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.
.
790 COXE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIA.
ment ;.a fentence heavier than death itfelf. It is needlefs to difcriminate the penalties
impofed upon the others, which confifted chiefly in the gauntlet, in degradation, and in
condemnation to ferve in diftant garrifons. It will be fufficient to obferve, that fifty-five
delinquents were involved in the guilt of Mirovitch: to thefe muft be added Cafatkin
and ‘Uchevaridfef, who were convicted of holding treafonable converfations with him;
and Nikita Lebedef, who was punifhed for not having undeceived the foldiers, by ex-
pofing the falfity of the order forged by Mirovitch.
Such are the principal faéts which I was able to:colleét refpecting the life and death
of Ivan; and I -have endeavoured to {tate them with perfect impartiality. The fame
regard to truth prevents me from concealing reports induftrioufly circulated, that the
court not only connived at, but even encouraged the attempt of Mirovitch. The ac-
cufation is thus ftated. Orders were previoufly given to Vlafief and Tchekin to deftroy
Ivan, if any attempt to releafe him fhould be likely to fucceed, and for the purpofe
of furnifhing them with a pretence for difpatching him, Mirovitch was privately infti-
gated to form a confpiracy in his favour. In fupport of this accufation it is urged :
1. In the attack of Mirovitch and his party on the guards of Ivan, not-one perfon on
each .fide was either killed or wounded. 2. The condu& of Mirovitch on the failure
of his project, his daring behaviour under his trial, and his calm compofure at the place
of execution, are not, on any other fuppofition, to be accounted for. 4. Orders
were given to Vlafief and Tchekin for putting Ivan to death ; and.they were promoted
for executing thofe orders. ;
1. With refpe&t to the firit aflertion, we may readily allow the -fa& to have been
very extraordinary, but by no means improbable. it isa well-known circumftance, that
in the outfkirts.of an army large bodies ef light troops frequently approach clofe to
each other, and fire without effet. And if this frequently happens in the day-time,
the probability is {till further increafed, when we confider that the rencounter in quef-
tion happened at two in the morning, and in the mid{ft of a thick fog*. Nor ‘is it extra-
ordinary that the.centinels of Ivan, who were but few, and fome of thefe few fheltered
in the paflage, and others probably behind the pillars of the corridore, fhould not -be
wounded by the random fhots of the aflailants, wavering in their refolutions, and un-
-certain whether to comply with, or difobey, the orders of their leader. ‘With refpec
to the party of Mirovitch, the wholenumber did not attack in a collective body;
many of them continued .at fome-diftance; and they were all fo alarmed at the unex-
pected return of their fire, that they-inftantly difperfed, and-probably beforeall the guards
had difcharged their mufkets; and as the guard confifted-only of eight or ten, as the
night was dark, and the area large, it cannot be.deemed furprifing that they miffed the
aflailants. To a perfon who has been upon the fpot, and examined the pofition of the
place, thefe fuppofitions are far from appearing improbable; whereas, on the other
hand, if we conclude .the whole to have been concerted, we mutt allow that every in-
dividual, on both fides, .was previoufly informed that the attack, as well as defence,
fhould be feigned:: a cafe.in.itlelf impoffible, that a defign of fuch importance, and the
mode of accomplifhing it, fhould be entrufted.to fo.many, and thofe of no higher rank
-than.common foldiers’f. 4. The
* The truth of this circumftance-has been erroneoufly called in queftion ; for I was’informed at Schluf-
felburgh, that almoft every morning in fummer a fog precedes fun-rife, which is naturally accounted for
from the fituation of the ifland on which the fortrefs ttands, in a marfhy foil, and clofe to the largeft lake
vin Europe.
+ In reply to this argument, it has been faid that the cartridges diftributed to the foldiers on both fides
were without balls; but no authority hes ever been adduced in fupport of this.affertion, If we could fup-
pole
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
