b o o k h a d been the main fprings that directed this machine. Ca-
i—y— > tharine, however, by her conduit on this occafion, acquired
great popularity ; and the emperor particularly fpecifies her
behaviour at Pruth, as one of the reafons which induced
him to crown her publickly at Mofeow with his own hand.
This ceremony * was performed in 1724, and, although
defigned by Peter only -as a proof of his affeftion, was the
principal caufe of her fubfequent elevation.
Some authors have afferted that Peter placed the crown
upon her head as a prelude to his future intention in her favour,
and even abfolutely appointed her his fucceffor; but
their affertioms are without the leaft foundation; for no traces
were ever difcovered that he had made fuch a difpoiition,
either by will or other wife : nothing indeed affords a ftronger
proof of the contrary, than the very manifeftoof Catharine’s
acceffion, in which fhe refts her right folely upon her coronation
at Mofeow, and upon the refolutions of the fenate,
the clergy, and the body of the generals t. Front thefe con-
fiderations, let us inquire by what extraordinary means a
woman of her low birth could fucceed in fetting aiide the
graudfon
<l the §th o f February^ 172 2, which was pub-
“ lijhed to the -whole nation, and confirmed by
“ the oaths o f all the fates ajfemblecl together,;■
“ namely, that he or Jhe, whom it Jhould pleafe
“ his imperial majejly to appoint, Jbould fucceed
“ to the throne: and accordingly he. was pleafed
u that, in the year 1724, ‘his dear con fort, our
“ mojt gracious emprefs, Catharine Alexiefna,
<£ jhotild receive, as Jhe did cjfdftually receive,
* * the crown and the facred inauguration, by
reafon o f the numberlefs treat and important
u fervices which f ie performed fo r the advan-
tage o f the RuJJian empires as was fuffici-
M ently and amply declared in the manifefo,
“ dated the i$tb o f November, 1723.
' “ For which reafons the fenate or council o f
“ regency, and the facred fynod, in conjunc-
“ tion
*: T h e reader will'find a very circum-
ilantial account o f the coronation; with all
the ceremonies and entertainments, in Bruce,
who was himfelf prefent. Truce’s Memoirs,
p . 351 to 363.
“ Be it known to all and every one by
“ thefe prefents, that it hath pleafed A l-
et mighty God to take, after a violent fick-
“ nefs o f twelve days, from this world the
“ raoft ferene and molt powerful prince
** Peter the Great, emperor, and abfolute
** fovereign o f all the Ruffias, father o f his
“ country, and our moil gracious lord, in
“ order to raife him to eternal glory.
“ The order o f fuccejfon to the throne o f
44 RuJJia being regulated by his imperial majefy
st o f m o jl glorious memory, in his decree, dated
grandfon of Peter the Great, who was the lineal heir of the c h a p .
Ruffian empire ; and afcend the throne, to which fhe could • Vf '' •
have no pretenfions but by the exprefs appointment o f Peter.
Her influence continued undiminilhed until a ihort time
before the death of that emperor, when feme circumftances
happened which occafioned fuch a coolnefs between them,
as would probably have ended in a total rupture if his death
had not fortunately intervened. The original caufe o f this
mifunderftanding arofe from the following difcovery o f a
fecret connection between Catharine and her firft chamber-
lain, whofe name was Mons; The emperor, who was fuf-
picious of this connection, quitted Peteriburgh under pretence
of removing to a villa for a few days, but privately returned
to his winter palace in the capital. From thence he
occafionally fent one of his confidential pages with a complimentary
meffage to the emprefs, as if he had been in the
country, and with fecret orders to obferve her motions.
From the page’s information the emperor, on the third
night, furprized Catharine in an arbour of the garden with
her favourite Mons; while his filler Madame Balke, who was
firit lady of the bed-chamber to the emprefs, was, in company
with a page, upon the watch without the arbour.
Peter *, whofe violent temper was inflamed by this dif-
covery, ftruck Catharine with his cane, as well »s the page
who endeavoured to prevent him from entering the arbour,
and then retired without uttering a Angle word either to
Mons
«■ ® l l ! thf bod5' 0f f n,eraIs’ have una- “ pre* Catharine Alexiefna, abfolute fove-
„ nln™> b ordained, and do notify, by the “ reign o 1 all the Ruffias.” See Dumont
„ P.rer “ . Pr‘nted edift, that all, as well ec- Corps Diplom. Vol. VIII. P. II. p , 0,
defiaihcal as military and civil , o f all ranks * Baflevii-r and v d f , 1 i *. •
“ a.nd M i l p | and fnitliful to aflion in a different
the moil ferene_and molt powerful cm- them would reprefent any circumflance
tending