b o o k c u m f t a n c e s , w h i c h h a d c o n c u r r e d in r e d u c in g a f o v e r e i g n o f
*— v— -> f u c h u n l im i t e d a u t h o r i t y to fo a b je d t a f ta t e .
While the revolution was carrying on at Peteriburgh,
Peter remained at Oranienbaum in thoughtlefs fecurity. He
had paSed the evening which preceded the revolution in the
fortrefs, in company with a few chofen friends, with whom
he indulged, as ufual, in the pleafures o f the tab le; and,
having puihed them to excefs, he retired late to reft nearly
intoxicated. In the morning he dreffed himfelf in his
Pruffian uniform, and fet out about eleven for Peterhof, in
order to celebrate the feaft o f the apoftles St. Peter and St.
Paul, expecting to meet the emprefs at dinner, and intending
as it is reported., to put her under an arreft. He was
accompanied by Elizabeth Voronzof, her uncle count Vo-
ronzof, his favourite Godovitz, mar Aral Munich, and many
o f the nobility o f both fexes, who formed his court. He
had not proceeded far, before he was met by a nobleman
o f his party, who had found means to efcape from Peterf-
burgh. This perfon immediately flopped the carriage, and
acquainted the emperor that he wiihed to fpeak with him in
private. Peter, however, ordered his attendants to proceed,
. adding, in a joking manner, “ Why are you in fuch a hurry?
“ Turn hack to Peterhof, and there you will have time
“ enough to fpeak to me.” The other repeating his folici-
tations, the emperor at length alighted from his carriage,
and was informed o f the revolution at Peteriburgh. Yet
even now his obftinacy and his infatuation were fo great, that
he for a long time fufpedted the truth o f the intelligence ;
* I f P e te r re a lly , as i t is fa-id, intended th in k in g to cru ih it a t once b y fe cu r in g h.er
to arreft the emprefs, his forme r c o n d iid is perlon . H e pu t imp lic it confidence in the
in fome meafure accounted fo r . H e th o u g h t nobles, whom he p la c ed about the em p r e fs ;
th a t h e r p a rty was o f no confequence, and and thefe very perfons were the firft to b e -
a c co rd in g iy diibelieved, o r p retended to d i f - tra y him.
b e lie ve , a ll th e reports o f th e co n fpira cy,
but,
but, when an enumeration o f particular circumftances had chap.
at length awakened him to a fenfe o f his danger, he teftified<— »— i
the ftrongeft fymptoms o f amazement and horror, and was
reduced almoft to a ftate o f ftupefadtion. Recovering at
length from this paroxyfm of defpair, he difpatched an adjutant
to Oranienbaum, with orders for the garrifon to follow
him immediately to Peterhof. Upon his arrival at that palace
he found that the emprefs was departed, and could not obtain
any information o f her proceedings from any perfon o f her
court. Marlhal Munich advifed him to put himfelf at the
head o f his Holftein troops, and to march without delay to
the capital: “ I will go before you,” faid that gallant veteran-,
“ and your majefty’s perfon lhall not be touched but through
“ mine.” Had this advice been followed, it would have been
attended with a glorious, and perhaps a fuccefsful event.
The Holftein troops, though fcarcely amounting to a thou-
fand, were zealoully attached to Peter, and Munich was worth
a regiment : the courage o f the emperor, however, deferted
him in this emergency ; he continued uncertain what mea-
fures he iliould adopt, fludtuated between hope ■ and fear,
formed new refolutions one moment, and renounced them
the next.
His own agitation was ftill further increafed by the behaviour
o f the principal perfons who had accompanied him
from Oranienbaum, or whom he found at Peterhof. The'
women vented fhrieks, and hung about the emperor in agonies
o f the deepeft diftrefs : every one clamorouily offered
advice ; but the uproar was fo great,, that the advice could
fcarcely be heard, and i f heard was not attended to, becaufe
it was repeatedly changed. Several o f the empreffes party
were prefent, and artfully fomented the general confufion :
under the fpecious appearance o f affedtion and zeal, they
alarmed