i'l'jg2. anecdotes of Peter the Great. 2^^ 



-that none could calm but his beloved Catharine. 



• The unfortu!;ate commander appeared with his re- 

 port during its violence, and received such a lefson 



; from Peter's dvheen or cudgel, (which he seldom went 

 without) as rendered him ever after one of the most 



- vigilant ofticers of the fleet. However, the common 

 dore afsured us, that, on another similar occasion, 

 the emperor "was brought to a laughable form of jus- 

 tice for breaking one of his own laws, by a Rufsiaa 

 captain of a man of war, in the following manner : 



It is equally well known that Peter the Great ser- 

 ved regularly ir> person, and did the duty of all the 

 ranks of both navy and army, from a private up ta 

 field marfhal, to set example of military subordina- 

 tion and disciplii;e to his subjects ; and that he set 

 up a pageant Representation, at the head of each de- 

 partment, who were to judge of the merits of him- 

 self and fellow officers, and reward their meritorious 

 service, by gradual advancement of rank and pay. 

 But I doubt much if the public are acquainted with 

 the urgent necefsity and expediency of this measure, 

 which has been termed by superficial observers a pue- 

 rile farce. It was no leCs than an inveterate rooted pre-- 

 judice that Peter had to combat and eradicate, of so ab- 

 surd a nature as scarcely to gain credit in this age, and 

 which stood between him and the formation of the 

 regular standing army he so much desired, and in- 

 deed had so much occasion for, if he meant to make 

 any efsential changes in his empire, surrounded and 

 controuled as he was by the ancient strelits, or pre- 

 torian guards of Rufsia. When Peter mounted the 

 throne, a man ivhose father had held a higher place 



