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852 COXE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIA
bly referved for prince Sherebatof; who, if we except Muller, has contributed more
than any other perfon towardsilluftrating the Ruffian annals.
This learned nobleman is editor of feveral works: a journal of Peter the Great, in
2 vols, quarto, which he found in the archives, and publifhed by order of the Emprefs.
It confilts of eight books, five of which were correéted by Peter himfelf: The firft
volume begins with the infurreétion of the Strelitzes in 1698, and finifhes with 17145
the fecond concludes with the peace of Nyftadtin 1721. The learned editor has added
feveral remarks, and fome important pieces from the Ruffian archives. The Ruffian
Hiftory, by an Ancient Annalift, from the beginning of the reign of Vlodimir Mono-
maca, in 1114 to 1472, in which the author dwells on the civil feuds of Novogorod,
and its fubjeétion to Ivan Vaflilievitch I. The Life of Peter the Great, inthe Ruffian
language, firft publifhed at Venice, which the Prince reprinted in 1774, and enriched
with hiftorical obfervations. His own works are, an Account of the Ruffian Impoftors :
amongft thefe is the life of Demetrius, chiefly drawn from the fources confulted by
Muller in his relation of the fame period. But this noble author’s great work is the
Hiftory of Ruflia, from the earlieft times. He has already publifhed three volumes in
quarto, which finifhed with the reign of Demetrius Donfki, who died in 1389. I have
read with great pleafure the German tranflation of this performance, which is a moft va-
luable addition to the hiftory of the North. The author had accefs to the imperial
archives ; he draws his information from the moft ancient and unqueftionable fources,
is exaét in quoting his authorities, and ranges the events in chronological order with
creat perfpicuity. A writer, who confulted many chronicles cited by this hiftorian, and
who has given to the public the moft complete hiftory of Ruflia yet extant, thus fpeaks
of this work: * The author always cites his authorities. I have verified a great num-
ber of his references, and have always difcovered his accuracy. If the firft character of
an hiftorian is the love of truth, the prince deferves the greateft praife *.”
Although this difquifition is confined to the native writers; yet I cannot avoid men-
tioning Voltaire’s Life of Peter the Great, as it is the work from which moft foreign
nations have formed their ideas of Ruffia; which many French and Englifh authors
have fervilely copied, until it is confidered asa ftandard book, and particularly as the
author informs usin the Preface: ‘¢ La cour de Peterfbourg, Sc. a fait parvenir a U hif-
vorien chargé de cet ouvrage tous les documens authentiques. Il n’a écrit que fur des preuves
inconteftables.”
But the well-informed Ruffians, although this work idolizes their hero Peter the
Great, confefs that it is an inaccurate performance ; a panegyric rather than a hiftory,
in which many faéts are difguifed or omitted ; where every defect in the principal cha-
raéter is foftened, and every virtue exaggerated. In truth, the elegant author wrote
this Life at the defire of the Emprefs Elizabeth, by whofe order he received great: part
of the materials. Hence it may eafily be conjectured, that nothing would be commu-
nicated which could reflect the fmalleft difcredit on Peter or Catharine; and that the
author was unwilling to infert any circumftance which might be difpleafing to Elizabeth.
His genius was fettered by thefe reftraints; the picture accordingly, which he has drawa
des morceaux trés importantes.” Vol.i. p. xxiv. The Academy of Sciences has alfo publifhed an hiftori-
eal Journal every month, from 1754 to 1765. It confifts of twenty volumes, oétayo, and contains “ ua
grande nombre de moreeaux hiftoriques trés-intéreflans, dont la plipart ont été compofés par le favant Mule.
ler?” ab.
* L’Evefque,
of
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