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fions, faid to be the Effects of Poifon from his Sifter Sophia in his Youth, which made him fhy of being feen, 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 Minifters, but merely by the Strength of his own Genius, Obfervation and Exmaple: He has gradually paffed 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 conftrain 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 scrupulous in his Engagements, or Gratitude; violent in the first Heat, irrefolute on longer Deliberation, not repacious, 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 Houfe built for him in the Suburbs as Colonel of his Guards; He has neither

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Court,

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

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 laftly, 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 prefent Czar has quite abolished these Formalities, without fettling any other Court; fome fay to fpare 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.

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His Favourite Alexander Menzikoff is born of Ivery 30 mean Parents; was accidentally met by The Favorite, the Czar in the Streets when a Boy, and for fome unlucky Answers preferred sto ferve one of his Gentlemen gofróms 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 refembled Love than Friendship, they having frequent Jars and conftant Reconcilements, though fome fuch Accident may once prove fatalnas 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 ExperienceUnder the Czar's Name he uses an abfolute Powersin 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 Mafter he is not beloved by the common People,band much less by the old Nobility and chief Officers, who have aftrong Cabal against him, headed by the High-Admiral Apraxin. Het was made Princes of the Empire in 1706; Duke of Ingria in 17073 and Felt Marthal in 1709. He is a violent Enemy to Felt Marshal Sheremetoff, 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, Marfhals, Secretaries, &c. moft Foreigners.

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Monfieur

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Monfieur Golafkin is of an ancient Family, he was Great Chamberlain, and on the Death of Chancellor Count Golowin was made Lord Chancellor of the of the Empire, which great Employment.he Empire. modeftly declined for feveral Months; he is a Gentlemans of good Senfe,very devout, and has the general Character of a Man of Honour : No one ever complained of his Cruelty and Injustice, though fome think he is not refolute enough in opposing that of others. He was made Count of the Roman Empite and of Ruffia about three Years ago. d „biome 16. 19 med gbsam 9 Monfieur Schapfirroff is of ono great Extraction, his Grand-Father was one of the Jews card plas Fried out of Poland in their former Wars, Chancellor. his Father was baptized, and he profefles x the Ruffian Religion: 1705, he was private Secretary 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, ands in ory09, Vice Chancellor with Count Golofkin; all foreign Affairs go neceffarily through his Hands; he thas more Experience than natural Qualifications; he Sis generally esteemed fair enough in his Business, but chis quick Preferiments have given him an Air of Stiffness, and it is faid his private Interest will not always let him diftinguish the Merits of the Caufees or

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Prince Dolgoruki, who fome Years ago was the Cub 16 WCkoris Embaffador in Poland, is often joined Privy Caumfeltor, to these Gentlemen in the Consultations on

So any foreign Affairs, but the executive Part is entirely left to them; she is a Berson of good Senfe, Manners, Modesty, and Honourd bsvormi for bris yo bacolod vlameux old to new bus opalin. H Monfieur Apraxin bis of a good Family, his Ancestors having been Stolnicks, or Sewers; High-Admiral. Vuois the old Emprefs Dowager, Mother of the Czar's eldeft Brother, is his Sifter; this Alliance brought him into Court and Favour, which he foon improved by a ready Wit, and a Confcience 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‹ Abfence, and had the good Fortune to fee the Swedish Army under General Lubecker kill their Hoffes, and retire out of that Province unaccountably; which Mifcarriage 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 expofes him to difagreeable Accidents. A balls an

Felt Martha Sheremetoff is of a very ancient Faamily, famous for producing lucky Gerie

Felt Marshal als against the Tartars, of which Success

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