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.
COXE’s TRAVELS IN RUSSIA. 769
Peter affumed the reins of government with all the joy of a perfon enlarged from a
long confinement ;_he releafed the principal {tate prifoners, particularly Biron, Duke of
Courland, Marfhal Munich *, and Leftof} ; and in all ftate affairs conducted himfelf
on political principles diametrically oppofite to thofe of the late Emprefs.
Elizabeth, at the time of her deceafe, was, in conjunction with the courts of Vienna
and Paris, engaged in a war with the King of Pruflia, which promifed a fpeedy and
glorious termination. The refources of Frederick were nearly exhaufted ; and, not-
withftanding his vigorous and fuccefsful oppofition, he feemed on the point of being
overwhelmed by the number and perfeverance of his enemies. But Peter no fooner
afcended the throne, than, facrificing every other confideration to his extravagant
enthufiafm for the character of the Pruffian monarch, he difpatched an envoy to Berlin,
to propofe an immediate reconciliation, to which Frederic acceded, and a fufpenfion of
hoftilities was foon concluded: Peter recalled his troops from the Auftrian army, and
in a fhort interval fent a reinforcement of twenty thoufand men to his favourite hero.
Thus, within the {pace only of a few months, Ruffian forces joined the Pruffian army,
in order to drive from Silefia thofe very Auftrians who had been brought into that
province by the Ruffian arms.
Having gratified his inclination without confulting his allies, or the honour of his
empire, he aimed at recovering his paternal inheritance, the duchy of Slefvick ; and did
not hefitate to involve his fubjeéts in an expenfive war with Denmark, on account of
claims confidered by many as ill-founded and chimerical. Peter, as Duke of Holftein,
formed pretenfions to that duchy, although ceded by a treaty in 1732: and at the con-
clufion of the peace with the King of Pruffia, ordered an army to march into Hollftein,
which he purpofed to command in perfon.
With refpect to the interior adminiftration of affairs, the Emperor turned his atten-
«* Count Poniatowski is involved in the late intrigues, and it is thought he will not remain long at this
court. Peterfburgh, March 19/30, 1758. Private and Secret.”
«© Asto the Great-Duchefs, fhe has been all along in great diftrefs: ill with the Emprefs, and {till worfe
wich the Grand-Duke, fhe received the other day a very fenfible mortification ; one of her favourite bed-
chamber women having been taken from her, and put under arreft. This, as I hear, occafioned an in-
terview between the Emprefs and the Duchefs about four days ago, in which, after fome fharp reproofs
on one fide, and warm expoftulations on the other, Her Imperial Highnefs fell at the Emprefs’s feet, and
told her that fince fhe had been fo unfortunate as to incur Her Majefty’s difpleafure, though innocently,
and had thereby drawn upon herfelf fo many, and fuch fenfible mortifications, as, joined to family quar-
rels, made her life a burthen to her, fhe had but one favour to afk her, namely, that Her Majefly would
allow her to retire out of Ruffia, and to pafs the reft of her time with her mother, afluring the Emprefs,
at the fame time, that if Her Majefty fhould think it for the intereft of her empire, that the Great-Duke
fhould take another wife, neither fhe nor any of her family would make the {malleft objeGtion to it. The
Emprefs, they fay. was greatly affected with this difcourfe, and talked with much more foftnefs than be-
fore to the Grand-Duchefs, entering into feveral particulars with a greater air of kindnefs than fhe had
done for a long while paft: and when in the converfation Her Imperial Highnefs was beginning to touch
upon fome things relating to the Grand-Duke’s unkindnefs, (who was prefent all the while) the Emprefs
made her a fign to hold her tongue, and in & low voice told her, that fhe muft have another converfation
with her alone, and that it fhould be very foon. It was thought Wednefday laft was the day appointed
for it, as Her Majefty, whofe heart is at bottom both good and tender, was to take the facrament the
next day. It is hoped a reconciliation may have been the confequence of that meeting; and certainly the
generality of people with it very fincerely, the Great-Duchefs having many friends among thofe of the firft
rank. St. Peterfburgh, April 7/28, 1758. Secret.”
* For an account of Biron, fee book v. c. ix. and of Marfhal Munich the next chapter.
+ Leftof was a furgeon ; by birth a German: he was a partifan of Elizabeth, and affifted her in plan-
ning the revolution of 1742. But that ungrateful Princefs forgot this favour; and, hecaufe Leftof be-
came haughty and impertingnt, banifhed and detained him in prifon until fhe died,
VOL. VI. SF tion
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
