b o o k m e n c em e n t o f a r e i g n , o n a c c o u n t o f t h e i r to t a l r e p u g n a n c e
- ■ to t h e c u f t o m s a n d g e n iu s o f h i s p e o p l e .
He irritated the clergy by fecularizing the eftates o f the
monafteries, and affigning in lieu thereof feme penfions far
inferior in value to what the ecclefiafticks poffeffed
before this alteration; by forbidding the ad million o f
novices into convents before the age o f thirty j- and by
ordering many painted images o f faints to be removed
from the churches. He baniihed the archbifhop o f No-
vogorod, for refuiing to confent to thefe ordinances ; but-
finding this ait o f artibrary power attended with general
difcontent, he was obliged to recall him. Being himfelf
bred up in the Lutheran church, he had embraced the Greek
religion, with a view o f fucceeding to the throne; and he
was no fooner in fecure poffeffion o f it, than he thought
himfelf freed from the neceffity o f dilfimulation,, and imprudently
difplayed his publick contempt o f many rites and
ceremonies, regarded by his fubjeits with the moft profound
reverence. He built a Lutheran chapel in the fortrefs o f
Oranienbaum, was prefent at the dedication, and diftributed
with his own hand books o f hymns to the German foldiers.
This circumftance might have palled unnoticed, i f he had
not been abfent at the confecration o f a Ruffian church in
the fame place.
.He offended the army by the preference which he pub-
lickly ffiowed to his Holftein guards, by introducing the
Pruffian difcipline, and appointing new uniforms to feveral
regiments. He particularly gave umbrage to the guards,
accuftomed to refide in the capital, by ordering two regiments
to march into Pomerania, where the army againft
Denmark was affembled.
He
He affronted the nobility by appointing his uncle prince CHIAP-
George o f Holftein generaliffimo o f the forces; and b y — v— *
the fuperior confidence which he placed in foreigners.
He inflamed the general odium by the publick contempt
he expreffed for the Ruffian nation, for their religion and
manners. He raifed great difcontents, as well by engaging
in the war with Denmark, a war which feemed totally unconnected
with the interefts o f the empire, as by his bound-
lefs admiration o f the great Frederick, with whom Ruffia
had been fo lately and fo long in a ftate o f moft violent
hoftility. During the life o f Elizabeth, he expreffed his
concern to one o f the foreign minifters, that the emprefs
had invited him to Ruffia : “ If,” added he, “ I had remained
« duke o f Holftein, I ihould now have commanded a regi-
ment in the Pruffian fervice, and have the honour o f ferv-
“ ing perfonally fo great a monarch, an honour which I
“ efteem far fuperior to that o f being great-duke,” After
his aoceffion, he ufed publickly to call him majler. Talking
with one o f his favourites upon this topick, he faid, “ You
“ know I have been a faithful fervant to my majler; for you
remember that I tranfmitted to him intelligence o f all the
“ fecrets of the cabinet.” And as the perfon, to whom this
difcourfe was addreffed, feemed furprized at the affertion,
and hefitated making any reply, “ What are you afraid of?”
returned the emperor ; “ the old woman is not now alive ;
•“ and Hie cannot fend you into Siberia.” He generally wore a
•Pruffian uniform', expreffed the utmoft fatisfafrion at the
formality o f being appointed an officer in the king’s fervice;
and when he fent his minifter to Berlin to negotiate a mutual
alliance, he gave him fecret inftrudtions to be careful that
•G a n»