Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Pages ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
640 COXE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIAe
the crown, fceptre, and imperial robe, was ftamped upon the reverfe; in the public acts
her name was added to the fignature of the two T’zars*, and fhe appeared in procef.
fions decorated with all the enfigns of royalty ¢ ; circumftances which gave umbrage to
the rival family, and afforded a {pecious pretence for inveighing again{t her ambitious
defigns.
oe. as he advanced in years, and felt himfelf born for empire, beheld with diffatis-
faftion the power lodged in the hands of a rival party : encouraged by his mother and
her adherents, he claimed a fhare in the adminiftration, and took his feat, for the firft
time, in the privy council, on the 25th of January, 1688, in the eighteenth year of his
age. Sophia, though unwilling to refign any part of her authority, could not withhold
her confent ; but as Peter’s fpirit was above controul, fhe availed herfelf of fome violent
altercations which paffed between them, to exclude him from his feat. From this pes
riod their diffenfions arofe to fo great an height, as to threaten an open rupture ; and the
fall of the one feemed neceflary for the fecurity of the other {.
Things remained in this {tate of jealoufy and variance until September, 1689; when
the afpiring genius of Peter acquired the afcendancy, and fecured his undivided autho- _
rity by the fall and imprifonment of Sophia. By the advice of Boris Galitzin and the
Narifkins, Peter refolved to arreft his fifter, and feize the reins of government. It is
afferted by his adherents §, that Sophia and Prince Vaffili Galitzin, apprized of his in.
tentions, determined to prevent their own ruin by his affaffination; that they gained
over the chief of the Strelitz and a corps of fix hundred men, and actually commiffioned,
them to perpetrate that infamous deed. Peter had retired to fleep at his palace of
Preobafhenfki near Mofcow ; when two || of the confpirators, it is faid, ftruck with hor-
ror at their crime, quitted their companions, and ha{tened to the young Tzar with the
information, that a body of Sirelitz were upon their march -to aflaflinate him. Peter
refufed to credit their report, until it was confirmed by Beris Galitzin and one of his
uncles, whom he difpatched to reconnoitre; and the conipirators were already fo near
that he had fcarcely time to make his efcapeG. He inftantly proceeded to the convent
of the Holy Trinity, where troops flocked from all quarters, and in three days he had an
army of fixty thoufand men under his command. ’
Meanwhile Sophia, in a ftate of confternation, denied all intercourfe with the con-
fpirators, expreffed the utmoft horror at their attempt, difpatched repeated meffages
to her brother to juftify her conduct, and even fet off in perfon to affert her innocence ;
but was ordered to return to Mofcow, and deliver the ringleaders of the mutiny. Soon
afterwards Peter himfelf repaired to the capital: the principal confpirators being. tor-
tured in his prefence, confefled a defign againit his life, and {uffered the fevereft punifh-
* She did not fign her name in the public decrees until 1687. Buf. Hift. Mag. vol.i. p.g.
+ Thefe cireumitances cannot imply a defign of ufurping the fovereign authority ; for fhe was only ac-
cufed, even by her enemies, of fecretly confpiring againft Peter, and not of an open attempt to feize the
crown.
f Journ. of St. Pet. for 1778, p. 175, 176. § Gordon.
|| It is remarkable, that this fame ftory of two confpirators who were engaged to affaffinate Peter,
but, repenting, difcovered the plot, is again related as happening im 1697. Schmidt. Ruff. Gef. vol. ii.
. 90.
y a Voltaire, though convinced of Sophia’s intention to affaffinate Peter, and notwithftanding the intelli-
gence he received from the court of Peterfburg, can only give us the following fcanty information: “ La
Neuville refident alors 2 Mofcow, et temoin oculaire de ce qui fe paffa, pretend gue Sophie et Galitzin engagerent
Je nouveau chef des Strélitz 4 leur facrifier leur jeune Czar: il parait au moins que fix-cent de ces Strelitz
devaient s’emparer de fa perfonne. Les memoires fecrettes que la cour de Ruffie m’a confiés, affurent que
Je parti etoit pris de tuer Pierre Premier; le coup allait étre porté, et la Ruffie etait privé a jamais de la
nouvelle exiftence, qu’elle,””” &c. ; : ;
5 ment,
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
