RedPagesFromTsardom:GlimpsesOfRussianHistory

ByEdgarWallace

REDPAGESFROMTSARDOM

I.—PETERTHEGREAT'SBEGINNINGS

The University of Oxford conferred upon Peter I. the degree of D.C.L. ARussiathathadnotfeltthered-hotirons,norfacedtheglowofhisdevilishly-equipped torture-chamber, christened him "TheGreat," andminor historianshave taught theyouthof theworld thatPeter theGreatwasamamiableandlofty-browedmonarchwholovedhispeoplesomuchthathecametoDeptfordtolearnshipbuilding.TsardompropercommencedwithIvan,theTerrible,whowasacontemporaryofElizabeth,butRussiadatesfromPeter,forPeterproducedRussia,andfromveryunpromisingmaterial.HedrewRussiaoutofitself—withred-hotpincers.HeburntandhackedandstampedRussiaintoshape,heseareditwithfire,heroused it with the knout, he tortured, lamed, and gouged Russia from thebarbarismofOrientalexistencetothebarbarismofWesternmake-belief.Peter the Great was a great butcher, an obscene, vicious neuromaniac, a

lustful,bludgeoning,coarsebruteofamanwhogotdrunkonrawspirits,hadrespectneitherforage,youth,sex,norkindred.Hefloggedhiswife,torturedwith the most horrible torture his one legitimate son, and then burnt andknoutedhimtodeath.Onlyonewomaneverknewandappreciatedhim,andshewasaprivatesoldier'swomanwhorosebytheaidofafield-marshal(whowasby tradeapastry-cook) to the thronewhereatPeter'sdeath she reignedaloneanEmpress.PetermadeRussiawhatitisto-day.Fromitsalphabettoitscigarettehabit—Petercreatedit.Heestablishedautocracyandmaderevolutionimpossible.ForPeterwasthefirstoftheRussianAnarchistswithaninfalliblecreedwhichheapplied toeverysituation."Whatever is, iswrong;whatever isnot, is right."Hewasgreatbyaccident,forthedeedsthatearnedhimtheappellationweretheleastmadofhiswhims.CuriosityinducedhimtosendBeringtodiscoverthe Bering Straits. Russia had no navy: Peter evolved one; no army: Petercreatedone,IfRussiahadhadnopeasantryhewouldhaveformedone—butserfdomexisted;soPeter,workingfromtheotherdirection,placedaserfuponhisthroneandapastry-cookithisrighthand.Peterwasagreatmeddler,amanwith in insatiable desire to alter the existing order of things. Sometimes hismeddlingresultedingood,butmostlyinhideousevil.InthesearticlesIwanttotraceRussianhistoryfromthemomentPeterbeganmaking it.All that had gone before does not count, except that Peter had amother who was the wife of the Tsar, and that Peter may have descendedlegitimatelyfromthelineofRussianrulers;historiansarediscreetlyvagueastothis.Thestoryof theTsarsfromPeter toNicholas is themostwonderfulstory inthe world's history; you shall see how lunatics and wantons, imbeciles andhorriblevillains,governedRussiaandheldthedestiniesofitsmillionsintheirsoiledhands.Peterwas the first; Catherine—licentious, drunken, brutal—was the second;then a thin ghost of a man, who died of smallpox; then Anna, who slewruthlessly, then Elizabeth, that loose-living woman; then the imbecile PeterandCatherine theGreat, awomanwhohad a hundred lovers; andPaul andAlexander andNicholas; and so the presentTsar.There is no story that haseverbeenimaginedsowonderfulasthis.Onemaytellit,knowingthatthereisnonecessity topointamoral, for thestoryof theTsars,plainly toldwithoutembellishment,isthestoryofthepresentrevolution.PeterwasthesonofAlexis'swife.ItispresumedthathewasAlexis'sson.Itisnotverycertainthatthiswasso,butinviewofthelaxnessofrelationshipsofthe time it isnotheld tobeofaccount.Subsequently therewereunblushinghappenings at the Court which placed the legitimacy of Peter beyond theworthofcontroversy.

WhenAlexisdiedheleftissuebytwowives,andabouteachwifegatheredafactioneagerforspoils,willingtospeculatetheirlivesinthehopeoffindingthemselvesonthewinningside.The death of Feodor, the eldest son, much bloodshed, many midnightassassinations,fierce,openfights,andwholesalebutcheryplacedRussiaunderthe triangular sway of Peter, Ivan his brother, and Sophia his sister.On thethronesattwomen:Peter,aquick,observingman,withnarroweyes,peekinghisheadfromsidetoside,watchful,restless,purposeful;byhim,Ivan,half-witted, half-blind, loose-lipped, debauched—a glassy-eyed dolt, withinclinationstowardsdrunkennessandgeneralbestiality.Behindthem,Regent,jealous of her power, suspicious, half inclined to preen herself on themagnificenceofheruncertainstate,halfhorrifiedbytheterribleresponsibilityof her position—Sophia, the sister.Herewere the threewho ruledRussia—andwhataRussia!An Oriental country peopled by soulless things that came and went at thebiddingoftheirowners;whoobeyed,unquestioning,thecommandofthemenwhobought themon themarket place and sold themas somany cattle.AnaristocracythatwasEastern—Easterninthought,dress,andcustom.MenwithOrientalbeardsandtheflowingrobesoftheOrient.Menwhodidnotsmoke,who kept their women veiled, who were more Eastern than the Turks andcertainlylessenlightened.AllthisPetersaw,fidgetingonhisthrone,takingstockofthecountry,betweenmadmomentsofunbridledlicense,watchinghissotofabrotherandalreadycondemning,contemptuousofthisfine"Regent"ofasister.Itdidnottakehimlongtodecide,ifindeedtherewaseveramomentinhislifewhenhehadnotalreadymadeuphismindonthesubject.Heslippedfromhisthrone and went to work swiftly, unerringly, and with a workmanlikethoroughness:Ivanwasdethroned;Sophiawassenttoaconvent.Allthatwaseasy;Peterhadneveranydoubtastotheresult.From thedayofhis accessionheknew that, being themastermind,hewasvirtuallyTsar,andthedeposingoftheseself-satisfiedrelationsofhiswasbutanincidentunworthyofanydoubtastotheissue.Peter sat alone in his glory atMoscow. Russia was disorganised, partly byreason of its vast distances, partly because chaos was its natural condition,fromwhichithadneverbeenreclaimed.Russia,too,wasasleep.Profoundly,heavilyasleepwiththeplacidcontentmentofpeoplesteepedinfatalism.PeterawokeRussia.Forthishegainedthesurnameof"Great."Notwithanygentlepressureofthehand,withanysoftwordofremonstrance,notwithsongorcrashofmusic.HewokeRussiawith the jabofasurgeon'sknife—anamateursurgeon.TheexperiencewasanoveloneforPeter.Theanguishoftheawakeningsharpened

hisappetitefornovelty,andhethrustandthrustagain.Iftherewasamethodinhismadness,itwasofanegativequality.Ifhestartedout to reform this Empire of his, with any system, it was based upon thereversalofestablishedorder.Ukase and edict andproclamation reformedRussia.Menwhowerebeardedwereordered to shaveclean,Smoking,whichwasprohibitedunderdreadfulpenalties,wasukasedintocustom.Withoneflourishofhispenhere-dressedRussia.Hedraggedthewomenfromthesanctityofthepurdahandmadethemdanceinpublic."Ifyoucannotdance,madame,Imyselfwillteachyou.Thusmustyouplaceyourfoot—andthus—andso."AndPeter,sweatingwiththeenergyofhisexertions, thrustingahighlybornwomanoftheCourtintooneplace,thrashinganother—hecarriedastick,thebetter topoint the lessons—madeRussiadance, ladling to thestartled ladiesbrandywithawoodenspoon,untilheandhisCourt,nobleanddamealike,laydrunkonthefloorthedancing-room.This was Peter. Thorough in everything—a mad brute of a man, ignorant,superstitious, beastly, but thorough. The slave of hiswhims, the creature ofeverypassingfancy,shameless—butthorough.

II.—PETERTHEBUTCHER

KnollerpaintedaportraitofPetertheFirst;youmayseeitatHamptonCourt.A stubborn-jawed, self-willedboyhe looks, "tall,withahead that shakes, arightarmthatisneverquiet,andawartonhisface"isthedescriptiongiventohim,butthereareotherswhichhelpyoubettertounderstandthisPeter.Hisearlytraininghadnothelpedtorefinehim;hehaduncleanlyhabits,coarsemanners,degradingvices,andabouthimhung themustysmellof thewine-shop.ThereisaneloquentletterwrittenbySophiaCharlotteofHanover,who,curious to see him,wrote to herMinister: "I would have him persuaded tocomehere,nottoseebuttobeseen,andwewouldwillinglykeepthemoneygenerallyspoiltonrareanimalsforuseonthisoccasion;thoughIamagreatenemyofdirt,mycuriosityistoomuchforme."IhavesaidinthepreviousarticlethathistoriansarevagueastothemysteryofPeter's birth; hewas as unlike his fatherAlexis as couldwell be imagined.Alexiswaspunyandwornoutbyillness;Peterwastall,brutallystrong,broad,withmusclesofiron.Hisparentagetroubledhimverylittle,butonceuponatime Peter, half drunk, anxious for a quarrel, turned snarling upon TikhonStreshnev,hismother's favourite: "That fellow,"he cried,pointing tooneof

the company, Ivan Mussin-Pushkin, "knows, at all events, that he is myfather's son! Whose son am I—yours Tikhon? Obey me, speak and fearnothing;speak,orIwillhaveyoustrangled."Whiteofface,thefavouritefellonhisknees."Mercy,"hegasped."Iknownotwhattosay...Iwasnottheonlyone."The mock mission which went abroad to request the Kings of Europe to"renewtheancientbondsoffriendship"includedonePeterMikhaylov--anon-commissioned officer.Letters intended forMikhaylovwere inscribed "to begiven to PeterMikhaylov," and the seal of this simple soldier represented ayoungcarpentersurroundedbyshipwrights'tools,andthemotto,"Myrankisthatofascholar,andIneedmasters."InthiswisePeterwentforthtogatherthewisdomthatEuropecouldimparttohim,andhedidwell.Hemadelovetoservant-girlsinHolland,hegotdrunkwithDutchcaptains,hebehavedliketheill-bredboorthathewas.Heworkedwith his hands at carpenters' and ship-builders' shops, it is true, but smallpraiseforthat,forhewasmoreinhiselementtherethanattheCourt.Inhisyouth,anastrolabewasafascinatingthing—inEuropeatoythatshowedthedirectionofthewindclaimedhisattention.Mostofall,inSweden,thewheelonwhichmalefactorswerebrokenpleasedhim.HeorderedoneforRussia.In England he lived at Buckingham-street, but later removed to Deptford.Againheworkedwithhishands—andwithsucheffectthatwhenhevacatedSayesCourt,Evelyn, itsowner,claimedandobtaineda largesumofmoneyfromtheBritishGovernmentascompensationfortheshockingdamagedonetohispropertybythathalf-madlout.HistorianshaveproducedPeter's incognitoasevidenceofhisgreatmodesty,butPeterwasasmuch lacking inmodestyashewas in shame.Thehumblerolehe filled fittedhim.Hewasathomewith lackeysandstablemenallhislife,andwasneversoillateaseaswhen,inaGermanCourt,hewashandedatablenapkin.Onequalitystandsoutinhischaracter--histremendousenergy.Addtothisacuriositythatledhim,fromworkshopstoCourt,frompostmortemchambertolaboratory, thatmade him in turn ship-builder, firework-maker, ivory-turner,surgeon,priest,soldier,sailor,executioner,andbigdrummer.Heplumedhimself,too,onhisdentistry,andyoupleasedhimbestbyaskinghimtopullyourteeth.HewasinformedofalltheinterestingsurgicalcasesatPetersburgHospital,andsometimesassistedatoperations.Onceheoperatedonawoman.Shefoughtterriblyagainstthisamateur,butPeterwentonwiththe operation, and the woman died. Peter went to her funeral. His valet deohambrecomplainedofhiswife'sconducttohim.Peterlearntthatthewife'sexcusewasabad tooth!TheTsar sent for thewoman,pulled two teeth, she

protestingwithscreamsandtears."Ifyoudohotbehavewelltoyourhusband,Iwillpullouteverytoothinyourhead,"saidtheyoungsavagecalmly.HelearntsomethinginEngland;helearntmoreinAustria,forthenewscamethat Sophia was plotting with his brother against him. Sophia was anunattractivewoman.Her best friends enlarged on her qualities ofmind andwerediscreetly silent concerningher personal appearance; but none the lessshehada lover, towhomshewrote in theextravagant languageofher time.More,shehadsupportersatMoscow,soPeterhurriedback,andverysoonhotirons,theknout,andtheaxerepressedrebellion.Hundreds of heads decorated high-placed spikes, conspirators hung inbunches,anddeadbodiesbycartloadswereflungoutsidethecitytorot.Ivan—whatbecameof Ivan?Hedied (some sayof poison, some sayof theknout—thathelanguishedinprisonanddiedofprisonfever,Atanyrate,hedisappeared;sodidSophia,exceptthatherdestinationisknowntohavebeenaconvent.Waliszewski,withadesiretobefairtoPeter, idealiseshim.ThishistorianisthegreatestapologistPeterhashad,forthereisanelementofjusticeinallhisdeductions."Hewasamanwithoneideaaday,"saystheenthusiast.Itwasanidea,thatallthewastrelsanddrunkardsandlunaticsinthecountryshouldhegatheredinto"acouncilthatknowsnosadness."Itwasanideathatheshouldsanctionand help to carry into effect a blasphemous travesty of religion withmockpriestsandmockceremonies.HereisanideaofPeter'swhichshowsbetterthananythingelsethegrotesquekink in his brain.Detecting in a conspiracy against him a resemblance to aprevious plot many years old, he had the body of the man who had beenexecutedforthepreviouscrimeexhumed,anddraggedonasledgedrawnbytwelvedogstotheplacewheretheperpetratorsinthelaterplotwereabouttoexpiatethecrimewiththeirlives.Underneath the scaffoldwas drawn the sledgewith Its gruesomeburden, insuchapositionthatwhenthecondemnedmenwerecuttopieceswithknives—theslowestformofdeathPetercoulddevise-theirblooddroppeduponthemanwhohadpreviouslyconspired.There is a book published for private circulation only, a copy of which idunprocurableinEngland,whichgivesomedetailsofPeter'samusements.ThereisastorythatVoltairesickenedofthisvolumebeforehewashalfwaythroughit."Heishalfahero,"wasVoltaire'sparadoxicalcomment,buthewashalfadeviltoo.

Hehadfoundtimetomanywhenhewasyoung--helivedwithhiswifeforafewmonthsand then lefther.Hisoneson,Alexis,hedepravedbyexample,andwhen this boy fled toAustria and then to Italy, on the discovery of hiscomplicity in a plot in which his mother was concerned, Peter secured hisbetrayalintoRussianhandsagain.Alexiswas put on trial, hismotherwas knouted and banished, some of theconspiratorswereimpaledorbrokenonthewheel,andotherswerebeheadedormutilated.The trial of Alexis was a farce, his torturing to extract the names of hisconfederates—which he cheerfully gave—was horrible, remembering thatPeterhimselfsuperintendedtheceremony.HissubsequentdeathundertorturePeterseizedasanoccasionformerry-making."He launched a new ship and cracked jokes with the Ministers," says thehistorian, and later ordered a medal to be struck with the inscription, "TheDawnIsClear."Even Catherine could not save the young Tsarevich from torture, and theinfluenceof thisextraordinarywomanonPeterwasgreater than thatofanyotherpersonintheworld,AboutthisCatherinewholestorymightbewritten.

III.—CATHERINEARRIVES

WhenPeterwantedathinghegotit.Hehadnofalsedelicacy—heaskedforwhathewanted;ifitwasgiven,wellandgood;ifitwasrefused,helookit.Atraveller of this period was shocked to see the Russian nobility pocketingsilverfromhistable;aKingofoneofthecivilisedcountrieswhoentertainedPeter was aghast to observe that monarch—who was his guest—takepossessionofapricelessambercabinetbelongingtohishost.Once,whileonavisittoBerlin,Peterhadagreatfancyforamummyinthemuseum,andaskedforit.Thecuratorrespectfullybutfirmlydeclinedtohandover the finest specimen inPrussia.WhereuponPeter seized themummy inhisstronghands,rentitinpieces,pulledoffitsnose,andstrodeaway."Now you can keep yourmummy," he flung back over his shoulder to thehorrifiedofficial.AllthethingsthatPeterwantedwerenotgoodforhim,butthatwasincidental.Hehadatrickofdemandingfoolishtoyswithoutpossessinghouse-roomforthem.Hebuilthisnavybeforehehadaseatoputitin.Hemadewarbeforehehadanarmy.

Onceitoccurredtohimthathehadneverexperiencedthesensationofbeinggoverned;thathehadalwaysbeenthefirstmaninRussia,and,ifnotthefirstalwaysapossiblefirstwhompeoplemightdiplomaticallyobey.Butgovernedhehadneverbeen,eitherbyothersorbyhimself.Itwouldbeanewsensation;sohecreatedamockCourt,withamockTsar,amockMetropolitan,andmockcourtiers.Itwashiswhimtoberegardedasaplaincaptain,andpayreverencetotheTsarhehadsetup.ItisrecordedthatPeterappliedtothismockTsarforpromotiontotherankofadmiral,andhisrequestwasrefused,whichpleasedhim.Hewantedcompanionship.Thereforehe took themost lovelywomenofhiskingdomonebyone, andonebyone, as these dissatisfied him, he droppedthem.ItwasthecustominthosedayswhentheTsarchoseawifeforofficialsoftheCourttoinviteapplicationsfromthewomenofthekingdom,Thousandsapplied,andweresubmittedtothemoststrictandintimatetest.Thefloweroftheseweretakentothepalace,andthere,inonelongnarrowroom,theyweredetained. At night when they slept the Tsar walked between the narrowgangwaythatseparatedthebeds,andfromthesleeperschosehisbride.Peterhadalreadytakenawifeanddiscardedher.Headoptedevenlessrefinedmethodforchoosingher illicitsuccessors.Theycame—alongprocessionofthem—theystayed their littlewhile,andwentaway.Nonepleasedhim.Hadhe the soul of Catherine the Second he would have pensioned them offhandsomely,buttoaddtoothervices,hewasmeanandniggardly,ApilotwhohadsavedhislifeinastormontheWhiteSeaherewardedwith£3.Oneof thesepassingfanciesofhiswasMaryHamilton—aRussianofScotsdescent and a maid of honour. Mary Hamilton slew her children that hershamemight not be known—thatwas bad.Also, she robbed the Tsar—thatwasunpardonable.Mary Hamilton mounted the scaffold "in a white silk gown trimmed withblackribbons."ThiswasanideaofPeter's.Thetheatricalsideofthedisplayinterestedhim,andhewaspresentattheexecution,embracingthecondemnedladyatthefootofthescaffoldandexhortinghertopray.Sohesupportedheron to thescaffoldandsignalled to theexecutioner...Then theTsar lifted theseveredheadandcalmlybeganalectureonAnatomy,drawingthespectators'attentiontothenamesandfunctionsofthevariousbonesandmusclesthathadbeencutthroughbytheaxe.Otherwomenescapedfromthisogrewithlesshurttotheirnecksthantotheirpride, Peter, notwithstanding the fact that he rescued womankind in Russiafrom thestiflingharem,broughther intopublic,andgavehercertain rights,had neither respect nor pity for her. He dragged her unveiled into the lightbecausehecouldnot tolerate theexistenceofasanctuary towhichhecouldnotpenetrate.Histreatmentofwomenwasalwaysthatofanuncouthboor;he

would force young girls to swallow a trooper's portion of brandy; he couldruthlesslymutilate and torturewomenwhose only faultswere that they hadshown disgust at his brutality; and he could knout his wife and thrash hermaidsofhonour.Andyetheneededcompanionshipandeventuallyfoundit.Catherinewasthewoman,andifthecoldheartofPeter"theGreat"wasevertouched, itwasby thiswonderfulpeasantCatherine'smotherwasaserf:hermother's husbandwas a serf also; her fatherwas a high-bornLivonian.Hermotherandhernominalfatherdied,thehigh-bornLivoniandisownedher,andCatherine was brought up in the household of a schoolmaster pastor. AneconomicalsoulwasthisCatherine;perhapsitwasthisquality thatattractedPeter.Her schoolmaster's pupils complained that she stinted their bread andbutter.Shegrewtovigorousgirlhood,andhadalittlegirl,whichdiedinafewmonths. Then the schoolmaster thought it best that she should marry, sobetrothed her to a Swedish Lifeguardsman, who disappeared soon after themarriage.WhenCatherinewasEmpressshesoughtoutherfirsthusbandandpensionedhim.ThecampaigninLivoniabroughtCatherineintocampasthefriendofanon-commissioned officer, who beat her. Her ascending star brought her to thegeneral's tent—and he thought herwearisome.No she passed by successivestagestothemarshal,whohadbeenapastry-cook—Menshikovwashisname—andhewasthefavouriteoftheTsar.Inamenialcapacityasascrubberoffloorsandapolisherofchairs,Catherineserved themarshal.Laterhemadelovetoher.ThencamePeteronavisittohisfavourite,andsawCatherine.Hedidnotfallinlovewithher,becausethatwasnotPeter'sway;buthegavehercasualattentions,andshedividedherfavoursbetweenTsarandmaster.ThenPeterbargainedforherandtookher.Catherine began by being useful, became a habit, and ended by becomingindispensable.ItisprobablethatfromtheveryfirstshefascinatedtheTsartosomeextent;certainlyshepleasedhim,forafterhisfirsttenderpassagewithherhegavehertwoshillings!Certainitwasthatherinfluencewasofgradualgrowth. Peter had other lady friends besides Catherine, and with thisarrangementhewasperfectlycomplaisant.ItissaidthatallthistimeCatherinewasthesecretwifeofMenshikov;but,asshehadneverbeendivorced fromher first husband, theLifeguardsman, thetruth of this story is hardlyworth enquiring into. How far she increased inPeter's favour may be gathered from the fact that on his departure fromMoscowtotakepartinacampaignheleftinstructionsthat,shouldhedie,sheshouldreceive£300.Catherine'snamehasbeenexecratedasonewhowasdegradedandbrutal.Shehas beenvariously described.One said that she possessedgreat beauty, thatshewas tall and strong, that shewaspleasant inmanner, kindly andgentle,showingdeferenceandrespecttothosewhoseopinioncarriedweight,andthat

she behaved herself in the presence of contemporary Sovereigns withextraordinarydignity.Thiswasaman'sdescription.Hereisanother:"Shewasshortandhuddled-up,devoidofdignityorgrace;theverysightofherprovedher low origin; she was muffled up in her clothes like a German comedyactress; she wore a dozen orders and asmany portraits of saints and relicsfastenedallalongthefacingsofherdress,sothatwhenshewalkedshejingledlikeamule."This,ofcourse,isawoman'sdescription.Whatevershewas,shewasmuchbetterthanPeter,Whateverheroriginmayhave been—and there is less mystery about it than Peter's own—she wasinfinitelytoogoodforhim.Shewastemperate,andcertainlyformanyyearsofherlifefaithful;shedidmuchtocheckhisexcesses,andherforesightandkeen judgment helped him towards the successful termination of thecampaignshefromtimetotimeundertook.Later,withaknowledgeofPeter'scharacter, she prepared for a possible downfall, and accepted bribes andconnived at corruption, which Peter discovered; he forgave her this, for bynow she had been crownedEmpress. Later she look a lover, and that Peterfoundhardtoforgive;theloverwasdecapitated,andhishead,inapicklejar,was placed by Peter's orders in Catherine's apartment, that shemight see iteveryday,and,seeing,remember.

IV.—AFTERPETER

Peter differed from Satan in this respect—Peter was not immortal. So thatwheninthefullnessoftimeDeathstretchedforthanicyhandandclaimedthemonarch, his contemporaries breathed a sigh of relief and expressed theirthankfulness.Peter'sendcamesixyearsafterthemurderofhisson;hewasthenfifty-two.Whatdiseasehediedfromnobodyexactlyknows;thesymptomsaresetforthwithengagingfranknessInRichter'sHistoryOfMedicineInRussia.Thestrongmanlaydying,andRussiarejoiced.Itwaslefttoalatergenerationto idealise him.His subjectswere too near the barbarities to appreciate thebreadthofhismindandthewonderfulmotiveswithwhichhehassincebeencredited. He received the sacrament, and expressed his penitence, and diedwithCatherineweepingfloodsoftearsonhispillow,andacoupd'étatalreadyarrangedforplacingheronthethrone.There are stories of the death-bed scenewhich are admittedly apocryphal—how his lastmomentsweremade terrible by the grislywraiths ofmen andwomenwhomhehadtortured;howaccusinghandscameoutofthegloomandhorridfacesgibedandmouthedathim.Poeticjusticedemandedsuchanend,andobliginghistorianshavesuppliedtheneed.

PeterdidmanythingsforRussia,forRussiatohimwas—Peter.HesetforthtoreformRussia,andhedidit:hereformeditliterally.Hehadathousandvicesandnovirtues;thatis,unlessyoucanclaimenergyandcuriosityasvirtues.Heoutragedconvention—thatmaybehisepitaph.FredericktheGreatofPrussiawroteabetterinamemorablesentence.Writingto Voltaire, he said: "Lucky circumstances, favourable events, and foreignignorance have turned the Tsar into a phantom hero. A wise historian whowitnessedpartofhislifemercilesslyliftstheveilandshowsusthisprinceaspossessingallthefaultsofmanandafewofhisvirtues.Heisnolongerthatbeingofuniversalmindwhoknowseverythinganddesirestosiftallthings;heisamangovernedbywhimssufficientlynoveltogivethemacertainglamourand dazzle the onlooker. He is no longer that intrepid warrior who neitherfeareddangernor recognised it but amean-spirited and timidprince,whoseverybrutalityforsookhiminseasonsofperil—cruelinpeace,feebleinwar."After Peter came Catherine. Her reign was short, hilarious, inglorious, Yet,withallherfaultsandfrailtiesthispeasant'sdaughterwasinPeter'slifetimeatemperate, honest woman, and deserves tolerably well at the hands ofposterity.WhenPeterdiedshethrewasiderestraint,anddrankherselftodeathin eighteenmonths.Then shepassed, andwithher—thoughnot from life—Menshikov, the pastry-cook. He, little tyrant and great thief, rich from thepeculationsofyearsoffavour,astealeroflandsandusurperofvaintitles,wastoendhislifemiserablyinexileonafewkopeksaday.FollowingCatherine came the son of themurderedAlexis and grandson ofPeter—PeterII.Alexis,convictedofconspiracy,hadbeenknoutedtodeath;hismother,Peter'sfirstwife,Eudoxia,hadbeenconsigned to thecoldmiseriesofconventcell,andhadgrownoldinsuffering.Onedaywarderscameandunlockedthecell,andthetremblingEmpresswasledforthtoasumptuousapartment,tocostlygowns,dazzlingjewels,andbowingcourtiers.PetertheSecondhadascendedthethrone;hisgrandmotherwasfree.ForthreeyearsthisPeterreigned,thensmallpoxtookhimoffbeforehehadhadtimetoestablishhisidentityonthepagesofhistory.Then came Anna, niece of the great Peter, a childless widow with apredilection for lovers of low origin, one of whom, Biron, used hisopportunities sowell thathe ruledPeter'sRussia for tenyearswithprofit tohimself. Onewould like to knowmore about this Biron, for hewas amanaround whom many stories might well centre. For ten years he was anuncrowned Tsar, and among other achievements he slew twenty thousandpeople andbanished asmany toSiberia.Such stories as are toldofhimareunprintable, but itmaybe suffcient toknow thathewas abeast.Hewas tohaveanunhappyexperience,forwhenAnna,diedshenominatedhernephew

Ivan, sonofa fat, foolish, round-facedGermanprincessandherno less fat,foolish,andblue-eyedhusband.Ivan, the infant,was proclaimedTsar, Bironwas appointedRegent. FoolishBiron!Satisfiedwithhispower,hebulliedandspoiledandkickedRussiatillonemorningtheytookhimoutofhisbed,hurriedhimoffinhisnightshirt,histeethchattering,hisfeetnumbwiththecold,totheFortressofPeterandPaul.ThencetoSiberiawasastep.Forthestoutprincesswiththevacuousfacehadbribed and promised and persuaded the aristocracy—such as it was—tooverthrowtheRegent.Theswayofthefatprincesswasshort.Itmaybeshewaselatedbythesuccessofhercoup—itmaybethatthateasysuccessfrightenedher,forarroganceandsuspicioncharacterisedhertreatmentofthemenwhoestablishedherregency.Suspicion creates reason for suspicion, and soon there were whisperings atCourt, meetings in queer little houses, mysterious watchwords, and all thesignsofgreathappeningstocome.Foramong thechildrenborn toPeterand thedissoluteCatherinewasachitwho had grown into a queenly girl, "tall, stately, and graceful, her headmagnificentlyposedonsplendidshoulders,herhairbrownandsilky,hereyesdeepblueandslumbrous... thewholecountenance indicatingonedevoted topleasure."This isMr.Molloy's description of the lady, which is not exactlysupported by a contemporary engraving which shows a woman hideouslybroadofface,thin-lipped,fatandsleepy.It pleasedElizabeth, like the "VirginQueen" of these isles and of a similarname,totakeontheposeofeternalcelibacy.ElizabethofRussia'sheartwasin thegraveofaGermanPrince,CharlesDukeofHolstein-Gottorp.Charleswondead,andElizabethvowedtoremainsingle.Thatshedidthisishistory,butshehad loversunending.About thiswomangathered themalcontentsoftheCourt.ShewasPeter'sdaughter,andPeterhadbeenlongenoughdeadtobeidolised.TheRegentfearedthisPrincess,fearedhermorethanshefearedherowndoltofahusband.Sheflaredupliketheviragothatshewas,andaccusedElizabethofdesiringthethroneoftheinfantIvan."Iwillmarryyoutomybrother-in-law,andifyourefuseIwillsendyoutoaconvent,"stormedtheRegent.The threat sobered Elizabeth. She loved good living, she loved luxury, sheloved idleness.Forherpart the thronemightpass to Ivan.Shewas content,and therewere thosewhowerenot.Haditnotbeenfor the threatshemighthavetakennopartintheconspiracy.SomebodysentacartoontoElizabeth.Ontheonesidewasinscribedaportraitofherselfseatedonathrone,withcrownonheadandsceptreinhand.Onthe

othershestoodbeforeanartisticbackgroundofgibbetsandrack,inthehabitofanun.Thishelpedtodecideher.Regimentswerecorrupted,afewofficerswereassassinated,thefatRegentandherhusbandwereseizedandconvoyedto a bleak hut in the Arctic regions, where she died a few years later. SoElizabethbecameTsarina.

V.—THEWAYSOFELIZABETH

YoumaythinkfromtheportraitswritershavedrawnofherthatElizabethwasabeauty.Theyrhapsodiseoverherhairandslumbrouseyes,herfinebrowandfulllips.Theysumuphercharacteras"onewholovedpleasure."Theportraitspaintedbycontemporaryartistsarescarcelyasflattering.Theyshowabroad-faced woman with sleepy eyes and a hard mouth. On one thing artist andwriteragree.Itisthefaceofanindolent,luxuriouswoman.AvowofElizabeth's is recorded.Shewould have nobodykilled during herreign.Anadmirable resolve thatsomewhatembarrassedpublicexecutioners.For theseworthymentrodon the thinnestof ice in theperformanceof theirduties.Theirtasktowieldtheknout—withoutfatalconsequence;totearouttongues—withoutendangering life; tobreakhumanbodiesandpreservea flickeroflife.ElizabethwasPeter'sdaughter.She had vowed not to kill but the rack, the grille, and the strappado wererequisitionedcontinuously.Thereisastoryofafairlady,Natalia,whodressedinpink.PinkwastheshadethatbestsuitedElizabeth.Inconsequencetherewentfortha ukase that no other lady of the Court should ape the Tsarina. Nataliaappeared inpink,andElizabethboxedherears.Worse, shesuspectedheroftreason, and her relatives wore seized, whipped, gouged, and racked thatElizabeth'sworstsuspicionsshouldfindsupport.No such confirmation was forthcoming, but this did not prevent theunfortunateNataliamounting the scaffold—a fewweeks before the birth ofherchild—northeknoutingthatfollowed.PoorbeautifulNataliastruggledastheexecutionerroughlytoreherdressfromhershoulders.Shesankshriekingon the scaffold as the cruel thong fell uponherwhite skin.Afterwards theypiercedhertonguethroughwithared-hotiron.—ElizabethwasPeter'sowndaughter,forshelovedthetheatrical.Ostermann,thefatRegent'sChancellor,hadearnedherhatred,andtherewereothers,They

weretriedandsentencedtobebrokenonthewheel.Hereisthescene:CountOstermannwasledforwardbetweenafileofsoldiers.Anoldman,bentandwith grey hair falling on his shoulders. In the bleak air of that Januarymorning he stood bareheaded, listening and nodding his head as each freshaccusation was read out—and there were five sheets of such. He wassentencedtobebrokenonthewheel,andthecrowdwonderedsincetherewasnowheelvisible,Initssteadwasalargeblockandaformidableaxe,andtothis hewas led, the executioner, acting underElizabeth's direct instructions,makingthepreparationfordespatchasslowlyaspossible.He fumbledat thebuttonsof theoldman's shirt;he turneddown thecollar,thenturneditupagain;arrangedandrearrangedthetumbledhair."Kneel."Theoldmankneltandlaidhisneckontheblock,andtheexecutionerplayedwiththeaxe.Then,as theagedChancellorwaited, for theblowthatwas tosendhimintoeternity,anofficialsteppedforwardandannouncedthatGodandHerMajestygavehimhislife.Thewhole scene had been designed and arranged byCatherine.Ostermannraisedhimselfpainfully,buttonedhisshirt,andsaidtotheexecutioner:"Givememywigandhat."AswithOstermann,sowiththerest—thesamefarce,thesameslow,awkwardpreparationfordeath,thesamereprieve.ThusElizabethearnedthetitleof"theClement."PetertheGreathadestablishedtherightofTsarstonominatetheirsuccessors,anditbecamenecessarytonominateherheir.HerheartbeinginthegraveofadeadGermanprince, shechosehisnephew,aPrussianprinceletwitha tasteforstrongdrinkandanaversionfromcoldwater.TohimcamenoticeoftheTsarina'schoice,andhehurriedtoSt.Petersburg,acrookedboywitharecedingforeheadandfishyeyes,shufflingandgrinninguncomfortablyasthenobleskissedhisdirtyhandanddidhimhomage.Acuriousboy,thisPeter.Stableladswerehisbooncompanions,brandywashis favourite drink, and playing with leaden soldiers his best-lovedamusement.HeworeasuccessionofuniformsmodelledonthoseoftheGermanArmy,forwhich he had a passionate admiration, In these uniforms he was wont toreview an army of toy soldiers, very seriously and very conscientiously.Frankly,hewashalfanimbecile.Atavery tenderagehis taste for strongdrinkhadbeen remarkedupon—he

hadothertasteswhichareonlyhintedat.Forhimabridewaschosen.WaliszewskicallsherFinchen,which,hethinks,mayhavebeenGermanforSophia,forshe,too,wasthedaughterofaprinceshiningdimlyinacheapandobscureGermanCourt.Hermother took her to St. Petersburg, and hermother, whowas a foolish,meddlingwomen,withaninclinationforpettyintrigue,almostsacrificedherdaughter's prospects by being uncomplimentary to Elizabeth. FinchenembracedtheOrthodoxfaithwithcheerfulalacrity,and tookon thenameofCatherine. Afterwards her biographer christened her "Catherine the Great,"and this unknown princess from Germany was destined to achieve thedistinction of being the most remarkable woman in the whole history ofRussia.Russia, did not produce her, but it fostered her. Receptive, impressionable,imitative,CatherinebecameRussianinthoughtandact.ThislittleladyfromGermany,whoplayedasachildwith the towns-childrenofhernative town,who left her good-natured father bearing under her arm a stodgy andponderous treatiseonLutheranism, and inher earshispious exhortations tokeepto thepathsofProtestantism—thissameobedient,quietchildpromptlyentered the Greek Church, promptly disregarded her early training, becameRussianinspirit,habit,anddissolutepractice.OnlybyourownfinecodeofdomesticmoralitydowepronounceCatherinedissolute; judged by the standard that was applied at the time, she was noworseandnobetterthanherhigh-placedcontemporaries.ShemarriedPeter.Peterspentthehoneymoonconfidingtoherthestoryofhislove affairs, invoking her assistance to secure the success of his pursuits. Itmay have been that it was at this period Catherine began encouraging theattentionsofheradmirers.ItwasafewyearsafterwardsthatElizabethbecamealarmedatthenon-arrivalofheirstothethrone,andgaveasemi-officialsanctiontotheattentionsofonelover, Soltykov. Later a child was born, the Grand Duke Paul, and waswhisked away by the Empress, who was anxious that the heir should hebroughtupunderher eye.Catherinedidnot see thechild formanymonths.ShedidnotseeSoltykovagainformanyyears, forhewassentonaspecialmission to theCourtsofEurope toannouncewithsolemnpomp thebirthofhisson.OnehundredthousandrubleswasCatherine'srewardforhim.ItisinterestingtolearnthatPeter,inafuriousrageatreceivingnothing,claimedandreceivedasimilarsum.WiththebirthofPaulbeginsthestoryofCatherineandherlovers.Itisastorywhichthrowsanilluminatinglight,notonlyuponthestateofRussiansociety,

butupontheconditionofthecommonpeople.

VI.—MURDER

PeterandCatherinebegantheir reignpeacefully.Russiawasatwarwith thePrussianKing;butthefoolishPeter,drillerofpasteboardsoldiers,adapterofGerman uniforms, devoted and ecstatic admirer of Frederick the Great,broughtthewartoanimmediateandingloriousfinish.Peterworkedferventlyto inculcate into theRussianArmy some semblanceofGermanmethod andappearance.Hewilfullyomitted to take intoaccount thehatredeverygoodRussianboreforeveryGerman.AlsohedisplayedalarmingProtestanttendencies,andhisirreverentbehaviourinchurchwasinstrikingcontrasttotheostentatiouspietyofCatherine.Also hewas offensively rude to theGuards, uponwhose loyalty to a greatextentdependedthesecurityofhisthroneandperson.Last—greatestofhisfollies—hebehavedbadlytoCatherineherself.Imagine thescene.An Imperialbanquet,withbeerandpipesasevidenceofPeter's Prussian sympathies, and the Tsar stumbling to his awkward feet,swayingandholdingontotheedgeofthetableforsupport.HehadproposedthetoastoftheImperialFamilyandCatherinehadnotrisen.Therewasreallynoreason,whysheshould.Peterturnedtoanofficial:"Tellthe Empress she is a fool," he said, but before the courtier could reach theTsarinaPeterroseandglaredatheracrossthetable."Fool!"heroared,andtheguestssawtearsinCatherine'seyes.There were hints that Catherine was to be banished to a convent. But theGuardswereripeforactionagainstthelittleGermantyrant,andonedayPeterlearnt, with genuine astonishment, that his wife had been proclaimed soleSovereign,andthathewasdeposed.Later he was sent to a lonely château, "amid very pleasant surroundings,"Catherineassuredus,andtohimonedaycametheOrlovbrothers,approvedloversofCatherine,great,strong,animalmen,withlarge,remorselesshands.Karamzin,thehistorian,tellswhatfollowed.OrlovannouncedtoPeterthathewastobereleasedandpermittedtoretiretoGermanyandliveintranquillitythere."I have come to dine with you to celebrate your release, according to ourRussiancustom,"saidOrlov.

WhileOrlovchattedwiththeTsar,oneofhisaccomplices,anofficernamedTeplov, poured outwine andmixed poison in the Tsar's glass. Peter took itwithoutsuspicion.Immediatelyhefelt,terriblepains.Heknewthatanattemptwasbeingmadetopoisonhim.Hecriedoutformilk.AfaithfulFrenchvaletcametohishelp.Theconspiratorsthrewthevaletoutoftheroom.Thentheymixedastrongerglass,andofferedittoPeter."Youwillsaveusalotoftroublebytakingit,"saidOrlov.Peterrefused,andcontinuedtoshriekforhelp.Theconspiratorsthrewhimtotheground.Toendthebusiness,OrlovgraspedPeter's throatwithhishands,andslowlychokedhimtodeath,whiletheotherconspiratorspinneddownthevictim'sarms.Thecorpsewasafterwardsexposed,sothat thepeopleshouldhavenodoubtthatthe Tsar was dead. On the neck they could see clearly the black and bluemarksleftbyOrlov'senormoushandsandlingers.Thedeeddone,OrlovrodeontoSt.PetersburgandannouncedtotheEmpressthat the Tsar was dead. She dined with her usual cheerfulness. One cannotgreatlysympathisewithPeter.Hewasmainlyafoolwithuncleanhabits.This was the first of the great crimes of Catherine's reign; another was tofollow. Her complicity in either is conjectural. All these years, since theaccession ofElizabeth, theTsar nominated by the dead and execrableAnnehadbeenlanguishinginprison.Theboyhood,youth,andyoungmanhoodofTsarIvanVI.hadbeenspentinacell.Attwentyyearsofagehewas,byreasonofthebrutaltreatmentmetedouttohim,half an idiot. It is characteristicof theTsars thatnomatterunderwhatconditionstheylived,whetherinthepalaceorinthedungeonsofthefortressofSt.PeterandSt.Paul,theylosttheirreason.Guardednightanddaybytwoofficers,whowereordered,atanyattemptatescape,tokillhim,Ivanbecamethecentreofaremarkableplot.This,conceivedbyoneMirovich,alieutenantoftheGuards,wastoreleaseIvan,proclaimhimTsar,anddeposeCatherine.Hewonoverhiscompany,andtheattemptwasmade,thecelldoorforced,andtherewasIvan—dead.Histwowatchersleantonbloodyswordsandremarked—"HereisyourTsar—takehim."Mirovichwasexecuted.Those who say that the murder was carefully planned by Catherine, thatMirovichwasintheplot,andthathewastoldthatatthelastmoment,whenhestoodonthescaffold,areprievewouldarrive,haveprobablyjustificationfortheirsuspicions.Theplotwastooremarkablyreckless,thechancesofrescuingIvansoremote,thenecessityforriddingherselfoftherightfulTsarsoobvious,thatfewwillquestionthepossibilityofCatherine'sguiltyknowledge.Ithasbecomeahabit toproclaimCatherineasa reformer. It is, indeed, true

thatshediddirectlyinterestherselfinbetteringthelotofherpeople.Thatshebuilttowns,establishedsystemsofeducation,introducedarttreasuresintoRussia,anddidmuchtoconsolidateitsEuropeanpretensionsisalsotrue,andforthesethingsshedeservedherappellation.Hereffortsonbehalfofthepeoplewere,however,verysoondiscouraged—shefranklygavethemup.TheRussianpeople,theywholivedoutsideCourtsandCourtinfluences,havebeendescribedinamemorablephrase:"Aquantityofmuscularforcescapableofbeingputtodrudgery."Thisisserfdominasentence.Whatdidtheythink,whatpartdidtheytakeintherevolutions,intrigues,andgovernmentofRussia?Lessthannothing,ifthetruthbetold.TheCourt,itselfplottedandplannedandschemed.Intotheseschemescamenobles,favourites,lovers,ambassadors,and,lastofall,thearmy.The people of Russia should be happy, for they can have no history. It isimpossible to realise that they even thought or moved in any mutter ofmoment. They impress you as vacuous millions staring with dull eyes anduncomprehending brains at the processes they underwent. Beasts of burdenand toil, chattels for disposal, fixtures, assets, anything but humanmen andwomen. "Inhabited land" had a special significance. Itmeant an estatewithserfs. They were bought and sold; they made, if bestowed in sufficientquantities, acceptable presents; theywerewon and lost at cards. Even theirvaluewasbutcollective;theyweresoldinbundles,asasparagusissold.Thereis,however,anadvertisementintheGazettedeSt.Petersbourg:"Anyonewishingtobuyanentirefamily,orayoungmanandgirlseparately,may enquire at the silk washers... the girl is well made and healthy... agedfifteen;theymaybeexamined,andaretobehadatareasonableprice."HereareCatherine'sownviewsonthepeasant:"Aserfisnotaman.Callhimananimal,andweshallwintherespectofthewholeworld.Thelawofserfdomrestsonanhonestprincipleestablishedforanimalsbyanimals."Remarkablycomprehensive.

VII.—EXPEDIENCY

Peter the Great—to whom we must always return—had no redeemingfeatures. Save only his chroniclers. He outraged convention and called itreform. A monk seeking the philosopher's stone found gunpowder. Peter,experimenting in high explosives, produced inadvertently a crude system,whichishissoletitletogreatness.

On the contrary, Catherine II. honestly endeavoured to elevate the soul ofRussia.Hermoralsweredespicable,buthertasteswereexcellent.SirJoshuaReynolds,Kauffmann,Chardin,Vernet,allpaintedpicturesforher.Theworldwas searched for libraries and treasures of art. She it was who made St.Petersburgacity—previouslyithadbeenafreak.Peterbuiltitonthebonesofhisslavesandpopulateditbyukase.Architects, painters, sculptors, doctors, philosophers, and great teachersgatheredatherinvitation.ShebuiltcitiesandmadeRussialessuninhabitable.For there was in Catherine the possibilities of greatness; she had a publicmind.YoutakethelistofCatherine'slovers,abewilderingrollofRussifiednames;youmayrememberthatfromhereighteenthyeartohersixty-eighthshewasneverwithoutattention, andputagainsther record themurdersofPeterandIvan;butthestrengthofthiswonderfulcharacterthrowsherfrailtiesintothebackground,andreduceshercrimestoactsofexpediency.NobodycandoubtthattheremovalofPeterIII.wasanythingbutablessing—thekillingofIvanhadnoothereffectthantoeffectivelyarrestthedirectdescentoftheprogenyof the Great Peter, and her lovers did little more harm to Russia thanimpoverish the treasury. ForCatherinewas truly generous to her favourites.Onlyoccasionallydidserfdomsufferbyhergenerosity;butthenserfdomwasaninconsiderablefactor.Onceshe tooka journey throughherkingdom.Shehadexpressedawish tosee for herself the condition of her people. An obliging Minister went inadvance, dressed a thousand peasants gaily and prosperously, and thesestanding about in studied attitudes of ease as Catherine drove through thevillagessatisfiedher.Thepeasant-playerswerelesssatisfied,fortheirdutyitwastomakeforcedmarchesfromvillagetovillageinorder,whenCatherineslept, to get ahead of her, and show themselves all over again at the nextvillage.Manydiedofexposureandfatigue.IfyouwouldknowmoreoftheRussianpeopleofthisperiod,readthisextractfrom a list of punishments handed down by the descendants of CountRumyantsev. They are punishments inflicted on servants. For entering hismaster'sroomwhileasleep—sentencedtobefloggedandtolosehisname!Tobe called only by an insulting nickname, any one infringing this order toreceive 5,000 blows of the stick without mercy; 17,000 blows was themaximum, and therewas an order that the unfortunate recipient should notremaininbedlongerthanaweek.CountessSoltykovisknowntohaveputtodeath bymeans of refined tortures 137 of her serfs—of both sexes.One ofthese was a girl of fifteen. Under the regime established by Catherine, theCountess was punished—before Catherine she would not even have beenbroughttojustice.

Expediencywas the keynote of her character. Everythingmust giveway tothat.Catherinedidterriblethings—onemaybedescribedasrevolting.Butatthebottomofallheractslaythatword"expediency."Shehadason,theGrandDukePaul.Sometimelateryouwillseehimpryingwith suspicious curiosity into the question of his parentage. By anextraordinaryprocessofmindhebecameconvincedthatthePeter,Catherine'smurderedhusband,wasreallyhisfather,whereuponhisunquietmindroamedforevidenceofCatherine'scomplicityinhisfather'sdeath.Thesameprocessof thoughtadjudgedher innocent. "ThankGod,"he said, raisingpiouseyes,andaTeDeumwassung.ThisPaulfavouredthedeadPeterinappearance,whichisaeuphoniouswayofsaying thathewasremarkablyunattractive.HefavouredPeter, too, inhisGermansympathies,hispaste-boardsoldiers,hisPrussianuniforms,andinhisfolliesgenerally.Elizabeth had kept Catherine well under observation, had treated her withsuspicion—well-founded,ifthetruthbetold—hadrestrictedherincome,andhadproscribedhermovements.Catherineprofitedbythelesson,andhersonwas watched closely. Paul hated his mother, and Catherine returned thecompliment.Shefoundhimawife,however,withwhomhewasmoderatelysatisfied,andwithwhomhewasfairlyhappy.Thechroniclersof theperiod,whowerealwayspreparedtosayflatteringthingsofroyalty,couldnotperjurethemselvesaboutPaul'swife.Theydescribeheras"veryplain.""I have rarely beheld a young person less favoured by nature," wrote theEnglishMinister.The story of this plump daughter of the Landgrave of Hesse- Darmstadt—Catherinewent toGermanyforher futureTsarina—makespathetic reading.Plainthoughshewas,sheattractedtheattentionsofthehandsomestmanattheCourt, and there was a correspondence. Also she plotted in a perfectlytransparentmannertodethronehermother-in-law.Thenababywasborn,butdidnotsurvive.Catherine waiting in the palace, surrounded by her Ministers, received thenewswithconsternation.Immediatelytherefollowedagravephysician,whoinformedherthattheGrandDuchesswouldbeunlikelytorearmorechildren.Expediency was the keynote of Catherine's character. She summoned herCouncil, andmade a suggestion—theGrandDuchess should be quietly andimmediatelykilled.Paul,thehusband,wasagainstthis,buttheyshowedhimsomeofhiswife's love-letters—thatwerenotaddressedtohim.Paulagreed,andthepoorplainlittlewomanwasquietlyandpainlesslyexecuted."I decided to sacrifice the Grand Duchess in the interest of the Empire."CatherinewasanImperialistwithparticularlydreadfulmethods.

Catherinefoundanotherwifeforherson,aPrussianprincess;also,ifportraitsbetrue,unprepossessing.TomeetthisnewwifePauljourneyedtoBerlin,andwaswelcomed by theKing in a speech so full of pleasant hypocrisies thateven hardened historians present it with many apologies. His second wifepresented him with nine children, two of whom eventually assisted inmurderinghim.

VIII.—CATHERINE'SLOVERS

Let us deal faithfully by Catherine and regard her lovers, even as she did,generously.IhavealreadysaidthattheirinfluenceonRussiawasofanegativecharacter.Biron,theloverofAnne,was,byvirtueoftheenormouspowerthathewielded, absolute Tsar.He slew and tortured, and stole and ravaged.Heassumed thehighest offices ofState, and. governedRussia,Tsar by right oflove.Catherine gave her lovers power and office, but between their whims andRussia she stood continuously. They could wreak their will at Court; theycouldbeusedforfavours;andthesuitorsmightknowthatsuchwouldproveprofitable.TheybecameGrandMastersofArtillery,andwerehungaboutwithglittering decorations, but never one had continuity of office, and theknowledge of the precarious character of their positions had a sobering andsalutaryeffect.HistorianscreditCatherinewithahundredlovers.Perhapstherewereless.Weknowofadozenorso,whotooksome£9,400,000fromtheTreasury;wehavehints of less distinguished favourites;we know the story of the review thatCatherinesawfromaupperwindow;anditisprobablethatinherfiftyyearsoflove-makingCatherineexceededthecentury.Soltikovweknow;Naryshkinwas his contemporary— the rest are names. Stanislaus Poniatowski—hebecame a king by favour of Catherine. GregoryOrlov, whose strong handschokedPeter;Alexis,hisbrother;and,mostambitiousofall,Potemkin.This"Tomkins"—soanEnglishattachédescribedhim—representsCatherine'smost glaring lapse. For therewas nothing about him thatwemay regard asfascinating.TheOrlovsweresplendidmenphysically,Stanislauswasagentlecreature, but Potemkinwas "dreadful and repulsive in appearance."Molloythusdescribeshiminarecentlypublishedwork:—"Oneofhiseyeswasgone,theresultofaquarrelwithAlexisOrlov,histhinbodywriggledashewalked,andhiskneesknockedtogether.Heseldomtookthe trouble to wash himself or comb his matted black hair—also he wrotepoetry."

As forCatherine, she referred to him as "My soul,my life,my inestimabletreasure."AndyetPotemkin,unlovelyafigureashewas,unpicturesque,evenuncleanly,morenearlyattainedtotheabsolutepoweroverRussiathandidanyotherofCatherine'sfavourites.Thestoryofhisoneerrormakesdelightful reading. It showsCatherineasahumourist.AmbitionspurredPotemkintoaspiretothethroneofRussia.ItwasnotsufficientforhimthathewasthefirstmanintheEmpire,hemustneedscovet the crown. There was a State journey to the monastery of Troitsa.Catherine,herson,andherloverwereoftheparty.Arrivedatthemonastery,astrange thing happened. Discarding his fine robes and uniforms of State,Potemkintookonthehabitofamonk,begantofastandpray,livedthehardestoflives,andgenerallyembarrassedCatherine,whothoughtherloverhadgonemad.HerosebeforedaybreaktochantthePsalms.Thencamethefavourite'sconfessor toCatherine tomake amomentous announcement. Potemkinwasrepentingofhismanysins,hehadbeenmadealerted to theenormityofhissinfulrelationswiththeEmpress,andcouldneveragainresumethemunlesstheyweremadelawfulbytheblessingoftheChurch.HereCatherine's fine senseofhumourasserted itself.Shecouldnotgiveanimmediate answer, she replied gravely; but she would make her feelingsknown to the repentant Minister himself. Potemkin received the messagegleefully.Heregardedhiscauseaswon.Hecameandmethismistressfacetoface. The comedy was delicious. Catherine rose with downcast eye andsorrowfulmien.ShelistenedtohimashespokeofGraceandRepentance,andthevoicethaturgedhimtoseekthepeacefulnessofthecloister.ThenCatherinespoke,alwaystenderly,alwaysinsorrow,butfirmwithal:—"Sinceyouhavebiddenadieutotheoldlife,sincegracehascometoyousounexpectedly,Iwillnotstandbetweenyourselfandsalvation.Remainhereinpeace, and seek the salvationofyour soul.As forme, I part fromyouwithsorrow—butitisGod'swill."AsCatherineleftthepresenceoftheastoundedhypocrite she probably smiled—the pity is that no record of that smilewastaken.In fullness of time Catherine passed to her fathers. One wonders in whatmannerherstaid,soberforbearswelcomedtheirchildtothespiritworld.Shewassixty-eightwhenshedied,andmadlyinlovewithamanfortyyearsherjunior.

IX.—CATHERINE'SSUCCESSOR

ThenfollowedPaul,andPaul,whowasPeter-and-water,didallthethingsthat

Russiamostlyhated.Heitwaswhoframedabsurdregulationsfortheconductofevery-daylife,wholaiddownthepatternofhatamanmightwear,thecutofhiscoat,thecolourofhissleigh.RussiastoodstillwhenPaulpassedby—stoodstillwith itshatoffand itsheadbowedhumbly.Youngorold, richorpoor,youstoppedyourcarriageatthesightofPaul'sequipage,descendedintothemuddyroad,andwaitedbreathlesslyuntilhepassed.SometimesPaulwasdissatisfiedwiththeshapeofyoursleigh,andhewouldhaveitdestroyedonthespot.Sometimesyouworeahatproscribedbyregulation—thenyouwereknouted.Itwasleft toanEnglishman—surelyitwasanIrishman—toembarrassPaul.ThisBritonappearedonedayinthestreetsofSt.Petersburgwearingacuriousformofheadgear.Thepolicesawit,andwerepuzzled.Theysearchedthelistofhatspermittedandhatsforbidden.Itwasinneither.TheyconsultedtheTsar—theTsarcalledhissartorialexpertstogether.Therewasnonametheycouldgivethisstrangecovering.SoanukasewaslaunchedforbiddingthepeopleofRussiatowear"ahatsimilartothatwornbyacertainEnglishman."Itwasahuntsman'speakedcap.TherehavebeenRussianmonarchsmorecruel thanPaul,morebloodthirsty,greater criminals, but their salvationwas the enormityof their crimes.Theyscourged and slew with ferocious remorselessness, and a trembling peoplehated,feared,andrespectedthem.PaulirritatedRussia,andaccordinglydied.HereisKaramzin'saccountofthedeath.March23rd,1801,wasselectedforthedeed.TheSemenovskyRegiment,theofficersofwhichhadbeenwonovertotheplot,guardedtheWinterPalace.Ataboutmidnight the conspirators proceeded to Paul's bedroom.Count Pahlenstood outside the door, ready to see that they finished the deed, or to handthemovertoPaul'smercyiftheyfailed.Oneofthemcarriedalamp.TheTsarwasnotinbed,buttheyfeltandfounditstillwarm.Theylookedaroundandfoundhimcrouchinginacorneroftheroom,doubtlesshopingtoescapeinthedarkness.Apparentlyhehadexpected trouble, forhewaspartlyclothedandwearingadressing-gown.GeneralBennigsen,withaswordinhisrighthand,presentedanactofabdicationinhisleft,whichheorderedPaultosign."You traitor!" shriekedPaul, andbegan tocry forhelp.The lamp fell to thefloor and left the room in darkness. The conspirators leaped upon Paul andborehimto theground,fighting likeademon.Thentheypassedanofficer'ssash round his neck. Nikolai Zubov and Prince Yashvil pulled it taut andstrangledhimtodeath.

THEEND

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