1792. anecdotes of Peter the Great. 247 



of war, in a phaeton and pair, who taking the empe- 

 ror for one of his much favoured, and consequently 

 much hated artists, run up against his chaise, and 

 begun whipping his horse, with man j insulting invec- 

 tives against vthe master, for not having cleared the 

 way for a man of his rank ; till the thundering voice 

 of Peter convinced him of his mistake, who dragging 

 the offender out of his proud car, without further ce-, 

 remonj gave him the usual correction of his dubeeti, — 

 aiking him between each volly of blows, have I not 

 made my streets large enough for people to pafs with- 

 out molestation ? have I not publifhed laws for the 

 preservation of the inhabitants against such insults ? 

 did you not take me for one of our useful helpmates 

 who have come so far to instruct our ignorance ? and 

 did you not think to insult hira under the cover of 

 night with impunity ? 



This adventure which got wind amongst the of- 

 ficers, turned the laugh so strongly against the bold 

 captain,who had so nianfully belaboured the emperor's 

 horse, and been ansv/c;red by the dubeen, that he found 

 it difficult to remain in the corps, till his friends sug- 

 gested to him a means of regaining the czar's favour, 

 and diverting the laugh of his companions, which 

 was to summon him before the lord high admiral, for 

 breaking a law lately made. This was executed, and 

 the czar appeared in open court, when the captain 

 complained that rear admiral Peter, not having the 

 fear of the emperor's laws before his eyes, had struck 

 him in his uniform, against an exprefs article of war ; 

 and he therefore demanded the fine awarded in it, viz. 

 one year's wages of a captain.of the navy, and an ex- 



