fions, faid to be the Effects of Poison from his Sifter Sophia in his Youth, which made him shy of being seen, but of late they are much mended. He is extremely curious and diligent, and has farther improved his Empire in ten Years, than any other ever was in ten Times that Space; and, which is more furprising, without any Education, without any foreign Help, contrary to the Intention of his People, Clergy, and chief Ministers, but merely by the Strength of his own Genius, Obfervation and Example: He has gradually passed through all the Employments of the Army, from a Drummer to LieutenantGeneral; of the Fleet, from a common Seaman to Rear Admiral; and in his Ship-yards, from an ordinary Carpenter to Mafter-Builder: Farther Particulars, though agreeable, would be too long for this Place: He is good-natured but very paffionate, though by Degrees he has learnt to constrain himself, except the Heat of Wine is added to his natural Temper; he is certainly ambitious, though very modeft in Appearance; fufpicious of other People; not over fcrupulous in his Engagements or Gratitude; violent in the firft Heat, irrefolute on longer Deliberation, not rapacious, but near in his Temper and Expence to Extremity; he loves his Soldiers, understands Navigation, Ship-building, Fortification, and Fire-working: He fpeaks High-Dutch pretty readily, which is now growing the Court Language. He is very particular in his way of Living; when at Mofco he never lodges in the Palace, but in a little Wooden House built for him in the Subburbs as Colonel of his Guards; He has neither

Court,

Court, Equipage, or other Diftinction from a private Officer, except when he appears on publick Solemnities.

The Court.

The Court of the former Czars was very numerous and magnificent, being filled on folemn Occafions by the Bojars, or Privy Counsellors, with all the Officers of each Pricaffe, by the Nobility and Gentry, who were obliged to Attendance by Titles of Honour and Diftinction without any Salary; as the Krapfbecks, or Carvers, who are only two of the first Nobility, this Employment being reckoned very confiderable: The Stolnicks, or Sewers, who are also used to carry any Meffage of Importance, to receive Embaffadors, &c. The Spalnicks, or Gentlemen of the Bedchamber; which two laft Titles are in great Number, and defcend from Father to Son, though generally confirmed by the Prince: And lastly, by the Gofts, or chief Merchants. On public Feafts or Ceremonies all these received rich Gowns of Brocade lined with Furs from the Treasury, which they returned as foon as the Appearance was over; but the present Czar has quite abolished these Formalities, without fettling any other Court; some say, to spare the Expence during the War, or rather from his particular Temper which is averfe to fuch Conftraints. On any Ceremony, he is attended by the Officers of his Army, and Nobility without any Distinction, which makes a tolerable Show.

VOL. II.

His

His Favourite Alexander Menzicoff is born of very mean Parents; was accidentally met by The Favourite. the Czar in the Streets when a Boy, and for fome unlucky Answers preferred to serve one of his Gentlemen; from which Step he is grown by Degrees the most powerful Subject in Europe; his Diligence and Dispatch have been his chief Recommendation; and some have thought their Intimacy rather resembled Love than Friendship, they having frequent Jars and conftant Reconcilements, though fome fuch Accident may once prove fatal, as has already been very near. His Parts are not extraordinary, his Education low, for the Czar would never let him learn to read or write, and his Advancement too quick to give him Time for Obfervation or Experience. Under the Czar's Name, he uses an abfolute Power in all Affairs; makes every Interest give way to his private Paffions; in which he often contradicts the Czar's Orders, and if it comes to be contefted, generally carries the Point from his Ma

fter; he is not beloved by the common People, and much less by the old Nobility and chief Officers, who have a strong Cabal against him, headed by the High-Admiral Apraxin. He was made Prince of the Empire in 1706; Duke of Ingria in 1707; and Felt Marshal in 1709. He is a violent Enemy to Felt Marshal Sheremotoff, and has often brought him to the Brink of Ruin. He has formed a Court after the Fashion of the little German Princes, of Chamberlains, Marshals, Secretaries, &c. moft Foreigners.

Monfieur

Chancellor

of the

Monfieur Golofkin is of an ancient Family; he was Great Chamberlain, and on the Death of Count Golowin was made Lord Chancellor of the Empire, which great Employment he Empire modeftly declined for feveral Months; he is a Gentleman of good Senfe, very devout, and has the general Character of a Man of Honour : No one ever complained of his Cruelty and Injuftice, though fome think he is not refolute enough in oppofing that of others. He was made Count of the Roman Empire and of Ruffia about three Years ago.

Chancellor

Monfieur Schapfirroff is of no great Extraction ; his Grand-Father was one of the Jews carried out of Poland in their former Wars, Vice his Father was baptized, and he profeffes the Ruffian Religion: in 1705, he was private Secre tary to Count Golowin, to whom his Diligence and Knowledge of the High-Dutch Tongue made him abfolutely neceffary; on the Count's Death he was made Secretary to the Office of Embaffies, and in 1709, Vice Chancellor with Count Golofkin; all foreign Affairs go neceffarily through his Hands; he has more Experience than natural Qualifications; he is generally esteemed fair enough in his Bufiness, but his quick Preferments have given him an Air of Stiffness, and it is faid his private Interest will not always let him diftinguish the Merits of the Cause.

Prince Dolgorucki, who fome Years ago was the Czar's Embaffador in Poland, is often joined Privy to these Gentlemen in the Confultations on Counsellor. any foreign Affairs, but the executive Part is entirely left to them; he is a Perfon of good Senfe, Manners, Modesty and Honour.

Monfieur Apraxin is of a good Family, his An

cestors having been Stolnicks, or Sewers High-Admiral. the old Empress Dowager, Mother of the Czar's eldest Brother, is his Sifter; this Alliance brought him into Court and Favour, which he foon improved by a ready Wit, and a Conscience not enflaved to any Scruples to obftruct his Fortune; he had been Commiffioner of the Admiralty for many Years, and on Count Golowin's Death was made High Admiral; in 1709, he was made Governor of Ingria in Prince Menzicoff's Absence, and had the good Fortune to see the Swedish Army under General Lubecker kill their Horfes, and retire out of that Province unaccountably; which Miscarriage turned as his own Merit, and thereby increased his Credit with his Prince; he is very revengeful, and no Enemy to Prefents; he appears openly against the Favorite, and has great Credit at Court, but his Indifcretion in Drink, when in the Czar's Company, fometimes exposes him to difagreeable Accidents.

Felt Marshal Sheremetoff is of a very ancient Family, famous for producing lucky GeneFelt Marfbal, rals against the Tartars, of which Success

he