with emblematic devices, inscriptions, and au epitaph, containing in epitome, his entire history. She also caused medals to be struck and copiously to be distributed among the foreign ambassadors, and all the great men in the empire. On one side appeared the bust of Peter the Great; and on the reverse, was the empress with the crown on her head, a globe and a sceptre lying beside her on a table, and before her a sphere, sea-charts, plans, mathematical instruments, arms, and a caduceus. In the background an edifice rises on the shore; and an arsenal is discovered with a ship at sea. In clouds above, supported by Immortality, appears the defunct emperor, who exhibits these treasures to Catharine, and says to her, "Behold what I "have left to you."

On the decease of Peter the Great, Catharine ascended the throne of Russia, and, from the commencement of her reign, conducted herself with the greatest benignity and gentleness, and by that means secured the love and veneration of her subjects. She had borne to the late czar several children, of whom two daughters survived him, and have obtained a place in history; Anne and Elizabeth Petrowna. It is pronouncing her eulogy, when we say, that during her administration it could not be perceived that the head of the empire had been changed. The genius of Peter the Great, as if it had been infused into her soul, still continued to direct the government, and to watch over the glory of the empire. Her indefatigable zeal for the Welfare of her subjects, as well as her gratitude, prompted her to pursue with undeviating exactitude the plan which Peter had formed for the civiliz

ation of his people. During her reign, the empire enjoyed the blessings of peace.

In compliance with the wish expressed by her husband in his last moments, she married her eldest daughter, Anne Petrowna, to the duke of Holstein; and the fruit of this marriage was that unfortunate prince, afterwards Peter III. Of the young son of Alexis, who was at that time the only remaining male of the blood of the czars, Catharine took peculiar care; and, with the view of opening to him the avenue to the throne, declared him grand duke of Russia. She presided at the first session of the academy of Petersburgh, to which Peter had not had time to give the finishing form. She died at the age of thirty-eight, two years after the death of her husband.

A. D.

1727.

Previously to her decease, Catharine had been prevailed on to make her will and settle the succession. Accordingly she left the throne to Peter II. son of Alexis, under the direction of a council of regency, at the head of which was prince Menzikoff, who, like herself, was a striking instance of the caprice of fortune. When a boy he cried pastry about the streets, and having obtained information of a conspiracy that was formed against the czar, he made known his intelligence to Peter the Great, who took him to court, where the young pie-seller proved himself fit for various employments, and rose from one grade to another till he attained that of general, all the while enjoying the confidence and friendship of his imperial master. It was at his house that Peter I. saw Catharine, who recollected her former attachment to Menzikoff, and intrusted him

the

with the chief management in the guardianship of her successor. She had even mentioned in her will that she wished Peter II. to espouse daughter of Menzikoff. The young prince, however, instead of following the advice of the late empress, gave ear to the suggestions of that minister's enemies, despoiled him of all his property, and banished him, with his whole family, to the remote extremity of Siberia.

66

Peter II. was extremely beloved by his people. Russia has since termed his reign its happiest period during a hundred years. No war destroyed the population, and wasted the money of the empire. Every one peaceably and securely enjoyed what belonged to him. After his accession to the throne, he wrote to his sister, that "God having called him to the govern"ment of so extensive an empire, he would en"deavour to perform his duty by ruling his people in righteousness and in the fear of the Almighty, by hearkening to the complaints "of the poor and the oppressed, and, imitating "the laudable example of Vespasian, who would "suffer no man to go sorrowful away." What happiness would have redounded to Russia, had this emperor always thought and acted in this manner, and attained an extreme old age! Peter, however, sickened of the small-pox, of which he died at the age of fifteen. death the male race of the family of Romanow became extinct, and with him perished the hope of the nation.

On his

CHAP.

CHAP. V.

From the Extinction of the Male Race of the Family of Romanow, to the Commencement of the nineteenth Century.

O

N the decease of Peter II. the coun

A. D.

1730.

cil, the senate, the general of cers, and other persons of distinction, assembled in order to appoint a successor to the throne, and took no notice of the will of the late empress Catharine. There remained three daughters of the emperor John, Peter's elder brother; Catharine Iwanowna, married to the duke of Mecklenburgh, Anne Iwanowna, relict of the duke of Courland, and Elizabeth who lived at Petersburgh unmarried. From these princesses the council resolved to elect a sovereign, and the choice fell on Anne Iwanowna, who was at liberty to contract a new marriage with some great man of the country, and might produce a native Russian heir to the throne. The nobles, however, designed to change the form of government, which had been hitherto arbitrary and despotic, to diminish the authority of the sovereign, and convert the Russian monarchy into an aristocracy. Anne was accordingly informed of her being elected to the sovereignty, and of the capitulation annexed, by which she became merely the executrix of the resolutions of the coun

cil. But she did not hesitate to sign the instrument, and was therefore immediately declared empress of Russia.

Anne,

Anne, however, had not been long seated on the throne, before other noble families, who constituted no part of the council, took umbrage at the capitulation, which they considered as injurious to the interest and welfare of the people in general. The empress was, therefore, requested to govern in the same manner as her predecessors, and to unite the council and the senate. Anne was very ready to acquiesce in this petition, which promised to free her from superior controul. She therefore convened the council, and having read the capitulation, tore it in pieces, and declared, that she ascended the throne of her ancestors in virtue of her hereditary right, and not by the election of the nobles.

1735.

Peter the Great had extended the confines of the empire on the side of Persia. Anne opened a negotiation with the Shah, and promised to restore to him the conquered countries, provided he would favour and promote the commerce with Russia. Accordingly, the empress made A. D. a formal surrender of all her Persian possessions, and the Russian merchants obtained very considerable privileges in the territories of Persia. Anne soon after united her forces to those of Austria, and attacked the territories of the Porte; but the Russians, though every where victorious, after conquering Moldavia, Asoph on the Palus Mootis, and Oczakow on the Euxine, were glad to purchase peace by restoring the captured places. The war, however, recommenced, and the Russian troops, under the command of marshal Munich, completely routed the Turks near Stavutshaw, took the fortress of Khoty im, crossed the Pruth, made themselves