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COXE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIA. 775
head, we, putting our truft in the Almighty and his divine juftice, have afcended the
Imperial throne of All the Ruffias, and have received a folemn oath of fidelity from
all our faithful fubjects. “ Peterfburgh, June 28, O. S. 1762.”
All the adherents of the Emperor were arrefted ; among the reft Prince George
of Holftein, who came to Peterfburgh on the 26th, under pretence of making prepa-
rations for the Emperor’s departure; but, in reality, to watch the oppofite party.
Not the leaft oppofition was made from any quarter to the proceedings of the Emprefs ;
and, notwithitanding the ftreets of Peterfburgh were filled with foldiers, who are ge-
nerally tumultuous and ungovernable in fuch dreadful periods ; yet the greatelt order
and difcipline were preferved, and no injury was offered to any individuals*.
At fix in the evening the Emprefs, habited like a man, in the uniform of the guards,
with a branch of oak in her hat, a drawn fword in her hand, and mounted upon a grey
fteed, marched towards Peterhof, accompanied by the Princefs Dafhkof, the Hetman
Razomofski, the Orlofs, and her principal adherents, at the head of ten thoufand
troops. :
oe eight miles from the capital, Catharine entered a public-houfe called Krafnoi-
‘Cabak t, and employed herfelf for fome time in tearing and burning a large quantity
of papers. She then flung herfelf in her clothes upon an ordinary bed, flept about an
hour and a half, was on horfeback by break of day t, and proceeded about four miles
to the convent of St. Sergius at Strelna, into which fhe retired while the troops en-
camped around. At eight General Ifmailof arrived at Strelna with a meflage from the
Emperor, whofe fituation was now becometruly critical.
While the revolution was-cerrying on at Peterfburgh, Peter remained at Granien-
baum in thoughtlefs fecurity. He paffed the evening which preceded the revolution in
the fortrefs, in-company with a few chofen friends, with whom he indulged, as ufual,
in the pleafures of the table, and retired late to reft intoxicated. In the morning he
-drefled himfelf in his Pruffian uniform, and fet out at eleven for Peterhof, in order to
celebrate the feaft of the Apoftles St. Peter and Paul, expecting to meet the Emprefs
at dinner, and intending, as it is reported, to put her under an arreft §. He was accom-
panied by Elizabeth Vorontzof, her uncle Count Vorontzof, his favourite Godovitz,
Marfhal Munic, and many of the nobility cf both fexes, who formed his court ||. He
* Several Englifh merchants had quitted their houfes before they were apprized of the revolution ; but
found no difficulty in returning through the foldiers pofted in different parts of the town. One gentleman
in particular informed me, that he weut about fix in the morning to the cuftom houfe, and was furprifed to
find no one there. After ftayingfome time, he returned home: and, in his way over the bridge of the
Neva, met:a friend, who aiked him what was the matter, for every thing appeared in confufion. He had
fearcely finifhed thefe words, when about three hundred horfemen, with drawn [words .in their hands,
galloped acrofs the bridge ; a prieft traverfing the bridge at the fame time in a carriage, the two Englifh-
men {tood by the fide of it. Some of the.guards, as they paffed by the prieit, waved their {words over
their heads, crying out at the fame time, * All goes well—vivat Catherine I1.?? And this was the firtt
intelligence thefe merchants -received of the revolution.
+ Rulhiere dignifies this-public-houfe with the appellation of Chateau.
{ From the landlady of the inn, who was alive when I vifited Ruffia, and ftill kept the houfe.
§ Hf Peter really, as it is faid, intended to arreft the Emprefs, his former conduct is in fome meafure
accounted for. He thought that her party was of no confequence, and accordingly difbelieved, or pre-
tended ‘to difbelieve, allthe reports of the coofpiracy, thinking to crufh it at once by fecuring her pefon.
He put implicit confidence in the nobles whom ‘he placed about the Emprefs ; and thefe yery perfons were
the firlt to betray him.
{| From the Intendant of Oranienbaum, who witneffed thefe tranfaQtions,
4 had
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