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634 COXE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIA.
Near the afhes of Peter are depofited thofe of his fecond wife and fucceflor Catha-
rine I., the beautiful Livonian, who, by a train of fingular events, was exalted from a
cottage to unbounded fovereignty *.
In the vault of this church, but without tomb or infcription, lies Alexey, fon of Pe-
ter I., who fell a facrifice to the arts of the defigning Mentchikof, and to the refentment
of an inhuman, though perhaps juftly offended father. The recolleétion of his fate
makes a {trong impreflion on a feeling mind, and mutt ftill more forcibly {trike a fub-
jet of the Britifh empire ; where will is not law, where the heir apparent is as fecure
as the fovereign himfelf, and where the right of fucceflion ftands irrevocable, not to be
altered by the caprice or jealoufy of a reigning monarch. .The f{peculative theorift may
indeed argue for Peter, that a power ought to be vefted in the fovereign to exclude an
unworthy fucceffor. But, in effect, this is rendering the fate of a whole empire de-
pendent upon the will of one perfon, who, during his life, may change his heir as often
as he changes his opinion; or who, like Peter, may expire without nominating his fuc-
ceffor, and leave the throne open to every claimant who can fecure the concurrence of
thearmy. ‘The exclufion of Alexey, the decree + fubfequent to his death, and the un-
fettled ideas concerning the right of fucceflion introduced by that fatal mandate, oc-
cafioned frequent revolutions in the government; and the difpofal of the fceptre has
depended on the regiments of guards ftationed in the capital. The re-eftablifhment of
hereditary right, therefore, may be juftly clafled among the foremoft of thofe excellent
regulations which diftinguifh the reign of Catharine the Second.
In the fame vault, which contains the body of the unfortunate Alexéy, is placed that
of Charlotte Chriftina Sophia, Princefs of Brunfwick, his no lefs unfortunate wife, whofe
fate is more affli€ting, becaufe fhe deferved it lefs. She was born in 16943; married
the Tzarovitch in 1711, and died on the firft of November, 1715, partly of a broken
heart occafioned by her hufband’s ill-treatment, and partly by the confequences of her
delivery of Peter II. {
Among the imperial fepulchres is that of Anne of Holftein, eldeft daughter of Peter
and Catharine, who, though far more deferving of notice, is lefs known than her fifter
the Emprefs Elizabeth, becaufe her virtues were not ennobled by a diadem. Anne is
defcribed as a Princefs of majeftic form and expreffive features, of an excellent and im-
proved underftanding, and of irreproachable morals. While fhe was very young,
Count Apraxin, a Ruffian nobleman, paid his addreffes to her, but was rejected with
fcorn. Not daunted with this repulfe, he continued his courtfhip, and finding her one
day alone, threw himfelf at her feet, offered his fword, and entreated her to put an end
to his life and mifery. ‘* Give me the fword,” faid the Princefs, ftretching out her
hand, ‘ you fhall fee that the daughter of your Emperor has ftrength and fpirit fufficient
to rid herfelf of a wretch that infults her.” The Count, apprehenfive that fhe might
execute her threat, withdrew the fword, and demanded inftant pardon; and, as the
Princefs told the ftory with great humour, became the derifion of the court §.
® §Sce an account of Catharine I. in chap. viii. of this book.
+ “Inthe month of February, 1722, a proclamation was made by the found of trumpet, requiring
every natural-born fubject of the Ruffian empire, and all foreigners then refiding there, to {wear and fign
an oatb, ‘that they will acknowledge, as fucceffor to the empire, the perfon whom His Majetty fhall no-
minate for their fovereign, after his death.’ This order ftruck a damp on the fpirits of every body, when
they refleGted on the undoubted title of the young Prince Peter, His Majefty’s grandfon, and only remain-
ing heir of the imperial family.” Bruce’s Memoirs, p. 226. 7
+ See an account of this Princefs in chap. viii, of this book. § Baflewitz, 371.
Anne
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