- sent. They form the southern extremity of the peninsula, and consist of calcareous matter, sup- ported as it were by pillars of marble, trap, clay ? common lime-stone, and schistus, in parallel and almost vertical veins, alternating with each other. This singular ridge has the appearance of an amphitheatre along the Euxine. The vales produce the laurel, the olive, the fig, the lotus, and the pomegranate; the cliffs are adorned with the red bark 3 and perpetual foliage RIVERS. 9 of the strawberry-tree; while the sheep and goats, clinging 1 to the declivities, combine with the simple manners of the Tartars to form an enchanting picture. Nothing tends to relieve the uniformity which the prodigious plains give to the appearance of this great empire so much as the numerous ma- jestic rivers by which it is intersected and en- riched. Of these rivers the greatest, though not the most important, is the Ob, rising in Chinese Soongoria, in 52 north latitude, and 103 30' longitude : it falls into the lake Altyn, and flowing hence, it receives on the left the Ka- tunya, the Tsharysh, the Alei, the Irtish, the Konda, and the Sosva, on the right the Tshu- mysh, the Tom, the Tshulym, the Ket, and the Voch, many of them mighty streams, falling- into the Frozen Ocean, latitude 73 .50', and longitude 90 after a course of 2000 miles. This river, which is navigable to the Altyn lake, and uncommonly prolific in fish, flows over a rocky bed to the Ket, and then over marl, clay, and sand, its banks being covered with birch and pine. The Irtish, which might be considered as the main stream of the Ob> rises likewise in Chinese Soongoria, north latitude 46 50', and passing through the lake Norsaisan, while it is augmented on the right by the Buchtorma, the Ulba, the Uba, and the Om, on the left by the Ablaket, the Dsargurban, the Ishin, the Tobot, a 10 STATK OF RUSSIA. large river, the Vagai, and the Konda, flows in a variable course till it unites with the Ob, lati- tude 60, and longitude 86. The river next in magnitude is the Yenisei, formed of several large streams, the Kamsara, and Veikem, rising in Bukharia and the Angra. This, which is the main stream, and a continuation of the Selenga, a fine river falling into the sea of Baikal, issues from that sea a mile broad, and so clear, that the bottom may be seen in two fathoms water, after joining the Him is called the Turiguska, unites with the Kamsara and Veikem, and under the name of the Yenisei, flows over a stony bed edged with rocks, till near its mouth the cur- rent is almost imperceptible. In eastern Siberia is the Lena, which having its source in a marsli north west of the sea of Baikal, flows gently over a sandy bottom, first west, then east, and lastly north, and encreased by the Uitim, Olekma and Aldan, falls by five mouths into the Arctic ocean. The Amoor is a Chinese rather than a Russian river. The Yaik, now the Ural, a large rapid stream originates in the western side of the Ural mountains, and receiving on the left the Or, and the Ilek, and on the right the Kiril and Sakmara flows at first among lofty rocks, and lastly over a dry saline stepp into the Caspian sea. The Volga, the greatest of European rivers, has its source in the mountains of Valday. Navigable almost to its source, and RIVERS. 11 affording abundance of excellent fish, this most important river flows through the finest pro- vinces of the Russian empire, and receiving the Kammafrorn the Ural mountains, and the Okka, after a course of 700 miles passes by 70 arms into the Caspian sea. This river, which unites the Caspian and the Baltic seas, and is so essen- tial to the inland navigation of the empire, grows continually shallower. Not far from the Volga is the Don, which has its source in the lake of Ivanofskoy, in the government of Rezan, and flows on a bed of sand, marl, and clay, over a flat country covered with oak and pine, lying on the governments of Rezan, Tambof, Voronetz, and Ekatarinoslaf. It takes up the Voronetz, the Donetz, and Mantish, and falls into the sea of Azof after a course of 800 miles. In the north of European Russia are the Dvina and the Petshora; the former, navigable to Ustiug, flows through swampy woody regions into the White sea at Archangel, and the latter, rising in the Uralian mountains, runs 450 miles in a north west direction into the Frozen ocean. The Duna, an important stream, rises not far from the sources of the Volga, passing through the government of Pscove, and between Cour- land and Poland falls into the Baltic near Riga. It has several dangerous cataracts, and Riga often suffers from its inundations. Near the sources of the Duna, and the Volga, the Dneiper 12 STATE OP RUSSIA. takes it's rise ; but although connected with the Nimen, which falls into the Baltic, by means of the canal between the Nimen and the Pripazy flowing through Smolensk, Mohilof, Thernigof, Kief, and Ekatarinoslaf, the most fertile pro- vinces of Russia, the Dneiper contributes little to the inland navigation of the empire, it being obstructed by thirteen cataracts about forty miles from its entrance into the Black sea. The Terek and the Kuban both originate in the Caucasian mountains, the former first runs in a westerly and southerly, then in an easterly direction, into the Caspian sea, and the latter, a rapid clear stream, flows westward and forms several islands be- tween the Palus Maeotis, and the Euxine. The Neva, though a small, is an important stream. It issues from the lake Ladoga, and pursuing a course of 40 miles through the government of Petersburgh, falls into the gulph of Cronstadt. Besides lakes in common with other countries, the Russian empire contains several detached bodies of water that are remarkable, as they re- ceive the waters of many mighty rivers, without any sensible augmentation, or obvious means of expending such a continual accession. Of, these inland seas the Caspian is the most important and extensive, it being 700 miles in length, and about 150 in breadth, with a surface of 36,000 square miles. It has no tide, the bottom is shell sand; toward the north the shore is low, LAKES. 13 and the water stagnates ; but in other parts the shores are bold, and the water so deep, that a line of 2700 feet does not reach the bottom. This sea communicates with the Baltic by the Volga, the Masta, and the Neva, produces sal- mon and herrings, and supports myriads of wild fowl : the best harbour is Baku, Derbent scarce deserves the name, while Tukaragon and Man- ghishlak are good. Into the Caspian flow the Emda, the Ural, the Volga, the Kumma, the Terek, the Sulak, the Agrakhan, the Kur, and the Aras, an accumulation of water, of which philosophers have not yet been able to dispose. The lake Aral, lying about 100 miles east of the Caspian sea, has not long been known to geo- graphers, and has not yet been explored. It is said to be 200 miles long, arid 70 broad, is very salt, and receives the Sirr and the Grihon, both formerly supposed to fall into the Caspian sea. Next to the Caspian, the largest body of water in the Russian empire, is the lake of Baikal in the government of Irkutsk : this Jake is about 350 miles long, but its greatest breadth is not above 50. It is subject to violent storms, its water is fresh and clear, and produces quantities of fish, particularly a species of herring called omuli. The Baikal has several islands, one named Olkhan with sulphur springs, and is frozen from December to May. The lake Ladoga, one of the largest in Europe, lies in the 14 STATE OF RUSSIA. government of Vyborg; its breadth is about 70 miles, and its length 130; it receives many small streams, whose waters escape by the Neva; its shores are flat and sandy. On the north side is found the beautiful Finnish marble, brought to Petersburgh. This lake is remark- able for the canal cut by Peter the Great along its banks from the Volkhof to the Neva. Be- tween the Ladoga and the White sea is the lake Onega, about 150 miles long and 40 broad. Like the Ladoga it contains some islands con- sisting of marble; it is connected with the Ladoga by the Svir, and with the Volga by the Mariensky canal, uniting the Vitegra and the Kofsha. The Peipus lake, about 60 miles by 40, lies between the governments of Pscov'e, Reval, Riga, and Petersburgh : it is joined to the lake of Pscove by a broad strait, and re- ceives several small streams, whose waters are conveyed by the Neva into the gulph of Finland. This lake is prolific in fish, which afford a lucra- tive occupation to the boors in its vicinity. To the east lies the Ilmen lake, on which stands the city of Novgorod. The Bielo-ozero, or White lake, is in the same government. Though its water is clear, the bottom being clay, a white foam appears in stormy weather on the surface ; whence its name. In the government of To- bolsk and Kolhyvan is the large lake of Tshany % communicating with those of Moloki and Abish* SOIL. 15 kan. The Altyn-noor, called by the Russians Teletzkoe-ozero, lying on a considerable eleva- tion of the Altaian mountains, is supposed to be about 100 miles in length and 60 in breadth. Considering its extent, it is remarkable that so. few mineral springs should have been disco- vered in Russia, The most celebrated are those of Sarepta in the government of Sarataf. The springs are numerous and abundant, strongly tinctured with iron. Here is likewise a fetid sulphureous spring, of which kind springs have been found in the Baikal mountains, on the Barqusin, in the province of Nertschinsk, in the government of Irkutsk, and on the Terek, in the government of Caucasus. Some of those in the mountains of Baikal are highly sulphureous, and very hot. Those on the Terek are numerous^ and of moderate temperature. Springs of naphtha are found in the district of Perekop, and on the isle of Taman, on the shores of the Volga near Tetguschy and Samarskoy, and on the Terek about the warm springs at Baragun, and near Deulet Gueray, and the sources of Tschetschengisk. A lake on the Sagris is co- vered, a finger thick, with naphtha. The soil of Russia presents every variety, from tracts that are perfectly barren and incapable of culture to regions yielding thirty fold. Through- out the Russian dominions, agriculture indeed has made little or no progress. The Russians 16 STATE OF RUSSIA* do not think of forcing the soil ; nor have they acquired the art of collecting, without prodi- gious waste, the profusion which the earth spon- taneously yields. The northern and eastern parts of Siberia, from the 60th degree of latitude, is nothing but morass covered with moss, and passable only, because the ice never thaws deeper than seven inches. Of Russia in Europe, the northern districts are also very woody and marshy, little capable of cultivation. The south, along the banks of the Volga to the deserts, is rich and fertile, particularly towards Voronetz, about Tambof, Penza, and Sinbrisk, where there is an admirable soil of black mould, strongly impregnated with saltpetre. Between the Palus Maeotis, and the Caspian sea, along the shores of the latter as far as the Emda, and between the Ural and the Volga, is a desert, arid, sterile, full of saline lakes. The middle and southern latitudes of Siberia are extremely fertile, and fit for every kind of produce. Im- mense tracts which might be plowed and sown, lie totally useless. Those which are in culti- vation, yield various returns; in Livonia and Esthonia they reap eight fold, about the Don, ten, and, in the whole region between the Tom and the Ob, from twenty-five to thirty. At Krasnoyarsk the crop never fails, and in many parts manure would injure it. To drain meadow land is not in use, and where great MINERALS. 17 crops of hay might be raised, the cattle are obliged, during winter, to seek a scanty sus- tenance on the pasture grounds, sometimes un- der the snow. On some fat stepps the grass grows to the height of a man, and covers the cattle which feed among it. Dry meadows af- ford a short nutritious hay, while the greatest crops are raised on those of a black rather moist soil. Meadows have often the appearance of a desert. The productions of this extensive empire are as various as the soil and climate. Here the gifts of Providence are scattered with a profu- sion, which, while it corresponds with the pro- digality of the inhabitants, forms a singular contrast with their indolence, poverty, and un- skilfulness in the arts of wealth and comfort. The Russians at once suffer from want, and allow abundance to corrupt. Though they might supply the world, they depend on others. Most of the valuable minerals have been found in Russia. The primitive mountains fur- nish granite and porphyry in the greatest abun- dance of every kind. There is alabaster in ex- traordinary quantities, with every variety of colour; marble, yellow, grey, and cloudy abounds ; and, in the Uralian quarries, white equal to the finest Parian. In Siberia has been discovered a great variety of gems, which have been already enumerated. Coal has been found STATE OF RUSSIA. in but few places; sulphur, alum, sal ammoniac,, vitriol, saltpetre, and natron, in great quantities in various districts. The mines of Russia furnish gold, silver, copper, iron, and lead. In 1739, the Voytzer gold mine in the mountains of Olonetz was opened ; but yielding only a few pounds of gold, has been since abandoned. The chief gold mines are those of Beresof, near Ekatarinen* burg, in the Ural mountains, which were opened 1754. These mines furnish annually 400,000 pood * of ore, every 1000 pood yield- ing about 50 solotniks j* of fine gold. The quantity of gold obtained annually seems to increase. At first it amounted to three poodL now 7 it amounts to eight. Of the silver mines, the richest is that of Shlangenberg in the moun- tains of Kolhyvan, next that of Semeonofskoy. A new shaft at Filipofskoy on the Ulba, is ex- pected to equal the Shlangenberg. From these mines are obtained annually 2,000 S 000 pood of ore. At first each pood yielded about five solotniks of auriferous silver, now not more than two and a half. The lead mines of Nerts- chinsk, which have been wrought since 1704, afford also 2,000,000 pood of ore; but very poor in gold and silver. All these mines em- ploy 70,000 men. Since the first of them were * A pood is 36 pounds. f A solotnik is the 3,840th part of a pood. SALT. 19 opened in 1704 to 1788, they had produced 1000 pood of gold, and 36,000 pood of silver, worth together upwards of forty-five millions of rubles *, at an expense of not more than fifteen millions. Mines of copper are wrought in the moun- tains of Olonetz, Ural, and Altay. The most productive lie in the Ural about Perme, Ufa, Viaetka, and Kazan. The produce of all these mines is about 200,000 pood annually, worth about 2,000,000 rubles. Prodigious quantities of iron ore of all kinds are found in all the mountains, and in many of the plains of Russia. The ore in general yields about fifty per cent. 100 forges and 800 ham- mers are employed, and about five million pood of iron are annually obtained, which amount in value to at least four million and a half of rubles. Though many mines of lead have been tound, little attention has been paid to the working of them. All the gold and silver mines belong to the crown, a sixth of the copper, and an eighth of the iron. Among the productions of Russia, salt is a remarkable article. Rock salt is found about * The value of the ruble is very fluctuating. During the greater part of the reign of Catherine II. it was equal to 4s, in 1797, to 2s,d. C 2 20 STATE OF RUSSIA. the llek, in the district of Ufa, sixty miles from Orenburg. In twenty-two years ending 1787, 9,770,794 pood were dug. Salt lakes abound, Among the largest and most productive of these lakes, are the Elton in the government of Sa- ratof, those of Astrakhan, Taurida, Caucasus, Irkutsk, Indorsk, and Kolhyvan. From the salt-springs, salt is produced in the greatest quantities in the governments of Perme and Novgorod. No less than 12,OCO,000 pood of this article are annually produced in the em- pire, which however do not answer the demand. But the annual produce of this commodity might be indefinitely increased by opening fresh salt- works, and introducing into the manufacture of it economical expedients. Immense forests every where abound in the Russian dominions. The fir, the pine, and the black pine, are the prevailing trees in northern Russia, the latter being used for fuel and char- ring, and the pine for pitch. The Siberian cedar, a fine strong aspiring tree in the Ural mountains, is cut down by the inhabitants, that they may the more easily gather its cones, which yield an excellent oil. The larch which grows on most of the Siberian mountains, and in the north of European Russia, is employed in ship-building on the sea coasts. It supplies all the charcoal for the mines of Nertschinsk, while in the mountains of Olonetz and the Ural, it TREES. 21 affords turpentine, and a fungus for exporta- tion. With these trees, the Russian forests com- bine tho k, nd enous only in European Riis*iu, h birch, the alder, and the linden ; and in the southern regions, the beech, the elm, the maple, and the poplar. The birch is of va- rious u *e : its bark is employed in tanning 1 , and the preparation of tar ; its leaves afford a yellow dye, its sap a liquor called birch wine, and its wood is converted into fuel and cylindrical ves- sels for domestic purposes. Nor does the linden seem less profitable. The inner bark is manu- factured into mats, and the outer into carriages, baskets, trunks, and covering for cottages, while the rind of the young shoots is platted into shoes for the boors. The wood is wrought into canoes, or burnt into potash, and the blossoms yield nou- rishment to the bees Though the country pro- duces such a quantity of wood, yet so much is consumed with the utmost extravagance in fuel, in mines, in the baths, on the roads, in building, for light, and agriculture, and so little atten- tion is paid to repair the wastes by planting, that a scarcity already begins to be felt, which will soon extend through entire provinces, and affect the whole empire. Of wild berries, and fruit-bearing shrubs, there is great abundance in Russia. The cran- berry is wild and cultivated, as well as the black, white, and red currant, the latter of which grows 22 STATE OF RUSSIA. to the size of an ordinary cherry upon the Al- taian mountains. The hazel bush, though found all over European Russia, does not appear in Siberia. Forests of cherry trees may be seen in the south of Russia. Apples and pears ge- nerally flourish, while apricots, peaches, wal- nuts, almonds, and chesnuts, are confined to the southern provinces. Figs and pomegranates are seen only at Kitzliar and Taurida; the quince tree grows wild on the forests of the Terek, as well as the vine about the Don and in Taurida, which is likewise cultivated to a considerable extent, though with not much suc- cess, in the governments of Caucasus, Taurida, Ekatarinoslaf, Vosnesensk, as well as among the Don Cossacks. In the kitchen garden, which is wretchedly managed, are produced, in the central and southern regions of Russia, cabbage, used to make sour krout j turnips, often substituted for bread; Turkish, French, and common beans, peas, with onions, cucumbers, and garlic, which form the sallad of the common people. In the southern provinces, sugar and water melons are raised in great quantities, with little care. Of these plants there are large fields, surrounded with only a slight fence, and sometimes unin- closed. The water melons often weigh thirty pounds, and are of an excellent flavour. The potatoe is not cultivated. That the above men-* AGRICULTURE. 23 tioned productions are raised in such abund- ance, and in many cases of so fine a quality, is owing to the benignity of the soil and climate, not to the art or industry of the Russians. It is certain that a little of the care and skill of other European nations, would soon improve the va- lue, and increase the quantity of all those fruits, as well as add to their number by introducing new kinds of plants, or superior varieties of the old. The objects of Russian agriculture are nearly the same as those of England and Germany. Oats, rye, wheat, and barley, are raised in such quantities as to allow of exportation. Millet is generally cultivated, and maize about the Terek and in Taurida, buck-wheat abounds particu- larly in Siberia, and manna grows every where, though not in great quantities. Rice succeeds in the vicinity of Kitzliar. Among the first ob- jects of culture in Russia, is hemp, which is raised in prodigious quantities in the ordinary way, and even grows wiid on the Uralian moun- tains. Flax, which likewise grows wild in Si- beria, is produced in great abundance, of va- rious kinds, and excellent qualities. To these may be added hops and tobacco. To furnish an idea of the state of agriculture in Russia, it may be proper here to mention a few facts. The harrow consists of short wooden pegs, driven into thin laths, woven together with 24 STATE OF RUSSIA, willows. The use of the roller is hardly known. A crooked stick often serves as a flail. To drain moist lands, or swamps, is not at all the prac- tice, though they are so numerous and preju- dicial to man and beast, and might be con- verted into the finest corn fields. The stepp lands are employed a short time without ma- nure, and then forsaken. When a boor has fixed on a piece of forest land for the purpose of making it arable, together with the bushes and young wood, he cuts down and consigns to the flames, trees which have stood for two cen- turies, and are fit to beria. The most populous parts of Russia lie between the 49th and 58th degrees of latitude and the 40th and 65th degrees of longitude. The relative proportion of the population in dif- ferent governments is very remarkable ; that of the government of Irkutsk, being to that of Moscow, as 1 to 801. As Russia has little more than nine persons on the square mile, it is nine- teen times less populous than France. The Russian government is an unlimited mo- narchy. The sovereign unites in himself, the legislative, executive, and judicial authority, all inferior powers being derived from him, and en- tirely under his controul. Though the succession seems to be hereditary, yet it evidently depends on the will of the prince, the nobles, the military, and his own capacity, whether the nearest rela- tive of the deceased monarch ascend the throne. As in all cases where the will of the sovereign is the only limit of his power, revolutions are fre- quent in Russia. Sometimes in the course of a night, one prince is deposed, and another assumes the authority without exciting any com- motion. In administering the affairs of the empire the sovereign, is assisted by different councils, called imperial colleges, which hold their sittings at Petersburgh, some of them having chambers at Moscow. In each of these colleges is a secre- tary and a procureur without any voice, though J>2 36 STATE OF RUSSIA. it is the business of the latter to see that nothing" is done contrary to the laws ; and no sentence fe valid without his signature. Though these col- leges have a great number of servants, secre- taries, archivists, and clerks, there is a great want of regularity and diligence among them. The cabinet, which is not reckoned among the imperial colleges, consists usually of ten persons, the high steward of the household, privy and state counsellors, and major-generals, manages the prince's private affairs, examines petitions, dispatches, accounts, and the produces of the mines, and receives appeals from the senate. A special high court of justice is sometimes ap- pointed. Of the imperial colleges the first is the Direct- ing Senate, instituted by Peter the Great, and consisting of six departments, four at Peters- burgh, and two at Moscow, having each its own business* A senator is the highest rank in the kingdom. The senate, as the sanctuary of the laws, watches over their execution, issues the laws and edicts of the prince, and its own orders to inferior colleges, solves doubtful questions, ap- points to civil offices, and forms the highest tri- bunal, from which there is no appeal but by petition to the cabinet. The Holy Directing Synod 9 co-ordinate with the senate, is the su- preme spiritual court of the national church. To the College of Foreign Affairs, it belongs to VICEROYAI/riES. 07 pay the salaries of ministers at foreign courts, the pensions and expenses of agents in foreign parts. It is the business of the Admiralty College to over-see the ship-yards, general war-com- missariate, and store office, while the College of War superintends military affairs of a subor- dinate description, such as regulations and orders for camps, ammunition, and provisions. The College of Commerce, and the Medical College, sufficiently indicate their objects. In order to secure a more steady execution of the laws, and a more impartial and easy ad- ministration of justice, and to faciliate the col- lection of the revenue, and the circulation of money, as well as to lessen the expence of go- vernment, introduce improvements, and pro- mote industry, the whole empire was in 1776, di- vided by Catherine II. into twenty -two viceroyal- ties. These governments by accessions of territory, and other changes, were in 1803 raised to fifty- one, of which the following is an enumeration : Moscow, St. Petersburgh, Novgorod, Olonetz, Archangel, Pscove, Smolensk, Tula, Twer, Kaluga, Jaroslaf, Kostroma, Vladimir, Vologda, Nisneygorod, Wiulka, Kasan, Perm, Tobolsk, Tomsk, Irkutsk, Orenburgh, Simbrisk, Penza, Saratof, Artrakhan, Caucasus, Varonish, Tam- bof, Razan, Kursh, Orel, the Slobodish Ukraine, Ekatarinoslof, Tauria, Cherson, Poltowa, Tschernigof, Kief, Podolia, Volbynia, Grodno, S8 STATE OF RUSSIA. Vilna, Vitebsk, Mogilef, Minsk, Courland, Li- vonia, Esthonia, Finland, and Grusia. Each of these governments, which contain about 700,000 souls, has its general-governor, governor, and vice-governor, with several courts. The general governor, usually a high military officer, presides in the deliberations of the magistrates, commands the troops in his government, and executes the decrees of justice. The governor, who acts as general-governor in his absence, is a person of great importance, as he takes an account of all the officers of the vice* royalty, appoints to several posts, can insist on the execution of his orders, presides in the col. lege of general provision, and inspects the schools. The vice-governor is substitute of the two former in case of absence, and president of the finance chamber. The viceroyalty govern* went, consisting of the generaUgovernor, go- vernor, and two counsellors, is the highest court of the viceroyalty. Its business is to promulge laws and ordinances, to provide for security and order, and to issue writs. The court of justice, the second of the viceroyalty-courts, js divided into a civil and criminal department, each con- sisting of a president, two counsellors, and two assessors. This court receives orders only from the emperor, its decision in criminal cases is final, and it admits appeals from the inferior courts. Appeals are very expensive. The LAWS. f,V> finance chamber has the care of the revenues of the crown, whether from taxes, monopolies, or mines; of the accounts of the population, of the public buildings, and the payment of salaries, while the college of general j>romsion directs its at- tention to schools, infirmaries, and like beneficial institutions. Between the circle courts, and the court of justice, is the statute law court, consisting of two presidents and ten assessors from the nobi- lityj- This court tries all causes, both civil and criminal, in the first instance. The court of conscience, an institution pecu liar to Russia, has for its object to procure for prisoners a speedy trial, to accommodate differ- ences, and determine the causes of minors, idiots, and lunatics. To these may be added the superior court of wards, which tries the causes of the odnodvortzi and the boors of the crown or empire. The governments are divided into circles, which have likewise their respective courts, as well as accountant, who oversees the taxes, solicitor, physician, surgeon, with two assistants, and as many pupils, and a land-surveyor. It is the office of the solicitor to watch over the interests of the crown. Torture and confiscation are entirely abolished, and capital punishments are extremely rare. It must be gratifying to benevolent minds to learn that these institutions have in a decree 40 STATE OF RUSSIA. effected their object, that many abuses have been corrected, much evil prevented, and con- siderable melioration effected in the condition of millions. But that an impartial administration of justice has been introduced, will not be be- lieved by those who consider that the peasantry are slaves ; that complaints of injustice and op- pression are so easily obstructed by those who can make friends of the courtiers ; and that the power of the military is perpetually employed to ensure the performances of civil duties. The mildness of the Russian criminal code is more in appearance than reality. Nobles still whip their vassals to extort confession. A skilful ex- ecutioner can dispatch a man by three strokes of the knoot, a species of torture which, together with the slitting of the nostrils, branding the face, and banishment to the mines of Nertschinsk, forms the punishment of felony. What from the effects of the knoot, the fatigue of a journey of nearly oOOO miles, performed in fetters, and the imwholesomeness of the mines, perhaps as many criminals suffer death in Russia, as where the laws require at once the forfeiture of their lives. The forces of the Russian empire are naval and military. Even before the late Russian cam- paigns it was confessed that the Russian armies consisted of the best soldiers in the world j brave, obedient, active, and patient of fatigue, of cold. NAVY. 41 and hunger, in the very highest degrees. When it is said that they have made their way from Moscow to Paris, through the armies of France, grown old amidst victories, and commanded by the greatest captains of the age, to complete their panegyric, it can only be added, that their advance and retreat have not left the ordinary traces of victory. During peace, the force of the empire amounts nominally to 600,000 men. But of these, one-sixth is ineffective, and another is confined to the duty of the garrisons and the provinces. The greatest exertions could not bring more than 200,000 effective men into the field at the beginning of the campaign in 1812. The Russian officers are in general not equal to the men, as they are often ignorant favourites promoted without merit. The ca- valry, the best mounted perhaps of any on the continent, is superior to the infantry. The pay of a Russian soldier is about seven rubles an- nually, a sum that can scarcely be credited. The armies are recruited by draughts from the peasantry, in somewhat the same way as the militia is raised in England. A recruit some- times costs 300 rubles, a proof that the Russians^ are not partial to a military life. The navy of Russia is not equal to the army. This circumstance however, is easily explained : though Peter the Great, finding Russia without a ship of war, left it with a fleet of fifty sail of 42 STATE OF RUSSIA. the line, the navy 'was very much neglected till the accession of Catherine II. Russia has few ports, her coasts are for the most part covered with ice, and her foreign commerce is inade- quate to furnish a supply of experienced seamen. With these disadvantages, however, her navy appears sufficient for defence against Swedes or Turks. It consists of three fleets distinct from each other. In 1807 the great fleet of the Baltic consisted of 59 ships, carrying 2260 guns, namely, 20 new ships of the line, with 1588 guns ; 14 frigates, with 426 gnus ; 6 cutters, with 130 guns, and 19 smaller vessels with 116 guns. There were likewise in the ports of the Baltic 12 old ships of the line. The fleet of the Black sea consisted of o7 ships, carrying 1288 guns, namely, 12 ships of the line, with 981 guns; 4 frigates, with 162 guns; 7 brigan- tines, with 54 guns, and J4 smaller vessels, with 91 guns. There were likewise 40 gun-boats, with 54 pieces of cannon. The fleet of gallies amounted to 189 sail, of gallies, gun-boasts, float- ing-batteries, and other vessels, carrying* 705 guns. Whatever is necessary to support a mi-* merous navy, Russia herself furnishes in abun- dance, except seamen. The expense of build- ing ships, in consequence of negligence, waste, and imposition, is so enormous, that admiral Knowles told the empress Catherine, that he would engage to fetch all the materials for ship 43 building from Russia, pay the duties upon them, and deliver to her from England ships com- pletely equipped at much less than they cost her in her own dock-yards. The amount of the revenues of Russia is not to be ascertained with exactness ; because large sums flow into the treasury which are never brought to account, some provinces pay services in lieu of taxes, and much of the income is subject to great fluctuation. By these means it is likely both the crown and the subject suffer ; the former by fraud, and the latter by extor- tion. The sources of the revenue are as follows. A poll tax first imposed by Peter the Great. It is paid by males only in various proportions according to the condition and vocation of indi- viduals. A census is taken every twenty years, and whatever deficiency may be occasioned bv death, migration, or other accidents, must be sup- plied by the district in which it occurs, as the number remains unaltered till the next revision. The average paid by each may be a ruble. The tax on capital is one per cent paid by mer- chants on their capital, by which they are exempted from the poll-tax. Duties on exports and imports, on law proceedings, on stamped paper, on the sale of immoveable property, and the profits from the salt trade, the farm of spi- rituous liquors, the working of the mines, the mint and the posts, with some other articles; 44 STATE OF RUSSIA. form the other branches of the revenue. The following statement will show the product of each of these branches of revenue in 1800. Poll-tax, tax on capital with the obrok on the crown boors and odnodvortzi and the Rubies. additional kopeeks .... 38,197,000 Customs ... * V V 8,800,000 Farm of spirituous liquors ; ir 8,500,000 Salt . . . *!.!*! . --. 2,000,000 Mines and Mint . . , 3,000,000 Duties on stamps, sale of land and various other articles . * . 2,300,000 Rubles 42,797,000 In the collection and expenditure of this revenue, there is the most shameful frauds and corruption. It is yet found adequate to the ordinary purposes of government, which is ow. ing to the abundance of provision and the low price of labour. It is a very curious and instructive spectacle which Russia presents, in the strange diversity of its inhabitants. It is said here are eighty distinct nations, different in character, language, religion, government, manners, degrees of civilization, and modes of life. The hunter and fisher, without property, cloathed in skins, who live in pits and feed on raw flesh and unripe fruit, and the shepherds living in move- ORIGIN OF THE RUSSIANS. 45 able tents, supported by the produce of their flocks, ignorant of the use of money and the art of writing, are fellow subjects with the industrious husbandman and ingenious mechanic, with the owner of a thousand acres, and the wealthy merchant. Here are tribes loose and unconnected, some bowing to paternal authority, others preserving a pure democracy ; the adhe- rents of monarchy in all its gradations and of aristocracy in every form. Here is found reli- gion in every shape, from the grossest impurities 2 STATE OF RUSSIA. jacket, with white dimity waistcoat and trow- sers. While they are remarkably clean in their persons and habitations, they are instructed in their minds, sociable, open, and generous. The Cossacks of the Black sea originally occupied the banks of the Dnieper, but in consequence of rebellion, they were transported by the empress Catherine II., to the region be- tween the sea of Azof and the Kuban, where they serve to repel the incursions of the Cir- cassians and Tartars. Unlike their brethren of the Don, they are uncultivated ; but warlike and hospitable. They dress as they please, and deal largely in cattle. The Tartars, whose history is interwoven with the desolations of the world, form after the Slavonians, the most numerous part of the Rus- sian population, being the principal inhabitants of Asiatic Russia. Relics of mighty kingdoms, they dwell on the northern coasts of the Caspian, and Black seas, the southern branch of the Ural mountains, the stepps and mountains on the frontier of Siberia, between the Tobol and the Yenisei, and iu colonies among the Russians in the government of Kazan and Tauria. In Si- beria, they have very much assimilated to the Russians and neighbouring tribes; but in' Kazan, about Astrakhan, and in the Krimea, they have preserved their national peculiarities. The genuine Tartar is well made, of an ordinary SAMOYEDES. 6S height, lean, with an oval head, dark brown hair, white firm teeth, small mouth, little black expressive eyes, and a fresh and lively complex- ion ; all recommended by a modest and discreet behaviour. An open friendly countenance, the bloom of health, and harmonious proportion of the limbs, impart an uncommon charm to the females. This fine form is lost among" some of the tribes; the Bashkirs are more fleshy, have flatter faces, larger ears, and stronger limbs : among the Rirghises the Tartarian eye is even less than usual. Temperance and cleanliness are imperative duties with the Tartars, being strictly inculcated in the Koran : they are commanded to wash several times a-day, and reckon not less than two hundred and five fast- days in a year. Polygamy is allowed ; but the poor have rarely more than one wife, and the rich not more than two. The Tartars are for the, most part shepherds, who move their habi- tations according as they find suitable pasture for their flocks and herds. Some of them pay the capitation tax, and furnish recruits, but have permanent property in their lands j others have their own constitution and princes. The Samoyedes, who are found from the White sea to the regions beyond the Yenisei, and in European Russia, from the 65th, and in Siberia from the 75th degrees of north latitude, to the shores of the Arctic ocean, deserve to be 64 STATE OP RUSSIA. mentioned as forming 1 the extreme point of human degradation : they are about four feet in height, squat built, having a thick smooth head, flat nose, thin lips, large mouth and ears, with little, black, long, slit eyes; their skin shines with grease. The women are more slender, but equally hideous, and bear children in the ele- venth year of their age, though not beyond the the thirtieth ; they live in holes dug in the ground. A single herdsman among the Lap- landers possesses a thousand rein-deer, while among the Samoyedes a hundred is a large for- tune. They subsist on fish. Paganism prevails among them.* * The materials of the foregoing chapters have been drawn principally from Mr. Tooke's View of the Russian Em- pire. Mr. Tooke is a laborious and accurate writer; and though partial to the Russians, usually adduces such facts, as may enable his reader to form his own judgment without danger of mistake. CHAP. III. HOUSE OF EOMANOF. Abridgment of Russian History from the Foundation of the Monarchy to the Accession of the Hou^c of Romanof RurickOIeg Igor Olga Sviatoslof Vladimir In* troduction of Christianity Consequence* of partitioning the Kingdom Ivan the Great Ivan the Tyrant Intercourse tvith England Conquest of Siberia Revolutions -Elec* tion of Michael Romanof His Ancestor s-^and Life. origin of the Russians, like that of other European nations, is involved in obscurity ; and history has recorded little of them that can be interesting to civilized men, till the beginning of the seventeenth century. Barbarous nations present great uniformity in their transactions. In the fifth century, it is thought, a horde of Slavonians from the Danube, settled on the shores of the Dnieper, Neva, and Volkhof. They established two principalities, Kief and Nov- gorod. The Slavonians of Novgorod formed a considerable republic ; but in consequence of internal dissentions, were harassed by the in- cursions .of their neighbours, as well as of the Varages, piratical tribes, who inhabited the western coasts of the Baltic. As these Varages mercenaries as well as ptrates, the Novgo- 60 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. rodians had recourse to them for assistance. It soon appeared that the auxiliaries were resolved to retain a part of the country as the reward of their services. Attempts to expel them being ineffec- tual, theNovgorodians submitted to the yoke; and Rurick, who survived his companions in arms, formed the Varages, and Slavonians into one na- tion, which retained the Slavonic language and manners, and from a Varagean tribe, assumed the name of Russians. The present provinces of Archangel, Olonetz, Vyborg, Petersburgh, Novgorod, Vologda, Jaroslof, Kostroma, Vla- dimir, Smolensk, Pscove, Polotsk, Riga, and Reval, were comprehended in the dominions of this prince, who made Novgorod his capital, and dying in 878, transmitted his power to a succes- sion of his descendants for seven centuries. Oleg, immediate successor of Rurick, reign- ing as guardian of his nephew Igor, added Kief to his dominions. From hence he meditated the conquest of the eastern empire ; but after com- mitting dreadful ravages, laying siege to Con- stantinople, and imposing a heavy tribute on the emperor Leo the philosopher, he returned to Kief laden with spoil : some years after this, he reduced the emperor to a more humiliating treaty. His nephew Igor, who now received his inheritance, amplified and confirmed, was at first employed in quelling the conquered nations who shewed dispositions to revolt, and then in HOUSE OF ROMANOF. 67 repelling" the incursions of the Petschenegrans, a powerful nation from the banks of the Ural and the Volga. As these wars, though successful, did little to satisfy the lust of plunder that ac- tuated the Russians, they again turned their arms against the Greeks ; and Igor, notwith- standing the treaties of his uncle, sailed in 941 with an immense army toward Constantinople : he ravaged Paphlagonia, Pontus, and Bithynia, perpetrating every species of outrage. Mean- while the Greeks, rousing themselves, took ven- geance on the invaders. With great slaughter, the Russians were driven to their ships, a great part of which were destroyed : they were again defeated both at sea and land by the patrician Phocas; and Igor returned to Kief with not more than a third of his army. Not discouraged, this prince prepared for a second expedition; but the emperor Romanus sent messengers offering tribute, which, after some hesitation, was accepted. In attacking the Drevlians, whom he had rendered tributary, and exas- perated by repeated outrages, Igor lost his life. Olga, his widow, revenged his death in the most barbarous manner on the whole nation; though being afterwards baptized, she was ho- noured as a saint. This princess seemed to un- derstand the duties of a sovereign ; but her en- deavours to instruct her son, and convert her F 2 68 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. subjects, were equally ineffectual. The priests attended her only in private. In the reign of Olga a taste for luxury arose in the Russian court. Sviatoslof, the son of Olga, held in contempt the arts of peace and commerce, and thought of nothing but war : he was a perfect Scythian in bis manners, he dressed his own victuals, generally horse flesh, and made a pillow of his saddle. The arms of this barbarian were first turned against the powerful nation of the Kazares, who inhabited the northern shores of the Euxine. By the entreaties of the emperor Nicephorus Phocas, he came to the assistance of the empire against the Ungrians and Bulgarians. He seized on the country of the latter along the Danube, and resolved to establish the seat of his empire in those regions. While engaged in this etiterprize, he nearly lost his capital, and his family. The Petschenegrans having wasted the country, had laid siege to Kief; and its defenders, though brave and resolute, foresaw a deficiency of provisions and water. Though Priticth, one of his generals, had relieved the capital, the report of the danger recalled Sviatoslof: he sub- dued the invaders, and made preparations for the prosecution of his conquests by dividing his dominions among his children, a most pernicious practice. Contrary to the treaty with Nice- phorus, he determined to retain Bulgaria; but be was reduced to terms by John Zemisces. HOUSE O^ ROMAN Y OF. 69 On returning home he was encountered by his inveterate enemies, the Petschenegrans,who slew him, and converted his skull into a goblet with this inscription : " In seizing the property of others, thou hast lost thine own.'* Vladimir, one of Sviatoslofs sons, and a prince of great capacity, succeeded in stripping his brother of his portion of the inheritance, and his life. Blude, a villain to whose crimes he was indebted for his triumphs, he treated for three days with every mark of respect ; but on the fourth, he said to him : " J have now fulfilled my promises, thy honours exceed thy utmost wishes; to day as judge I condemn the traitor and assassin of his prince." Vladimir was a great idolator, and indulged in all the licence which polytheism allows, hav- ing five wives and eight hundred concubines. Importuned by messengers from various princes to embrace their forms of religion, he sent ten persons into different countries to examine the nature of the religion that was professed in each of them. The pomp and splendor which reli- gion wore in Constantinople made a favourable impression on the minds of the deputies, and the prince resolved to embrace the religion that seemed the most magnificent. Agreeable to this ground of preference, was the mode in which he introduced the religion of his choice. He laid siege to one of the Greek cities, putting up 70 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. this prayer : " O God help me to take this town, that I may carry from it Christians and priests to instruct me and my people, and convey the true religion into my dominions. " He was bap- tised by the name of Basil, and married the princess Anna, daughter of the Greek emperor. By his orders the God Pertm was dragged into the Dnieper, beaten by twelve soldiers. The chiefs followed the example of their leader; and to induce the people to embrace the new reli- gion, Vladimir employed the following argu- ment : " If it were not for your good to be bap- tized, the prince and the boyars would never have submitted to it." This argument prevailed, and the religion of the Greek church was firmly established in Russia. * This prince, while he enlarged his territories, and inspired neighbouring powers with the terror of his arms, neglected not the arts of peace ; he was liberal to the poor ; established colonies in different parts, in order to bring the soil into a state of cultivation ; and endea- voured to transplant into his dominions the arts and the science of Greece. On the death of Vladimir his possessions were divided among his children, and Sviatopolk suc- ceeded him in the government of Kief. This prince, a monster of wickedness, after having put * Tooke's Hist, of Russia, Vol. I. p. 193202* HOUSE OF ROMANOF. 71 to death almost all his father's children, was defeated by Jaroslof, and perished in flight. Garoslof enjoyed the affection of his subjects, and promoted commerce and religion. The practice of dividing the kingdom among the children of the prince, was now productive of the most destructive consequences. Russia was exposed to a perpetual series of bloody con- tentions ; the conquered provinces revolted, while contiguous princes seized the opportu- nity of recovering their possessions, or ampli- fying their territories. If a duke of understand- ing and patriotism, endeavoured to reconcile the rival chiefs, and unite the separate principalities in the common defence, his efforts were defeated. The wars thus originating in the division of the kingdom, continued with little interruption until 1238, when the Tartars, who had before made incursions into some of the provinces, effected the entire conquest of Russia. The dominion of the Tartars endured above two centuries. While the Russians were exasperated by op- pression, and internal tlissentions enfeebled the Tartarian power, Ivan Yassillievitch ascended the throne of Moscow, now the capital of the most powerful of the Russian principalities, and united with those of Susdal and Nishney ; Nov- gorod, Pscove, and Twer likewise acknowledg- ing its authority. Ivan in 1476 shook off the joke of the Tartars, and wrested from them the ?2 ttOUSB OP ROMANOl*. kingdom of Cazan ; he reduced- the principality of Novgorod, and added Servia, great part of Lapland, and the province of Permia to his do- minions; and thus became the second founder of the Russian empire. Having thus rescued his country from servitude, European princes began to court his alliance. Ambassadors from Germany, Rome, Poland, Denmark, Venice, and Constantinople, now for the first time ap- peared in Moscow. Ivan's talents were not en- tirely military. His second wife Sophia, niece of Constantine the last emperor of the Greeks, who had stimulated him to shake off the Tar- tarian yoke, also infused into his fierce mind a taste for the arts of peace. He drew artists from Italy, who introduced the art of making gunpowder and founding cannon, recoined the currency, built several churches, and enclosed the Kremlins of Moscow and Novgorod with brick walls, He facilitated intercourse with foreign nations, and improved the Russian commerce* The title taar was first assumed by this prince, whose exploits, civil and military, procured him the appellation great.* During the reign of Ivan's successor, the Tar- tars twice penetrated to Moscow, but they did not establish any permanent authority. In 15&3, Ivan Vassillievitch II. a minor of three years, * Coxe's travels iti Poland, Russia, &c. Vol. I. p. 329. HOUSE OF &OMA1SOTP. 73 ascended the throne of Russia, This prince, who -on account of his barbarities was called the tyrant, contributed greatly to the aggran- dizement of his country. Applying himself to such studies as might qualify him for government, he solicited the emperor Charles V* to send him statesmen and artists in order to civilize his subjects. Above two hundred artists of all professions, engaged by his ambassador, had proceeded to Lubec; but were persuaded to return by the intrigues of the inhabitants of that place, and some natives of Livonia* This insult, which provoked the tzar, was afterwards sufficiently punished. A standing army was formed by this politic prince, fire-arms sub* stituted in the room of the bow, and regular discipline introduced. By these means he finally subdued the kingdom of Cazan, incorporating it with Russia ; he acquired likewise the princi- pality of Astrakhan, and repelled the incursions of the Poles. His subjects received from him the first code of written laws. The intercourse accidentally opened with England, and the ac- quisition of Siberia, were the most important events perhaps of his reign. In the summer of 1553, three ships under the command of Sir Hugh Willoughby sailed from Deptford, to explore the North seas* Having reached the 72d degree of North latitude, the ships were dispersed in a storm, one sunk, an-; 74 HOtTSE OF ROMANOF. other running- into a harbour of Russian Lapland, the crew were frozen to death ; but the third, commanded by Richard Chancellor, anchored at the mouth of the Dvina, where the port of Archangel was afterwards built. The tzar, in- formed of this circumstance, summoned Chancellor to Moscow, where he was treated with respect and kindness, and dismissed with a letter to his so- vereign, assuring the English of every encou- ragement in establishing a trade with Russia. A Russian company was formed by Mary; and Ivan, who expected to reap great commercial and political advantages from this intercourse, granted them liberty to trade in any part of his dominions, without any duty or imposition. These privileges he afterwards confirmed, and carried on a correspondence with queen Eliza- beth, stipulated for an asylum in England, should insurrections oblige him to leave his country, and even entered into negotiations to procure an English lady for his wife. English merchants now settled in different parts of Rus- sia, and by the conquest of Cazan and As- trakhan, a communication having been opened with Persia and Buckharia, carried on, through Moscow, a commerce with the nations beyond the Caspian sea. A swarm of the Don Cossacks had migrated toward the east, and by their piratical expedi- tions on the Caspian sea, and the circumjacent HOUSE OP HOMANOF. 75 country, spread terror among 1 the neighbouring nations, and annoyed the newly acquired pos- sessions of Russia. Ivan having* made prepara- tions (1577), to chastise these depredators, they were struck with dismay, and fled in different directions. Between six and seven thousand, under the command of their ataman Yermark ? penetrated into Permia, and ascending- the Ural mountains, discovered the vast plains of Siberia, inhabited by ferocious tribes of men. Yermark, animated with the idea of founding in these un- known regions a new empire, raised the spirits of his companions, who were somewhat intimi- dated, marched down the Ural, drove before him the Tartars with their Khan, pressed for- wards to the Tobol and the Irtish and subdued all the tribes of Tartars, Vogules, and Ostiaks^ dwelling between the Ob, and the Ural, and Altaian mountains. As his army, wasted by fatigue, was inadequate to retain such an im- mense tract of country, and keep the conquered nations in obedience, he laid the fruit of his vic- tories at the feet of Ivan, who not only forgave his rebellion, but nobly rewarded his talents and courage. Thus an empire, more extensive and important than Mexico or Peru, was added to the Russian dominions, by a man inferior to the conquerors of the new world, only because his exploits have not been recorded. On the death of Ivan in 1584, Russia was ex- OF posed to fresh calamities. Feodore his eldest son who succeeded him, was a prince of noto* rious incapacity. Bielski, the guardian of his youngest son Demetrius, endeavoured to usurp the sovereignty by excluding Feodore and placing his pupil on the throne. Feodore's broth er^in-law, Boris Godunof, then seized on the supreme authority by the assassination of Deme- trius, or of a boy substituted in his stead. He was a prince of capacity, munificence, and dili- gence in discharging the duties of a sovereign ; but during his short reign of eight years, the Tartars penetrated to Moscow, and famine de* solated the country, white to the crimes by which he obtained the crown must be ascribed the re- volutions and miseries that followed in succession for eight years. Demetrius, or at least a person pretending to be Demetrius, appeared in Poland; and not- withstanding the efforts of Boris to ma,ke it believed that he was dead, gained numerous partizans, and, entering Russia at the head of 4000 Poles, was joined by the Russians from all quarters. Boris driven to despair, poisoned him* self and his son, declared his successor was strangled hy Demetrius, who having defeated his troops, ha$ been received in Moscow with every demonstration of joy. Demetrius was precipitated from his elevation in less than twelve months, and was succeeded by Vossili MIC&AEI* 77 Suiski. It was published that Demetrius was still alive, and an army was raised in his favour. No sooner were the adherents of this phantom de- feated, than another pretender arose, and aided by the Poles, whose interests lay in keeping alive the animosities and distractions of the Russians, was acknowledged by almost all Russia. Though the Poles, having attained their object, assisted Suiski in expelling the im- postor, the Russians, who attributed their mis- fortunes to this prince, confined him in a con- vent, where he died. The Poles had acquired such an ascendancy during these convulsions, that the vacant throne of Russia was offered to Ladislaus, son of Sigis- mund, king of Poland. Instead of appearing himself, that prince sent an army of Poles into Russia, who by their insolence and oppressions excited fresh tumults. Another Demetrius made his appearance. This state of anarchy and con- fusion continued for three years, when the Rus- sians considering the election of Ladislaus as void, thought upon choosing a new sovereign. Michael Romanof was proposed, a youth of Vixteen. His inexperience being objected, it is probable that though supported by many of the tiobles he would have been rejected, had not one of the clergy, who were zealous in his favour, confounded opposition by declaring that it had been revealed ta him, that young- Romanof 78 HOUSE OF ROMAN OF. would prove the most fortunate and prosperous of the tzars that had ever sat upon the throne.* Thus the general concurrence was secured. This event, which happened June llth, 1613, put a period to the civil contentions of Russia, which in the space of sixteen years had seen five princes perish by violence, and experienced as many revolutions. The house of Romanof derived its origin from Andrew, a Prussian prince, who came into Rus- sia in the middle of the fourteenth century. His grandson Zachariah attained the highest honours in the court of Vassili Vassillievitch, and left several children. His second son, Yury, was boyar in the reignof Ivan Vassillievitch, to whom his daughter, Anastasia, was the first wife. The third son enjoyed the rank of voivode. Nicetas the youngest, likewise a boyar, was the father of Feodore Romanof, whose only son was Michael, now chosen tzar. Feodore Romanof, f in consequence of his ta- lents, popularity, and great connexions, wasobnox- ious totheusurperBorisGodunof, who obliged him to enter the priesthood, and confined him in a monastery. On this event he changed his name * Tooke's Hist, of Russia, Vol. II. p. 4. -j- It is customary with the Russians to adopt the appella- tion of the grandfather as a family name. Feodore's grand- father was called Roman. MICHAEL. 79 to Philaretes. The tzar Demetrius released him from confinement, and gave him the arch- bishopric of Rostof. When the nobles had agreed to seat Ladislaus upon the throne of Russia, Philaretes was sent ambassador to Sigis- mund to settle the conditions of his son's eleva- tion. The Polish monarch was at that time en^ gaged in the siege of Smolensk. The reply of the ambassador, when the king demanded the immediate surrender of that town, discovers his spirit. p. 17& PETER I, 101 the mouth of theDon,and began the siege of Azof. As it was impossible to take the town without blocking up the harbour, and as the tzar had no ships, after great loss, the siege was raised. Peter was excited rather than discouraged by difficulties. He ordered vessels to be built at Veronetz, applied to the emperor Leopold, the states general, and the elector of Brandenburgh, for engineers, artillery-men, and sailors, and en- gaged the Calmucks as auxiliaries against the Tartars. Next year (1696), his fleet, two ships of war with twenty-three gallies, two galliots, and four fire ships, appeared in the Black sea, blocked up the harbour of Azof, and defeated the Turkish squadron, while his army compelled the besieged to surrender the place July 28th, without any of the honours of war. In order to secure his con- quests, and to make himself master of the straits of Coffa, he fortified Azof, and prepared to build a fleet of nine ships of sixty guns, and forty one, carrying from thirty to fifty pieces of artillery. To this armament, he obliged not only nobles and wealthy merchants, but also the clergy to contribute. His plan was to expel the Turks and Tartars from the Crimea, and establish a commerce with Persia through Circassia. His victories were celebrated by the triumphal entry of his army into Moscow. In the procession, the marshal, generals, admiral, and general 102 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. officers, preceded the sovereign, who said, he had not yet any rank in the army, and wished, by this example, to teach the nobles that mili- tary honours must be deserved before they are enjoyed. A medal was struck, having on one side this legend ; Peter /., Emperor of Musca- vey, always august; and on the other Azof, with these words; Victor by thunder and the waves.* It was mortifying to Peter, amidst his tri- umphs, to be under such obligation to foreigners. He sent therefore sixty young Russians into Italy, Germany, and Holland, to learn ship.- building, naval tactics, and military discipline; and adopted himself the strange resolution of visiting foreign countries, in order to enrich his own with their arts and science. The object of his ambition was to aggrandize Russia; and as the power of European nations arose from their progress in knowledge and the arts, he must begin, he found, by instructing his sub- jects. The death of his brother Ivan, the im- prisonment of the princess Sophia, and the re- spect which he had procured by his victories, it seemed, had established his authority upon a firm basis. He entrusted the regency to Prince Roinodanofski and the boyar Strechnef; the troops under general Gordon remained at Mas* * Voltaire, p. 7681. PETER I. 103 cow to secure the peace of the capital, while the Strelitzes, who might disturb it, were distributed on the frontiers of the Crimea to retain Azof, and repel the incursions of the Tartars. Hav- ing thus provided for the tranquillity of his do- minions, Peter, twenty-five years of age, de- parted April, 1697, in the suite of his ambas* sadors, to visit, unknown, Denmark, Branden- burgh, Holland, Venice, Vienna, and Rome.* In passing through Livonia, the fertility of that province, and the situation of Riga, its ca- pital, inflamed the cupidity of the tzar, desirous of ports on the Baltic, as well as the Euxine. On its arrival in Brandenburgh, the embassy was received by the elector with great pomp. Peter, though he despised the magnificence which the court of Konigsberg affected, was very much gratified with the intemperance in which the Germans of that age gloried. In one of those Bacchanalian feasts, in which this reformer in- dulged, he drew his sword to stab his favourite Le Fort. When the tempest of drink and rage had subsided, he begged Le Fort's pardon, and said, he wished to correct his subjects, but had not yet been able to correct himself, f Leaving Brandenburgh, he took his rout through the north of Germany, and arrived at Amsterdam five days before his embassy. In * Voltaire, p. 81. f Id. p. 86. 104 HOUSE OP ROMAKOF. the dress of a pilot, he went to the town of Sar- dam, where leading- the life of a mechanic, he wrought in the forges, rope-walks, and saw- mills, and enrolled himself under the name of Peter Michaelof, among the carpenters, who familiarly called him Peterbas (Master Peter). His time was divided between Sardam and Am- sterdam. At the former he learnt the whole process of ship-building, and the kindred arts. lie dispatched a sixty-gun ship, in the construc- tion of which he had assisted, to Archangel ; and engaged in his service French refugees, Ger- mans, Dutchmen, artisans of every species, who were sent to Moscow. At Amsterdam, he studied geography, anatomy, engineering, and natural philosophy. While handling the saw and the compass at Sardam, he gave orders to his army assembled in the Ukraine against the Turks, and successive victories, gained by his generals over the Turks and Tartars, imposed si- lence on those who might blame his unexampled conduct. Visits to King William, at Utrecht and the Hague, were almost the only interruptions to the labours and studies of the tzar, till the middle of January 1698, when he sailed for England, In Holland, Peter had seen only the process of ship-building j but in England he acquired the science. He lodged near a dock-yard in Deptford, and lived as he had done in Sardam. The art of clock and watch-making drew his JPETER I. 105 attention ; and he acquired the knowledge of astronomy. Besides mechanics, he engaged in his service Perry the engineer, and Ferguson the mathematician. Nothing gratified the tzar so much as a naval fight, which King William exhibited for his amusement, and a present made him of a vessel, called the Royal Transport, in which that monarch was accus- tomed to pass into Holland. In this vessel, Peter returned to Holland, having with him three naval captains, twenty-five ship-masters forty lieutenants, thirty pilots, and as many surgeons, two hundred and fifty cannoneers, and three hundred mechanics. This colony of skil- ful men was conveyed in the Royal Transport to Archangel ; while those engaged in Holland, passed through the Swedish territories on the Baltic. General Sheremetof, chief of his embassy in Italy, went from Rome to Naples, Venice, and Malta ; but Peter, with the other ambassadors, passed to Vienna, as well to see the military dis- cipline of the Germans, as to converse with the emperor, his ally against the Turks.* Meanwhile the Strelitzes, who deemed them- selves the proper defence of the nation, beheld with disapprobation the number of foreign troops in the service. The preference shewn to * Voltaire, p. 8293, 106 HOUSE OF ROMAXOF. strangers mortified the nobles, and the projected innovations excited general alarm. As the ab- sence of tbe tzar seemed a favourable opportn- nity for recovering- their consequence, 8000 of the Strelitzes marched from the frontiers of Lithuania towards Moscow ; but were met by the troops under General Gordon, who being better disciplined, gained a complete victory. The news of this mutiny and defeat reaching Peter, as he was ou the point of leaving Vienna for Venice, he hastened to his capital, and gave an example of what those who opposed his will had reason to apprehend from his power. De- sirous of ascertaining the authors of the rebel- lion, and, above all, of convicting the Princess Sophia, whom he accused of fomenting discon- tents, and corresponding with the rebels, he held in bis palace a court of enquiry. The most ex- quisite tortures were employed, in his presence, to extort evidence against those whom he sus- pected. Some of the criminals were repeatedly whipped; the shoulders of others being dislo- cated by a cord and pulley, in that posture they received the knoot; many after suffering this punishment were roasted over a slow fire, the raw parts being exposed to the flame.* These unhappy beings were hung in numbers about the walls of the city, and the public roads. Coxo, Vol.11 p. it. PETER I. 107 Two hundred and thirty were suspended about the nunnery, in which the Princess Sophia was confined, Two thousand of the Strelitzes suf- fered capital punishment, the whole body was broken, and their name abolished. These cruelties seemed to announce a man who had studied, not the arts and policy of the polished nations of Europe, but the savage customs of American Indians. This ferocious barbarity, however, was the prelude to reform in evety department. As soon as the Strelitzes were abolished, Peter formed regular regiments on the German model. Having passed himself through the lowest ranks in the army, he wished the sons of the nobles to be soldiers before they were officers. Some of them were sent to serve an apprenticeship as sailors, in the fleet on the Don. This fleet >vas improved by the Dutch and English; dock- yards were built, and the plan for the junction of the Don and Volga, was begun. Burghers were appointed to receive the taxes instead of the nobles who had hitherto paid the sums levied on their slaves. The office of patriarch was abolished, and his revenues turned into the public treasury. Absolute master in the church, as well as state, the tzar enacted that no person, employed in the public service, or under the age of fifty, should enter into the monastic 108 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. life; he relaxed the rigor of fasting, which superstition had carried to a pernicious height ; and, as the clergy were little better instructed than other Russians, he founded at Moscow three colleges for their education. The year which had hitherto commenced among the Muscovites the first of September, was ordered to begin in January. The change was introduced in 1700, with great solemnities. In the mode of writing, the ceremony of marriage, the article of dress, Peter made innovations, as well as in the forms of intercourse among his subjects. It was his object to conform the Russians in these respects to the nations among whom he had travelled ; but, though the terror of his power enforced obedience, the changes were far from agreeable to the nation at large. While he entered upon his career of reforma- tion, Peter brought to a close the war with the Turks, by a treaty which left him in possession of Azof, and some forts in its vicinity. This advantage was little in his eyes ; he wished to create a military and naval force, to open a commercial intercourse with the states of Europe, and to make Russia respectable among civilized nations. To these designs, ports on the Baltic seemed indispensible. He resolved to be a conqueror, and, without neglecting his esta- blishments on the Don and the Volga, turned PETEH 1. 100 his attention to the frontiers of Sweden. He engaged in a war of twenty years, in which he experienced surprising- vicissitudes, displayed all the resources of his genius, triumphed over the greatest conqueror of his age, and added to his dominions a large kingdom. It is expedient to develope the origin of this war, and the pros- pects of the tzar. 110 HOUSE OF R031ANOF. CHAP. V; War ivith Sweden Success of Charles XII. Progr.&$ oft/te tzar Building of Petersburgk Advance of Charles XI f. into Russia Battle of Pultava Its consequences Con* que&ts of Peter I Affair of Pruth. XL, of Sweden, expired in I697 r leaving his son Charles XII., fifteen years of age, in quiet possession, not only of Sweden and Finland, but of Livonia, Carelia, Ingria, Vyborg, the Dutchies of Bremen and Verden, and the best part of Pomerania. These territories, the fruits of victories gained by the Swedish arms, under the house of Vasa, were secured by long possession, and the solemn treaties of Minister and Oliva. Charles XII., notwith- standing the testament of his father, which fixed his majority at eighteen, three years later than the usual period, and the intrigues of his grand- mother Hedwige Eleonora, succeeded in a few months to the administration of affairs. His conduct, however, afforded not any favourable idea of his character ; he was supposed to be of ordinary talents; impatient of restraint rather than aSle to govern. As the opportunity seemed tF,TER I. HI propitious, the king of Denmark, the elector of Saxony, and the tzar of Russia, conspired the ruin of the young king. The eldest sister of Charles XII. was married to the Duke of llolstein, who, being oppressed by the King of Denmark, fled to the Swedish court for assistance. Acts of hostility were committed by the Danes upon Holstein, and they entered into a secret treaty with Augustus, elector of Saxony, to overwhelm the king of Sweden himself. Augustus, who had raised himself to the throne of Poland, by buying one- half of the nobility, and over-awing the other, wanted a pretext for retaining troops in his Polish dominions, in order to secure his authority, and being incited by Reginold Patkul, resolved t3 fall upon Livonia. This Patkul had, in J(592, gone at the head of a deputation to lay the com- plaints of his countrymen, the Livonians, before Charles XL, and in reward of his fidelity and courage, had been sentenced to lose Ids honour and his life. He escaped, and when he learnt that Augustus had promised, on his elevation to the throne of Poland, to recover the provinces tome from the republic, he represented the ease with which he might seize Livonia, and revenge upon a prince of seventeen the conquests of his ancestors. As the views of the tzar upon Inffria and Carclia were not unknown to An- 112 HOUSE OF gustus, Patkul went to Moscow, and thus cemented a union between the monarchs, which he expected would fully gratify his own revenge. It was concluded, to strip the king of Sweden of all the countries lying between Poland, Moscovy, the Baltic sea, and the gulph of Fin- land. Patkul, as major-general, had the satis- faction to besiege the Swedes in Riga, and the tzar marched a large army into Ingria, confident of making easy conquests. Meanwhile the Swedes were thrown into the utmost consternation ; some of the counsellors proposed to evade the tempest by negotiations ; when the young king, all at once, said, with an air of confidence and gravity : " Gentlemen, I am resolved; I will go and attack the first who declares himself, when 1 have conquered him, I expect to excite some alarm in the others.'* Actions constantly followed those words. In less than six months the young prince compelled the Danes to make peace, relieved Riga, and landing himself in the gulph of Riga, marched, amidst the snows of November, against the tzar, whose injustice particularly provoked him, as being inconsistent with the character of legis- lator and reformer, which that prince affected. With 8,000 soldiers, fatigued by a long march and several affairs with the advanced posts, Charles attacked the Russian camp before Narva, containing 80,000 men, defended by a PETER I, 113 150 pieces of artillery, and gained a complete victory ; officers, men, arms, stores, and provi- sions, all falling into his hands. The victor re- tained only the general officers; the subalterns and soldiers, half armed and half disarmed, were all dismissed. The tzar, who had imprudently left his camp, where his presence was necessary to preserve order, was advancing with 40,000 to act in the rear of the Swedes, when he received the news of the defeat and entire dispersion of his army. Terror spread among his subjects, who believed that the Swedes were magicians, and in their public prayers to St. Nicholas, implored assist- ance against their enchantments, while he, far from discouraged, proceeded to repair his losses. " I know well," said he, " the Swedes will long be superior ; but at length they will teach us to vanquish them." He collected the re- mains of his scattered army, ordered additional levies, and repaired to Moscow, to found cannon, of which he had been stript. As metal was wanting, he took the bells, to the number of 500, from the churches and monasteries, and justified the sacrilege, by saying, c< Holy metal only can serve against Swedish magicians." From Moscow the tzar hurried into Courland, to meet his ally Augustus. These princes spent five days together, at Birzen, a small town, in Lithuania ; Augustus engaged to furnish 50 3 000 I 114 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. Germans to be hired of different princes, and paid by the tzar, who, on the other side, un- dertook to send 50,000 Russians into Poland to learn the art of war, and pay Augustus 3,000,000 of rix-dollars in two years. Instead of cere- mony, the usual attendant upon the interviews of kings, these confederates had recourse to debauchery.* This treaty was rendered ineffectual by the advance of Charles XII., who, though he had, by the victory of Narva, opened the road to Moscow, resolved first to chastise the king of Poland. He passed the Dun a in the face of the Saxons, advantageously posted on the opposite bank, and totally defeating them, with- out the smallest delay made himself master of all Courland and Lithuania. He felt a secret satisfaction, he acknowledged, on entering vic- torious into Birzen, where a little before his enemies had consulted his ruin. In this place he conceived the design of dethroning the king of Poland. One day at table, observing ex- treme sobriety, and appearing absorbed in pro- found thought, a German colonel said, loud enough to be heard, " The repasts of the tzar and the king of Poland, in this place, were somewhat different from those of his majesty." " Yes," said the king, raising himself, dent, obstinate, with a dread of his father, and an extreme aversion to all the new institutions, In 1711, he was married to the princess of Wol- fenbuttel, whom, though an amiable woman, and the object of his choice, he treated with such neglect as to occasion a deep melancholy. PETER 1. 139 which, aggravated by the pains of child -bearing, terminated her life in 1715, in the 21st year of her age. While he neglected his wife, Alexey kept a mean girl of Finland as his mistress, associated with ignorant debauched priests, avoided to appear on -public occasions, inveighed against his father's conduct, and threatened, when he should be master, to restore the ancient customs. This behaviour so provoked the tzar, that he wrote to his son, after the death of the princess of Wolfenbuttel, assuring him that if he did not reform he would exclude him from the throne. The young prince, rendered desperate by intern* perance and opposition, renounced the succes- sion, 1716, and sought permission to retire into a monastery. The tzar having set out upon his travels, ordered Alexey to meet him at Co- penhagen ; but following the advice of his ad- herents, he escaped to Vienna to his brother-in- law Charles VI., who sent him first to Inspruck, and then to the castle of St. Elmo in Naples, in order to shelter him from his father's vengeance. Betrayed by his mistress, and deceived by the most solemn promises of forgiveness, he re- turned in February 1718 to Moscow. On the following day, two regiments of guards having been ordered to arms, he was conducted a prisoner into the castle, and falling down before his father, confesse4 .his faults with tears, and 140 HOUSE OF HOMANOF. begged for his life. The tzar having raised him up, led him into a private apartment, and after threats and interrogations brought him into the hall, where the principal persons of the state had been assembled. In the midst of this assembly, the unhappy prince, having been reproached with his imprudence, vices, and follies, was by a solemn written declaration ex- cluded for ever from the succession. Alexey himself signed in the most solemn manner a formal renunciation of his right to the throne. But this was not sufficient ; he was conveyed to Petersburgh, and imprisoned in the fortress, A select committee was appointed to try him. The most awful threats and flattering promises were employed to induce him to make such con-, fessions, not of actions and fixed purposes, but of fleeting thoughts as might give a colour to his condemnation. His mistress and other wh> nesses were rewarded to depose against him ; and after a trial of twelve days, in which a prince, without friends, without advocates, distracted by threats, uncertain of life, if evi- dently innocent, had to support all the author rity and intelligence of the Russian empire di-? rected against him by an enraged father. Alex&y was condemned to }ose his life. It is pretended that the unfortunate prince, on hear- ing the sentence of condemnation, was seized with convulsions and expired. But it is more PETEtl I* 14 1 probable that he was secretly beheaded in pri- son by his father's orders *. The only circumstances alleged to justify the extreme severity with which it is confessed Peter treated his son, is, that it was a neces- sary sacrifice to the welfare of the Russian em- pire. If Alexy had been spared, he would have destroyed all the fruits of his father's la- bours. This, there is no doubt, was the reason on which Peter himself relied for his justifi- cation. But if it be the first duty of a prince to improve the condition of his subjects, the second is to train up his successor to preserve his establishments, and perfect his designs. Peter neglected the education of his son, and set him an example of debauchery. When the young prince conducted himself as might have been expected from education and example, the tzar pretended he must be sacrificed to the safety of the state. Without scrupling the means, he procured his death, and to prove the expediency of the measure, left it uncertain who should be his successor, an Alexey or a Peter. The care of Russia was, after all, aban- doned to Providence, whose vigilance would have been equally effectual, had Aiexey sur- vived. While the tzar persecuted his son, he conti- * Coxe, vol. II. p. 308313. 142 HOUSB OF ROMANOP. nued his career of salutary reform. He or- dered the rich to build houses in Petersburgh. Uniformity was introduced in the weights and measures, the manufacture of arms was im- proved, manufactories of linen, woollen, cordage, sails, bricks, and glass were encouraged ; a tri- bunal of commerce was instituted, the canals of Ladoga and Cronstadt were undertaken ; and forts were built in Kamtshatka. Commerce was opened with Persia, and, after interrup- tions and difficulties, was put on a better foot- ing with China, while on the shores of the Baltic it flourished beyond expectation. The laws underwent alterations, and received addi- tions to lessen the expense and facilitate the at- tainment of justice. The Holy Synod was in- stituted, and many regulations were introduced respecting monastic establishments. The war with Sweden had been suffered to languish for some time. Baron Gortz, a tur- bulent intriguing spirit, had acquired the con- fidence of Charles XII. and uniting with Car- dinal Alberoni, wished to change the face of Eu- rope by effecting a union between the Swedish and Russian monarchs, dethroning the king of England, and raising Philip V. of Spain to the regency of France. Improving little offences given by his allies, and insinuating that Sweden was sufficiently humbled, Gortz had prevailed on the tzar to send plenipotentiaries to the isle PETER I. 14-3 of Aland to treat of peace. Affairs were in train for accommodation, and an alliance was on the point of being 1 concluded between the two rivals, when a ball from one of the bas- tions of Frederichshall terminated the life of the Swedish king 1 * The war was again re- newed ; but nothing of consequence occurred, except a descent which the tzar made into Sweden, and some success which he gained over the fleets of that nation. At last the court of Stockholm being heartily tired of a war which had proved so ruinous, plenipotentiaries assembled at Neustadt in Finland, and peace was concluded, September 10,1721. Livonia., Esthonia, Ingria, Cardia, Vyborg, and se- veral islands in the gulph of Finland being ceded to Russia. The joy which a war of twenty years thus happily terminated, gave to the tzar and all his subjects, was extreme. On this occasion the titles of great, emperor, father of his country, were given to Peter by the gratitude and ad- miration of his subjects. Peter had long been desirous of establishing his authority on the Caspian sea, and thus open- ing a channel for the commerce of Persia and India. Depredations committed by the Alba- nians upon a commercial establishment of the Russians on the western coasts of the Caspian sea, afforded him a pretext for sending an army 144 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. to those regions, and such was the miserable condition of Persia at that time, that he re- ceived three provinces to engage him to assist the lawful sovereign in preserving the remains of his dominions. After the Persian expedition the tzar was at peace with all his neighbours. He continued his labours, and for the better direction of them instituted at Petersburgh the Academy of Sciences. In this state of peace he crowned at Moscow, his consort Catherine, in reward, as he said, of the service which she had rendered the whole nation in the unfortunate campaign of Pruth. This legislator and conqueror now drew near the end of his days. Incontinence had entailed upon him a distemper which was never fully eradicated, and which an excessive debauch at the election of a mock patriarch, greatly ex- asperated. As the surgeons mistook the dis- order, an abcess, formed in the bladder, occa- sioned a stranguary, which was attended with excruciating pains, deprived him of his senses, and at length of his life, January 28, 1725, in the 53d year of his age, and 44th of his reign. In his last moments it is said he reflected on the irregularities of his life with extreme re- gret, confessed he had shed much innocent blood ; and mentioned his conduct towards his un fortunate son with the utmost concern ; but ex* PETER 1. pressed a hope, very vain truly, that the bene- fits he had conferred upon his country, would induce the Great Judge to pardon his crimes. This prince was tall, well made, with a dig- nified countenance, lively eyes, and a constitu- tion capable of the greatest fatigue and labour. Of a sound judgment, incredible activity, mas- ter of most of the mechanical arts, tinctured with science, but without any of the virtues that endear civilized men to each other, he rose by the energy of his mind above all the preju- dices of his country, and by the steadiness and intrepidity with which he prosecuted vast de- signs, maintained a fearful authority among re- fractory subjects. Beastly in his pleasures, fe- rocious in his manners, and savage in his re- sentments, he would have been the abhorrence of mankind, if his efforts and sacrifices to form a great naval and military power, and to esta- blish in his dominions, arts, manufactures, com- merce, and science, had not compelled their ad- miration. He would have been more successful had he not been so rash and violent ; and he would have been more entitled to the gratitude of the Russians, had he consulted their glory less, and their happiness more. It is a melan- choly reflexion, that this monarch with all his vices and enormities, has juster claims to the appellation great, than almost any of those 14(5 HOtTSE OF ftOMANOF. princes who have borne it. Such has been the folly or corruption of men. Peter the Great was succeeded by his consort Catherine I. a rare instance of those vicissi- tudes of fortune, in which the Russian annals of this period so abound. This princess, the natural daughter of a country girl, was born at Ringen, near Dorpt, according to her own account, April 5, 1689. Her original name was Martha, which she changed into Catherine, on entering the Greek church. Losing her mo- ther at the early age of three years, the parish clerk had the compassion to receive her into his house, whence she soon passed into the family of Gluck, Lutheran minister of Marienburgh, where she was brought up, and employed in at- tending upon his children. A Swedish dragoon had married, or was on the point of marrying Catherine, it is uncertain which, when he be- ing absent, Marienburgh fell into the hands of the Russians in 1701. General Bauver, obr serving Catherine among the prisoners, was at- tracted by her beauty, and took her to his house. Prince Mentchikof no less impressed with her charms next received the young captive into his power. Peter the Great being on a visit to this prince, one of his favourites, observed Cathe- rine, and won by her beauty made her his mis- tress in 1704. CATHERINE I. 147 Catherine secured the affection of the tzar, not by depth of judgment or sprightliness of fancy, but by the equability of her temper, the sweetness and pliancy of her disposition, assi- duous and unwearied attention. Though ex- tremely fond of women, Peter the Great had never been able to excite kind regards in any ', Catherine, therefore, by endeavouring to make herself agreeable to him, gained a surprizing ascendancy over his mind. She was his per- petual companion in his wars and expeditions. When those fits of passion to which he was subject rose to madness, and banished his at- tendants from his presence, at her approach the demon fled, and the sound of her voice, turned the agitations of his mind into repose. So far from abusing this influence, Catherine employed it for purposes of beneficence and mercy. Many miserable wretches were in- debted for their lives to her intercession. So much did she soften the ferocity of his nature and so often calm his rage, that she was, as marshal Munich said, the mediatrix between the sovereign and his subjects. When the despot was resolved to sacrifice to his wrath, he gave orders for execution in her absence. In her elevation Catherine never forget her ori- ginal condition, though she supported her ho- nours with becoming dignity. Her conduct particularly at the affair of Pruth, reconciled 148 HOUSE OP ROMANOF. the Russians to those proofs, which the tzar gave her of his affection in a public marriage and a splendid coronation. Having received the highest distinction which Peter could bestow, Catherine narrowly escaped being an example of his vengeance. One of her chamberlains was a fine young man of the name of Mons, with whom, it was suspected, she was too intimate. To satisfy himself whether his suspicions were grounded, the emperor pre- tending to leave Petersburgh in order to spend a few days at one of his villas, secretly returned to his winter palace in the capital, and sent, as if from the country, complimentary messages to his consort by a confidential page, ordered to make observations. By this means he sur- prized Catherine in an arbour of the garden, with Mons; his sister Madame Balke, a lady of the bedchamber being on the watch without the arbour. The tzar struck the empress with his cane ; and, without uttering a word, pro- ceeded to the apartment of prince Repnin, whom he informed of the discovery, and of his determination to make an example of the em- press. Repnin expostulated with him on the infamy that he would incur, if after sacrificing his son, he should imbrue his hands in the blood of his wife. This expostulation saved Catherine. Mons and his sister were taken into custody under pretence of having been corrupted by CATHERINE J. 140 bribery. Conducted to the winter palace, the young- man was threatened with torture, till lie acknowledged the truth of the accusation brought against him. Mons was sentenced to lose his head, his sister, after receiving five strokesof the knoot, was banished to Siberia, and her two sons, chamberlains, were sent as com- mon soldiers to the army of Persia. The day after the execution of Mons, the emperor con- veyed Catherine in an open carriage under the gibbet, to which his head was nailed : without .changing colour, she said : u Pity so much cor- ruption should be found among courtiers." Madame Balke was recalled on the death of the tzar. Though the emperor had raised Catherine to the throne, and with his own hand placed the crown upon her head, it was not his inten- tion that she should be his successor. In the fulness of his power, he had passed a law au- thorizing the reigning prince to appoint an heir to the throne ; but the hand of death laid hold upon him before he could express his will. During a short intermission of distracting pain, he ordered to bring pen and paper ; being un- able to write, he then called for his daughter Anne, Before she came, he was bereft of speech and reason, in which state he lingered thirty- six hours, and then expired. 150 HOUSE OP ROMANOF. While Peter was in this state of insensibility, a considerable party of the nobles, who durst not move while he breathed, determined to arrest Catherine, the moment of his death, to confine her in a convent, banish Mentchikof, expel foreigners, restore the ancient customs, and raise Peter Alexievitch to the throne. Ap- prized of this resolution, Count Bassevitz im- mediately informed the empress, who was so overcome with sorrow as to be unable to act for herself, but ordered the count to consult with prince Mentchikof, assuring him that she would sanction the measures which they might adopt. When Mentchikof was informed of the danger which threatened the empress and her adherents, he instantly secured the treasure and the fortress, and by bribes and promises gained the officers of the guards, as well as some of the nobility and principal clergy. These partizans being assembled in the palace, Ca- therine appeared, claimed the throne in virtue of her coronation, exposed the consequences of a minority, and promised to restore the crown to the great duke, when she should re- join in another world her adored husband on the eve of departure. The pathos of this ad- dress, accompanied with tears, and aided by the jewels and money that had been distributed, united the whole assembly in her favour. CATHERINE T. 151 The death of Peter was no sooner divulged ou the morning 1 of the 28th, than the senate, with the chiefs of the nobility and clergy, has- tened to the palace. The ruin of Catherine and her parti zans was deemed inevitable. At this juncture Bassevitz whispered to one of her enemies, that the treasure and the fortress were in the power of the empress; that she had secured the guards, the synod, and many of the nobles ; and that if those who were hostile to her elevation, valued their lives, it would be prudent not to make any opposition. As soon as the news had sufficiently spread, the count gave the signal to two regiments of guards, who, having been gained by a largess, had surrounded the palace. They beat to arms. " Who has presumed," exclaimed prince Repnm com- mander in chief, " to draw out the troops without my orders.'* " I," returned general Butturlin, ur majesty," returned the confounded ge- figral, going to put himself at the head of his reginiefrt, and deliver the arsenals to the em- press's Mends. In two hours the empress pro- ceeded at the head of 2000 men to the churcn of St Mary of Casan. The archbishop of Nov- gorod, attended by his priests, received fter PETER III. 219 at the altar, and placing the imperial crown upon her head, proclaimed her sovereign of all the Russias by the name of Catherine II. and Paul Petrovitch her successor. Catherine took the usual oaths, and on her arrival at the palace of Elizabeth, crowds flocked to take the oath of allegiance. The senate acknow- ledged her as sole empress. As the conspirators proceeded to fortify the city they met with no resistance, except from the emperor's uncle prince George, who was immediately surround- ed, and put under arrest. A regiment of 1600 men, encamped at a short distance from Pe- tersburgh, was induced by her partizans to march to the standard of the empress. The groundless report, that the emperor intended that day to put her as well as her son to death, being industriously propagated, tended greatly to increase her followers, and before night 15,000 chosen men were at her command, and the city in which strict order prevailed, was pre- pared to make a formidable defence. Catherine neglected not other expedients. She sent for the grand duke, and from the bal- cony of the palace exhibited him to the multi- tude^ who thinking they beheld in the child their future emperor, redoubled their acclama- tions. A report that Peter III. had lost his life, was followed by a mock funeral, and about 220 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. noon the manifesto which Odart prepared a few days before was dispersed, in which the empress pretended that impelled by the dangers which threatened the religion, glory, and peace of Russia, and trusting in the divine justice, she had ascended the throne. The conspirators now resolved to profit by the enthusiasm of the troops, and march against the emperor. Catherine, dressed in the uni- form of the guards, decorated with the order of St. Andrew, and accompanied by the prin~ cess Dashkof, also in uniform, rode through the ranks; and Potemkin, an ensign in the horse- guards, observing that she had not a plume in her hat rode up to offer his, a circum^ stance not forgotten. At six in the evening, the empress in the same dress, with an oaken wreath in her hat, a naked sword in her hand, and mounted on a grey steed, marched at the head of 10,000 men against her husband. While the conspiracy spread through the ca- pital, this infatuated prince persevered in his fatal security. About two o'clock in the morn- ing of the revolution, an officer, who enjoyed his confidence, having with difficulty procured admission, disclosed circumstances which seenir ed to indicate that a conspiracy approached a crisis; but without attending to the informa- tion, he ordered his faithful servant under arrest PETER III. 221 for presuming 1 to disturb him at so unseason- able an hour. Accompanied by his mistress, Gudovitch, Munich, and many of the nobility of both sexes, he left Oranienbaum at eleven, intending to celebrate the festival of St. Peter and St. Paul at Peterhof. At this palace he expected to find the empress, having implicit confidence in the traitors to whom he had en- trusted the care of her person. On his way Gudovitch, who rode before his carriage, return- ing at full speed, informed him of the empress's escape, to which however he did not give full credit till he arrived at Peterhof, and searched the apartments. He was now in extreme agi- tation, and the stillness of terror spread over all about him, when a messenger arriving from Pe- tersburgh, informed him that rebellion having broken out in the capital, Catherine was de- clared empress with the acclamations of the soldiers, and the populace. Confidence yielded to despair, and the emperor amidst women in tears, and servants incapable of advising, or disposed to betray him, fluctuated between dif- ferent plans. Munich advised him to march with the Hoistein troops, who had been ordered from Oranienbaum, directly to the capital. As the Hoistein soldiers were devoted to Peter, and Munich himself was equal to the Razumofskys, Orlofe, and Dashkofs, who supported the standard 222 HOUSE OF ROMAN OF. of Catherine, had this advice been followed, the emperor might perhaps have preserved his crown. But though he seemed disposed at first to adopt this resolution, no less prudent than manly, the timidity and treachery of his cour- tiers, heightened by successive reports of Ca- therine's progress, kept him in a state of irre- solution. It was then recommended by Mu- nich to take refuge in Cronstadt, and as this advice was unanimously approved, general De- vi er was sent to prepare for the emperor's re^ ception. The emperor being informed that he might rely on the fidelity of the forces in that place, left Peterhof ; but as admiral Taliezin, who had been dispatched by the partizans of the empress, had in the mean time by distri- buting brandy and money among the soldiers and sailors, gained them over to her interest, and made himself master of the place, when the tzar appeared at the mouth of the harbour, the troops refused to acknowledge him; and " Long live the empress Catherine," was raised by a thousand voices. Gudovitch seconded by Munich, notwithstanding the threats of Ta- liezin to sink the yacht, endeavoured to per- suade the emperor to land, but overcome by fear, he would hearken to nothing but flight. When the yacht was at some distance from the port, Peter called Munich, and with an air of PETER HI. 223 despondency asked him what he ought to do ; " Proceed instantly to the squadron at Reval," replied the marshal, " there embark for Pome- rania, take the command of your army, return to Russia, and in six weeks Petersburgh and all the empire will submit to your authority." The courtiers however exclaimed against this resolution, and Peter returned to Oranienbaum at four o'clock in the morning. When, after a little repose, he appeared, the Holstein guards, who bad returned from Peterhof, surrounding him, and kissing his hands, entreated him with tears to lead them against the conspirators, and swore they would sacrifice their lives for his sake. Munich seized this occasion, " come," said he to the emperor, " march against the rebels, I will go before you, and their swords shall not reach you till they have pierced my body." But Peter subdued by his fears yielded to those who counselled him to endeavour an accommodation with the empress. Meanwhile, Catherine having reposed about an hour and a half in a public house called Krasnoi-Cabak, eight miles from Petersburgh, advanced to the convent of St. Sergius at Strelna. Here she received a letter from Peter acknowledging his misconduct, and offering to share with her the sovereign authority. With- out deigning to reply she proceeded, and Peter 224 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. hearing of her approach, sent general Ismailof with a second letter, imploring pardon, and ten- dering the resignation of the crown on being allowed to retire into Holstein. As Catherine's policy consisted in obtaining possession of the emperor's person, she persuaded Ismailof to betray his master. When he returned to Ora- nienbaum, Ismailof exhorted the tzar to repair to the empress, assuring him he had nothing to fear. Hoping to procure a more favourable treatment by ready submission, the emperor in less than an hour, accompanied by the countess Vo- rontzof, Gudovitch, and Ismailof entered into a carriage, and proceeded to Peterhof, where he arrived at half past twelve o'clock. His mistress was carried off by the soldiers ; Gudovitch, his aide-de-camp, was insulted ; while he himself was led up the great stair-case by the servants, who stripped him of the marks of his order, his clothes and several diamonds and pieces of jewelry. After remaining here some time, al- most naked, bare footed, and exposed to the insolence of the soldiers, an old morning gown being thrown over him, he was confined in a room alone. The empress declined a personal interview with him, but sent count Panin, who in a long conference, induced the unfortunate Peter to write and sign - the following decla- ration : PETER-HI. 225 " Daring 1 the short period which I hare < c feigned over the Russian empire, I have " found from experience, that my abilities are *' insufficient to support so great a burthen ; " and that I am not capable of directing- the **' Russian empire in any way, and much less with " a despotic power. I also acknowledge that I " have been the cause of all the interior trou- " bles, which, had they continued much longer, " would have overturned the empire, and have " covered me with eternal disgrace. Having " seriously weighed these circumstances, I de- " clare, without constraint, and in the most " solemn manner, to the Russian empire, " and to the whole world, that I for ever re- .i; ./ ; > ^nhv 14 -(i fair j&kr/> * Life of Catherine, Vol. I. p. 327332. CATHERINE II. 241 ratified the treaty with Prussia and Denmark ; abandoning to the former power all the ac- quisitions of the Russian arms, in the late war. At peace with foreign nations, the empress endeavoured to calm the discontents which still existed in different parts of the empire, to cor- rect the disorders in various departments of ad- ministration, and promote improvements in arts and commerce. She soothed the most danger- ous of the clergy, banished Odart, whose dela- tions made him odious to the courtiers, and re- called the princess Dashkof, who by her enter- prizing activity at Moscow, might endanger the public tranquillity. The magnificence which the Russian court had affected, during the reign of Elizabeth, was retained, as adapted to dazzle the imaginations of men. The empress pub- licly promised to direct her cares to the strict and easy administration of justice; and her promises were soon followed by several benefi- cial regulations. A registrator of the govern- ment chancery of Novgorod, having been ac- cused of receiving money for administrating the oath of allegiance, she banished him to Siberia for life, and issued a severe decree against bribery and corruption. She confirmed the abolition of the secret state inquisition, deter- mined the line which ordinary tribunals ought to pursue, with regard to crimes against the R 242 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. state, as well as the character of those crimes, The edict of Elizabeth against capital punish- ments, was revoked, as it seemed impossible to keep the Russians in subjection by other means than terror. In order to people the extensive deserts of her empire, Catherine assured fo- reigners, farmers, merchants, or mechanics, of a hearty welcome in her dominions, pointed out the districts adapted to purposes of agriculture, offered them money to defray the expences of their journey, and granted the free use of a capital for ten years, exemption from civil and military services, and for a certain time, from imposts, with freedom to follow their own cus- toms, laws, and religion. Multitudes were al- lured by these offers ; 10,000 families settled in the government of Saratof alone. Many of the colonists, however, repented of their folly. The expedient was more ostentatious than useful. With a view to encourage trade and commerce^ the empress abolished several monopolies, be- longing to individuals and companies, as well as the crown, and allowed a free trade in many articles, on which great restraints had been im- posed. She founded a medical college for the whole empire at Petersburg!), and a foundling hospital at Moscow.* Meanwhile, Catherine was far from being * * Life of Catherine, Vol.1, p, -344-, 845 S54> CATHERINE II. 243 cure upon her throne, or easy in her court. The recollection of the crimes by which she had at- tained her power, was perpetually revived by conspiracies, which though defeated, were an unfailing source of uneasiness and alarm. The arrogance of Orlof, whose influence still in- creased, kept the nobles at a distance from court; and Catherine was obliged to live among the rough and ignorant soldiers, who had been the instruments of her elevation, because she might again require their courage. Observing her inquietude, Panin deemed it a favourable opportunity of recommending government by a permanent council, as an infallible expedient of avoiding the trouble attendant upon usurpation, and establishing her authority upon a secure basis. To insure the support of Orlof, he pro- posed that he should be president. Bestuchef, whom Catherine had restored to his rank and employments, and who was the rival of Panin, being consulted, expatiated on the dangers of this measure, and conjured her majesty not to divide an authority acquired with such pains. She followed his counsels ; and Panin, mortified by a disappointment, which he soon discovered was owing to Bestuchef, was not long in retaliating an that intriguing old man. As the influence of Orlof was obviously great, Bestuchef, in order to gain his confidence, encouraged him to aspire to the imperial power by obtaining* the hand f 244 HOUSE OJP KOMANOF. the empress. After inflaming the ambition of the count, he artfully contrived to enter upon the subject in a conversation with Catherine ; and as she hesitated to adopt the measure, only be- cause it seemed fraught with difficulties, the chancellor undertook to remove them. With this view, he drew up a petition in the name of the Russians, in which he expatiated upon what the empress had done for the glory and happi* ness of the nation, and the uneasiness occasioned by the sickly constitution of the grand duke; and conjured her majesty to give her subjects an additional proof of her affection by deigning to marry. To this petition he procured the signa- ture of twelve bishops, and many general offi- cers ; and Gregory Orlof, whom Catherine had solicited the empress queen to create a prince of the German empire, and intended to decorate with the title of duke of Ingria and Carelia, was on the point of ascending the throne of the tzars. When the affair was known to Panin, he engaged Razumofsky and Vorontzof to re- present to the empress the dangerous conse- quences of such a union. As they remonstrated with great freedom, Catherine commended their fidelity; while she not only disavowed all thoughts of such a connexion, but professed entire ignorance of the odious transaction. Bes- tuchef increased in influence ; Vorontzof, who CATHERINE II. 245 foresaw his disgrace, obtained permission to re- tire, and the apprehension of an alliance be- tween the empress and Orlof, excited plots and murmurs. A conspiracy to seize the favourite, which failed of success through a slight mistake, spread alarm through the palace. Catherine, thinking her life insecure in Moscow, hastily left that capital, and the multitude exhibited signs of outrageous joy on her departure. Entering Petersburg!!, on the anniversary of her accession to power, she neglected no circumstance that might add to the magnificence of her ap- pearance; but the people were sullen; conspi- racies multiplied ; the most powerful men of the empire, and those who had been zealous in her service, were turned into her enemies; and if they could have agreed respecting her successor, Catherine might have expiated her ambition by a fate not unlike her consort's. The empress had reason to suspect Panin and Razumofsky ; but not having sufficient evidence to render their guilt indubitable, she had re- course to artifice. As she supposed that the princess Dashkof was concerned in the con- spiracies, she feigned to restore the princess to her confidence, and wrote a long letter, in which after mixing flatteries witli promises, she en- treated her by their long friendship, to reveal what she knew of the late plots, adding an as- surance of pardon to all accomplices. To this 246 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. letter, of four pages, the princess replied, with & brevity and spirit becoming a principal agent in mysterious and dangerous transactions: "Madam, I have heard nothing, but if I had, I should beware how I disclosed it. What do you re- . quire of me? To expire on a scaffold? I am prepared." Some of the malcontents whom the empress had arrested, preserving an invincible silence, she banished to Siberia; and as it seemed expedient to court those whom she could not punish, conferred additional favours on Panin and Razumofsky.* Though the authority of Catherine seemed so precarious, she was not less intent on promoting the welfare of the empire. Among other regu- lations, to facilitate the dispatch of business, she divided the supreme college of the empire, the directing senate, into six departments, four to have their seat at Petersburgh, and two at Moscow. Meanwhile, the death of Augustus III. king of Poland, October 3, 1763, afforded the empress an opportunity of displaying her ca- pacity among foreign nations. The worst species of government, an elective monarchy, and a hereditary nobility, with abso- lute authority over their vassals, and power every moment to interrupt the administration of affairs, had for many years degraded the king- * Life o Catherine, Vol. I. p. 339387. CATHERINE TI. 247 ilom of Poland from the rank, which a benignant soil, a favourable situation, a numerous and spirite i people, entitled it to hold among nations. Ever fr sh election occasioned internal convul- sions, and tempted foreign princes to disturb the public tranquillity. The Polish nobles who first sold their crown to the highest bidder, were obliged afterwards to yield it to force of arms. The armies of Peter the great re-established Augustus II. upon the throne; Augustus III. was elected by the interference of the empress Anne ; and Catherine II. resolved, not only to govern the present election, but to establish an uncontrouled ascendancy in the Polish coun- cils. She fixed upon her former gallant, Ponia- towsky, as her candidate, without declaring her intentions. With a view to this object, the empress had supported Biren in his pretensions to the dutciiy $f Couriand, of which he was created duke, by the influence of the empress Anne. During his long exile, another duke, Charles of Saxony, son of Augustus III. of Poland, had been chosen by the states. As Charles was agreeable to the Courlanders, and supported by his father, Biren, whose cruelties were not yet forgotten, must have failed, if Catherine had not ordered her troops, recalled from Pomerania, to pass into Courland, and, sent 50,000 men, under Ro- 248 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. mantzof, into the Polish territories. Bireu re* ceived the homage of the senate, and the inves* titure of the dutchy from Augustus III. The forces which restored the duke to his sove- reignty, were prepared to second the views of Catherine in Poland. The empress comhined policy with arms. As France and Austria wished to detach her from Prussia, she artfully induced those powers to de- clare that they would not interfere iu the election qf the new king; and as his Prussian majesty had been long soliciting her to enter into a de- fensive alliance with him, she found him a zealous promoter of her intentions. Catherine next removed all the candidates that were ob- noxious to her, and after seeming to concur with the majority of the Poles, who proposed to elect a descendant of their ancient kings, she unex- pectedly declared for Poniatowsky, When some person who knew how little satisfaction his elec-< tion would give to the Poles, endeavoured to debase him in her esteem, by informing her that his grandfather had managed a small estate of the princes Lubomirsky, ' Though he had done so himself,'* she replied, 0 HOUSE OF JEtOMANOF. persons belonging 1 to the academy of sciences, to explore the different provinces of her empire. They were ordered to direct their inquiries to the geographical situation of the principal places, their temperature, the nature of their soil, productions, and wealth, together -with the character, manners, customs, traditions, history, and religion, of the nations who occupied them. To evince the utility of this undertaking, as well as the judgment employed in selecting those who engaged in it, no more is necessary than to mention the names of Pallas, Gmelin, Guldenstaed, George, and Lepekin. When the empress was informed, that a transit of Venus over the Sun would take place in 1769, she addressed a letter to count Vladimir Orlof, director of the academy of sciences, at Petersburg!!, wishing to learn from the acade- micians the fittest places to make observations, and promising to employ every means in her power to procure persons and instruments adapted to the purpose. Kola, in Lapland, and the borders of the Caspian Sea, were chosen as the points of observation, and application was made to an English artist to furnish instru- ments. The successful usurpations of the empress in Poland, the reforms which she made in the administration of justice, and the splendid CATHERINE II. 261 ' patronage which she bestowed upon the arts and sciences, were all insufficient to reconcile the minds of her subjects to her government. The princess Dashkof, who had been again banished to Moscow, divulged the criminal steps by which Catherine acquired supreme power, and fomenting the discontents of those, who were originally averse to the present govern- ment, or who thought their services not suffi- ciently rewarded, diffused the spirit of sedition. In order, if possible, to divert her subjects from the thought of her crimes, and their own cala- mities, the empress endeavoured to dazzle and amuse them with magnificent shews. Several tournaments were exhibited at Petersburg!!, in which her courtiers emulated the knights of chivalry, if not in their dexterity, at least, in the gorgeous splendour of their habits and ac- coutrements. These shews, condemned, by the thinking as frivolous and expensive, contri- buted nothing to the empress's security. The death of Peter III., as the memory of his fail- ings was lost in the recollection of his useful deeds and wretched fate, excited general lamen- tation among the Russians. A young officer, named Tschoglokof, persuaded that he was inspired to avenge it, repaired for several suc- cessive days to the dark passages leading to the inner apartments of the palace, intending to 262 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. dispatch the empress as she passed. Happily she did not go as usual ; and Tschoglokof, im- prudently trusting- his design to another officer, who betrayed him, was seized, while he waited for her majesty, armed with a long poignard, of which he readily confessed the use. Cathe- rine pretended at first to forgive the young marr in order to conceal the attempt from the pub- lic \ but soon had him conveyed to Siberia. At this time, the small- pox made such ravages at Petersburgh, that the empress with her son, deemed it prudent to remain at her palace of Tzarskoselo. The distemper, however, reached the court, and the danger to which both her majesty, and the heir-apparent were exposed, together with a concern for the lives of her sub- jects, suggested the expediency of introducing the practice of inoculation. The empress in- vited a physician from England, Dr. T. Dims- dale, for that purpose. Without a moment's hesitation, she first submitted herself to the operation as soon as convenient, after Dr. Dims- dale's arrival, and next the grand duke, with many of the courtiers, were inoculated. The practice became general. When the grand duke recovered, Catherine created Dr. Dims- dale baron of the Russian empire, counsellor of state, and physician to her imperial majesty, with a pension of <5QO a year, and presented CATHERINE II. 263 him with 10,000, and a miniature picture of herself and the grand duke. She conferred the same title upon the Doctor's son 4 and made him a present of a gold snuff-box richly set with dia- monds. December 3d, 1768, a thanksgiving service, for the recovery of her majesty and the grctnd duke, was performed, in the imperial chapel, with every circumstance of solemn mag- nificence. The senate decreed a festival in commemoration of the event.* The inoculation of the empress Catherine might seem a circumstance not sufficiently impor- tant to obtain a place in history, if it did not dis- play several features in her character. It was magnanimous to submit to an operation, which, though experience had proved to be extremely beneficial, was not without danger, and her ex- ample was necessary to recommend to general practice in Russia. The rewards, bestowed OB Dr. Dimsdale, is an instance of her profuse liberality, and the solemnity on her recovery, of the ceremonious pomp, which she employed to awe the imaginations of her subjects. The dangerous ambition of the empress had in the meantime awakened the jealousy of other * Coxe, Vol. III. p. 161191. Life of Catherine, Vol. I. p. 477-496. 499524. 264 HOUSE OP ROM AN OF, powers, and involved her in a war with the Turks, in which she discovered that the re- sources of her empire, and the vigour of her counsels, were not disproportionate to her vast desires. CATHERINE II. 265 CHAP. X. War tvith Turkey Destruction of the Turkish jleet Vic- tories of the Russian armies Unhappy fate of the Princess Tarrakanof Partition of Poland Plague in Moscow Negotiations tvith the Turks Disgrace of Qrlof Cam- paigns on the Danube Conclusion of the War Migration of the Calmuck Tartars Rebellion of 'Pugatchef Intrigues in the Court of Catherine. THOUGH Catherine, having seized the mem- bers of the Polish diet who resisted her preten- sions, and overawed others by the presence of her troops, had procured acts which seemed to confirm her ascendancy in Poland, men had no sooner time to reflect on the disgrace and oppressions, which the nation suffered, than the spirit of independence revived, and a horrible scene of carnage and desolation ensued. Dissa- tisfied with the privileges granted to the dissi- dents, the Catholic nobles formed a confederacy in the province of Podolia, and were encouraged by Austria and France, the latter of which powers enforced their applications for assistance to the Ottoman Porte. The ardour with which they were inspired, however, as it rendered them impatient of delay, and induced them, in small 266 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. bodies, without discipline, without concert, to encounter the Russian troops, was destructive to their hopes. They at first made themselves masters of the castle of Bar, whence the confe- deracy derived its name, and fought with great obstinacy and courage. But as the empress continually reinforced her armies, their valour only served to cover their fields with dead bodies exhaling pestilence. They were forced to re- tire into Cracow, which was taken by Apraxin, the Russian commander, after six weeks siege.* The grand signior had not been an indifferent spectator of the transactions in Poland. When Catherine, and her ally, the king of Prussia, prepared to employ the vacancy to the crown, in subserviency to their ambitious designs, he expressed himself with a liberality and mode- ration highly offensive to those princes. The danger, which threatened his own dominions from the subversion of Polish independence, concurred with the solicitations of the confe- derates of Bar, and the representations of the French minister, Vergennes, to determine him to arm for the deliverance of Poland. As the Russian ambassador, on being asked whether his court would abstain from interfering in the affairs of Poland, gave not a satisfactory answer, * Mayo, Vol. I. p. 511. CATHERINE II. 2(37 he was thrown into the castle of the Seven Towers. A manifesto was delivered to the foreign ministers at Constantinople, justifying this step, accusing Catherine of having violated the treaties of the Ottoman empire, and expos- ing her conduct in the affairs of Poland. Ex- traordinary preparations for war were made by the Turks.* Catherine had not expected that neighbour- ing powers would patiently acquiesce in her usurpations upon the Poles; and, though she would willingly have delayed the war for some time, she was not afraid of the menaces or numerous forces of the sultan. When informed of the imprisonment of her ambassador, and the manifesto which Mustapha had issued, she justified her own conduct, in a counter mani- festo, by those fair pretexts, that ambition em- ploys to impose upon men, and prepared with her peculiar spirit to resist her enemies. Her armies, in a good condition, supplied with stores and provisions, early in 1769, extended themselves from the Danube to the Kuban. Prince Galitzin was stationed on the Dniester with 70,000 men and 100 pieces of artillery, and Romantzof with 40,000 men, advanced into the Ukraine. The Tartars, who had made an Life of Catherine, Vol. II. p, 38. Mayo, Vol. I. p. 395 514. 268 HOtJSE OF ROMANOF. irruption into New Servia, were driven back into the Crimea, and Galitzin crossing the Dniester with 30,000 men defeated the Turks under the walls of Choczim. The first advan- tages, however, seemed on the side of the Otto- mans; for Galitzin was obliged to retire from Choczim, and Romantzof was repulsed before Otchakof, the grand army under the vizier ad- vanced through Moldavia, and Galitzin, who had a second time undertaken the siege of Choczim, was compelled to retreat. But the tide soon turned, and events declared for op- pression and injustice. Intrignes removed the vizier, Selictar Hamsey Pacha, and the Russians crossing the Dniester, defeated the Turks, and made themselves masters of Choczim, Jassy, and Bucharest.* While Catherine employed her troops against the Turks, all descriptions of men in Poland roused by the oppressions which she exercised under the pretence of humanity, formed con- federacies to check her violence, declaring that their honour, liberties, fortunes, and homes, being attacked by unprincipled ambition, they were resolved to shed the last drop of their blood in defence of their rights. It can hardly be related without tears, that the princes of Europe, called by interest, humanity, and jus- * Mayo, Vol. I. p. 536. CATHERINE II. 269 tice, to oppose the aggressions of Russia, allowed this noble spirit, which might have saved Poland, to be extinguished in blood, desolation, and unexampled outrages. When the campaign against the Turks was closed, the Russian troops again over-ran Poland, and their disci- pline gave them a decided advantage over the confederates. The excess to which cruelty was carried, may be conjectured from the following fact : Nine Polish noblemen, whose arms had been cut off at the wrists, appeared in Warsaw, a spectacle sufficient to awaken in every breast sentiments of pity, indignation, and horror. This atrocity had been perpetrated by the orders of the Russian general Drevitch. To such a state of dependence were the king and senate of Poland reduced, that they were obliged to de- clare war against the Turks, who had taken arms for their deliverance.* Aware that her designs for the subjugation of Poland must depend on the event of the Turkish war, the empress made the utmost exertion to bring it to a successful conclusion. While her armies should harrass the Ottomans in Moldavia and Valachia, and her fleet on the Don should pass into the Euxine to awe the Crirn Tartars, she resolved on executing the design, suggested by marshal Munich, of attacking the Turkish * Life of Catherine, Vol. II. p, 10. Mayo, Vol. I. p. 538. 270 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. possessions in the Mediterranean. She em- ployed every expedient to build ships and pro- cure seamen, and kept up the best understand- ing with Denmark and England. In Septem- ber, 1769, her fleets sailed from Archangel and Revel, and steered for the islands of Greece. The British, the natural defenders of liberty, who ought to have supported both Poles and Turks, against the ambition of Catherine, to merit her friendship, supplied her ships with good officers, and allowed them to winter and refit in the ports of England and Minorca. Orlof, early in the spring of 1770, sailed from Port Mahon, and appeared off the Morea, to assist the Mainots and Greeks, whom the emissaries of the empress had prepared for revolt, in asserting their independence. Having re- duced Navarino, Coron, and Patros, he was joined by the squadron under admiral Elphinston. With this fleet, consisting of seventeen sail of the line, and several smaller vessels, he encoun- tered the Turkish fleet, which he obliged, after some slight engagements, to withdraw. Pursu- ing the Turks, he brought them to an action, July 5th, between Scio and the coast of Asia Minor. The fight was desperate, the admirals' ships both blew up; and, after a short pause, the contest being renewed, and victory declar- ing for the Russians, the Turks took shelter in the bay of Tschesme, which proved their de- CATHERINE II. 271 struction. While Elphinston blocked up the bay, four fire ships were prepared lo destroy the Turkish fleet. But no person could be found to conduct so dangerous an enterprise, till lieutenant Dugdale undertook to manage the fire ships, and vice-admiral Greig to cover them. At midnight, Greig, in defiance of the Turkish batteries, began the attack, while Dugdale entered the harbour with his fire ships, and as none of the seamen would venture, with British intrepidity, he, having lashed the helm, and pressing in, fastened himself the grapplings to the first of the Turkish ships, and saved his life by swimming again to the Russian squadron. The fire took such effect that all the fleet was consum- ed, except one man of war and a few gallies, which were towed away by the Russians, who bom- barded the town and the castle which defended it. A shot falling into the magazine of the latter, both were laid in ashes. In the morning, scarce a vestige remained of a town, castle, and fine fleet all in existence the preceding evening. Though this celebrated exploit was entirely owing to the skill and gallantry of three English- men, Elphinston, Greig, and Dugdale, the em- press ascribed it to Alexey Orlof; but this officer, whom crimes, not merit, had raised from the rank of a common soldier to the com- mand of the Russian fleet, was not capable even of improving the advantages of victory 272 HOUSE OF RQiMANOF. or accident. Hasan Bey, with 3000 Turks, obliged him to raise the siege of the fortress which protected Lemnos ; while baron de Tott, a French officer, in the service of the Sultan, prevented him from forcing the passage of the Dardanelles.* The armies of Russia, which the empress had reinforced, endeavoured, in the meantime, to im- prove to the utmost the diversion made by the fleet. Count Panin prepared for the siege of Bender, and generals Prosorowsky and de Berg were employed, the one on the side of Otchakof, and the other against the Crim Tartars. Romantzof, who had succeeded Galitzin, as commander in chief, advanced with the main army through Moldavia. The Turkish armies which had likewise received great reinforcements, were stationed the one under the command of the vizier, on the Danube, and the other under the khan of the Crimea, upon the banks of the Pruth. This army of 80,000 men, Romantzof found ad- vantageously posted upon a hill, which, as it was .extremely dangerous to attack, he resolved to wait with patience, till the imprudence of his enemy should afford him a more favourable opportunity. At the end of the three weeks 20,000 Turks, drawn into the plain by an arti- *e-". * Life of Catherine, Vol. II. p. 3035, 4347. Mayo, - Vol. II. p. 26. CATHERINE If. 273 fice of the Russian general, were repulsed with such success as to encourage the assailants to storm the Ottoman camp After a vigorous re- sistance he Khan abandoned his entrenchments with part of his artillery and baggage, and retired upon the army of the vizier, who passed the Danube to his assistance. Roman tzof, impru- dently pursuing the retreating enemy, advanced toward the confluence of the Danube and the Pruth, where he was encountered by 150,000 Turks; his own army being weakened by a large detachment, which he had sent to protect a convoy of provisions. He was now in a situa- tion like that of Peter the great, in 1711 ; but his courage, though not less resolute than the tzar's, was more temperate, his skill greater, and his troops better disciplined. Confident in his own talents, and the steady valour of his soldiers, Romantzof hesitated not to give his enemies battle. Such was the advantage of science and discipline, that the Turks were driven from the triple entrenchments with w r hich they had fortified their camp across the Danube, with the loss of a great part of their army, 143 pieces of artillery, and 7000 waggons laden with provisions. These two victories decided the fate of the campaign. The Budziac Tar- tars were obliged to submit, Panin reduced Bender, general Igelstrohoi took Akerraan, T HOUSE OF ROMAN OF. and the three provinces of Valachia, Moldavia, and Bessarabia paid homage to the empress.* The news of these victories excited extreme joy in the court of Petersburgh ; Catherine cele- brated them with magnificent festivities and prepared for fresh success. Her progress, how- ever, alarmed the court of Vienna ; and, as the disasters, which the Turks had suffered in the course of the war, were greatly aggravated by title plague which daily carried off thousands in Constantinople, and a spirit of revolt, which spread over the Asiatic provinces of their em- pire, they were disposed to peace. Austria and Prussia undertook the office of mediators. But as his Prussian majesty, who thought to share in the fruits of Catherine's triumphs, acted not with earnestness, and as the demands of the empress were exorbitant, hostilities were re- newed with additional violence in the different scenes of contest. The war on the Danube promised but little advantage, and might pro- voke Austria to declare openly for the Turks ; the empress therefore determined to direct her principal efforts against the Crimea. Her emis- saries having previously seduced the Tartars from their allegiance, prince Dolgoruky ad- vanced to the Peninsula, and though the isthmus of Prekop, five miles in extent, presented a * Mayo, vol. ii. p. 29 81. CATHERINE II. 275 ditch seventy-two feet wide, and forty-two feet deep, with fortifications manned by 57,000 Turks and Tartars, the prince forced this bar- rier, made himself master of all the Crimea, and substituted a new Khan in the room of Se- liui Guerai, who was compelled to take shelter in the Turkish dominions, where he died of grief. Meanwhile the Turkish army on the Danube having* gained considerable advantages over the generals Weisman and Essen prepared to esta- blish itself in Valachia, which induced Romant- zof to resume offensive operations. The vizier was driven from his entrenched camp into the mountains of Bulgaria, and his general Mousson Oglow was obliged to abandon Giurgewo, which he had taken, and recross the Danube*. Alex&y Orlof repaired to Petersburgh to enjoy his triumphs and solicit additional means of pur- suing his conquests in the Archipelago. He proposed to the council a plan by which Greece might be conquered, Egypt delivered from the Turkish yoke, the Dardanelles forced, and the Russians obtain a firm footing on the shores and islands of the Marmora. As he required for this purpose but 10,000,OdO of rubles, the empress, who never spared ex- * Life of Catherine, vol. ii. p. 71 73. Mayo, vol. ii. p. 63. T 2 276 HOUSE OJF ROM AN OF. *' :' /ji} iXfc 3 if.;/. //"J ti >'; il" : '.- : J.*ij pense, and was resolved that nothing should be wanting to establish her dominion in the Medi. terranean, granted him twenty, and ordered his fleet to be reinforced by a strong squadron. Orlof, however, though he had obtained the fame of great exploits, was more qualified to perpetrate dark and villainous crimes, than to ac- complish such mighty undertakings. Passing through Vienna, he supped with the Russian ambassador and many others; he spoke of the revolution by which Peter 111. lost his throne and his life ; without the least solicitation, he related the death of that unhappy prince ; and while the whole company was seized with hor- ror, he coolly observed, that it was lamentable that a man of so much humanity as he, should be forced to execute such commands. He had been commissioned by the empress to get four paintings done in Italy representing the destruc- tion of the Turkish fleet ; and, as the painter flackert to whom he applied had never seen a vessel blow up, the admiral made no difficulty in affording him such a spectacle, though at the hazard of setting fire to all the vessels in the roads of Leghorn. If Alexey Orlof achieved not the conquests which he had confidently undertaken, he per- formed to his mistress another service, more suited to his temper and capacity. The princess Tarrakanof has been already mentioned as one CATHERINE II. 277 of the children of the empress Elizabeth by Alexy Razumofsky. Prince Radzivil, having learnt the secret of her birth, thought that she might be made the instrument of re- venging the injuries which the Poles had suffered from the ambition of Catherine. He gained the persons entrusted with the education of the young princess, and conveyed her to Rome. When Catherine was informed of the affair, she began to frustrate the designs of the prince by confiscating his estates, which reduced him to the necessity of leaving the princess in narrow circumstances to the care of a governess, and of repairing to Poland His possessions being offered to him on condition of bringing his ward into Russia, though Radzivil would not submit to that proposal, he agreed, as the price of pardon, to abandon the daughter of Elizabeth. As Orlof had orders from Catherine to send the unoffending Tarrakanof to Petersburg!], he no sooner joined his fleet at Leghorn than he began to execute his commission. He employed a Neapolitan, named Ribas, who presented himself to the princess in the dress and style of a Russian officer, come to pay his homage. Having, by pretended sympathy and some as- ist ance, gained the confidence both of the un- fortunate Tarrakanof and her governess, he professed to be sent by count Alexey Orjof to 27$ HOUSE OF ROMANOF. offer her the throne of her mother. It was easy to impose upon an unsuspecting girl. When she was sufficiently prepared, Orlof himself ap- peared, and not only enflamed the sentiments of ambition with which she had been inspired, but by feigning a passion for her, gained her heart, and drew from her promises of marriage. The ceremony was performed according to the Greek ritual, by villains suborned to appear as priests and lawyers. Orlof insinuated to the princess, whom he had thus seduced, that it would be expedient to retire to a place less ex- posed to observation than Rome, till the con- spiracy should break out which should place her on the throne. Not suspecting his intention, she accompanied him to Pisa, where he lodged her in a magnificent palace, and gave her every mark of tenderness and respect. As the Russian ships under admiral Greig had just arrived at Leg- horn, Orlof pretended that his presence was necessary there, and offered to take the princess with him. The report, which she had heard of the beauty of Leghorn, and the magnificence of the Russian fleet, induced her readily to em- brace the offer. At Leghorn she. appeared as a princess, every thing seemed at her command, and all was eagerness to gratify her desires. After spending several days in pleasures and amusements she expressed a wish to see the Russian ships. Orders were immediately given; she was conveyed from the shore in a boat with CATHERINE IT. 279 splendid awnings, and two other boats followed, with count Alexey Orlof, admiral Greig, and several Russian and English officers. The pro- cession was welcomed by the fleet with music, salutes of artillery, and repeated acclamations; honours, the princess was told, paid to her rank. The deluded and unfortunate Tarrakanof, however, was scarce upon the deck of the vessel, when she was handcuffed. Youth, beauty, in- nocence, tears, and cries appealed in vain to the assassin of Peter III. who next day sent his victim to Petersburgh, where she was thrown into prison, and perished ; by what means is unknown.* This relation sufficiently exposes the cha^ racter of Alex&y Orlof, and reflection would only impair the sentiments of abhorrence, that it must awaken in every mind. It ought, however, to be remembered that this monster enjoyed the highest honours in the brilliant court of Cathe- rine, and that the above series of imposition, perfidy, seduction, impiety, and barbarity was committed in executing the orders of a prin- cess, who by legislating for her subjects and patronizing learning, claimed the praise of pre- venting crimes, protecting innocence, and im- proving the morals of men. While the armies of Catherine triumphed over the Turks along the Danube, Poland * Life of Catherine, vl, II p, 5270. 80 H<$USB OF ROMAN OF. the original cause of the war, was staking* deeper in calamity and its provinces were dis- membered to enlarge the territories of its too powerful neighbours The origin and progress of this famous partition, from uhich Europe dates so many of its miseries, it is now neces- sary to relate The king of Prussia, who had acquiesced in the confusion and desolation, which Russian violence and barbarity spread through Poland, in expectation of sharing in the spoil, sent, toward the close of 1770, his brother, prince Henry, to confer with the empress on the sub- ject. To avoid suspicion, this prince gave it out that he intended to visit his sister, the queen of Sweden, and return by Denmark. But while at Stockholm, he accepted an invitation to pass a few days at Petersbnrgh, under pre- tence of paying respects to Catherine. While nothing seemed to engage the Russian court but rejoicings in celebration of victories gained over the Turks, and entertainments of a splendour and costliness unexampled in Europe, in honour of their noble guest, the empress and prince Henry concerted measures tor the subversion of Poland. It was Catherine's original policy to render I. sis kingdom subservient to her will and eventually subject it to her dominion. But when she perceived, from the conversation of prince Henry, that Prussia and Austria would CATHERINE IT. 81 oppose her designs, except they shared in the prey, she acceded to the plan of the Prussian monarch Events favoured the iniquitous de- signs of these princes. Poland itself was not in a condition to offer any resistance Dumouriez, an agent of the French court, had indeed made some progress in reconciling the confederacies which opposed the usurpations of Russia, and in concerting measures for vigorous resistance. But d'Aiguil- lon, succeeding the duke de Choisuel as prime minister, adopted a line of polics contrary to his predecessor, and the confederates left to themselves yielded to the discipline of the troops commanded by Su war row. Prussian and Austrian soldiers, under pretence of checking the progress of the plague, drew round the Polish provinces : the Russian ambassador in Warsaw dieted the measures of government : the kino- was seized and carried off in his capital, and, after various hardships, narrowly escaped assassination ; while the plague extended its ravages, and the fields afforded not enough to subsist the armies of the confederates, and the Russians. In this deplorable condition, labour- ing at once under the evils of anarchy, foreign invasion, civil war, famine, and pestilence, Poland was abandoned by those nations who had expended so much blood and treasure to maintain a balance of power in Europe. 282 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. The British monarch, the dupe of Cathe- rine's policy, sacrificed the glory of combining neighbouring states in support of an oppressed people, to preserve the precarious advantage of Russian commerce. Domestic contentions oc- cupied the courts of Denmark and Sweden, while France was not in circumstances to in- terfere with spirit, her revenues were in disorder, her trade declined, and the licentiousness and imbecility of Louis XV. who had lost the af- fection of his subjects, exposed him to contempt. Austria was the only power that seemed likely to obstruct the schemes of Frederic and Ca- therine. Jealous of Russia, the court of Vienna encouraged the confederates, and entered into a treaty with the Porte to assist him against the Russians, on condition of being reimbursed the expenses of the war. The Prussian monarch, however, undertook to engage the concurrence of the young emperor Joseph II. and the three powers concluded an alliance by which they agreed to dismember Poland, and settled the portions which each was to receive. Without avowing their intentions, they pursued their designs ; the Russian troops reduced the con- federates, and made themselves masters of all the fortresses ; Frederic seized Prussia royal ; and the emperor took possession of the salt works of Wielickza and Bochinia. Having . CATHERINE II. 283 thus made themselves sure of success, they published a manifesto, setting- forth their preten- sions. They expatiated upon the evils which the contiguous nations had suffered from the confusions of Poland, and in order to preserve the kingdom from entire dissolution, and maintain the peace of Europe, they proposed to take possession of such territories of the republic, as might be an equivalent for their claims, and form a natural boundary between the partitioning powers and the kingdom of Poland. After this, they proceeded to specify the provinces which they respectively claimed. Poland by this partition lost territory containing five mil- lions of inhabitants. The country usurped by Catherine had for its limits the Vella, from its source to its junction with the Niemen, and the Berezina to its junction with the Dnieper, and amounted to 3440 square leagues, with a population of 1,500,000 souls. With arms in their hands, the partitioning powers despised the feeble remonstrances of the courts of London, Paris, Stockholm, and Copenhagen, as well as the declaration of the Polish monarch, which, with great force of pa- thos and argument, exposed the iniquity and danger of their pretensions. Adding insult to violence, the three powers now required Stanis- laus to assemble a diet t ratify their usurpations. 284 HOUSE OF ROHANOF. The unfortunate monarch without confidence in his subjects, or prospect of relief from foreign states, and at the mercy of his enemies, in con- formity to their orders, summoned a diet which met April J 9, 1773. A spirit of resistance seemed to actuate the members of the diet as well as the king 1 ; but by bribing some, alluring others by promises, and threatening to depose the king ruin his friends, and pillage Warsaw, the portioners brought the deputies to obey their , commands. Acts were passed, which not only ratified their claims, but which, as they per- petuated the principles of anarchy and insubor- dination, exposed the kingdom to still further encroachments.* While Catherine enlarged her dominions on the Polish frontier, she entered into negotiations with the Turks for peace, to which, notwith- standing her victories, several circumstances dis- posed her. The Russian fleet, though it still carried on a piratical war in the Mediterranean, was weakened by distempers among the seamen, and decay in the ships, while her officers in that quarter had never availed themselves of the spirit of revolt which spread through Greece, Egypt, and Syria. War carried on in so many quarters exhausted the re venues of the empress, her victories were gained at an immense loss of men, and the * Coxe, vol. I p. 5362. Mayo, vol. ii. p. 32, 9197. Life of Catherine, vol.ii.28, 107128. CATHERINE IF. 285 plague, passing- into the Russian armies, spread into the towns and villages, and carried desola- tion to Moscow, about the close of 1770. It continued its ravages for two years, and its fury was prodigiously increased, by the ignorance and superstition of the people, who despised precaution and prescriptions, and looked upon devotion to the pictures of the saints as the sove- reign remedy. Gregory Orlof was commissioned, by the empress, as soon as she learnt the ex- tent of the calamity, to repair to Moscow and endeavour to exterminate the evil. In Septem- ber 1771, a fortnight before his arrival, an enthusiast of the populace declared to a crowd which he had collected together, that the picture of God's mother, at St. Barbara's gate, assured him, that if she were zealously worshipped, she would quell the pestilence. The story spread- ing, multitudes flocked to St. Barbara's gate, imploring the aid of the picture. Processions followed successively in which the infected and uninfected mingling together diffused the con- tagion. The primate of Moscow, Ambrosius, an enlightened man, repaired with five soldiers sent by general Yerapkin, to fetch away the picture, which aggravated the public distress. But the populace, who frequented the gate by night as well as by day, drove away the sol- diers, reproached the bishop with heresy, and ringing the bells, drew together the people to 28(5 HOUSE OF ttOMAKOF. inform them of the violation offered to the pic- ture. It being reported that the prelate had taken refuge in the Donskoi monastery, the in- furiated rabble ran thither, and finding him engaged in divine worship threw him down, without regard to his age, office, habits, or pre- sent employment, beat him on the head and dispatched him with knives. Returning to the city, they vented their rage on the hospitals, quarantine house, and the physicians and sur- geons. An Italian dancing master, whom they took for a physician, having his legs and arms broken, was left in the street. General Yerap- kin towards night, encountered this crew with 150 soldiers, and two field pieces, and after an obstinate and protracted contest in which 25Q lost their lives, and 300 were made prisoners, succeeded in dispersing them. In the morning, he paraded the streets at the head of his men, with drawn sabres, and the day after a regiment of infantry came to his assistance; while all the civil officers had fled. Eight hun- dred died every day of the plague, and the tumults heightened the grief and terror that agitated men's minds. At length the severity of th'e winter conspired with the authority, cou- rage, and zeal of Orlof, to abate the scourge. Catherine rewarded his services, by erecting a column and striking a medal, as memorials CATHERINE II. 287 of them; nor did she forget the meritorius Yerapkin *. To these circumstances, which lessened the value of the Russian victories, it must be added, that the sultan's affairs were somewhat im- proved by the men of capacity whom he had placed at the head of the military and naval departments, and the exertions of baron de Tott, his chief engineer. As Turks and Russians both were inclined to peace, an armistice was agreed upon May 30, 1772, and a congress was opened at Fokshiani between Gregory Orlof and Osman Effendi, The unreasonable demands of the empress prevented an agree- ment; but marshal Romantzof and Mousson Oglow, the grand vizier, aware how much their armies required repose, prolonged the armistice to the beginning of the following year; ami another attempt to reconcile the differences was made at Bucharest with no better effect f. Gregory Orlof, who had long aspired to a union with Catherine, thought the congress at Fokshiani favourable to his schemes, and pro- cured the honour of treating with the Turkish plenipotentiaries, in hope, that if the negotia- tions succeeded, he should acquire such favou r with the Russians as would smooth his way to * Life of Catherine, vol. ii. p. 78 90. f Idem, p. 94-. 103105, 288 HOUSE OF B.O3KANOF. the throne. But the event disappointed his expectation. The affection which the empress entertained for Orlof had been returned, not so much with a like attachment as with the attention which gratitude and ambition inspired. When he imagined his services proportionate to any reward, he assumed a distant behaviour,, and the more Catherine wished to recover him to his usual assiduities, the more he frequented the company of other women. Though this conduct offended the empress, her fondness for Bobrinsky, her son, by this haughty favourite, prevented her from coming to an open rupture, and induced her to propose a clandestine mar- riage, which he rejected with disdain, deeming himself not unworthy to share with her a throne, which she acquired and preserved by his va- lour. The empress dissembled for a time; but Panin, who watched an opportunity to accom- plish his rival's downfall, perceived her resent- ment; and, during his absence, contrived to introduce to her affection a young handsome officer, named Yassiltschikof. The stratagem succeeded; and while no expedient was neg- lected to confirm the new attachment of the empress, it was insinuated to her, that Orlof meant to avail himself of his appointment as negotiator, to betray the interests of Russia, and acquire the sovereignty of Moldavia and Va- lachia. CATHERINE-' II. When the count learnt, at Fokshiani, that he was supplanted in Catherine's affection, he was at first seized with rage ; but afterwards suppo- sing that by his presence he would recover his influence, and crush his enemies, he abandoned the negotiations to repair to Petersburg!!. Or approaching the city an officer delivered him ner majesty's orders not to enter; and he retired in silence to one of his country seats, where to his mortification he found, that those who had courted him, were attached only to his fortune ; and that the magnitude of his power alone had concealed his enemies. In this forlorn situa- tion, Orlof retained his courage ; and when Catherine, apprehensive of his influence in the army, demanded the relinquishment of his em- ployments he refused compliance. She forbore to chastise a man whom she had so long distin- guished ; and Orlof softened by her bounty, consented to leave Petersburgb. His submis- sion was rewarded with 100,000 rubles, a yearly pension of 150,000, a magnificent service of plate, and an estate with 6000 boors. Assuming, at her majesty's wish, the title of prince, Orlof set out upon his travels in different parts of Eu- rope, displaying a splendour and prodigality that showed the profuse magnificence of his former mistress *. * Life of Catherine, vol. ii. p. 95101 290 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. During the negotiations, which were pro- tracted for the purpose of mutual deception, the belligerent powers prepared to renew the contest. Catherine accomplished her views in Poland, by the treaty of partition, and formed an alliance with the Khan of the Crimea, by which the Tartars put themselves under her protection. The sultan was freed from the most formidable of those chiefs, who had shaken off his authority, AH Bey ; and as he could not yet submit to the terms of the empress, active operations recommenced early in 1773. The Russian arms, however, were not crowned with their former success. Romantzof endeavoured to bring his enemy to an immediate engagement ; but all his efforts being frustrated by the skill of the vizier, he ventured to cross the Danube to lay siege to Silistria. But after forcing the Turks into the town, while he prepared for a general assault, he learnt that the vizier, who had perpetually harassed his march, had dis- patched 50,000 men against him, and took measures to prevent his retreat. The marshal under cover of an attack upon Silistria, silently retired during the night ; but although he con- cl^cted his army across the Danube, this enter- prize cost him 10,000 men, and the able general Weissman, and so much were his troops enfee- bled by fatigue, watching, and sickness, from heat and noxious exhalations of the swamps, that CATHERINE II. 291 he was obliged to withdraw to Jassy to recruit and refresh. Prince Dolgoruky endeavoured to possess himself of Varna in Bulgaria, but after some success he found it necessary to raise the siecre, and on his retreat, the Turks routed him with great slaughter. When Catherine perceived that her armies, maintained at great expense, were destroyed without gaining any advantage, she was dis- contented, and inquired of marshal Romantzof why he gave not battle. The marshal answer- ing, that the vizier possessed three times more men than he, she immediately replied, " The Romans never asked the number of their enemies, but where they were." In defiance of the enemy's superiority, Romantzof resolved to obey, and advanced again to Silistria ; but after six weeks of nnremitted assault, the vizier con* strained him to retire with great loss. While Mousson Oglow thus defeated the de- signs of Catherine's troops, her fleet consisting ot thirteen sail of the line, and as many frigates, accomplished nothing of moment. Orlof was satisfied himself with committing depredations on the Turkish islands, and affording a feeble assistance to the rebel chiefs in Syria and Egypt. The following year, however, the empress brought the war to an advantageous close, U 2 292 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. Though rebellion raged in the southern pro- vinces, she was freed from all apprehensions from Sweden and Poland, and accordingly put her army under Romantzof, in a condition to defeat the vast preparations made by the new sultan, Abdul hamet. It being the intention of the Russian general to penetrate into Bulgaria, the Turks, who disputed the passage, after several hours fighting, were forced to yield to the valour of Soltikof, and generals Kamensky and Suwarrow, who crossed the river at another place, defeated the Reis Effendi at the head of 70,000 men, taking a fine train of brass artillery, cast by baron Tott. These disasters excited a spirit of revolt in the Ottoman troops, and Romantzof, who remarked that the vizier, en- camped at Schumala, was at distance from other corps of the army, cut off his communica- tion with his magazines, as well as with his generals. Without succour, and disabled from fighting by the insubordination of his soldiers, the brave Mousson Oglow had no other resource than to sue for peace. Two plenipotentiaries were dispatched to Kainardgi, and, as the Russians persisted in their former demands, con- cluded, in July, a treaty with prince Repnin, granting to the empress the free navigation of the Dardanelles, and of the Turkish seas and the cession of Kilburn, Kerche, Jenickala, with CATHERINE If. 203 a tract between the Bog and the Dnieper, Azof, and Taganrok, on condition that she restored her other conquests. The Turks acknowledged the independence of the Crimea, and as a reimbursement for the expences of the war, stipulated to pay 4,000,000 of rubles. Besides the direct advantages which Catherine derived from this treaty, she was also enabled in con- sequence of it to undermine the power of the Turks in Moldavia and Valachia, to extend her authority over the Tartars, and to carry on war in the regions of the Danube, with increased facilities, as well as to secure her acquisitions in Poland. Thus the empress obtained, by the supineness and impolicy of other nations, and the sagacity and vigour of her own mind, those great objects at which Peter I. aimed on the Euxine. The joy which the peace occasioned in Petersburg!! was extreme. The empress ordered eight days of rejoicing ; the prison doors to be thrown open to all who were not guilty of treason ; and all who had been sent to Siberia, since 1746, to be released.* Subverting the independance of Poland, and humbling the pride of the Ottomans, enlarging 1 her territories along the whole extent of her * Life of Catherine, VoL II. p. 143147, 165 175, Mayo, Vol.11, p. 137174. 294 HOtFSE OP ROMANOF. empire, from the Baltic to the Euxine, and opening fresh sources of wealth in the com- merce of the Mediterranean and Turkish seas, Catherine seemed to acquire an ascendancy formidable to the nations of Europe. The ad vantages, however, which her arms and foreign policy procured, were, in a degree, counter- balanced, by the evils which preyed upon the interior of her dominions. Her fleets and armies had been maintained at an expense, which ren- dered it necessary to impose extraordinary taxes, a burden not long supportable by nations with- out liberty and trading capital. The plague spread among her troops, and through many provinces, conspired with the sword to waste the lives of her subjects. Flourishing districts were converted into desarts, by the migration of the Calmuck Tartars, a curious event. Tribes of these wanderers had taken up their seat upon the step of the Volga, above Astrakhan, and about the middle of the last century, acknow- ledged a dependance upon Russia. Subsisting on the produce of their cattle, they led a roam- ing life, and though inclined to peace, often served in the Russian armies. As the empress innovated upon their customs, and infringed their liberty, of which they were very tenacious, they took great offence, which was aggravated by the rapacity and insolence of the Russian CATHERINE II. 295 inspector, Kischenskoy. The priests and elders having 1 resolved to migrate, easily prevailed with the people, by telling them, that the Rus- sians intended to force them to embrace Chris- tianity, pursue agriculture, and furnish recruits. To this they added a pretended order from the great high priest at Thibet, to return to their ancient residence. Having made preparations, they departed in the autumn of 1770, and after suffering from the Cossacks of the Yaik and the Kirghises, they reached the Chinese borders in the summer of 1771, where they were pro- tected. They fled with such secrecy and speed, that it was impossible to pursue them. Appli- cation was made by the empress for their resti- tution ; but she received from the Chinese government a contemptuous and satirical reply, very mortifying to her vanity. Russia lost by this migration 70,000 tents or families, about 350,000 souls.* A still heavier calamity, which even threaten- ed to overturn the government of Catherine, afflicted the Russian empire in the rebellion of Pugatchef. The Russians could not forget the means by which Catherine acquired the crown ; the nobility were offended by the arrogance of her favourites ; the clergy lamented the loss of * Life of Catherine, Vol. II. p. 17518^. 296 HOUSE OF their privileges; and the draughts made from their children, together with a multitude of vexations, exasperated the peasants.* The memory of Peter III. was cherished with affec- tion, and the priests to revenge the loss of their possessions spread a report that he was not dead, but would soon appear to reclaim his throne. Several impostors, accordingly pretended to be the unfortunate tzar. The first was a shoe- maker, of Voronetz, who, assuming the name of Peter, in 1767, was seized and executed. In 1770 another, a deserter from Orlof 's regi- ment, named Chernichef, arose in the village of Kopena, on the frontiers of the Crimea ; but a Russian colonel, who marched through the place, just when the priests, having procured him many partizans, prepared to crown the deserter, with a strong* guard dragged him from the altar to execution. This man was succeeded by a peasant, belonging to the Vorontzof family, who, leaving his village, served as a Cossack at the station of Dubof ka on the Volga. As a body of the Cossacks marched to the Russian army, he collected them, in a small post house, between the Don and the Volga, professing to be the late emperor. They acknowledge him ; but their commander unexpectedly appearing, confounded them, and, seizing the impostor by * Life of Catherine, Vol. II. p. 204-. CATHERINE II. 297 the hair, conducted him with their assistance to Tzaritzen. During his trial, some movements, in his favour, were made by the inhabitants, which being* repressed with difficulty, he was conveyed to a small island in the Volga, where he perished by the knoot. A malefactor at Irkutsk made a like attempt with a like event. These were the forerunners of Yemelka Pu- gatchef. This man, son of the Cossack, Ivan Pugat- chef, born at Simoveisk, on the Don, served as a common Cossack in the war against the Prussians, as well as under count Panin, at the taking of Bender. Being refused his discharge, he fled into Poland, where he was concealed by hermits of the Greek religion, to whom, relat- ing his adventures, he said among other things, that a Russian officer, fixing his eyes upon him, exclaimed, " Were not my master Peter III., dead, I should believe 1 saw him once more in you." The monks found no difficulty in making him concur in their imposture. He passed to the sectaries in Little Russia, and made pre- tensions to uncommon sanctity. Danger of de- tection led him to repair to the Cossacks, on the Yaik, several of whom he gained ; but he was arrested for treason, and being sent to Casan to be tried, the supineness of the governor allowed him to escape. He descended the HOUSE OF ROMANOF. Volga, and passed by the Irghis into the desart. As his company increased, he publicly professed to be Peter III., who had miraculously escaped assassination, and circumstances favoured his imposture. The Cossacks are generally attached to the principals of the Russian sectaries, who abound in Siberia. Some recruits raised, in 1771, from the Cossacks of the Yaik, were ordered to shave their beards, which they prized almost as much as their lives. This order being opposed, an officer sent to enforce obedience, commanded them to be shaven in the midst of the town, which raised a rebellion. In the spring, as general Preyman garrisoned Yaitsk, and proceeded to chastise the rebels, many of them fled into the desart, subsisting by the chace, and the bounty of their relatives. The impostor availed himself of the religious prejudices as well as discontent of these Cossacks, who flocked to his standard, in great numbers, as to their deliverer from civil and ecclesiastical oppression. In the mid- dle of September, 1773, Pugatchef had only nine followers ; but in a few days they increased to 300. He now appeared before Yaitsk, but his attempt being frustrated, he attacked tlie colonies of the Oeloets reducing their forts. A body of troops sent from Orenburgh fell into his hands, through the imprudence of CATHERINE II. 299 commander, colonel Bulof ; and his followers ensnared another detachment in the defiles and overpowered them. In these actions the officers, whom he made captive, were barbarously murdered, while the soldiers joined his fol- lowers, or remained prisoners. These successes emboldened him to attack Orenburgh, which he was on the point of carrying, when it was relieved by the garrison of Krasnogorsk. This disappointment, however, was more than com- pensated by large accessions from the Bashkirs, the peasants employed in the mines of the Uralian mountains, and 11,000 Calmucks, who having murdered their commander, brigadier Vegezak, joined the rebel. The whole district of Orenburgh submitted to his arms, and he would have taken Catherinenburgh, if his march had not been delayed by a false report. The success of Pugatchef was prodigious. Moscow was ready to receive him, and the people were so devoted to him, that wherever he came, they furnished his soldiers with provisions and forage, But this tide of prosperity, which was owing no less to the temper of the peasants, and the uuskilfulness of his enemies, than to his own address, courage, and activity, served to ruin him. He soon abandoned his pretensions to sanctity ; he butchered with the greatest bar- 300 HOUSE OF RCMANOF. barity the Russian nobles and officers who fell into his power ; he indulged in riot and intoxi- cation; and, above all, by delay to improve his advantages allowed the ardour of his followers to cool, and his enemies time to prepare his overthrow. The progress of the rebellion alarming Ca- therine, she recalled Bibikof from the Turkish war to march against the insurgents. She published manifestoes, cautioning her subjects against imposture, and offering pardon to the Cossacks, who might return to duty, and a re- ward of 100,000 to him who should put Pugat- chef to death. Counter manifestoes were issued by the impostor, who affixed to them the name of Peter III., and struck rubles with his effigy and this inscription, " Peter III. emperor and autocrator of all the Russias," and on the re- verse, <; Redivivus et ultor." Bibikof had meanwhile advanced to Casan, he invited the nobility to unite in extinguishing the rebellion; while his generals gained some advantages over the insurgents. Pugatchef, obliged to raise the siege of Orenburgh, was attacked by prince Galitzin, and retreated after a brave resistance. He fell upon Bibikof un- expectedly, who lost his life ; but being pur- sued by Galitzin, he suffered a total defeat, CATHERINE IT. 301 March, 1774, near Kargaula, twelve miles from Orenburgh, and escaped, with difficulty, to the Ural mountains. It was not long, however, before he appeared in great force on the east of those mountains, burning whatever offered the least resistance. In order to retrieve his losses by some signal exploit, he suddenly descended towards Casan, marking his track with fire and blood. The suburbs of the town were burnt, and siege was laid to the citadel, when the in- defatigable colonel Michaelson compelled the rebel to retire, and after three days severe fight- ing, to flee with 300 Cossacks, across the Volga. But his losses being instantly repaired by Cossacks, Bashkirs, and peasants, he re- solved to march to Moscow. The favourable moment, however, had elapsed ; peace with the Turks released the army of the Danube ; and the rebel, bending his course down the Volga, routed general Dies, stormed Saratof, and obtained possession of Demitrefsk by treachery. Near this place, the astronomer Lovitch was employed in taking levels for the projected canal between the Volga and the Don. Being ordered to appear before Pugatchef, he commanded his soldiers to raise him on their pikes, " in order," said he, " that he may be nearer the stars," and in this situation he but- chered the unoffending astronomer. Thus the 302 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. barbarian filled up the measure of his enormities, as his fate approached. Count Panin was now sent against the im- postor. He reinforced colonel Michaelson, who cut off Pugatchef 's convoys, and falling upon him in the passes, while he was greatly incumbered, forced him, after an obstinate conflict, to swim the Volga, and betake himself to the desart, where he began his revolt. Deserted by his followers, whom thirst and hunger undeceived, as he gnawed the bones of a horse to prolong his life, some of them, probably excited by the hope of pardon, accosted him ; " Come," said they, " you have been long enough emperor." He shattered the arm of the foremost with a pistol shot ; but the other Cossacks having bound him, delivered him to general Suwarrow, who commanded the troops on the Yaik. This general conveyed him to count Panin, who sent him in an iron cage to Moscow, where he was beheaded and quartered. He endured his punishment with great resolution. Only eight of his accomplices suffered death. This rebel- lion cost i 00,000 men, the loss of many towns, 250 villages, and interrupted the mines of Oren- burgh and the trade of Siberia, The empress amply rewarded colonel Mtchaelson, by whose activity arid perseverance it was extinguish- ed, and abolished the name of the Yaik and CATHERINE IT. Yaitsk, substituting Ural and Uralsk in their stead.* Thus Catherine, while she accomplished her schemes on Poland and on Turkey, terminated happily, a war which endangered the existence of her empire. The glory of these achieve- ments, however, will appear more imposing than solid, if it be considered, that by the wars undertaken at the instigation of ambition and the evils of misgovernment, she lost as many subjects as were contained on her new acquisi- tions ; and that there was no advantage to coun- terbalance the calamities, which she diffused over Poland, the fairest provinces of Turkey, and vast districts of her own dominions. It is a heavy misfortune, that those, who in a brilliant manner, waste the lives and increase the miseries of men, should obtain their admiration. While these warlike operations proceeded, several occurrences took place, to which we must now return. When the courtiers rejoiced in the absence of prince Orlof, and expected that he would continue on his travels at least two years, he suddenly re-appeared, after five months, in Petersburgh. The empress, indeed, ordered him at first to retire to Reval ; but afterwards * Life of Catherine, Vol. II. p,203 24-5. Cox<*, Vol. HI. p, 91109. 304 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. allowed him to appear sit court. Though he was restored to his employments, to serve as a counterpoise to the faction of Panin, who sup- ported the pretensions of the grand duke, he never recovered his influence, and though Catherine seemed to regard him with her former affection, she would not consent to the banish- ment of his rival. On the marriage of the grand duke, October 10th, 1773, it was ex- pected, according to a promise made to Orlof, that count Panin, his governor, would fall into disgrace. His pupil, however, interposed, and instead of ordering him to retire, the empress thanked him for the care he had bestowed on the education of her son, confirmed him in his office of minister, and loaded him with pre- sents. The empress's favourite, Vassiltchikof, who avoided the envy of the courtiers, and daily gained upon her esteem, by his moderation, was all at once ordered to repair to Moscow. Orlof, who attributed this occurrence, to the returning kindness of the empress for him, had the mor- tification to perceive that the young officer, who, on the day of the revolution, had gallantly sup- plied a deficiency in the empress's dress, engaged her affection. Potemkin, proud and presump- tuous as he advanced in favour, one day, play- ing at billiards with Alexey Orlof, boasted that CATHERINE II, he could remove from court whoever might be obnoxious to him. A quarrel ensued between these courtiers of Catherine ; Potemkin received a blow, which occasioned the loss of an eye ; and Orlof informing 1 his brother of the affair, he requested the empress to dismiss her paramour. Fotemkin was sent ito Smolensk, where he con- tinued nearly twelve months.* * Life f Catherine, Vol. If. p. 190, 1S& 2^8. 306 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. CHAP. XI. Laudable pursuits of Catherine Rccal of Potemkin Jour- ney of the Empress to Moscow Affairs of Poland Po- temkin ordered to retire, but disobeys Disgrace of Razn- mqfsky Marriage of the grand duke Fall of Zavadqfsky Visit of Gustavus to Petersburgh Conduct of Catherine in the Crimea Korzakof, a serjeant in the guards, favourite Armed neutrality Interview of the Empress with Joseph II. Turkish Affairs Settlement of the Jesuits in Poland Acquisitions of Catherine on the Engine Death of Panin Orlof and Lanskoi Commercial Treaties-^-Ger- man professor of Geography Toleration Momonof favourite Progress of Catherine to the Crimea. AMIDST schemes of ambition, and the intrigues of her court, Catherine neglected not altogether other objects. She carried on public buildings for the embellishment of Petersburgh, and in order to render the practice of inoculation gene- ral, established hospitals for the purpose, in the extremities even of her dominions. When the empire began to repose from foreign wars and internal convulsions, she employed her cares in applying remedies to the evils which her ambi- tion had gendered, or which sprung up from the wretched constitution, and enormous extent of her provinces. She abolished the taxes im- CATHERINE It. 307 posed to support the war, as well as many of the old imposts of an impolitic or oppressive nature, assisted the provinces, which the rebel- lion hnd ruined, with loans of money without interest, and corn from the stores of govern- ment, and enhanced the value of a general pardon, by condemning matters relative to the calamitous transactions to oblivion. She issued other regulations tending to encourage industry, banish invidious distinctions, or facilitate the administration of justice. The treasurers of the empire having embezzled the public money, Catherine would not allow them even to be tried,* an act of high injustice to her subjects, though perhaps necessary to her glory, as it is probable many of her courtiers were implicated. Of nothing was Catherine more apprehensive than that men might cease to talk of her. To this fear must be ascribed her perpetual inter- ference in the occurrences of Europe, her wars, her munificent patronage of men of genius, as well as many of the splendid and salutary insti- tutions that distinguish her reign. This inor- dinate desire of notoriety, though the govern- ing passion of her mind, which prompted her to vast, dangerous, beneficent, or pernicious un- dertakings, often yielded to the superiority of * Life of Catherine, Vol. II. p. 193, 20S, 249- X 2 308 HOUSE OF ROMANOF; another, which exhibited her in a light, not & little amusing. Potemkin, in his solitude, now threatening 1 to turn monk, then to be the greatest man in Russia, suddenly wrote the empress desiring her to think of him. He was recalled, and, while prince Orlof was absent at his hunting seat, installed into the post of favourite. On his return, Orlof uttered complaints and reproaches to no pur* pose. The new favourite acquired an absolute ascendancy over the empress, added every day to his honours and emoluments, and, with no other recommendation than a handsome person and an insatiable ambition, was introduced into the council, and obtained the vice-presidency in the war department, count Chernichef, an old general, whom he had ruined, being obliged to resign. The presumption and audacity of Potemkin were not inferior to his power or ambition. One day, while engaged at play, he refused to attend the council, and the mes- senger humbly asking for a reason to allege on his return, he said, it was to be found in the first psalm and the first verse : Blessed is the man who goes not in the council of the ungodly. Prince Orlof, though by the efforts of the empress he had been reconciled to Potemkin^ could not bear to see him possessed of such honour and authority, and accordingly begged .permission to retire. It is very edifying to ob- CATHERINE IT. 309 serve the condition to which Catherine was re- duced by two men who had derived all their consequence from her favour. The passion of which Potemkin was the object obliged her to support his arrogance, and indulge his boundless desire of power, while in order to serve as a check upon this minion, as well as to prevent the consequences of Orlofs resentment, she found it necessary to sooth him by condescension and flatteries* To such subjection was brought "the princess who distributed kingdoms *. Soon after Pugatchef was executed, the em* press resolved on a journey to Moscow, and employed every art to gain popular favour. Though she despised the priests, as they enjoyed the veneration of the people, she disdained not to court their approbation. With this view, she carried with her a great number of small pictures of the saints, which she distributed in the churches and chapels by the way, and 'a large figure decorated with gold and diamonds for the cathedral of Moscow. She entered the capital, under triumphal arches, attended with a brilliant train, and proclaimed a reduction of the taxes. But hypocrisy, magnificence, and bounty could not procure the acclamations of the people, who would have hailed the impostor * Life of Catherine, Vol.11, p. 308 311. 310 HOUSE *OF .ROM'ANOF. Pugatcbef as a God. They beheld the pro- cession with sullen wonder. A few days after her arrival at Moscow, Catherine with her court made a pilgrimage on foot to a convent, about thirty miles from that city. Count Panin, the only person not invited, sarcastically observed, " The empress did not wish that I should accompany her on this pil- grimage ; because she thought I have not enough of devotion or the courtier/* o Potemkin succeeded not only to Orlof's post? but to his hopes of an alliance with the empress, Holding all religion in contempt, he all at once assumed the appearance of devotion, during lent, living on roots and water, daily frequenting confession and importuning the saints with his prayers. He disclosed his irregularities to the empress's confessor, whom he entreated to inform her that his uneasy conscience would not allow him to indulge any longer a commerce, which marriage alone could render lawful. Coming to an explanation with her paramour, Catherine told him, that though she had a regard for him, she was able to renounce it, and that were he resolved not to fill the post of favourite any longer, she could substitute another in his place. Disappointed and confounded, Potemkin talked of taking orders and becoming archbishop ; but he soon returned to the pursuits and pleasures of the court. CATHERINE II. 311 The empress distinguished this visit to Moscow by bestowing- rewards on those who had con- tributed to victories of the late war. Romanize f Aiexey Orlof, general Panin, prince Dolgorucky, count Soltikof and Chernichef, arid admiral Greig, the principal officers, received different orders of knighthood, with promotions or pe- cuniary rewards. As an example of these re- wards, and of Catherine's munificence, Roman t- zof, received an estate with 5000 peasants, 100,000 rubles, a hat encircled with a laurel branch of jewellery, a fine service of plate, with the order of St. George, an epaulette of dia- monds, a magnificent marshal's staff, and the sirname of Zadunaisky *. It was a great object with Catherine to pro- mote commerce. As the trade of Siberia, which the late rebellion had interrupted, was checked through want of money, she esta- blished a bank at Tobolsk, which remedied the evil. Privileges were granted to those of her subjects, who might engage in commerce. It was attempted to form settlements on the fron- tiers of China to facilitate the intercourse with that nation. New manufactories were establish- ed, and the commercial treaty with Great Bri- tain was renewed. Though the treaty, by which Russia, Austria, * Life of Catherine, Vol. II. p. 311318, 230, 332> 335. HOlTSE OF ROM AN OF. and Prussia seized the territories of Poland,, de* scribed the frontiers of each of the powers, ike two latter continually encroached upon the republic. The empress, for a time, connived at these fresh usurpations; but no sooner was she freed from the Turkish war, and the rebel- lion of Pugalchef, than she made such remon- strances a induced them to keep within the limits which the treaty prescribed. The part* which fell to her share, was so much better governedthan that of the other partitioning powers, that numbers of the Jews fled to her provinces from their oppression. She sent the king of Poland 250,000 rubles as an indemnification for that part of his domains that had fallen into her hands. Her influence was employed to miti- gate the violence of Austria and Prussia, to repress the turbulent factions of the nobility, and to procure for the dissidents the public exercise of their religion, and a right of appeal, in case of grievance, to a tribunal composed partly of their own communion *. Potemkin seemed to have so entirely gained the heart of Catherine, that it was not easy to suppose, he could be supplanted. But her desires were as fickle as they were insatiable. While loading Potemkin with dignities^ Zavadofsky, * Coxe, Vol. I. p. 62, 68. 3 Jafe of Catherine, Vol. II. p. 305, 331. CATHERINE If. a young 1 Ukrainer, privately enjoyed her smiles, and being 1 soon publickly acknowledged as favourite, a curious scene ensued. Potemkin being ordered to travel, pretended to obey; but next day, to the astonishment of the cour- tiers, he placed himself with great composure before the empress, as she sat down to whist. Far from exhibiting signs of displeasure, she handed him a card, saying he always played luckily. Potemkin allowed Zavadofsky to please a woman approaching fifty, and satisfied himself with retaining unimpaired his influence and grandeur. When the news of Potemkin's dis- grace reached prince Orlof, he hastened to Pe- tersburgh in high expectation of recovering her majesty's confidence j but seeing his rival at her side, he kissed her hand, and full of disap- pointment returned immediately to Moscow. Meanwhile the party of Panin, who were desirous of seeing Paul Petrovitch assert his claim to the throne, filled the mind of the em- press with uneasiness. Paul himself, indeed, gave no encouragement to their designs ; but the suspicions of the empress, induced her to attempt he ruin of his confidant, count Ra- zumofsky, a daring man. Observing signs of intelligence between the count and the grand dutchess, she carefully informed the grand duke, who, though he did not credit the surmises of his mother, resolved to keep an eye over Ra~ 314 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. zumofsky, and recommended circumspection to his consort. Whether the grand dutchess had an inclination to Razumofsky is uncertain ; but she kept up a correspondence with him, and it was said, entered into intrigues, dangerous to her accuser, when she died in childbed. Ca- therine, who was suspected of being accessory to this event, expressed the greatest sorrow. The papers of the grand dutchess tending to criminate Razumofsky, he fell into disgrace ; but the services, which his father had rendered the empress, mitigated his punishment into exile in the quality of minister first to Venice and then to Naples. The apprehensions, which Catherine enter- tained from the partizans of the grand duke, had not escaped the king of Prussia. When he wished her to second his purposes he always testified a great concern for her son ; and as the empress knew well with what ease Frederic could encourage her discontented subjects to disturb her government, she neglected nothing to secure his friendship. Prince Henry had been sent by his brother, a few days before the death of the grand dutchess, to settle some dif- ferences that had arisen between Prussia and Russia, respecting the demarcations in Poland, and Catherine, as soon as the grand dutchess was interred, seeming to consult him about a second consort for her son, informed him that CATHERINE IT. 315 she bad cast her eyes upon his niece, the prin- cess Sophia of Wirtemburgh Stutgard. The proposal was communicated to his Prussian ma- jesty ; and though the princess was betrothed to. the hereditary prince of Hesse Darmstadt, Frederic hesitated not a moment. The pros- pect of so large a fortune dissolved the ties of affection, and, as the union was likely to con- firm the alliance between Frederic and the empress, it was never considered whether it would promote the happiness of the princess Sophia. The matter being arranged, the grand duke, attended with a splendid retinue, accom- panied Prince Henry to Berlin, to see his in- tended spouse, and the princess having previ- ously embraced the Greek religion, and adopted the name of Maria Feodorovna, the nuptials were solemnized at Petersburgh, October 7th, 1776 *. Zavadofsky had, for eighteen months^ satis- fied himself with ministering in obscurity to the gratification of the empress, when stimu- lated by the example of Potemkin, he aspired to the function of prime minister. The in- trigues, into which he entered for that purpose, tending in the first instance to ruin Potemkin, he determined instantly to crush his feeble rival. A young Servian, named Zoritch, tall and of * Life of Catherine, Vol. II. p. 343358. 316 HOUSE OF an appearance adapted to attract a licentious woman, coming to Petersburgh to seek promo- tion, Poteinkin gave him a captain's commision, and put him in the way of the empress. Next day Zavadofsky was dismissed to make room for the Servian, who employed his influence to support the fortunes of the man to whom he was so much indebted *. While these intrigues occupied the court of Catherine, her attention was turned to the foreign relations of her empire. Though policy should have induced Denmark to unite with Sweden against the growing power of Russia, the influence which Peter I. had established, at the court of Copenhagen, was exercised with little interruption by his successors, and Cathe- rine had confirmed it by relinquishing all claims upon Holstein for the counties of Oldenburgh and Delmenhorst. If it gave the empress plea- sure to rule in the councils of Denmark, the revolution of Sweden in 1772, which destroyed the Russian ascendency in the court of Stock- holm, was a source of mortification. She watched with extreme jealousy all the motions of the Swedish monarch, and fitted out a fleet, which excited such alarm among his adherents, that he resolved to have an interview with her in order to discover her real intentions. He * Life of Catherine, Vol. II. 361 364. CATHERINE II. 317 arrived at Petersburgh, June 16th, 1777, and after visiting count Panin went to Tzarsko-selo, where the empress at that time resided. Confe- rences passed with feigned cordiality ; and the empress treated Gustavus with sumptuous en- tertainments, in which she affected to display her magnificence. She often discoursed with him to discover his character, and perceiving that he was deficient in prudence, she endea- Youred to involve him in danger, by challeng- ing him to make innovations in the dress of the Swedes. Gustavus accepted the challenge, and though the consequence which Catherine expected ensued not, her malignity was not the less in proposing the temptation. The Swedish, monarch, laden with rich presents, took his departure, confirmed in his apprehensions of the empress's power, while she was more fully disposed to humble a prince of so much enter-* prize and turbulence. It was, however, in her transactions with the Turks, that Catherine discovered the iniquity of her counsels, no less than the vigor of her policy. The peace of Kainardgi had not long been concluded, when her agents corrupting the Crim Tartars, excited them to revolt from their Khan Doulet Gueray, devoted to the Ottomans. Her troops suddenly entered into the Crimea, and compelling Doulet Gueray to flee, elected Gueray in his stead. This Khan, igno- 318 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. rant of the nature of Russian protection, was advised to send a deputation of nobles to im-^ piore the support of the empress, which she cheerfully granted. While a town and fortress were constructed between Kerche and Jenickala for the Christians of the Crimea, who fled to the Russians, orders were given to Romantzof to collect an army on the Dnieper. The Turks being justly provoked, a rupture would have followed, had not prince Repnin, appointed ambassador extraordinary, succeeded in lulling their suspicions. The confusions of the Crimea, in the mean time increased ; the Ottomans substituted a new Khan, Selim, in the room of Doulet; and the Russians furnished their Khan with a guard of soldiers, whom the Tartars for the most part slaughtered. The empress now sent fresh troops into the Crimea, who defeated the adherents of Selim and put him to flight , and by her mini- ster solicited the Porte to acknowledge Sahim Gueray. This not succeeding, marshal Romant- zof declared to the divan that his mistress would, rather than abandon Sahim, have recourse to war, a declaration which was not calculated to conciliate the Turks. But as they came not to an immediate decision, while talking of the in- dependence of the Crimea, Catherine reduced it to subjection, and made preparations to extend her authority over Valachia and Moldavia. CATHERINE II. 31 # These implausible encroachments roused the indignation of the Ottomans, and the whole o nation breathed hostilities. The French, who had formerly incited the Porte against the Rus- sians, being- on the eve of a war with Great Britain, were desirous of weakening- the con- nexion between this power and Russia, and in- terposed, at this crisis their interested mediation. Catherine wished to avoid a rupture, and the disorders incident to the Turkish government were aggravated by the plague which in a short time carried off 160,000 persons. In this state of the two powers, the French ambassador M. de St. Priest, easily effected (March 21st, 1779) an accommodation, very advantageous to the empress. While she abandoned some of her pretensions on Moldavia and Valachia, the Porte surrendered some vessels which had been detained in the Dardanelles, and acknowledged Sahim Gueray as the sovereign of the Crimea. This treaty afforded Catherine such satisfaction that she bestowed magnificent presents on her own minister at the Porte, as well as on M. de St. Priest.* Freed from apprehensions of a Turkish war, the empress at the solicitation of his Prussian majesty interposed her powerful mediation to terminate the contest that had arisen between * Life of Catherine, Vol, II. p. 338< 340, 399405. 320 HOUSE OF ROMANO*?* him and the house of Austria, respecting the succession to Bavaria, and was a principal in- strument in accomplishing the pacification of Germany. During these events, Catherine amused her courtiers with banquets, masquerades, and en- tertainments of splendor unexampled in other courts of Europe. It was so common for her to change her favourite, that the substitution of another instead of Zoritch, might have been passed over in silence, had it not been attended with a curious incident. This young man, who seemed daily more pleasing to the empress, being suddenly ordered to leave court, imme- diately complained to his benefactor Potemkin, who hesitated npt to enquire why she had dis^- carded him. <* I was fond of him yesterday," replied Catherine, " and to day I am not. If he were better informed, perhaps I might pre- fer him still ; but his ignorance makes me blush. He can only speak Russ ; let him travel into France and England to learn foreign languages." Potemkin acquiesced ; and after looking about for a successor to Zoritch, he went to pass the evening with the empress, when he learnt with surprize, that his pains were superfluous. Rim-* sky Korzakof, a Serjeant in the guards, was ap- pointed aide-de-camp to the empress, and dis- tinguished by the usual marks of her favourites. A fact will serve to shew that his information CATHERINE IT. 321 did not constitute his merit. Thinking that a man like him ought to possess a library, he sent for the principal bookseller in Petersburgh, and told him that he wanted books put up in a large room of the house, which he had received from the empress. The bookseller inquiring what books he would please to have, Korzakof re- plied ; (6 you know that better than I ; let large books be at the bottom, and smaller and smaller up to the top/'* The service which the French had rendered to the empress in procuring an accommodation with Turkey, disposed her to favour that na- tion, while the naval superiority of the English, awakening her jealousy, detached her from them. Their commerce, however, was too pro- fitable to lose, and though she encouraged their revolted colonies, she invited them to fetch from her dominions the commodities which they could no longer obtain from America. Po- temkin indeed advised, that with a view to the increase of trade, an object to which the em- press devoted great attention, she should adhere to her alliance with England. But the counsels of Potemkin, and the efforts of the English mi- nister, Sir James Harris, were defeated by the partizans of France. Vergennes, the French ambassador, conceived the plan of an armed * Life of Catherine, Vol. IT. p,408, 42g. T 322 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. neutrality, in order to counterbalance the mari- time superiority of Great Britain, and by a very singular stratagem, which deserves to be men- tioned, as showing on what trivial circumstances the most important events depend, succeeded in rendering Catherine the principal instrument of his designs. The British minister aware of the attempts which were made to induce the empress to pro- pose the armed neutrality, drew up a memorial to counteract their designs, which Potemkin promised to recommend to her majesty. Inv formed of this, the partisans of France gained a mademoiselle Guibald, governess of the prince's nieces, who stole the paper from his pocket, and after it was enriched with notes re- futing the objections of the English minister, restored it to its former place. The empress, supposing that the notes had been added by Po- temkin, was fully confirmed in the resolution, to which impatience of any superiority had in- clined her, of uniting the northern powers against England. The maritime nations were disposed to concur in a scheme, which pro- mised to reduce a greatness so long the object of their dread and envy. Russia^ Sweden, and Denmark formed a league, to which other neu- tral nations acceded, for the purpose of sup- porting new principles of maritime law ; that free bottoms make free goods; and that neu- CATHERINE II. 323 tral states have a right to carry on trade with the same facilities, with belligerent powers in time of war as in time of peace. To maintain these pretensions, the members of the confe- deracy agreed to protect each other's vessels, in case of aggression, in conformity with the conditions of the league. As soon as the em- press learnt the views of Denmark and Sweden, she published a manifesto, stating the objects of the alliance, and her determination to support it with the greatest part of her naval force. France and Spain, as it was calculated to pro- mote their interests, were quite astonished at the wisdom, justice, and liberality of this system; while the British, whom it was designed to humble, being in no circumstances to resent the injury, were obliged to suppress their in- dignation. In order fo accomplish the objects of the ma- ritime league, Catherine ordered eight ships of the line to be built at Petersburgh, and twelve at Cherson, on the completion of which the Russian navy amounted to forty -two sail of the line in the Baltic, and twelve in the Euxine, exclusive of a great number of smaller vessels. This force protected commerce, and gave the empress great weight in the affairs of Europe. She might now have directed her attention solely to the welfare of her subjects, if the lust Y 2 HOUSE OF ROM AN OF. 0f conquest had not predominated ia her mind. Potemkin still enjoyed the highest favour with Catherine, and while he manifested the roost entire devotion to her service, actually go* verned her according to his will. No less am- bitious than herself, he aspired to the glory .of crowning her at Constantinople; and, as the concurrence of the emperor of Germany was necessary t0 this scheme, it was proposed to court his alliance. Accordingly the empress desirous of an interview with Joseph, invited him into Poland, and departing herself for Mohilef, met that prince> May 30th, 1780. It was concerted by these princes to attack the Turks, share the spoil, and re-establish the Greek republics. Catherine engaging to sup- port the emperor in his designs upon Bavaria, Joseph accepted an invitation to visit the em- press's dominions ; and, after exploring whatever was curious iu Moscow or Petersburgh, re- turned, admiring the mixture of refinement and barbarity exhibited in Russia, and the singular spectacle of a woman, qualified to govern the world, enslaved to two of her courtiers. The greatest harmony seemed to subsist be- tween Russia and Turkey. Instead of inter- posing in the contentions of the Tartars, the CATHERINE IT. impress turned her cares to the improvement of those advantages for lucrative commerce, which the Euxine afforded. She farnrshed merchants with the free use of s&ips, and promised to in- demnify them for the losses which they might at first incur. But unreasonable claims started by Catherine respecting- the navigation of the Euxine, the ascendancy which she had esta*- Wished among the Little, Crim, and Budziac Tartars, and demands, which she made, that the governors of Moldavia and Valachia should not o be deposed or punished, were so alarming to the Ottomans, that they began to prepare for war. As however the empress deemed not a rupture expedient at present, and as the French mi- nister proffered his mediation, both powers lowering their pretensions, matters were ami- cably adjusted. Although the affair seemed to be settled, the causes of contention still existed, and a new claim advanced by the empress of establishing consuls in Moldavia, Valachia, and Bessarabia, so provoked the sultan, that nothing but extreme weakness prevented him from coming to hos- tilities in the beginning of 1781. But the con- cession of this point, together with the dis- mission of a minister obnoxious to Catherine, was far from satisfying the boundless cupidity of this princess. The state of vassalage to which, in violation of the late treaties, she had 326 HOUSE OF ROM A NO r. reduced the Khan Sahim Gueray, roused the indignation of the high-spirited Tartars to such a degree, that they chose a new Khan, and attacking- Sahim, entirely defeated him. While the civil war which now raged in the Crimea, furnished her with a pretext for pouring in troops into that devoted country, a terrible fire broke out in Constantinople, which in a short time consumed 40,000 houses, 300 corn-mills, and 50 mosques. The distress, which this ca- lamity, added to the plague, produced among the Turks, presented an opportunity, which the empress and her German ally seized to prose- cute their designs. Accusing the Ottomans of fomenting rebellion among the Tartars, she pre- sented in concert with Joseph, a memorial to the Porte, insisting that the Turkish government should not interpose in the affairs of the Tartars, infringe on the privileges of Moldavia and Va- lachia, or obstruct the navigation of the Euxine or Archipelago. As any evil seemed to the Turks preferable to such abject submission, this memorial had not immediately its intended effect *. Meanwhile the empress suffered a heavy dis- appointment in her son Bobrinsky. This youth, \vhom she loved with extreme tenderness, and on whose education she had bestowed great care, * Life of Catherine, Vol. II. p. 477467. CATHERINE IT. 327 being arrived at a fit age, she wished him to make the tour of Europe. The villain, liihas, Alexey Griefs agent in the seduction of the princess Tarakanof, was recommended by one of her courtiers, as a person qualified to take the charge of the darling child. The empress believed the deceitful courtier, and Bobrinsky, who left Russia modest and docile, made such progress under the tuition of Ribas, that on his return his incorrigible perversity compelled his fond mother to send him into a sort of exile at Reval. The diversity of objects which employed the mind of Catherine is very remarkable. At the time when she prepared to wrest fresh provinces from the Turks, she completed the plan of di- viding her empire into governments, and of establishing in every part of it the regulations which six years before (1776) she had intro- duced into Twer and Smolensk ; she erected in honour of Peter the Great an equestrian statue, a work of uncommon magnitude and great sub- limity; and she composed moral and historical works for the instruction of her grand-children, the princes Alexander and Constantine, as well as endeavoured to instil just principles into their minds, discoursing in their presence with their tutor, and writing marginal remarks on their lessons *. * Life of Catherine, Vol. III. p. 2, 8, 11. 328 Ji6tsE OF When the Jesuits were driven from all th other kingdoms of Europe, she gave them art asylum. She had observed in her journey to Mohilefj that the inhabitants of White Russia, all Roman Catholics, were extremely attached to the Jesuits, and she appointed a catholic archbishop of Mohilef, with a Jesuit as an as- sistant, allowed the Jesuits to establish them- selves in that province, and sent an ambassador with a letter, which, though written by herself, she disavowed in the Petersburgh Gazette, t6 solicit his holiness the pope to sanct ; on the esta- blishment* Whether Catherine expected by this step to draw the riches of Paraguay into her dominions, or designed merely to display her superiority to the alarm that was spread through other European courts> is uncertain 5 but it was curious to observe the head of the Greek church affording protection to the great defenders of the Latin church, when catholic princes had unanimously conspired their doWnfal. The ambitious schemes of Catherine, in the meantime, proceeded on the frontiers of Tur- key. Cherson, on the shores of the Dnieper, whose foundations had been recently laid, al- ready contained 40,000 inhabitants, and from its dock-yards sent out not only merchant ves- sels, but ships of war fit to strike terror into the Ottoman empire. Having corrupted the Khan y and excited a revolt against him, Catherine CATHERINE II. 29 Unxler colour of protecting him, dispatched Po- lemkin with an army into the Crimea. The malcontents were easily subdued, and Sahim- Gueray being; restored, was persuaded to de^ mand the cession of Otchakof. This insolent demand excited a faint resistance on the part of the Turks, which affording" a pretence for the active operation of the Russian armies col- lected in the Ukraine, they quickly seized the whole of the peninsula, while Potemkin and Suwarrow reduced the Kuban, In justifica- tion of these flagrant measures, Catherine had the assurance to issue, April 8, 1783, a mani- festo, accusing the Turks of having violated the treaty of Kainardgi, and declaring the Crimea, isle of Taman, and the Kuban, to be re-united to the Russian empire, as a recompence for the expence incurred in preserving the peace of those countries. To complete the farce, Sahim Gueray, whom she had made captain in a regi- ment of her guards, abdicated the throne in her favour. As it could not be expected that the Turks would tamely submit to these usur- pations, vast preparations were made in con- cert with the German emperor to maintain them, and even to extend the territories both of Austria and Russia, Though the dispositions of the Porte were pa* cific, and the French ambassador again inter* posed his mediation^ as the empress demanded &JO HOUSE OP ROMANOF. the possession of the Crimea, the isle of Taman, Ka.iban, and Budziac Tartary, and the emperor the restoration of all that had been ceded by the treaty of Belgrade, the wisest and the most moderate of the Turks judged it would be better to hazard the event of a war, than yield to re- quisitions as dangerous as dishonourable. In conformity with these sentiments large bodies of troops were drawn to the frontiers of the Danube, and foreign officers and engineers were employed to discipline the armies, and improve the artillery ; and fleets were pre- pared in the Euxine and the Mediterranean. An alliance was concluded with Spain, and as- sistance was expected from France, Sweden, and Prussia. And a manifesto, written with great energy of language, and cogency of ar- gument, was issued in reply to the shameless pretensions of Catherine. But notwithstanding these warlike measures, the Ottomans thought it expedient to concede. The empress in a per- sonal interview with the Swedish monarch at Fredericksham, prevailed on him to remain neutral; and such vast preparations were made on the Dnieper, and in Hungary, as must ensure an easy victory over the present weakness of the Turkish empire. After long consultation, the divan, therefore, resolved to concedej and a treaty was signed, January 9, 1784, by which Catherine retained the sovereignty of the CATHERINE II. 331 Crimea, the isle of Tarn an, and great part of the Kuban ; thus, without going to war, acquir- ing 1 a vast territory, containing 1,500,000 souls. With so much sagacity and spirit did she con- duct her affairs, She restored their ancient names to the Crimea and the Kuban, the former being called Taurida, and the latter Caucasus. While this politic princess obtained such advan- tages for herself, she satisfied her ally, the em- peror, with prospects of acquisition, when cir- cumstances should recommend renewal of hosti- lities with the Turks; and promises of support in his contest with the Dutch, respecting the navigation of the Scheldt.* Catherine was as capable of overreaching her allies, as of subdu- ing her enemies. Not contented with having procured for his sovereign the possession of the Crimea, the do- minion of the Euxine, and the free navigation of the Dardanelles, Potemkin allured the famous prince Heraclius to pay her homage. These services were rewarded by the empress with additional presents and honours. While accu- mulating favours upon the man who enlarged her territories, she was reminded of the series of crimes that raised her to the throne, by the death of two of the agents in that transaction, * Life of Catherine, Vol. Ill, p. 1744 Mayo, Vol. II. p,509. MOUSE OF ROMANOF* count Pamn and prince Orlof. The former* driven from the management of affairs by Po- temkin, died of chagrin, and the latter, having passed several years in travelling, sunk into me- lancholy on the loss of his wife in 1782. He appeared immediately in the court of Catherine, a dismal spectacle, now giving himself up to extravagant joy, and then bursting out into such reproaches against the empress, as threw her into the bitterness of grief, and all who heard him into astonishment. Forced to Moscow, he imagined that the shade of Peter III. armed with an avenging dart, incessantly pursued him ; and, tormented night and day by this spectre, expired in agonies. It was, however, another accident that afflicted Catherine. Potemkin, having sacrificed Korzakof, by encouraging an intrigue between him and the countess Bruce', whom he wished to ruin, the empress had fixed her eyes on Lanskoi, a Polish youth, without education, but of a figure, as fine as could be imagined, belonging to the che- valier guards. So passionately fond was she of this favourite, that she took upon herself the care of instructing his mind, and giving polish to his manners. But when, under her forming hand, refinement and intelligence began to im- part additional charms to the graces of his per- son, Lanskoi was seized with a violent fever, and expired in the flower of his age. The grief CATHERINE IT. 333 of Catherine was so extreme, that she ordered herself to be put to bed, as if indifferent to life or death, refused sustenance for several days, and shutting- herself up in her palace of Tzarsko- selo for three months, declined even the com- pany of the grand duke and dutchess. She afterwards raised a superb monument to this youth, just visible from the windows of her pri- vate apartment, and accidentally walking near it, after an interval of two years, was observed to shed many tears, Potemkin alone ventured to penetrate the" solitude of the empress, and dispel her sorrow. His attention was repaid by new marks of esteem and confidence.* It was now the object, which interested the courtiers, to see the post, vacant by the death of Lanskoi, filled by a person whose influence might further their schemes. The princess Dashkof exerted her intriguing spirit to procure it for her son ; but Potemkin, who feigned to favour the young man, exposed both him and bis mother to ridicule in the presence of Ca^ therine, and turned her attention to one of his officers, named Yermolof. The triumph of young Dashkof appeared at hand, and Potemkin redoubled his attentions to the princess Dashkof, who was so pleased, that she requested him to admit one of her nephews into the number of his * Life of Catherine, Vol. III. p. 50 92. 334 HOUSE OF ROMANOF* aides de camp. He replied maliciously, that the last vacancy had been given to lieutenant Yer- molof, a person whom she had the mortification to see the same clay attending upon the em- press.* These intrigues, though they occupied the court of Catherine, interrupted not her schemes for the extension of her fame. She interfered in all the important transactions of Europe. The contests respecting the navigation of the Scheldt, and the exchange of Bavaria for the Austrian Netherlands, which engrossed the public mind in 1784 and 1785, were excited chiefly through her influence. She established a trade in furs in Kamtshatka, and the adjacent islands. She revived the commercial inter- course with China, which the misconduct of the Russians had interrupted, and formed treaties of commerce both with France and Austria. While she took these prudent measures to im- prove the Russian commerce in so many quarters, she gave a striking instance of narrow illiberal! ty in her conduct toward England. The English not only first opened a maritime intercourse with Russia, but discovered that it was capable of such intercourse, and carried on for ages a trade of immense advantage to the Russians. To the assistance which the British, contrary to * Life of Catherine, Vol.111, p 95. CATHERINE II. 335 their true interests afforded her in the Turkish war, Catherine was indebted for her naval vic- tories. Yet she was the great agent in forming the armed neutrality, so inimical to the welfare of Britain; and now in 1785 consented to a clause in the commercial arrangements with France, detrimental to the interests of England, while the ancient treaty with this power was suffered to expire. Gratitude was not an ele- ment in the character of Catherine ; but it was remarkable, that when seeking commercial al- liances of precarious advantage, from one ex- tremity of the old continent to the other, she should offend the nation who carried on the most profitable half of the whole Russian trade. As connected with the subject of trade, may be mentioned the Lombard bank, a singular institution. To furnish those who were disposed to improve their lands, the empress opened a bank with a capital of 33,000,000 of rubles, and power to issue bills to the amount of 100,000,000. Of the capital, 2^,000,000 were to be lent to nobles, for the term of twenty years, upon mortgages on their estates, at an interest of five per cent, besides three per cent, to liqui- date the debt. The remaining 11,000,000 were to be lent to merchants and tradesmen for the same period of years, with the same payment, for the purpose of reimbursement, but at an in- HOUSE OF ROMANOF. terest of four per cent. This bank was to serve as an insurance office against fire, and a deposi- tary for money. As the means of instruction were very dispro- portionate to the population of her empire, Ca- therine resolved to increase them, and with this view appointed a commission to superintend the establishment of schools in various provinces. To this commission, which she deemed of great importance, she frequently sent notes communi- cating hints for the improvement of the schools, and even attended during lesson. One day, while she was present, with several courtiers, a learned German, who had accepted the profes- sorship of geography and history in the Russian tongue, instructed natives of Siberia. After listening attentively, she commended his know- ledge and assiduity, but objected to some of his observations. The professor replying in the most satisfactory manner, the president of the commission, Zavadofsky, appeared enraged at his insolence, while she gave the scholar thanks for correcting her mistake ; and, as she per* ceived Zavadofsky's displeasure, ordered him, when he attended her to her carriage, to repeat her thanks to the professor. But this prevented not Zavadofsky from depriving the German of his office and lodgings, an example of the tyranny exercised by the favourites of .-Ca- therine, CATHERINE II. 337 1 Though policy induced the empress to make pretensions of reverence for the rites and ob- servances of the Greek church, it is probable that she had imbibed the sentiments of the French philosophists respecting- religion, and regarded all forms of worship with indifference, if not contempt. She afforded all sects not only protection, but liberty to aspire to any office or dignity under her authority. Those who were reputed heretics met with extreme forbearance from her. " Poor wretches/' said she, " since they are to suffer to such a degree in the future world, it is but reasonable to make their condi- tion here as comfortable as possible.'* In con- formity with this sentiment, which no doubt ought to be considered as a sarcasm, she not only supported Isla'mism in the Crimea, the catholic faith in Poland, and indulged Protes- tants and Pagans with protection, but her con- fessor, by her orders, invited ecclesiastics of all communions, on the day of blessing the waters, to a grand entertainment, which she called the dinner of toleration. At the same table were seated ministers of eight different forms of Christianity. For several years the same eccle- siastic annually invited on the 6th of January to dine with him, the clergy of the several com- munions in Petersbiirgh, who assembled in a body of fifteen or sixteen different persuasions, in the habits of their respective churches. At these HOUSE OF ROMANOF. meetings, the archbishop of Novgorod and Pe- ters burgh presided, who, on the close of the repast, uttered aloud, " Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, and good will to men. 1 ' The evening passed in agreeable discourse, grave, or humorous, in the several tongues of Europe. Catherine defrayed the whole of the expense.* Yermolof, soon forgetting his obligations to Potemkin, endeavoured to injure him in the opinion of the empress. In consequence of a quarrel, Potemkin had disgraced an uncle of Yermolof s, who complained to her majesty, and Potemkin being reproved, " Madam," said he enraged, " there is but one alternative, you must either dismiss Yermolof or me ; while you keep that white negro I will not set my foot within the palace." Catherine obeyed ; and the same day Yermolof resigned his post to Momonof. The intention, which Catherine had announced in the beginning of 1786, of making a magnifi- cent progress into the southern provinces of her empire, to receive the homage of her new sub- jects, excited the fears of the Turks, and the curiosity of all Europe. It was the great ob- ject of Catherine's ambition to expel the Turks from Europe, and found a new empire on the ruins of the Ottoman greatness. With this Life of Catherine, Vol. III. p. UO, 128, 131, 119 127. CATHERINE TT. 330 view, her second grandson had been baptized by the name of Const antine, brought up by nurses from Greece, and instructed in the Greek tongue: she had seduced the emperor Joseph from the line of sound policy by prospects of sharing in the spoils of the Turkish empire: and while she intrigued in Egypt and the Archipelago, she had endeavoured to prevent the interference of France, by forming a com- mercial treaty very favourable to that power. The designs of Catherine, however, were hardly ripe for execution ; and that she resolved at this period on the journey to the Crimea, must be ascribed to Potemkin, who, apprehensive that his enemies might employ the abuses of his ad- ministration to undermine his power, hoped to amuse the empress with fictitious appearances of prosperity and submission. The original conception of this progress was formed in a most extraordinary style of magnificence and grandeur; but while preparations were in for- wardness, the young prince Constantine, who was to be conducted to the gates of the eastern empire, was seized with the measles, and it was reported that skirmishes had taken place between the Russians and the Grim Tartars. Though these circumstances narrowed the original de- sign, setting aside the coronation of Catherine as queen of Taurida, and protectress of the Tartars, the empress departed from Petersburg!! z 2 34O HOUSE OF KOMANOF. January 18th, 1 787, accompanied by the principal persons of her court, and the ministers of Austria, France, and England. For the space of five hundred leagues the road was illuminated with large fires, at the distance of every thirty fa- thoms; and merchants, summoned from all quarters, with crowds drawn by curiosity, pre- sented the appearance of a numerous and indus- trious population. A great number of horses having been previously prepared, the empress travelled night and day ; and as she distributed upwards of 100,000 rubles in every town on her rout, and had in her carriage a large sack full of gold pieces, which were scattered among the peasants, it may be supposed that she was fol- lowed with acclamations, and that in all the towns balls and illuminations afforded a joyous spectacle. This flattering scene, however, sud- denly changed, as she entered the province of marshal Romantzof. Potemkin, who envied the glory of that veteran, had contrived to leave him destitute of every thing necessary to receive his sovereign with magnificence ; Kief presented a heap of ruins ; the severity of the imposts ex- cited murmurs ; and the troops of the marshal appeared incomplete, and in old clothes. The marshal concealed not his complaints, which Catherine ascribed to jealousy. After being delayed in this dismal country three months by the ice, she embarked, with her CATHERINE II. 341 numerous retinue, in a fleet of fifty Dallies, an descending the Dnieper, entered the government of Potemkin. His arts, aided by the spring, dif- fused a magic charm over the whole scene. At Krementshuk, 12,000 men, in new uniforms, ma- no3uvring with a body of Cossacks, exhibited a sham fight before the empress. On this occa- sion, when all persons pressed to solicit favours, >he said to Suwarrow, a Do you want nothing-, general." " Only that you would order my lodgings to be paid, madam," returned Suwar- row. The rent of his lodgings was two rubles a month. The bounties of Catherine were cele- brated with all the pomp of rhetoric ; but who has recorded the services which she neglected to reward? The king of Poland came to pay respect to the princess, who had raised him to a throne, for the purpose of humbling him. She gave him a cold welcome, and having received vague promises of support, Stanislaus departed with apprehen- sions of a second partition. As the empress descended the Dnieper, she ixmnd its banks covered with villages, which had been constructed on purpose, and peasants well dressed, tending numerous flocks, who had been brought from different parts of the country. While she was delighted with the beauties which the artifice of her minister had for a mo- ment imparted to a desart, she was met by the HOUSE OF BOM AN OF. emperor Joseph, who accompanied her to Cherson. This city was wealthy, its harbour full of vessels, and its docks well supplied. A ship of sixty-four, and another of fbrty guns, were launched in Catherine's presence. As she passed through the town, she saw on the eastern gate an inscription to.this effect* " This is the road to Byzantium." While she was here, four Turkish ships of the line anchored in the roads, which excited great indignation in her mind. " See!" said she to her courtiers, " it might be supposed the Turks had forgotten Tscheme!" From Cherson, the empress proceeded into the Crimea. Wherever she stopt a night, a palace was prepared for her reception. The evening which she spent at Baktschezerai, a mountain was so illuminated, that it seemed en- tirely on fire. She distributed considerable presents among the Tartar nobles, who in return, testified the most ardent devotion, and in six weeks declared for the Turks. On her way home, when she came to Pultava, Potemkin en- tertained her with an exact representation of the^ battle in which Charles XII. lost the glory of a hundred victories. The emperor Joseph was so captivated with the behaviour of Catherine, that he expressed his inclination to assist her in placing her grandson upon the throne of the Cesars; and, though he was informed of a revolt in the Netherlands, which required his presence, CATHERINE IT. never left her till she reached Moscow.* The progress of the empress to the Crimea, was perhaps the most extraordinary journey ever performed, considering the fascinating ease, humour, and playfulness, with which she enter- tained her companions; the pompous munificence which she employed to astonish her subjects; and the wonderful contrivances devised by Potemkin to impose upon her judgment and flatter her vanity. * Life of Catherine, Vol. III. p. 1 511 70. Mayo, Vol. III. p. 6770. 344 HOUSE GJT ROMANOF. CHAP. XII. War 'with Turkey and Sweden "-Success of Catherine Peace tvith Sweden Reduction of Ismail Disgrace of Momonof Disasters of the Turks Peace Death and Character of Potemkin Dismemberment of Poland Ca- therine's opposition to the French Revolution Usurpation of Courland Singular disappointment Projects on the Caspian Sea Death and Character Paul. ; -/.-j.(K|j THE splendid journey of Catherine, which originated in ostentation, and produced no ad- vantage to herself, excited serious apprehensions in neighbouring states. The Turks, who were persuaded that Catherine aimed at their ruin, made preparations for defence ; and as it was supposed, that in the interviews between their imperial majesties, measures were .concerted for a joint attack upon Turkey; England and Prus- sia were resolved to maintain the independance of Europe. Tney stimulated the Turks to hos- tilities ; while France, whose interest lay in pre- serving peace, endeavoured to prevent a rupture. When it appeared that the divan considered war as the safest policy, Catherine, whose profusion and costly establishments had deranged her CATHERINE IT. 345 finances, was disposed to lower her pretensions but the sultan, provoked by repeated injuries, and in expectation of assistance from other powers, sent her ambassador to the seven towers, and published a declaration of war. In con- formity with this spirit, the Turkish emperor neglected no expedient to inflame the animosity of his subjects against the Russians, or frustrate the designs of his insatiable enemies. England and Prussia, while they encouraged the Turks to warlike measures, instigated the northern powers to seize so favourable an opportunity for curbing the ambition of Catherine ; a design to which the French also contributed; for, though they professed neutrality, they incited the the Swedish monarch to make a diversion in favour of the Ottomans. Meanwhile Catherine, who had foreseen a rupture, prepared to execute her designs. She issued a manifesto, in which, accusing the Turks of perfidy, treachery, and contempt of the most solemn engagements, she impudently pretended that she was obliged to recur to arms, as the only means of asserting her rights; and that, perfectly innocent of the calamities which the war might create, she was authorised to rely not only on the providence of God, and the aid of her allies, but on the prayers of Christendom for the success of so just a cause. For the pur- pose of enlisting superstition in the service of 340 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. her destructive ambition, she circulated among heir subjects the prophesies of the patriarchs, Jeremiah and Nicon, predicting the downfal of Constantinople. These, however, were not the weapons on which Catherine depended for vic- tory. A fleet of eight sail of the line, and twelve frigates, with about two hundred smaller vessels, was equipped in the Euxine, and two strong squadrons were ready at Cronstadt to sail for the Mediterranean. Her armies, to the amount of 1 50,000 men, assembled on the shores of the Bog ; while her ally, the emperor, who was no less desirous of the fall of the Turks than herself, promised to send 80,000 men into Moldavia. The hope of triumphs, which these armaments seemed to ensure, was encouraged by the first events of the war. It was the desire of the empress to subject to her authority the Tartars on the Euxine, and other tribes inhabiting the regions of Caucasus. But, animated by the love of independance, and the exhortations of a new prophet, the sheik Man sour, who appeared among them, these hordes took arms in defence of th^ir liberty and religion. An obscure, but destructive warfare, commenced in 1784> had been carried on since that period; and the Russians, though they gained victories, suffered great loss, sometimes a defeat, and made little progress in subduing the enthusiasm of these hide- CATHERINE II. 347 pendant tribes. Assisted by the Turks, who considered them as useful allies, they entered the Russian frontiers, under the command of their prophet ; but their irregular courage was over- borne by the numbers, arms, and discipline of their enemies. The Russians defeated Man- sour, and ravaged the country of the Tartars, and foiled the attempts of the Turks on Kin- burne, events which excited uncommon joy in the court of Petersburgh, as ominous perhaps of the result of the contest.* While Catherine, in concert with the German emperor, prepared to overwhelm the Ottoman power, she endeavoured to form an alliance with Austria, France, and Spain, to counteract the designs of England and Prussia. But these powers not only frustrated this attempt, by in- timidating Louis XVI., but engaged the Swedish monarch to declare war against Russia, arid in- cited the Poles to embrace the present opportu- nity of throwing off the Russian yoke. Though the empress was disappointed in her negotiations, and involved in war, on which she had not calculated, and which spread terror through Petersburgh, she discovered the utmost composure; and while she took measures to repel the immediate danger, relaxed not her * Life of Catherine, Vol. Ill, p. 176195. Mayo, Vol. III. p. 7173. HOUSE OF ROMANOF. efforts against the Turks. Accident, no less than prudence and firmness enabled her to defeat the designs of the Swedish monarch. Desirous of emulating the fame of Gustavus Adolphus, and Charles XII. this prince joined his troops in Finland, and prepared to lay siege to Frederick- sham with great hopes, as the Russian soldiers had been marched to the Turkish frontier. But his men became mutinous, and would not fight; and at the same time the Danes made an irrup- tion into Sweden. The intrigues of Catherine, which fomented the discontents among the Swedes, and induced the Danes to take the field, would have proved fatal to Gustavus at the moment when he dreamt of victory, if the spirited interference of the English minister, Sir Hugh Elliot, had not led the Danish general to withdraw his army, and agree to an armis- tice. If unforeseen events thus enabled the empress to defeat the military preparations of her new enemy, she was still more remarkably indebted to happy occurrences for preservation from his naval force. The Russian fleet* of eighteen sail of the line, was prepared to sail for the Mediterranean, and pilot boats and ten-, ders were engaged in England. When every thing seemed to favour the expedition, a pro- clamation appeared in the London Gazette, pro- hibiting British seamen from entering into foreign service, and the merchants were ordered not to ; CATHERINE IT. 310 furnish tenders, the government being deter- mined to maintain a strict neutrality. To ,re- inedy this disappointment, the empress applied to the Dutch; but influenced by the British, they expressed a like determination. Though nothing could be more vexatious to Catherine than these disappointments, nothing could be more advantageous ; since, if her fleet had sailed early in the season, her capital, her arsenals, and the province of Livonia, had been exposed to im- minent peril. The Swedish fleet of fifteen sail of the line, and five large frigates, appearing in the gulph of Finland, admiral Greig put to sea with seventeen sail of the line. A battle ensued, June 30th, 1788, after two hours fighting the fleets parted to refit, and then renewed the contest with redoubled fury. When night came on, the advantage, if any, was on the side of the Swedes ; but Greig, after retiring to Cronstadt for a few weeks, again put to sea with additional force, attacked his enemies by surprize, and, capturing one vessel, obliged the rest to take shelter in the harbour of Sweabourg, where they were blocked up the remainder of the season. Catherine testified the high sense she enter- tained of this service, by writing a letter of thanks to the admiral, and bestowing upon him more substantial rewards.* * life of Catherine, Vol III, p, 201251. VoJ.IILp.lI5. 350 HOUSE OF ROMANOV. Meanwhile the forces 01 the empress acting 1 agaiostthe Turks and Tartars, signalized them* selves by more dangerous exploits. While the Tartars of the Kuban were defeated, and the Turkish fleet repelled, Potemkin advanced through regions, which war and pestilence had desolated, to the siege of Otchakof, which lie began August 29. The place was taken by assault, after a vigorous defence of three months and twenty days, in which the assailants lost 12,000, and the besieged 25,000 men. A scene, which lasted three days, ensued, of rapine, de- bauchery, and slaughter. Though the arm& of Catherine were so suc- cessful in every quarter, the posture of her affairs seemed only to demand fresh exertions* She ordered new levies to recruit her armies extending from the Caspian sea to the Baltic ; and as the population of Russia was greatly diminished, the exiles were drawn from Siberia to supply the deficiency. Tyranny relaxed at the call of ambition. The Swedish monarch, who appeared on the verge of ruin last year, having-, during the winter, made peace with Denmark, and esta- blished absolute authority in his states, again endeavoured to annoy the empress. But, though after gaining two victories, he penetrated into Russian Finland, he was compelled to retire with loss ; while his fleet of gallies of forty sail CATHERINE If. 3ot was defeated by the Russian fleet of seventy sail, under the prince of Nassau. Not disheartened by this series of disaster, Gustavus determined to prosecute the war with still greater vigour. In April of 1790, he made himself master of three strong posts within twelve leagues of Petersburg!!, 3000 Swedes obliged 10,000 Russians, who were sent to recover the most important of them, to retire with the loss of 2,000 men. The duke of Sudermania attacked the Russian fleet in the harbour of Reval ; but the wind shifting, he narrowly escaped with the loss of a sixty gun ship. To counterbalance this failure, Gustavus, falling upon a division of the Russian fleet, at Fredericksham, took thirty -eight gallies, and destroyed a number of gun-boats. As if it had been determined that defeat should be alternate, the Russians having blocked up the Swedes in the harbour of Viborg, seven or eight of the ships of the line were destroyed ; while the king of Sweden, to revenge the logs, gave battle to the prince of Nassau, and, after a furious combat of two days, captured forty -five of the Russian gallies with 4000 mea. Gustavus now perceived that little success could be expected in a war against Russia ; and Catherine, willing to free herself from an adver- sary, who, if not formidable, at kast occasioned a considerable diversion of her forces, con- 352 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. eluded a treaty, August 14th, 1790, under the mediation of Spain, thing's reverting- to their former condition. The rejoicings on this occa- sion, in the court of Catherine, were extreme, which showed how much she was interested in the event.* But it is time to return to the Turkish war. The success of the emperor Joseph, who, in some measure, retrieved the disasters of his first campaign, and the fluctuation which the death of the excellent prince Achmet IV., introduced into the Turkish councils, were favourable to the progress of Catherine's arms. The empress exceeding her usual munificence in rewarding the officers and men engaged in the capture of Otchakof, it excited a spirit of emulation in the Russian armies, which nothing could resist. While Suwarrow, in conjunction with the prince of Saxe Coburg, with 30,000 men, entirely defeated the army of the vizier, amounting to 90,000 men in Valachia, Potemkin, with the grand army in Bessarabia, frustrated the at- tempts of the Turks for the recovery of Otcha- kof, and prince Repnin and general Kamenskoi repulsed them in Moldavia. The Russians aimed at the reduction of Bender, and 8000 cavalry, who advanced to relieve the fortress, * Life of Catherine, Vol. III. p. 262 275. Mayo, Vol III. p. 114, 162, 198. CATHERINE IT. ' 853 Were totally routed. Repnin, encountering the Turkish army, under the famous Hassan Bey> who had been sent to retrieve the honour of the Ottoman arms, gained a complete victory, tak- ing all his artillery. The reduction of Bender, of Bialogrod, and Kylia Nova, were the fruits of this exploit. In the midst of this career of victory the empress lost her ally, Joseph II., who, dying in February, 1790, left his hereditary dominions to his brother Leopold. This prince* embar- rassed by the revolt of his subjects in the Nether* lands, and apprehensive of an attack from the Prussians, concluded a peace with the Porte, restoring all his conquests beyond Choczym. This treaty somewhat damped the flame of war, and several months elapsed without any memora- ble occurrence. But in the autumn of 1790, preparations were made to reduce Ismail, the only fortress, which remained to the Turks on the lower Danube, and which opened a passage to the countries between the Danube and the Ottoman capital. This place well fortified, witfi a strong- garrison, and 232 pieces of artillery, Suwarrow received orders to take, and accord- ingly with 23,000 men, aided by a fleet cf gallies, he obeyed. Under cover of a tremerd- ous fire, from 567 pieces of cannon on board the gallies* and surrounding batteries, he nvde a furious assault, which the Turks receive* with 2 A 854 HOUSE OF ROMANOF, unshaken firmness, the citizens, men and women supporting" the troops. Suwarrow, though re- pulsed, was not dismayed; he came again to the attack, and forced his way into the fortress, where the desperate courage of the Ottomans prolonged the contest for some time. The commander, who deemed further resistance vain, had consented to capitulate, when, an affray taking place, he and the prisoners fell a prey to the ferocity of the victors, who, continuing the carnage, through the night, filled streets, squares*, mosques, and houses, with heaps of slain, to the number of 15.000. Great booty fell into the hands of the Russians, who lost 13,000 of their best soldiers. This is an ex- ample of the effects of Catherine's ambition ; 28,000 souls sacrificed in ten hours. The gene- ral, who was incapable of respecting merit in an enemy, gave the following account of his success to the empress : after, an alliance was concluded between him and the Porte, for the mutual guarantee of each other's dominions. In conformity with these stipulations, the emperor dispatched Suwarrow, famous alike by his victories and barbarities on the Turkish 380 HOUSE OF HOMANOF. frontier and in Poland, at the head of 60,000 men, to co-operate with the Austrians in Italy. He fitted out twelve sail of the line in the Bal- tic, to act in concert with the British fleet, sent a squadron to join the Turks in the Mediterra- nean, declared war against Spain as the ally of France, concluded a defensive treaty with Por- tugal, and endeavoured to stimulate the German states to a vigorous prosecution of the war. He agreed likewise to furnish 17,595 men to assist in the expedition projected by the British against Holland. This ardour, however, which Paul discovered in favour of the allies, was but of short duration. Suwarrow, having joined the Austrians in Lombardy, by a succession of brilliant victories subverted the French power in Italy, and passed the Alps to form a junction with the archduke Charles. After surmounting innumer- able difficulties in making his way through the mountainous districts of Switzerland, he found on reaching the canton of Glarus, that the arch- duke had been withdrawn, and that he was left alone to extricate himself from peril and em- barrassments. The retreat which he was com- pelled to make in the face of the French armies procured him no less glory than his victories. With the retreat of his army in Switzerland, which Paul attributed to the court of Vienna, 581 the failure of the expedition to Holland con- curred to alienate his mind from the cause of the allies. He not only recalled his naval and military forces ; but, not being- indulged with the cession of Malta he entered zealously into the project of the French for reviving the armed neutrality ; he laid an embargo upon all British shipping in his ports; and he conceived an extravagant admiration of Buonaparte, which he expressed with his usual thoughtlessness. One day, general Pahlen being at dinner with him, he said he would give as a toast, the great- est man in Europe, and immediately drank, Buo- naparte ! Huzza ! vive Buonaparte ! The king of Sweden, a zealous partizan of the armed neutrality, having gone to Peters* burgh, to concert measures with the emperor, he entertained that prince with his favourite diversion of a tournament. In the evening, while the glass went briskly round, a dispatch arriving from Buonaparte the conversation turn- ed on the success of the French arms, the pro- jects formed to humble the pride of England, and the prowess which the emperor displayed in the course of the day. Inspired with the spirit of chivalry, Paul conceived the design of send- ing a challenge to all the potentates of Europe, which was announced in the court gazette of Pftmburgh, December 30th, in the following HOUSE OF ROMANOF. terms. ., " It is said that his majesty the empe- ror, seeing 1 that the powers of Europe cannot agree, and wishing to terminate a war which has .raged eleven years, intends to propose a place where he will invite all other potentates, to fight them in closed barriers; for which purpose they are to bring with them their most enlightened ministers, and most skilful gene- rals, as squires, umpires and heralds; such as Tmigut, Pitt, and Bernstorff. He intends himself, to have with him, counts Vander Pah- leu,. andKutusof." While the emperor ruined the commerce of Russia by an embargo on English shipping, and exposed the state to the calamities of a rash and destructive war, he continued to pro- voke the patience of his subjects by acts of folly, caprice, and insanity. His rage against the English rose to a perfect paroxysm. He not only employed all his efforts to unite the northern powers in a confederacy against the British, laid an embargo on their shipping, marched their seamen into the interior, seques- trated their property and threatened the Turks with war if they allowed them to land in Egypt ; but returned the dispatches of the British go- vernment with terms of pacification, unopened, after having pierced them in many places with a penknife. Discoursing in private, with one of his nobles, his majesty without any pro- PAUL. 88:5 vocation, gave him a slap in the face, adding 1 ; " The salutation by the hand of me, Paul." Flourishing his cane in a fit of passion, he acci- dentally broke the branch of a large glass lustre, and perceiving what he had done, he attacked the lustre and reduced it to pieces. As he passed along one day he observed a nobleman looking at some men planting trees. " What are you doing," said he, " Merely seeing the men work," replied the nobleman. "* Oh, is that your employment; take off his pelisse and give him a spade." He ordered the author of an epigram, in which his reign was contrasted with his mother's to lose his tongue, and sent him to one of the Aleutian isles. While reviewing some soldiers in front of his palace, an officer was thrown from his horse and dislocated his arm. Far from dis- covering any appearance of sympathy, the emperor kicked the officer as he lay on the ground. The regulations of Paul multiplied oppressions and punishments, his furious passions kept his courtiers, and even his family in con- tinual alarm, and the vigilant inspection which his spies exercised over words, looks, gestures, and the most indifferent actions spread mistrust, suspicion and dismal uncertainty throughout Petersburgh, A subject of ridicule among fo- reign nations, the contempt and the terror ot his subjects, a cabal it is said was formed in 384 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. the state to deprive the emperor of his po\ter, when he fell a sacrifice to private revenge and ambition. The last of Catherine's favourites, Plato Zubof, delivered to the new sovereign her will, which appointed Alexander her successor ; but instead of receiving the reward which he ex- pected, was banished from the court in disgrace. In order to revenge this affront, and open again the path to distinction, he formed in. his retire- ment the design of murdering the emperor. He contrived by his intrigues to insinuate himself into the favour of Paul, and associated with him- self several other noblemen of rank. Having taken their measures, the assassins proceeded to the palace on the evening of March 22d. The em- peror, who usually slept on a sofa, in anapartment next to that of the empress, having contrary to his custom kissed the members of his family very affectionately, visited the centinels at their posts, and then retired to rest. The guard being changed by officers who were in the conspiracy, the murderers penetrated with ease to the door of the emperor's apartment, where a hussar, whom it had been found .impossible to remove presenting his fusee, Zubof cut him down with his sabre. The murder of his faithful servant roused the unfortunate prince, who springing from his sofa, when the conspirators entered PAUL. JJ85 the" room, at first endeavoured to shelter him- self behind chairs and tables, then assuming an air of authority commanded them to surrender, as his prisoners. As they fiercely advanced to- ward him, he implored them to spare his life, offering to accept of any terms which they might propose. Finding supplication vain, he made a violent effort to reach the window, in which he cut his hand ; and being drawn back, he knocked down one of the assailants with a chair. The empress awakened by the noise would have called for assistance, if a voice had not whispered to her to remain silent under pain of instant death. While the emperor made a desperate resistance, one of the conspirators brought him to the floor with a blow on the temples ; when recovering a little, he again sup- plicated for his life, another taking off his sash, threw it twice round the neck of the defenceless prince ; and one end being held by himself and another given to Zubof, they strangled their sovereign. Having accomplished the horrid deed, the assassins retired without molestation td their respective homes. Thus perished Paul the sovereign of all the Russias in the fifth year ot his reign. So precarious is the most despotic authority,, when folly and oppression expose it to hatred and contempt. The death of the emperor, which the court attributed to apoplexy, diffused an extreme joy 2 C 386 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. among Russians, who expected a mitigation of all their calamities, from his successor his eldest son Alexander. This prince, the delight of his, subjects, and the admiration of the civilized world, was born December 12th, 1777. Ca- therine, who was fond of her grandchildren in proportion as she disliked her son, intended Alexander for her successor, and neglected not the means to qualify him for the labours of government. While she entrusted the care of his education to L'Harpe, a philosopher distinguished by amiable manners, and a pas* sionate admiration of the liberty, which the French revolution promised to the nations ; she united her efforts with those of his tutor, to in- form the understanding, and discipline the affec- tions of the young prince. She composed for his use a u Sketch of Russian History," and u Miscellaneous Pieces/' a work of amusement and instruction, and employed every expedient to .support the authority of the teacher, and ex- cite the industry and application of the pupil. It was not perhaps to the advantage of Alex- ander that he was mar, ied*, at the early age of fifteen, or that al out the same age he was de- prived of his preceptor In his early years, however, he discovered those qualities which have shone out in iiis subsequent life, and are *ar -MS * wtfa^wrt fi i& mtdMm>r ffi&IMo * To the.prmcess of Ba^en Burlac)*, Match 2Ist, 1793. ALEXANDER. 387 so adapted to engage the hearts of men, eleva- tion of sentiment, equability of temper, recti- tude of judgment, generosity, condescension, humanity and benevolence. Placed in a very critical situation between his grandmother and his father, he acquired a degree of caution and circumspection not very suitable to his age. He never seemed to approve of the intentions of Catherine in his favour, and though his father treated him coldly, so strong was the filial prin- ciple in his mind, that he always obeyed his orders, even when they were contrary to his in- clinations. With these amiable qualities it was suspected that he had not sufficient confidence in his own understanding, and would yield too easily to the persuasions of others, a suspicion which some events of his reign have served to confirm. About the time of his accession to the throne, Paul gave several proofs of the distrust which he entertained of his son. He retained the young prince about his person, placed around him officers on whom he could rely, and trans- ferred him from his own regiment to the com- mand of another. He appointed him to perform the function of clerk in the office of the minister Besborodko, an employment which no doubt tended to the benefit of the grand duke. The soldiers loved him for his humanity ; and me- diating between the despot and such of his sub- 2c 2 BLOUSE OF HOMANOF. j.ects as incurred his displeasure, he excited general admiration. The expectations which all men entertained from the character of Alexander, were realized, when he was proclaimed emperor. He resolved at once to terminate the war with Great Britain, into which his father had improvidently entered, an event which would probably have taken place had the late emperor survived ; since the British had reduced the Danes to terms, compelled the Swedish fleet to take refuge in Carlscrona, and rode triumphant in the Baltic with 25 sail of the line, and 45 frigates. The Dew emperor ordered the British seamen to be conducted carefully to the ports from which they bad been taken, and British ships and mer- chandise to be restored, he removed all prohibi- tions against the exportation of grain; and he re-established peace and friendship with the court of London. The first public declaration of the emperor was, that he would adhere to the system pursued by his grandmother. In the month of October lie concluded a treaty with France, highly fa- vourable to the commercial interests of that nation. The great objects at which he aimed were to, improve the condition of his subjects, and to preserve the peace of Europe. The former of these objects, though not absolutely jieglected, he has hitherto been obliged in 3 ALEXANDER. 389 great measure to defer, so much attention has the latter required. In the course of 1802, his imperial majesty had an interview with the king- of Prussia at Menrel, which was supposed to relate to mat- ters of great moment* but appeared in the event a mere complimentary visit The time was past in gaiety and pleasure. During this visit the emperor and king walking on the quay of Memel, fell into conversation with the master of an English vessel, and after some time, the king said to the master of the vessel, this is the emperor of Russia. Very much surprised, the mariner assumed a more respectful tone; but when the emperor added, this is the king 1 of Prussia, he immediately turned off, saying, O ! your servant gentlemen, don't think you can dupe me in that way ; Mr. Emperor and Mr. King, I wish you a very good morning. Though of a pacific disposition, and littfe inclined to take offence, Alexander beheld with uneasiness the incroachments of Buonaparte in Italy and Germany ; and soon had just reason of complaint. The treaties which he had form- ed with France were flagrantly violated, and his ambassador at Paris treated with insult. These provocations, however, produced nothing far- ther than coldness between the two powers, till the murder of the due d'Enghien, when Alex* 390 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. ander addressed a spirited remonstrance to the French government on that barbarous transac- tion- To this an irrelevant and threatening reply being given, another note was presented, in which the overbearing and encroaching con- duct of the French government was exposed with temper, dignity, and force. The emperor required that in conformity with the convention of 1801, the French troops should be withdrawn from Naples, the neutrality of that kingdom being respected; that a principle of concert should be laid down for the adjustment of the affairs of Italy ; that the king of Sardinia should be indemnified for his losses; and that the French troops should be withdrawn from the north of Germany. As the ruler of France was disposed to resent rather than satisfy these equit- able demands, Alexander recalled his minister from Paris, and soon (April llth, 1805) formed an alliance with his Britannic majesty for the purpose of applying a remedy to the evils which afflicted Europe. It was proposed to combine the European states in a general league, and independently of the succours furnishefl by his Britannic majesty, to collect a force of 500,000 men, which might bring the French to consent, to the establishment of such an order of things as would insure a lasting peace, and prove a barrier to all future usurpations. ALEXANDER. 391 Sweden and Austria acceded to the coalition ; and the latter power, after ineffectual attempts to accommodate differences by negotiation, com- menced hostilities against France. In this short war, which the Austrians began prematurely, conducted without skill and ter- minated with the loss of many of their fairest provinces, the emperor of Russia conducted himself with promptitude, spirit, and firmness. Three armies, whose preparations he superin- tended himself, he dispatched successively to the aid of the Austrians. While the court of Berlin, complained of the violation of their territories by the French armies, he appeared in that city ; and gaining all hearts by the suavity of his manners, he seemed to infuse animation and vigor into the irresolute and dastardly councils of Prussia. The Austrian armies having been entirely vanquished in Swa- bia, and the first of his own armies compelled to retreat from the Inn, he quickly repaired to the field of contest to encourage his troops by his presence and example. The emperor join- ed his army a few days before the battle of Austerlitz, which was fought December the 2nd. In this contest, so fatal to the hopes of the combined powers, the armies were nearly equal, each amounting to between 70,000 and 80,000 men ; bu,t the French were so superior in 392 HOUSE OF ROM AN OF. the skill of their officers, the discipline and confidence of their troops, that they gained a most splendid victory over the courage of the allies. On this day the gallantry of Alexander was conspicuous. It is said, that when victory had declared for the enemy, he thrice at the head of his guards charged the assailants, and not only covered the retreat of the allied army, which would otherwise have been entirely de- stroyed, but rescued the greater part of the Russian artillery, which had fallen into the iiands of the victors. As the fate of Austria was decided in the field of Austerlitz, the em- peror Francis was obliged to submit to the terms of the conqueror ; but Alexander refusing to be a party in so humiliating a transaction, retreated towards Russia with his unbroken armies, and the French judged it not expedient to molest him. Though the object of the coalition was wholly frustrated, the connexion still subsisted between the courts of London and Petersburgh; and when Mr. Fox opened a correspondence with the French government, with a view to adjust the differences between England and France, he insisted on the Necessity of admiting Russia as a party to the negotiation. M. D'Oubril was in consequence dispatched by the emperor with full powers to conclude a peace. After some fruit- ALEXANDER. 393 less discussion, the weakness or imprudence of this minister induced him to separate the interests of his court from those of Great Britain, and sign a treaty for Russia alone. When, however, he carried the treaty to Petersburgh for the ap- probation of his master, it was declared that he had exceeded his instructions ; and his imperial majesty signified to the French government his determination not to assent to the articles which M. D'Oubril had signed. Meanwhile Prussia, whose mean, vacillating, and dangerous politics, had allowed her to be- hold with indifference the aggressions of France, upon the liberties of Germany, and the total overthrow of Austria, in the plains of Austerlitz, receiving from the ruler of France insults and mortifications, the usual rewards of his allies, came to extremities with that nation. Among other great errors, by which the Prussians con- tributed to the abasement of their power, they neglected, till it was too late, to communicate their intentions to England and Russia ; and though Alexander, as soon as assistance was solicited, gave orders for the march of his troops, the event of the war was determined in the battle of Auerstadt, a month before they could feave reached the scene of action. The Russian troops, marching to the aid of the Prussians, had entered Warsaw; but th^ general, Benningsen, informed of the advance of 394 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. the French force abandoned that place, and re- tired behind theNarew. Buonaparte, having put himself at the head of his armies, crossed that river in pursuit of the Russians. While his left wing, under Ney and Bessieres, prevented the Prussians, under Lestoc, from joining" the Rus- sians, he himself attacked the main Russian army, which had been greatly reinforced, and entrusted to the command of general Kamen- skoy. On the 23rd of December, the Russian general was driven from his intrench ments at Nasielsk, and his position behind the Wkra being forced, he resolved to retreat beyond the Niemen. General Benningsen, however, con- sidering himself at liberty to use his own dis- cretion, gave the French battle at Pultusk on the 26th. The contest was long and obstinate, and both parties claimed the victory. The ad- vantage perhaps was small on either side ; since the French went into cantonments, and the Rus- sian general deemed it expedient to retire during the night. Benningsen being now appointed commander in chief, he determined to harass his enemy by all possible means ; but Buonaparte penetrating his design, resolved to become the assailant, and for this purpose ordered the corps of the prince of Ponte Corvo, and marshal Ney, posted, the one in Elbing, and the other on the right bank of the Alia, to surprize Konigsberg. This ALEXANDER. 395 plan was defeated by the Russian generals, Pahlen and Galitzin, who drove Ney from the banks of the Alia ; and part of whose corps, en- gaging- the French at Mohringen, January 25, compelled the prince of Ponte Corvo, after a sharp action, to retreat thirty leagues. In con- sequence of these advantages, which enabled Benningsen to advance to the lower Vistula, Buonaparte broke up his cantonments at the close of January, and collecting his troops, to the number of 120,000 men, resolved to attack the centre of the Russian army on its march to the Vistula, by the way of Wildenberg. As soon as the Russian general perceived the supe- riority of the enemy in number, he began to re- tire upon the Pragel, from which it was the plan of the French to cut off his retreat. Much des- perate fighting occurred on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th of February, when the Russians ap- peared on the 7th, posted behind the little village of Eylau. A most bloody contest took place for the village which the French were eager to possess before the general engagement. Both armies having passed the night facing each other, the Russians commenced the attack upon the village of Eylau, where Buonaparte was posted in the church. He judged it of the ut- most importance to gain the rising ground, which commands the plain in which Eyiari is situated, and ordered martjhal ^ugg&gi% with -396 HOUSE OF ROMAN OF. 40 pieces of cannon against it. A terrible can-* nonade was opened on both sides, and the armies being- within half a gun shot of each other, the carnage was horrible. At this mo- ment a thick fall of snow, which intercepted the view of the troops, continued for half an hour. When the weather cleared up, the main body of the French army appeared on the verge of destruction, from which they were rescued by a desperate charge, made by Murat, on the the Russian infantry. The contest was main- tained for twelve hours; and when the com- batants separated from each other, it was impos- sible to determine on which side lay the victory, so nearly were the losses and advantages ba- lanced, and so much did the paiient and ob- stinate courage of the Russians avail against the superior number, science, and discipline of the French. While the Russian general, instead of driving the French over the Vistula, was forced beyond the Pragel, Buonaparte was disappointed in his design upon Konigsberg, and obliged to fall back upon the Vistula. This was the severest check which he had as yet received, and a prelude of what he might expect from the valour and snows of Scythia. In this battle, the French army amounted to 90,000 men, and the Russian 60,000; and each of them was reduced a third. Alexander, though the intrigues of the French ALEXANDER. 397 had involved him in a war with the Ottomans, his ally, the king of Prussia, had, in a few months, lost his armies, and almost all his do- minions, and his troops had suffered so severely in the late contests, seemed resolved to maintain the struggle. When Buonaparte, after the battle of Eylau, sent general Bertrand to the Russian commander in chief with pacific over- tures, Benningsen replied, " that his master had sent him to fight, not to negotiate." The em- peror himself, with the grand duke Constantine, and a reinforcement of 60,000 men, joined his armies. He was met by the king of Prussia, and both monarchs proceeded to Konigsberg. Buonaparte, disappointed in the capture of that city, employed every expedient to strengthen his position behind the Passarge, exacted fresh auxiliaries from his vassals in Italy, Germany, and Switzerland, and culled out the conscription of 1808. Aware that a defeat would be the signal of revolt to the subjected nations, and inflame the spirit of discontent, which his ty- ranny had excited in France, he directed all the resources of his genius and empire to secure vie- tory. While he refreshed and recru ted his armies, he pushed the siege of those places, which remained to the Prussian monarchy, parti- cularly Dantzic. This place was long defended with skill and resolution against the attacks of marshal Le Febre, and an army 40,000 398 HOUSE OF ROMAN OF. strong ; but a detachment of Russians sent to its relief, from Pilau, having been defeated* the garrison surrendered by capitulation, May 27. Buonaparte again proposed to the emperor to renew negotiations for peace ; but though negotiations actually commenced, they produced no favourable result. On the 5th and 6th of July, the French lines were attacked at different points by the Russians. This movement, which was defeated, induced the French ruler to re-' commence offensive operations. After various affairs, always to the advantage of the French, Benningsen took up a position in front of Fried- land, on the left bank of the Alia. A mighty and decisive struggle now ensued. In this ter- rible engagement, which began at three in the morning, and continued till eleven at night, though the Russians made a successful resistance during the early part of the day, their centre being forced about five in the afternoon, they were obliged, after performing whatever valour and constancy could effect, to retire in disorder beyond the Alia. Oh this day, the loss of the Russians amounted to 12,000 men. Pursued by the French cavalry, Benningsen continued his retreat by Tilsit, over the Niemen, for four days'; and on the 19th, having proposed an armistice to the French generals, hostilities^ ceased. Ati interview took place betweett 4 fife ALEXANDER. 399 French ruler, and the emperor of Russia on a ruft in the Niemen. Half of the town of Tilsit was considered as neutral ground, and feasts and entertainments succeeded to the ra^e of war. o As Alexander was only an auxiliary in the con- test, he had nothing 1 to adjust with the French on his own account. In consenting", however, to the treaty of Tilsit, concluded July 7, he ex- posed himself to great censure, as it seemed a dereliction of his engagements with England, for the purpose of restoring an equilibrium of power among 1 European states. Instead of liberating the north of Germany, re-establishing Holland and Switzerland, and securing Italy, he recognized ail the usurpations of Buonaparte, and agreed to the sacrifice of half the Prussian dominions. It may somewhat abate the severity of this censure to remark, that though the English government granted him a subsidy ot 500,000, they attempted no diversion in his favour till it was too late, and that to persevere in the struggle would only have lessened the means of accomplishing the objects of the league, when a more favourable opportunity should occur. After all, the conduct of the emperor of Russia in de- serting the common cause, seems not to admit of justification. His council was divided, and the faction, which favoured France, and the prosecution of the Turkish war, prevailed. When Buonaparte had resolved : on war with 400 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. Prussia, he dispatched Sebastian! to Constan- tinople to persuade the Turks to break off tlieir connexion with England and Russia. Listening to his artifices, they recalled the hospadors of Moldavia and Valachia, in direct violation of the late treaty with Russia, and 40,000 men, under general Michelson, who should have reinforced the army in Poland, entering Moldavia, took possession of Choczym, Bender, and Jassy, in November 1806. The Turks, who would have satisfied all the reasonable complaints of the court of Petersburg!), were so incensed by this aggression, that a rupture was unavoidable. Prosecuting the unjust and ambitious views of his court, the Russian general soon added Bes- sarabia and Valachia to his conquests, and threatened to join the revolted Servians. For the purpose of retaining these acquisitions, the faction inimical to England, not only induced the emperor Alexander to consent to the peace of Tilsit, but zealously to second the designs of Buonaparte for the destruction of British com- merce, and of the independence of all the secon- dary powers of Europe. In conformity with secret engagements, into which he entered to this effect at Tilsit, the emperor of Russia broke off all intercourse with England, revived the armed neutrality, and laid an embargo on all British ships in his ports. The obstruction which the insurrections in ALEXANDER. 40t Spain created to Buonaparte's perfidious schemes of aggrandizement, rendered it neces- sary for him to draw the armies of Germany into France, as well to prevent the German- princes from uniting with the house of Austria 9 as to support his tyrannical measures in France. As the emperor Alexander held in his hand the balance of Europe, it was of the utmost moment to confirm him in his present mean and dan- gerous line of policy. Buonaparte, therefore, determined to have a personal interview with the emperor of the north, as he assiduously styled the Russian autocrat. A meeting between those princes took place September 27, 1808, at Erfurth, a city in the north of Thuringia, be- longing to the electorate of Mayence, Kings, princes, and other personages of rank crowded to pay homage to the French ruler. Great pomp of ceremony and splendour of entertain- ment distinguished this imperial convention* In one of the rides, which Napoleon and Alex- ander took after their morning conferences, it was proposed by the former, and acceded to by the latter, to visit the field of Jena. Whether the insolence on the one hand, or the meanness on the other were greater, is not easy to deter- mine. Buonaparte flattered the grand duke Constantine with the hope of reigning on the ruins of the Ottoman empire; he dexterously contrived a negotiation, by which, under pre- 2 D 40*2 HOUSE OP RCMANOF. tence of favouring- their Russian and Prussian majesties, he agreed to evacuate the Prussian territories as soon as the contributions graciously reduced two thirds should be paid; and per- suaded the emperor Alexander that the Spanish insurrections were the natural consequence of the treaty of Tilsit. As the king of Sweden persisted in his ridi- culous opposition to Buonaparte, hostilities com- menced between that country and Russia. While Swedish Finland submitted to his autho- rity, Alexander raised his army on the Danube to 80,000 men, in order to push his conquests in that quarter. This impolitic war rag^d during 1809, and the following year, with no otjier con- sequence than the destruction of human lives. In 1811 the Turks, who were determined not to submit to the disgraceful conditions proposed by the Russians, made great exertions to recruit their armies. The early part of the campaign was not favourable to the Russians, since they were compelled to abandon the right bank of the Danube. When the confidence of the vizier induced him to convey the greatest part of his army to the left bank of the Danube, Kutusof, who had hitherto acted on the defensive, dis- patched, October 14, 8000 men across the river to attack the Turkish camp near Rudshuck. The enemy was surprised, and his camp taken, while the divisions of the Turkish army were ALEXANDER. 40$ Entirely separated from each other. In the mean time general Gamber retook Silistria, and general Sass forced Ismail, Bey of Seres, who had entered Valachia, to recross the Danube. In consequence of these advantages of th# Russians, the vizier proposed to renew the ne- gotiations; but tke war proceeding, his army surrendered December 8, after losing 10,000 men. Though both powers continued hostile demonstrations some months longer, peace was so obviously their policy, that a treaty was con- cluded August 14, which constituted the Pruth, from its entrance into Moldavia, to its junction with the Danube ; and this river, to the Euxine, the boundaries of the two empires.- 2 D 404 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. CHAP. XIV. Invasion of Rus*ia-*~Progresf of the French Zeal of tfa Russians Fall of Smolensk Battle of Borodino Cap- ture and Conflagration of Moscow Firmness of the Em- peror Alexander Buonaparte's barbarity and difficulties-^- Success of the Russians Destruction of the French Armies Passage of the Berezina-^-Flight of Buonaparte- Hoss of the French in the campaign Laudable conduct of Alexander Advance of the Russians into Germany^ Battles of Lutzen, Bautzen, and Wurtschen Armistice Progress of the Allies Total defeat of Buonaparte at Leipsic Consequences of this Battle Declaration of the Allied Sovereigns from Frankfort Efforts of Buonaparte Negotiations at Chatillon Progress of the War Capture of Paris Fall of Buonaparte Conclusion, THE conclusion of the treaty with the Ottomans \vas accelerated by the dangers, which now threatened the existence of the Russian power. Though Alexander had for a time concurred in the views of the French ruler, his eyes were at last opened to the consequences of ministering to the ambition of his domineering ally. The war with England, as it interrupted a most lucrative trade with that country, had never been popular in Russia, and the emperor could ALEXANDER. 405 not be brought to a rigorous proscription of British commodities. Finland having been ceded to Russia in 1809, he refused the de- mand of France for its restoration, and shewed no satisfaction at Napoleon's arbitrary inter- ference in the politics of the north. The differ- ences which subsisted on these subjects, it ap- peared early in 1812 must be terminated by a terrible conflict. Buonaparte, whose successes had inspired him with a confidence that nothing- was impossible to his arms, marched his troops to the Russian frontier. He concluded treaties of offensive alliance with Austria and Prussia, and seized Pomerania in order to influence the councils of Sweden. June 16, he appeared at the head of his armies, amounting to 400,000 men, drawn from almost every nation of the European continent. This force, the most for- midable which had ever been assembled under one leader, it was supposed would intimidate the Russian emperor into a compliance with whatever terms Napoleon might dictate. But happily for Europe, Alexander resolved on re- sistance. He had already left Petersburgh and joined his army, April 26, at Wilna; and when Buo- naparte, who still made professions of friendship, renewed his demands for the exclusion of British goods from all the ports of Russia, he refused to adopt any measure which might injure the trade 405 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. .of. his dominions- As Buonaparte perceived that he could not terrify his late ally, he gave orders to pass the Niemen, and issued a brief address to his troops, in which he threatened to destroy the overbearing influence which Russia had for forty years exercised in the affairs of Europe. As soon as the French had commenced hostilities, Alexander published a declaration to his subjects, which, after stating his earnest de~ sire, and repeated efforts to prevent a rupture, .concludes as follows. " The hope of peace, without a contest, is gone. We have no other resource than to oppose our brave soldiers to the invader, and to invoke the Supreme Judge to bless the righteous cause. We have no occa- sion to remind our generals, officers, or troops, of their duty or honour. The blood of the Slavo?- nians, so illustrious by their virtues and conquests, flows in their veins. Soldiers! you defend your faith, your country, and your liberty. Your emperor marches at your head, and the God of Justice is against the aggressor. Alexander/' Though the emperor had foreseen the con- test, and made preparations for it, yet his troops were inferior jn number to those of the enemy, by nearly one half. The mode of warfare, which it was deemed expedient to pursue, was that of gradually retiring, leaving a desert to the invaders. In pursuance of this plan, the Jlussian army, which, besides having corps ALEXANDER. 10? Riga and Loutsk, extended from Tele h to Bailistock, after a march of eleven days, began, July 7th, to concentrate on the banks of the Duna. In this retreat, the Russians, who sus- tained trifling loss, received the first assistance from their auxiliary, the cold, which destroyed several thousand horse of the French, and re- tarded their march. Prince Bagration, having the command of the Russian left wing, was in- tercepted in his march toward Wilna, and ob- liged to retire upon the Dnieper. In hopes of effecting a junction with this part of his army, the commander in chief, Barclay de Tolly, abandoned his entrenchechuamp at Drissa, and took up a position before Yitepsk, having left count Vigtenstien at Dris^-a to cover Peters- burgh. Sharp conflicts took place at Ostrovna, between the French corps of Murat and Beau- harnois, and the Russian corps under count Ostennan. Barclay de Tolly prepared for a g-eueral battle, when learning that Bagration intended to make for Smolensk, he resolved to approach that city, where Bagration, after a perilous march, and a terrible conflict with the corps of Davoust at Mohilef, July 22nd, joined the grand army, August the 6th. During this time Ondinot, who designed to advance to Petersburgh, after three days obstinate fighting, was repulsed by Vigtenstien. When the Russian army reached Polotzk, 408 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. Alexander, who had hitherto continued with it, issued two addresses, one to the inhabitants of Moscow, and another to the nation at large, ex- posing the designs of the invader, inflaming their zeal in defence of their country, and call- ing upon them to arm for the destruction of the foe. The whole empire seemed to rouse at the voice of its sovereign. Multitudes volunteered their services, others contributed large sums of mo- ney and diamonds, and many of the nobles raised, clothed, and mounted whole regiments at their own expence. When the emperor went to Moscow to direct the armaments, the inhabitants of that government engaged to furnish 100,000 men armed, clothed, and disciplined, as far as time would allow. Other governments sent forth their armed multitudes with equal alacrity, the regular levies meanwhile proceeding. An ap- peal to the nation from the holy synod appeared, in which the atrocities of Buonaparte were ex- hibited; and the Russians were urged to rise against him as a tyrant, who under the guise of friendship, entered countries with fire, sword, famine, pestilence, and death, in his train. An enthusiastic ardour Was kindled in the minds of the people, equal to the most heroic deeds, and the sublimest sacrifices. Nothing was too dear for them to offer on the altar of their country and their religion. While the emperor roused the spirit of his ALEXANDER. 409 subjects against the enemy of national indepen- dence, and called forth all the resources of his empire to overwhelm his legions, he renewed the treaty of peace with England, and in a per- sonal interview with the crown prince of Sweden at Aho in Finland, August 28th, formed an alliance with that power. Buonaparte, in pursuing the Russians, found it necessary to allow his troops ten days repose, not as he pretended, because the heat was so excessive, but because they were exhausted by want and fatigue. Removing from his posi- tion at Vitepsk, Buonaparte appeared before Smolensk on August 16th, and on the following day commenced a vigorous attack on that city. 30,000 men made a resolute defence, and the work of death proceeded at a dreadful rate on both sides, when Barclay de Tolly, resolving to abandon a post no longer tenable, ordered general Korf, as soon as the army had cleared the French lines, to destroy whatever might be serviceable to the enemy. The whole city was soon in a blaze, affording, to the French, said Buonaparte, the spectacle presented to the inhabitants of Naples during an eruption of Vesuvius. Buonaparte still prosecuted his barren con- quests. Kutusof, who now took the command of the Russian armies, having arrived at Boro- dino, resolved to wait the enemy's approach \ 410 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. and preparations for a general engagement were made by both parties on the 6th of September. The contest began in the morning, and lasted the whole of the day. The French army was 140,000 strong, and the Russian little inferior. 1QOO pieces of artillery from both armies replied to each other. The soldiers fought man to man, and the destruction was proportionate to so close, desperate, and protracted a conflict. The chiefs of both armies claimed the victory. Buonaparte, however, retired nine miles, leav- ing his adversary in possession of the field, 5000 prisoners, and thirty pieces of cannon. Kutusof, not being in a condition to risk a second engagement, because his enemy had been reinforced, and his own supplies had not arrived, came to the desperate resolution of sa- crificing the ancient capital of the empire. This bold measure was approved by most of his officers, and nobly seconded by count Ras- topchin, the military governor of Moscow. Having passed through the city, Kutusof turned to the right, and took up a position to the south, by which movement he preserved his army entire, opened a communication with the armies marching from the Danube, covered the fertile provinces of the empire, and completely inter- sected the enemy's line of operations. Every thing of value was removed from Moscow ; it was deserted by its inhabitants, and a large de- tachment was posted to the north of the city to cover the road to Petersburg. The Russian commander appears to have had high confidence in the success of his measures. In a dispatch l< the emperor, in explanation of his conduct, h said, I boldly assure your most gracious ma- jesty, that the entrance of the French into Moscow is not the conquest of Russia. The sa- crifice of the city of our ancestors must wound all our hearts; but it is a city for an empire. The invader will be compelled to evacuate the capital of the tzars/* Buonaparte entered the city the 14th of Sep- tember; and scarcely had he arrived in the palace of the tzars, when the flames burst forth in different quarters of the town, and continued to rage for fi v days. At the height of the con- flagration, the capital seemed a sea of fire. Such a sacrifice was never before made to na- tional independence. Three fourths of the city were entirely destroyed, 1600 churches, and 1000 palaces. The fall of Moscow diffused a horror among the Russians ; but shook not their determination to defend themselves to the last extremity. The emperor issued a declaration, assuring his sub- jects, that the commander in chief had recoiled, only to fall with accumulated force on the enemy ; that Moscow deserted and rifled, offered a tomb rather than a dwelling to the invaders; 412 HOUSE OF ROMAS OF. and that the enemy would soon be compelled by famine to attempt his escape through the inclosing" armies of Russia. As a precautionary measure, he sent the whole of his naval force to winter in England, and made preparations to abandon even Petersburgh, being determined, he said, to drain the last drop of the cup of misery, rather than subject Russia to a foreign yoke. When the king of Sweden, in 1788, made some insulting proposals to Catherine, she exclaimed, " Were the king of Sweden at Moscow, I would then shew him what a woman like me could do, standing on the ruins of a mighty empire." Alexander, placed in more critical circumstances than she had imagined, actually displayed the magnanimity of which she could only boast. The term of Buonaparte's prosperity had now arrived. A spirit of resistance, on which he had not calculated, pervaded all ranks, from th6 emperor on the throne, to the slave in the mines. Instead of the gold and plenty with which he animated his followers as the spires of Moscow shone at a distance, that city presented a heap of ruins, and smoaking ashes. After signalizing his sojourn in the desolated capital, by the murder of a hundred Russians, who, at the command of their superiors, had lighted the flumes to stop the invaders of their country, famine forced him to think of a retreat. He at ALEXANDER. first tried to negotiate. General Lauriston sent to the Russian head quarters, informed Kutusof that his master, desirous of preventing the further effu- sion of Russian blood, still wished to renew the friendship between the two empires. 7th, preparations for the renewal of hostilities proceeded with alacrity, and the allies took the field with high expectations of conquering a general and per- manent peace. About the middle of August, the emperor Francis and Alexander, and the king of Prussia, met at Prague to concert offensive measures. It was agreed to assail the enemy in front and rear; the Austro-Russislm army, under prince Schwa rtzenberg, to act from Bohemia; 422 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. the Prussian and Russian army, under Blucher, to move from Silesia. An army 90,000 strong*, consisting chiefly of Russians and Swedes, com- manded by the crown prince of Sweden, was destined to cover Berlin, and counteract the efforts of the French in the north of Germany. Buonaparte had collected his armies in Dresden and its vicinity . Reinforcements from France had joined him daily, and Dresden, to- gether with the fortified places in its neighbour- hood, had been put in the best possible state of defence. It was now to be tried, whether Buo- naparte, who had given law to all the nations of the European continent, could be made to relin- quish his usurpations. For a time, his efforts -were worthy of his former fame. On the 21st of August he attacked Blucher on the Bober, and obliged him to retire; and on the 27th, he repulsed the attempt of the allies to carry Dresden by assault. Next day he compelled them to retrograde into the -mountains of Bo- hemia. In these affairs, the allies lost 10,000 men , and the famous general Moreau, who had one of his legs carried away, and the other shat- tered, while he conversed with the emperor Alexander. This success, however, was but momentary. A division of the French, under Vandamme and Bertrand, which had pre-oc- cupied the pass of Osterwalde, after a desperate conflict on the 30th with the Russians under At.EXA.NDER. 123 eount Osterman, was assailed the next day on all sides, and entirely routed ; Vandamme, with six of his general officers, all his baggage, 60 pieces of artillery, and 10,000 prisoners, remain. ing" with the victors. Blucher, having been forced on the 22nd to retire from a sanguinary conflict with marshal Macdonald, attacked the marshal on the 26th, drove him to theKatsbach. The bridges being broken, and the river swoln,the combat, which was renewed on the two follow- ing days, issued in the total defeat of the French, with the loss of 18,000 prisoners, 103 pieces of cannon, two eagles, and large quantities of pro- vision and ammunition. The corps of several generals, amounting to 70,000 men, under the command of marshal Ney, who intended to surprize Berlin, was routed by the crown prince of Sweden at Dennewitz, September 8th. On this occasion, the French lost 18,000 men, 50 pieces of cannon, and 400 ammunition waggons. After defeating attempts of Buonaparte, first to overthrow Blucher, and then Schwartzenberg, the allies resolved on a combined movement to- wards Leipsic, which should terminate the cam- paign. To this point, Schwartzenberg moved by Freyberg and Chemnitz with a large army of Austrians, Russians, and Prussians. Blucher cross- ed the Elbe, October 3, and fixed his head quar- ters at Kremberg, and next day the crown prince passed that river at Aeken. In consequence of 424 HOUSTB OF JfcOJUANOF. these movements, Buonaparte quitted Dresden, and at Rochlitz, twenty miles south of Leipsic, collected his armies, which amounted to 180,000 men* The crown prince and Blucher having formed a j unction, passed the Saale, und the ad- vance of 'the Bohemian army approached ^Al- tenberg just at the time, when in consequence of the treaty concluded between Austria -and Bavaria, 55,000 Bavarians joined the allied cause. In preparing for the mighty struggle, on which were suspended the destinies of the cvvHJzed world, the hostile armies were actuated with very different sentiments. The French, though the recollection of the retreat from Moscow and the late reverses somewhat impaired the confi- dence which the genius of their chief, a.nd twenty years of victory and conquest inspired, burnt, to retrieve their fame and re-establish their power of spoiling the subjected nations. The allies stung by the memory of oppression and insult, animated by recent victories, and the prospects of peace, and freedom, winch ppened upon them, were eager to bless the world, by overthrowing the enemy of its re- pose. It fell to the lot of the veteran Blucher, tO;begin this glorious contest. Advancing -from Halle, October 14th, on the great road toJLeip- sick, he occupied the villages on both sides of it, where he found the French under iars;hals Mar- ALEXANDER. 425 fnont and Ney. The possession of the villages was warmly contested, one of them being taken and retaken five times, Buonaparte witnessed the close of this battle, which night terminated with the loss on the part of the allies, of 6000 or 7000 men, and on that of the enemy >of J2,060 men with an eagle and 40 pieces of cannon. On the 16th the main army made an attack to the south of Leipsic. After great slaughter but little progress, the combatants remained in their different positions. Next day being spent prin- cipally in preparation, the allies moved on the 18th to the attack of Leipsic. The crown prince forced the enemy's right, in the course of which movement 22 pieces of Saxon artil- lery, two Saxon battalions, and two regiments of Westphalian hussars joined him, who were immediately employed against the enemy. After considerable resistance the great allied army which assailed on the south, drove the French from all points, and opened a communication with that of the crown prince. The result of this day's success was a loss to the enemy of 40*000 men, and 65 pieces of cannon, with the desertion of 17 German battalions, who joined the conquerors. Next day the emperor Alexander, rejecting a flag of truce from the king of Sax- ony, entreating him to spare the town, as an artifice to gain time, ordered a general assault, 426 HOUSE OP ROMANOF. and two hours after Buonaparte's escape, Leip- sic was taken with little resistance. The king of Saxony and his court, with the rear guard of the French army, 30,000 strong, the sick and wounded, artillery, and stores, fell into the hands of the allies. The emperor Alexander, the king of Prussia, and the crown prince of Sweden, met at the head of their respective armies, in the square of the city, amidst the acclamations of the people. This victory was decisive. Buonaparte fled in disorder, and after a conflict at Hanau with the Bavarians under general Wrede, retreated to Mentz. The nations felt that their chains were broken. From the mouth of the Rhine to the extremities of Calabria, Dutch, Germans, Swiss, Tyrolese, and Italians, all aspired to independence. The allied sovereigns conducted their vic- torious troops to the Rhine, in order to finish, what they had begun with such success. They assembled at Frankfort, the emperors of Austria and Russia, the kings of Prussia and Bavaria, with many other German princes. ^Having re- solved on the invasion of France, as the likeliest expedient to procure a lasting peace, to prevent any misapprehensions which this step might oc- casion in the minds, of their friends, as well as deprive Buonaparte of the advantage which it ALEXANDER. 427 might afford him in exciting the French to sup- port his preposterous ambition, they issued De- cember 1, a declaration explanatory of their principles and conduct. They made war, they said, not against France, but against the prepon- derance which the emperor Napoleon had so long and so unhappily exercised beyond the limits of his empire. They desired that France might be great, powerful and happy ; but wished to be free, tranquil, and happy themselves. Having made offers of such a peace as might preserve Europe from the calamities which had afflicted it for twenty years, they were deter- mined not to lay down their arms till that great object was secured, The allied armies now passed the frontiers of France, and the French were to feel the evils which they had succes- sively diffused through all the nations of the continent. The armies of France were so com- pletely destroyed that the allies spread them- selves through Alsace and Franche Comte with- out meeting with any thing like resistance. The rapidity of the French conquests was a matter of astonishment and alarm to all per- sons interested in the independence of nations, and apprehensive of the evils of universal mo- narchy. But the conquests of the French were lost in as many months as it took years to ac- quire them. In extending their power, tKey 428 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. were greatly assisted by the deceitful promises of liberty which they held out to the nations, and the abuses of the ancient governments ; but they lost it through extravagant ambition, and insupportable oppressions. In the career of vic- tory the French affected to emulate the Romans. That extraordinary people, however, knew when to limit and how to retain their con- quests. When Buonaparte returned in disgrace a second time to his capital, though he boasted of victories, he acknowledged that they had been followed by the same consequences as defeats. Addressing the senate, November 14th, he said, " All Europe is now against us. We should have every thing to fear ; but for the power and energy of the nation. If circumstances appear great and critical, posterity will acknowledge they were not superior to France and me." Never was an anticipation more unfortunate. To meet the present difficulties, Buonaparte im- posed additional taxes, ordered anew conscription of 300,000 men, and appointed commissioners from the senate with authority to organize the means of defence in all the military divisions. This commission suspended every other magistrate. All the efforts of Buonaparte to rouse the spirit of the people by misrepresenting the in- tentions of the allies were ineffectual. The desice ALEXANDER, 429 of peace was so strong that he was obliged to profess an acquiescence in the moderate terms which his enemies proposed as the basis of negotiation, and an acknowledgement that he in- terposed not any obstacles to the re-establish- ment of peace. But he was not sincere. He laid the correspondence which had passed be- tween his minister, and those of the allies before a committee of the senate, in expectation that they would find in it proofs of his pacific in- tentions, and of an aversion in the allies to reasonable terms of reconciliation. This artifice failed. The committee, aware of the inclina- tions of the people to peace, with a courageous honesty, worthy of the highest commendation, advised their ruler to declare solemnly that the French made war only for their independence, and the integrity of their territories. Though this advice was far from what Buonaparte wished, he found it expedient to yield in appearance at least to public opinion, and sent a minister to treat with the allies. Conferences were opened at Chatillon, February 4th, for the purpose of negotiating a general peace. Offensive operations meanwhile proceeded between the belligerents. When the allied armies entered the French territories, not only were declarations issued by their generals, dis- claiming all views of conquest, and expressing 430 HOUSE OF ROMAN or. an earnest desire of a peace which might be honourable for France and safe for the rest of Europe ; but the emperor Alexander published an address to his troops, in which after remind- ing them of what their valour and discipline had accomplished, he stated that his wish was that peace might be restored to every nation, and that in all countries the welfare of the people, the service of God, arts and commerce might be promoted. He exhorted his soldiers to forget what they had suffered from the malignity of their enemy, and instead of imitating his crimes, offer him the hand of friendship, and the olive of peace. " In such a conquest over ourselves as well as our enemy," said this im- perial peacemaker; " the effulgence of Russian glory will be conspicuous. The religion that we cherish commands us to forgive our enemies, and to do good to those that persecute us. Sol- diers, I am firmly persuaded, that by your proper behaviour in an enemy's country you will gain the affection of those whom you conquer by your valour. Remember that you will best promote the end which we have in view by temperance, discipline, and Christian love." The allies advanced into the interior of France, the grand army, which moved on the Seine en- tered Troyes, February 7th, and the Silesian army, under marshal Blucher, which directed ALEXANDER. 431 its march upon the Marne, obtained possession of Chalons on the 5th, and pushed its corps as far as Montmirail and Champaubert. Buonaparte having organized the national guard of Paris, and entrusted the regency to his consort, left his capital for the last time, January 25th, and soon took the command of his troops. His first attacks upon the allies being ineffectual, he col- lected his forces near Sezanne. On the llth he attacked the corps under general D'York and baron Sacken, who marched upon Montmirail. After a sharp contest Sacken was obliged to re- treat with considerable loss. Marshal Blucher having learnt that marshal Marmont was at Etoges, determined to attack him, and on the 13th drove him from his po- sition ; but pursuing him next day, he was en- countered by Buonaparte, who by a forced march from Chateau Thierry joined Marmont at Janvilliers. The situation of marshal Blucher at this time was extremely critical, the enemy having double the number of infantry, and treble the number of cavalry. But though assailed on all sides, he maintained a retiring combat for twelve miles, preserving his columns in firm unbroken order. In this desperate conflict, in which it was the intention of the enemy to destroy his whole corps, Blucher lost 3000 men, and seven pieces of cannon. 432 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. The grand allied army meanwhile having: taken Sens, and sent light troops as far as Melun and Fontainbleau, recalled Buonaparte from the pursuit of marshal Blucher. He fell in with a corps of Vigtenstein's advanced guard on the 17th, and drove it back with great loss. This affair induced prince Schwartzenberg to withdraw the greater part of his army across the Seine. On the following day the posts, which he retained on that riv6r, were attacked with great vigor by the enemy, who though thrice repulsed renewed the attack at night with success. Prince Schwartzenberg retired in con- sequence to Troyes. After the action of the 14th, Blucher pursued his retreat without molestation to Chalons. But when he perceived that the enemy had aban- doned the pursuit, he reunited the corps of his army, and began again to advance. On the 28th he crossed the Marne, without difficulty near Ferte-sous-Jouarre. The advance of the Silesian army obliged Buonaparte to desist from following prince Schwartzenberg. On this, the prince again moved forward, and took Bar sur Aube on the 27th, and drove the French from all their positions on the Aube., with the loss of between 3000 and 4000 men. March 3d, he defeated marshal Oudinot, be- tween Bar-sur-Seine, and Bar-sur-Aube, taking ALEXANDER. 433 3000 prisoners, and 10 pieces of artillery and made himself again master of Troyes. To preserve a communication with marshal Blucher and threaten the rear of Buonaparte, he ordered count Platof to move upon the Sezane. On the advance of Buonaparte, marshal Blu- cher retired upon his reinforcements, and on the 3rd formed a junction with the corps of gene- rals Winzingerode and Bulow, taking a po- sition behind Soissons. On the 5th Buona- parte, with the whole of his guards, and the corps of marshals Marmont and Mortier, com- menced an attack upon the town which was de- fended by 10,000 Russians. The enemy having gained possession of the suburbs, an obstinate contest ensued till night. In the morning the Russians were left masters of the town ; but Buonaparte having crossed the Aisne, directed his march upon Laon, and next day made a vigorous attack wjth his whole army 60,000 strong, upon the droops of marshal Blucher. Though the enemy was resisted at all points with great spirit the marshal toward night re- tired upon Laon. In this position he was again attacked on the 9th by Buonaparte, with all his force, and the contest was maintained for two days, with little intermission, when all the efforts of the enemy were baffled, and he was com- pelled to retire in disorder. Between 5000 an$ 2 F 434 HOUSE Of ROMAN OF. 6000 prisoners, with 48 pieces of camion fell into the hands of the allies. This was the last great battle fought by Buonaparte. He retired to Chavign ; but Rheiins having been taken by general St. Priest, he attacked that place on the 12th. Count St. Priest, was surrounded, and the allies lost the town with 2000 men. This closed the series of Buonaparte's victories. Nothing was more advantageous to the allies than the temporary success of Buonaparte in retarding their advance upon Paris. Inspiring him with a vain confidence of retrieving his af- fairs, it induced him to reject the favourable terms, on which the allies offered him peace, His presumption completed his ruin. The negotiations at Chatillon having been broken off, Buonaparte passed into the rear of the allies, with the groundless hope of drawing them to the Rhine, in order to protect their magazines and preserve their communication with Germany. As the allied generals soon penetrated his designs, they immediately united their armies 200,000 strong, and marched di- rectly to Paris. On the 25th they drove back the corps of Marmont and Mortier, which they met not far from Vitry, hastening to the aid of Buonaparte, and near Fere Champenoise, a large convoy of provisions and ammunition, escorted by 6000 men, after a stout resistance, fell into ALEXANDER. their hands. Arriving at Paris on the 29th the allies posted themselves from the wood of Vin- cennes on the left to Montmartre on the right. Prince Schwartzenberg sent a proclamation calling upon the citizens to hasten the peace of the world by concurring with the allies in establishing a salutary government in France. The proposition was rejected, and on the 30th Marmont and Mortier joined by the garrison of Paris took post on the heights of Belleville. A sanguinary contest ensued; but the allies forced all the posts of the enemy, and in the moment of victory, a flag of truce arriving from Paris proposed to accept of the offers, which had been already refused. This being agreeable to the victors, next morning the allied princes rode into Paris at the head of their troops. Buonaparte's reception in Moscow was very different from the greeting with which Alexander and his Prussian majesty met on entering vic- torious into Paris. Their progress was like that of a sovereign, returning among his subjects from the conquest of their enemies. They were hailed as deliverers. " Long live the emperor Alexander," " Long live our deliverer," " Long live the king of Prussia," were the loud and hearty acclamations with which the inhabitants of Paris welcomed their conquerors. The voice of the people was unanimous for peace, and a 2 F 2 436 HOUSE OP ROMAN OF. change of rulers ; and the emperor Alexander, in concert with his ally the king of Prussia, issued a declaration, expressing his purpose not to treat with Buonaparte or any of his family, to respect the integrity of France as it existed under its ancient kings, and sanction whatever constitution the French should adopt. A pro- visional government was in consequence instantly nominated ; the dynasty of Buonaparte sub- verted ; a new constitution formed ; and Louis XVIII. recognized as the legitimate sovereign. Buonaparte, meanwhile, apprized of the ad- vance of the allies to Paris, endeavoured to re- pair his error by a rapid pursuit. But disappointed of supplies, with troops harassed by the enemy's cavalry and exhausted by pri- vation and fatigue, he found that his enemies were masters in his capital, while he was at the distance of two days march. Returned aside therefore, to Fontainbleau to collect his forces ; but deserted even by those troops, whom he had so often led to conquest, after an ineffectual attempt to prolong his power by proposing to resign in favour of his son, he renounced for himself, and his heirs, the throne of France, and accepted from the generosity of his enemies, his liberty, a residence, and a pension. This was the close of a- war, the most dis- tinguished by a rapid succession of great vicis- 437 situdes, and so far as it is proper to judge from conjecture, by important consequences, of any recorded in history. Eighteen months ago Buo- naparte* deemed worthy of the appellation Great by the French, possessed of almost all Spain, absolute master in Holland, Germany, Italy, and Poland, having an ascendancy in Austria, and a name armed with the terror of sixteen years of victory, gained in every part of the European continent, threatened from the palace of the tzars in Moscow, to create a duke of Smolensk and Petersbnrgh, and expunge Russia from the list of nations. After being 1 driven from Russia as a fugitive, routed in the plains of Leipsic, and foiled in the centre of his dominions, he is now opposed by all Eu- rope, deserted by France, and so humbled as voluntarily to renounce his authority, and receive gratuities from the liberality of his conquerors. In this marvellous revolution, which has re- leased so many oppressed nations, and promises to contribute so much to the welfare not only of the other nations of Europe, but of France itself, it is impossible for a Christian mind not to recognize the procedure of the great disposer. Buonaparte, in attempting the invasion of Rus- sia, in consuming so much time amidst the ruins of Moscow, in allowing his position to be turned at Dresden, in rejecting the favourable 438 HOUSE OF ROMANOF. terms of the allied sovereigns^ and in abandon- ing his capital to the attack of the combined armies, discovered that infatuation with which providence visits the great of the world, when it wishes a signal triumph over the haughtiness of men. That the emperor Alexander, supposed to be of a yielding temper, should have opposed his adversary with such unshaken resolution when his overwhelming forces had taken pos- session of the ancient capital of his dominions, that the allied princes should have, amidst a tide of prosperity, pressed with harmony to their ultimate object, as well as have shown such forbearance, when their efforts were crowned with success far beyond their most sanguine hopes, are events of so peculiar an order as to indicate a remarkable interference of providence. The conduct.of the emperor Alexander through the whole series of these extraordinary trans- actions, it is difficult too highly to commend. Unbending firmness amidst great disasters, ge- nerosity in offering aid to the oppressed, and undeviating constancy in pursuing disinterested projects of vast utility, are indeed qualities which he has discovered in common with other select spirits; but when posterity shall search the records of history for an example of moderation amidst unusual successes, they will fix upon the ALEXANBER. the behaviour of this prince when he led his victorious troops into the capital of France. May his life be prolonged and his mind disposed to accomplish as much for the liberty and hap- piness of his subjects, as he has accomplished for the independence and prosperity of the civi* jized world. FINIS, H.Bryer, Printer, Bridge Street, Blackfriars, London; GENERAL LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY RETURN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWED This book is due on the last date stamped below, or on the date to which renewed. 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