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in a triumphant afsembly, to extol the incomparable deeds of their founder; but knowing what great abilities are necefsary to compose an adequate oration, they have hitherto been silent. For of this hero is to be related what is unheard of in others. His deeds are unequalled, and there exist no equal examples in eloquence, by imitating which, thought may safely plunge into their depth and multitude. At last however, it is deemed better to be found wanting in eloquence than destitute of gratitude ; better to declare sentiments ornamented with sincerity, and originating in zealous simplicity, than amid triumphant acclamations remain silent; particularly, when the most high Lord of triumphs has exalted ours, by giving in the person of our young grand duke Paul Petrowitz, a secure pledge of his divine favour, which we acknowledge in prolonging the posterity of Peter; we are bound therefore, reprefsing timid doubts, and giving way to zealous boldnefs, to employ, or rather exhaust our whole force in the praise of our hero.

Having engaged in this undertaking, where fhall I begin my discourse? From his personal excellencies, from the superiority of his strength? These appear in his arduous labours: labours innumerable. From his staturet and heroic countenance united with majestic beauty? But besides many effigies that

*The present grand duke.

† Peter was about seven feet high:

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307 represent his image lively to our memories, this is testified by whole cities and kingdoms, who, actuated by his fame, flocked to meet him, and to wonder at a face worthy of a great monarch, and characteristic of his great actions. Shall I take my beginning from the firmness of his spirit? But his unremitting watchfullness, without which it was impofsible to have performed actions so great and so numerous, affords us a proof of this. I proceed then to an enumeration of them, well knowing it is easier to engage in the commencement than to attain the end; and, that this great man cannot be better praised than by him who fhall distinctly and truly delineate his labours if to delineate them be pofsible!

As much then as my ability and the shortnefs of time allowed will permit, I fhall mention his more important labours, then represent the difficulties to be overcome in perfecting them; and in the end mark the virtues that in such undertakings sustained him.

This wise monarch foresaw that to execute his great plans, it was necefsary to extend every kind of knowledge in his empire; and to increase the number of people killed in the sciences, as well as to multiply artizans and tradesmen. His fatherly attention in this respect I formerly hinted at; which, were 1 to describe circumstantially, this subject alone would exceed the bounds of my discourse. Like the swift winged eagle, he flew round the European nations, and excited, partly by his commands, partly by his own powerful example, numbers of his subjects to relinquish for a while their native country, and

Oct. 30. convince themselves by experience how great advantages arise to the individual and community from a curious scrutiny of foreign countries. The wide gates of Russia were then thrown open: 'twas then that the sons of Rufsi, like the flux and reflux in the extensive ocean, departing to seek knowledge in the various sciences and arts, and returning loaded with experience, books, and foreign engines, flowed through her ports in unremitting motion. It was then that due respect, in the sacred person of Peter, clothed in purple and crowned with laurels, was paid to mathematical and physical knowledge, formerly reckoned witchcraft and necromancy*. What advantage of every kind was derived to us from the arts encircled with such rays of Majesty, is manifested by the plenteous profusion of varied convenience, of which, before the time of the great enlightener of Russia, our ancestors were not only deprived, but of which they had even no conception. How many useful articles, which were formerly brought into Rufsia with much difficulty, and at a great expence, are now made at home; and serve not only to obviate our own wants, but supply also the necefsities of distant nations! The neighbouring nations vaunted formerly that Russia, an extensive and powerful kingdom, could neither make war, nor carry on trade without their afsistance that in itself it had

:

* Lomonofsoff himself among his other acquiremets was a grea proficient in mathematical knowledge; on which subject he has left several treatises that are much esteemed.

not even iron* to repell an enemy; far lefs other me

tals for coining money.

the appearance of Peter.

This reflection vanifhed at
The bowels of the mou

tains are laid open by his powerful and industrious hand metals teem from them, and distribute themselves, not only to the inhabitants, but are sent to strangers as restitutions of the loans received from them. The hardy troops of Russia turn against their enemies, weapons dug by Rufsian hands from Rufsian mountains.

Of the establishment of a regular force, so necefsary for the protection of the state, for the safety of the individual, and for the uninterrupted prosecution of grand designs at home; of this establishment, I say, how great care had our great monarch, what anxious struggling, what attentive search after all means conducive to this end! When at all this we cannot sufficiently wonder, how is it pofsible to exprefs it in words! The progenitor of our wise hero, that great prince Alexis Michaelowitzt, of blefsed memory, amid many other famous actions, laid the foundation of a regular army: and the advantages obtained by its means in his fortunate campaigns in Poland; and provinces recovered to the empire, sufficiently testify

*This is a very curious historical fact which hitherto had escaped my notice.

Alexius was the son of Michal Fæderowitz, under whose reign the Russians were first able to make head against the Poles, and thus to afsume somewhat the appearance of an independent empire. Alexius was a good prince, made many good laws, and added to the prosperity of Russia. Theodore, who succeeded him, was the immediate predecessor of Peter.

how far he succeeded. But all his endeavours were

extinguished with his life. Old irregularities returned; and the strength of the Rufsian army consisted more in its numbers than in its fkill. How much it afterwards decayed is sufficiently fhown by usclefs campaigns against the Turks and Tartars ; but chiefly by the unbridled and destructive mutinies of the Strelets, originating in want of discipline. In such circumstances who could have conceived that a boy of twelve years old, debarred from government, and only protected from malice by the prudent care of a loving mother; amid uninterrupted terrors, amid pikes, amid swords drawn on his relations, on his friends, and on himself; fhould have begun to establish a regular force, the power of which his enemies soon after felt; felt and trembled; and at which all nations now wonder*; who could have

Theodore, though a weak and effeminate prince, had the judgement to perceive that a vigorous mind was alone fitted to govern the kingdom of Russia in its then distracted state. He perceived symptoms of these active talents in the boy Peter, who was only his half brother, and therefore on his death bed recommended to his nobles to choose him for their sovereign, in preference to Iwan his own full brother. But his sister Sophia willing to exercise sovereign sway under the name of the simple Iwan, found means to place him upon the throne, and put to death all who were related to Peter, whose power fhe dreaded. The Strelitzes, a set of troops under no proper discipline, were the tools the employed on this occasion, whose power and insolence became so great as to throw the empire into the most dreadful distresses. To check these excesses, which exceeded her power, Sophia found it necessary to admit Peter an equal sharer to the throne with Iwan; but to strengthen her own power the determined to marry prince Gallitzin. Peter found means to counteract this plan, banished Gallitzin to Siberia, and confined Sophia herself to a monastery.

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