b o o k p 0 w e r to head his Holftein troops, and to defend his life to»
'— .— i the laft extremity ; or he might1 ftill be able to make his
efeape, and involve the empire in all the horrors o f a long
civil war. The judicious manner in which fhe conducted
this delicate affair, fhews her no lefs able in the arts o f negotiation,
than in the fpirit o f enterprize.
She calmly reprefented to Ifmahilof the madnefs o f any
attempt to oppofe her, now in full polfeffion o f fovereign
authority; fhe pointed to her troops, who. were polled in
large bodies upon the adjacent grounds; adding, that Peter’s
reliftance would only draw on himfelf and his party the
vengeance o f an enraged army ; the propofed, therefore,
that the emperor ihould himfelf repair to Peterhof, where
the terms o f his abdication Ihould be adjufted. Ifmahilof,
now finding the tide o f fuccefs turned on the fide o f the
emprefs, and perceiving the clergy, the army, and the principal
nobles, engaged in her caufe, was convinced that nothing
was left to Peter but fubmiffion. Seduced by the in-
finuating eloquence and engaging addrefs o f the emprefs,
he undertook to perfuade his unhappy mailer, by immediate
fubmiffion, to fave an effufion of blood, which could be pro-
dudtive o f no effedtual advantage to his caufe.
Ifmahilof came to Qranienbaum between ten and eleven
and found the emperor in the palace with Munich, Elizabeth
Voronzof, Godovitz, and others, anxioully expecting his arrival.
Having retired into another apartment, the refult of
their conference was, that in lefs than an hour the emperor
with Elizabeth Voronzof, Godovitz, and Ifmahilof, entered
the carriage, in which the latter had returned to Oranien-
baum ; and, unaccompanied by guards or attendants, drove
to Peterhof, where he arrived about half palt twelve, and
was
was immediately feparated from his companions. T h e em - chap.
prefs declined a perfonal conference ; but fent count Panin, > j_j
who was admitted alone. What pafled during this awful
interview between that nobleman and his depofed fovereign,
is not, nor probably ever will be, difclofed to the publick ;
but nothing can convey a ftrongêr picture o f the emperor’s
weaknefs and pufillanimity, than the following abdication
in form, which was the refult o f their converfation K
“ During the fhort period which I have reigned over the
“ Ruffian empire, I have found, from experience, that my
“ abilities are infufficient to fupport ib great a burden ; and
“ that I am not capable o f directing the Ruffian empire in
“ any way, and much lefs with a defpotick power. I alfo
** acknowledge that I have been the caufe o f all the interior
“ troubles, which, had they continued much longer, would
“ have overturned the empire, and have covered me with
“ eternal difgrace. Having ferioufly weighed thefe circum-
“ ftances, I declare, without conftrainf, and in the mod fo-
<c lemn manner, to the Ruffian empiré, and to the whole-
“ world, that I for ever renounce the government o f the-
“ faid empire, never defiring hereafter to* reign therein,
“ either as an abfolute fovereign, or under any other form
4< o f government. I declare alfo, that I will never endeavour
“ to reaffume the government. As a pledge o f this, I fwear
“ fincerely before God, and all the world, to this prefent re-
“ nunciation, written and figned with my own hand. Peter.”'
June 29, O.S. 176 2 .
Having figned this abdication, he was conveyed in the
evening a prifoner to Robfcha,. a fmall imperial palace twenty
* I have fufficient reafon to b elie ve th a t enb aum b efo re he was in the hands o f his
Shis abdication was made a t P e te rh o f : i f , enemies, his p t iiillan im ity admits o f no p a l-
h ow e v e r , as fome perfons w ith lefs p roh a - lia t io n .
feility have aife rted , he figned' it at G ra n ti
mil e a