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770 COXE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIA,
tion to reform his kingdom; and envy muft allow, that, notwithftanding his precipi-
tancy and imprudence, Ruffia dates feveral ufeful alterations from his fhort reign.
Peter annulled the fecret council or inquifition* of ftate; abolifhed many oppreflive
prerogaiives, formed a plan for correcting the abufes in the courts of judicature, and
for introducing a lefs corrupt fyftem of jurifprudence. He freed the nobles from their
obligation of ferving in the army, and permitted them to travel into foreign countries,
which before depended on the arbitrary will of the fovereign.
During the firft fix weeks of his reign, Peter propofed fo many beneficial regulations,
and made fo many judicious reflections, that thofe who had formed a mean idea of his
capacity, conceived themfelves miftaken; and imagined, that, during the reign of
Elizabeth, he had, from motives of policy, affected a deficiency of underftanding. -His
fubfequent conduét, however, fully proved that he was ftill the fame weak and impru-
dent prince; that he could only adopt the fchemes fuggefted by others, but did not
poflefs abilities fufficient to carry them into execution; that he had all the rage of
reformation, without the judgment neceflary for a-reformer. Thefe falutary regula-
tions were accompanied with others that were trifling, fome that were detrimental,
and feveral, which, although in themfelves ufeful, yet being contrary to the cuftoms and
genius of his people, were imprudently propofed in the commencement of his reign.
He irritated the clergy by fecularizing the eftates of the monafteries, and affigning
penfions far inferior in value to incomes of the ecclefiaftics before this alteration; by
forbidding the admiffion of novices into convents before the age of thirty, and by ore
dering many painted images of faints to be removed from the churches. He banifhed
the Archbifhop of Novogorod, for refufing to confent to thefe ordinances ; but findin
this a€t of arbitrary power attended with general difcontent, he was obliged to recall
him. Being himfelf educated in the Lutheran church, he had embraced the Greek
religion with a view of fucceeding to the throne; but he was no fooner in poffeffion,
than he imprudently difplayed his contempt of many rites and ceremonies, regarded
by his fubjects with profound reverence. He built a Lutheran chapel in the fortrefs
of Oranienbaum, was prefent at the dedication, and diftributed with his own hand
books of hymns to the German foldiers. This circumftance might have paffed un-
noticed, had he not been abfent at the confecration of a Ruffian church in the fame
lace.
He offended the army by his preference of the Holftein troops, by introducing the
Pruffian difcipline, and appointing new uniforms to feveral regiments. He particu-
larly gave umbrage to the guards, accuftomed to refide in the capital, by ordering
two regiments to march into Pomerania, where the army againft Denmark was
affembled.
He affronted the nobility by appointing his uncle Prince George of Holftein gene-
raliffimo of the forces, and by the feperior confidence which he placed in foreigners.
He inflamed the general odium by the public contempt he expreffed for the Ruffian
nation, for their religion and manners. He raifed great difcontents, as well by en-
gaging in the war with Denmark, a war which feemed totally unconnected with the
interefts of the empire, as by his boundlefs admiration.of the Great-Frederick, with
* This ftate inquifition wasinvented ‘by Alexty Michaelovitch ; it confifted of a fecrét committee of
confidential perfons, appointed to judge ctiminals fufpe€ted of high treafon. Perfons of all ranks and
fexes were liable ‘to be arrefted upon the flighteft fufpicions, and tortured’in the moft dreadful manner.
There was a catch-word—Slovo i delo, ‘* Words and deeds ;”’ which, iftany one ‘only pronounced
ageinft another, was fuflicient ‘caufe for his being immediately apptehtnded, “and fent to the fecret com-
amittee,
“vhom
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