246 anecdotes of Fetef the Great. April x%, 



in the empire i than the father of one destined to com- 

 mand him, could not serve under such a commander 

 without being diflsonuured. Now let any one reflect 

 for a moment on the influence of such a prejudice 

 on regular subordination and discipline, and thej 

 will be convinced both of the magnitude of the ob- 

 ject the cxar had to combat, and that he took the on- 

 ly effectual method of doing it ; for what subject, 

 could plead such an excuse after the sovereign him- 

 self had served under every officer of experience and 

 merit, without regard to their genealogy. He must 

 be a philosopher little acquainted with the world, 

 who does not know the force of prejudice on man- 

 kind in general, and the danger of violently crufhing 

 it, especially in proud feudal barons, who had thou- 

 sands of vafsals, their own property, and probably at 

 their disposal. 



During the building of Pcterfljurg, its arsenals, 

 docks, navy ts'c. the czar had ifsued the strictest 

 laws, for the preservation of yrder in hi.- favourite 

 infant city, and for the protection of the many fo- 

 reign artists, who were so efsential to his great de- 

 signs. Pofsibly to please this body of men, with 

 whom he spent so great a part of his time, to the no 

 small jealousy of his officers and nobles, he used 

 to drefs as they did, in an Englilli great coat, and drive 

 about in a one horse chaise, similar to what the artists 

 used, with only one attendant, behind it. One evening 

 that he had remained amdirgst them later than usual, to 

 see the end of some mechanical operation or procefs, (and 

 to which he often put a hand himself,) he was met in 

 returning to his palace by a Rufsian captain of a man 



