PETER THE GREAT 55 
As a sample of the recorded royal visitations I will only 
mention the famous interview with Peter the Great—which 
took place in 1698, and is noted by all biographers of this 
renowned Russian monarch.’ The circumstances were recorded 
by van Loon in the following words: ’ 
The Tsar’s departure from The Hague was made in a 
canal-yacht passing by Delft, where he inspected with 
very great attention the fine arsenal of the States of 
Holland, and caused the boat to be stopped before the 
powder-magazine’® of the States-General, nearby Delft: 
and he sent two gentlemen of his retinue to the celebrated 
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, to bid him come to see him, 
with his incomparable magnifying-glasses, on one of the 
freight-ships in his train: and the Tsar would gladly have 
gone himself to see him at his own house, had it not been 
that he was apprehensive of the crowds, which he desired 
to avoid. Leeuwenhoek repaired to His Majesty, and had 
the honour of showing him among other remarkable 
discoveries, through his particular glasses, the marvellous 
circulation in the tail of an eel; which so delighted the 
Prince, that in these and other contemplations he spent 
no less than two hours, and on taking his leave shook 
Leeuwenhoek by the hand, and assured him of his special 
gratitude for letting him see such extreme small objects. 
Peter I spoke Leeuweuhoek’s language fluently (if not 
grammatically)—having picked it up by fraternizing with 
Dutch seamen and shipbuilders. He mixed with all classes of 
people whilst in Holland and England, and had an insatiate 
curiosity to see things for himself. (It is recorded that the 
words which fell from his lips most frequently were ‘“ Dat wil 
' ¢.g. Barrow (1896), p. 67. 
2 Translated from van Loon (1731). This description is trustworthy ; 
for van Loon knew L. personally, and may well have heard the story from his 
own lips.—On v. Loon see p. 80, note 2, infra. 
> After the dreadful explosion of the former magazine inside the town (in 
1654), it was rebuilt well outside the walls—in the direction of Rotterdam 
(i.e. to the south): so Peter must have passed through Delft before he sent 
back to summon L. into his presence. Cf. p. 28 supra. 
