b o o k ' The wife of Prince Menzikof was fo affedted with her
huiband’s difgrace, that ihe became blind with weeping, and
expired on the road to Berefof. His daughter, who had been
'betrothed to the emperor, died before her father in prifon;
and the remaining part of his family, coniifting of
a fon and a daughter, were releafed on the acceffion of the
emprefs Anne. The daughter was married to Guftavirs
’Biren, brother to the duke of Courland 5 and the fon was.
promoted in the army by the fame emprefs. A grandfon of
prince Menzikof is now living : he is an officer in the Ruffian:
army, «id inherits only the name, but none of the-
riches or power of his grandfather.
Soon after the fail of Menzikof, his palace was converted
into an hofpital for failors; 'but was afterwards chofen by
Peter III. for his favourite re fide nee. The middle part of
the edifice is- the fame as eredted by Menzikof, and confifts
of two fiories, containing a range of fmall apartments :•
the emperor added the wings, which are long buildings of
one ftory.
Having palled through the palace, in which there was-
nothing worthy of remark,, we went to the fortrefs. In our
way we did not omit obferving a model, in miniature of -a
citadel, which Peter III. when he firft contradled a fondnefs-
for military ftudies, ordered to be made for the pur-
pofe of learning pradtical fortification. A little further we.
came to the fortrefs, which is furrounded with a ditch and;
rampart, and ftrengthened with baftions. It was rctifed by
the late emperor when be was great-duke, and contains a
Building called by him the governors houfe,. which he generally
inhabited himfelf, and into which he admitted only
his officers and favourites, while his court refided in the palace.
laco. Near it were barracks for a- fmall garrifpn, a few CHAi>-
wooden houfes for the principal officers,, and a fmall Luthe- ■ ,
ran. chapel, where his Holftein foldiers-affembled- for divine
iervice. ,
The governor’s houfe is a brick building ftuccoed, feveii
or eight windows in front, coniifting of about eight fmall
rooms. It remains exactly in the fame ftate as during the
life-time of the emperor, neither the furniture nor the bed
in which he llept the night preceding his depofition being
removed; It had a white iattin .coverlet, and was on a large
four-poft bedftead, with curtains of pink and filver brocade^
and ornamented at the top with a plume o f red and white
feathers. Adjoining to this apartment is a neat cabinet,
hung with light brown iilk, upon which were feveral figures
worked by the emprefs.
From the fortrefs we were conducted to a large gallery of
pidtures, collected by the fame emperor. Among, feveral
portraits of that unfortunate prince, one was pointed out to
us as a ftriking refemblance: he is painted in his, Holftein
uniform; the complexion is fair, and the hair ligh t; there is
no expreffion in the features, and the countenance has a
very effeminate look.
In the garden is an elegant pavilion, conftrudted by order
•of the emprefs when ihe was great-duchefs ; it contains
•eighteen apartments, each furniihed in different taftes,
namely the Greek, Turkilh, Chinefe, &c. and is fituated in
the midft of a thick wood: its approaches being circular,
we had.not the leaft glimpfe until we arrived at i t ; and as it
generally caufes an emotion of furprize, it has, for that
reafon, received the appellation of Ha I
Peterhof is at the diftance of about feven miles from Ora-
nienbaum, and twenty from the capital: the palace was be-
Z z z 2 gun