b o o k a few days afterthe prince’s birth, the confequences of lier
'delivery, and the melancholy which had long preyed upon
her frame, hurried her prematurely to the grave, andfhe expired
on the ad of November, in the 21ft year of her age.
The approach of her death was affecting to all but her huf-
band and herfelf ; and her fpirit had been fo fubdued by af-
fli&ion, that ihe confidered her diffolution as a welcome re-
leafe from all her fufferings. Impreffed with this fentiment,
ihe faid to her phyficians, “ Do not torment me any more,
•“ for I will live no longer
On the day which preceded her deceafe, fire diftated the
following petition to Peter the Great, which may be confi-
-dered as her will.
“ The moft humble and laft entreaties from the under-
•“ written to his imperial majefty.
I. “ His Imperial majefty will order my funeral as he
“ ihall think proper. I could wiih, neverthelefs, that my
body may be buried in a place where it may remain un-
“ difturbed until the fécond coming of our Saviour.
II. i} Both my beloved children I recommend to the care
« and affedtion of his imperial majefty, my gracious father-
“ in-law, that they may be educated according .to their birth
“ and ftation.
III. “ I leave my jewels and other valuable things in gold
« and filver to my children t and a reafonable part of my
“ clothes and linen-to my coufin the princefs of Eaft-Friefs-
& land.
IV. u I befeech his imperial majefty gracioufly to permit
•** thofe perfons who accompanied me hither to return, and
M .to defray the expence of their journey.
* Bruce’ s Memoirs, p. 148.
w. “ On
Ì
e. “ On account o f the dearnels of this place, and becaufe chap.
vm.
“ my fervants.were ftrangers, 1 have contracted fome deb ts,. . I
“ which I intreat his imperial majefty to difcharge, that I-
“ may be remembered with honour, and that no unworthy
“ reports may be circulated after my death; T h e fums, .
“ which the crown will fave b y my deeeafe, may be em-
“ ployed' in difcharging thefe debts, fince it is God’s will that
“ I depart from this world fo prematurely and unexpectedly.
6. “ My unforefeen and untimely death is alfo the caufe
“ o f my being unable to recompence my domefticks, who
U had the care o f regulating my expences ; and as I am per—
“ feitl-y fatisfied that my fecretafies Gluver and- John- C le-
“ ment, who- had charge o f my difburfements, have ferved'
“ me with-fidelity,and honour, I humbly entreat that their-
jfl accounts, which have receipts, may be palled, and that the
“ other expenditures may be admitted upon their oath.
“ 1 repofe foch confidence in his imperial majefty, that V'
u truft he will not rejeft this my laft requeft, more particii—-
lf larly when I reftedton the-repeated inftances whrchT h a s »
“ experienced o f his paternal tendernefs and affedlionv
“ I have this-alfo to-add, that my death is-not fo grievous-'
“ to me, but that I am much coneerned-to leave this world at*.
“ a time when his imperial majefty is ihdifpofed ; a circum-
“ ftance which has prevented me from thanking him in per—
“ fon for the frequent proofs I have-received o f his'Kind—
“ nefs and regard. May the Almigh ty be his- aid and pro--
“ tedlor ; and may he add thofe years to his life which are' ■
“ -taken from m in e ; w h ic h ! likewife-faithfully, and w ith '
“ my whole heart, implore for h e r majefty the emprefs';
“ and, after returning my acknowledgements- due to theirr
“ for the repeated inftances o f their love and goo'dnefs, I ex-
pke, the moft humble and moft obedient daughter o f both
“ their majefties,. C h a r l o t t e C h r i s t i n a S o p h i a •
“ St. Peteriburgh, 0£l..2i j Nov. i , N. S. 17 15 .”
1 Muller in? Buf. XV, p. 237,
Y ol. I, 4 F: