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.
74 COXE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIA.
In confequence of this determination, Catharine repaired to the quarters of the Ifmai-
lofski guards. The hour was fo early that Razomofski, the Colonel, was not yet ar-
rived, a circumftance fufficient to have difconcerted a perfon of lefs fpirit; but the
Emprefs, having difpatched a meflenger to him, fummoned the officers and fol.
diers. A few who had been apprized by Orlof were ready; while the greater part,
beine roufed unexpectedly from their flumber, made their appearance {carcely half
drefled.
‘Lhe Emprefs laid before them the bad conduét of the Emperor, his avowed contempt
of the Ruflians, his averfion to their cuftoms, and his attachment to foreigners. She
expofed the dangers which awaited herfelf, her fon, and the principal nobility; fhe
expatiated upon the probable fubverfion of their religion and government, and exhorted
all thofe to follow her, who were defirous of faving their country, and refcuing her and
the Great Duke from deftruation. Her fpeech, occafionally interrupted with fighs
and tears, was fhort and pathetic, and, further enforced by the graces of her perfon;
made an inftantaneous impreflion. ‘Fhe greater part of the foldiers anfwered her
with loud acclamations ; a few officers, indeed, at firft feemed to hefitate; but the ar~
rival of Razomofski quieted their apprehenfions, and the whole regiment offered to
facrifice their lives in her caufe. Catharine then proceeded to the church of the
Virgin Mary of Cafan, and was joined by other bodies of guards, and by many of the
principal nobility. Service being performed by the Archbifhop of Novogorod, the
Emprefs took the accuftomed oath, after which the nobles and people flocked in
crowds to {wear allegiance to the new fovereign. At the conclufion of this ceremony
fhe repaired to the fenate, the members of which body acknowledged her fole Emprefs.
A report, induftrioufly circulated, that Peter was killed by a fall from his horfe, proved
favourable to the fuccefs of the revolution. The fuite of the Emprefs continually auge
mented. Two regiments of guards, who had {carcely quitted Peterfburgh to join the
army in Pomerania, were immediately recalled, and repaired without delay to the ftand-
ard of the Emprefs.
Even in thofe governments where the pretorian bands, ftationed in the capital, depofe
fovereigns, or raife them to the throne, fome plaufible pretence muft be urged to ren-
der arevolution popular, and engage the general voice to ratify the deed of the foldiery.
When Elizabeth feized the reins of empire, the attachment of the nation to the memory
of her father induced the public to applaud that tranfaction ; and in this inftance Peter
had, by fome parts of his conduct, rendered himfelf fo odious, and, by others, fo con-
temptible to his fubjeéts, that the firft account of his dethronement, and of Catharine’s
acceflion, announced in the manifefto, was received with univerfal joy.
‘* Catharine IL. by the grace of God Emprefs and Autocratix of Allthe Ruffias, to
all our faithful fubjects, &c.
«¢ All the true fons of Ruffia have clearly feen the danger which threatened the
whole Ruffian empire. Firft, the foundation of our orthodox Greek religion has been
fhaken, and its tradition expofed to total ruin, fo that it was to be feared that the faith,
which has been eftablifhed in Ruflia from the earlief times, would be entirely changed,
and a foreign religion introduced. In the fecond place, the glory which Ruflia had
acquired at the expence of fo muchblood, and which was carried to the greateft height
by her victorious arms, has been trampled under foot by the peace lately concluded
with its greateft enemy. And, laltly, the domeftic regulations, which are the bafis of
the country’s welfare, have been totally overturned. ,
« For thefe caufes, overcome by the imminent dangers with which our faithful
fubjeéts were threatened, and feeing how fincere and exprefs their defires were on this
head,
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
