17935 oration of Lomonofsoff. 309 
not even iron* to repell an enemy ; far lefs other me. 
tals for coining money. This reflection vanifhed at 
the appearance of Peter. The bowels of the moun. . 
tains are laid open by his powerful and industrious 
hand: metals teem from them, and distribute theme 
selves, not only to the inhabitants, but are sent to 
strangers as restitutions of the loans received from 
them. The hardy troops of Rufsia turn against 
their enemies, weapons dug by Rufsian hands from 
Rufsian mountains. | 
Of the establifhment of a regular force, so necef- 
sary for the protection of the state, for the safety 
of the individual, and for the uninterrupted prosecu-. 
tion of grand designs at home ; of this establifhment, 
I say, how great care had our great monarch, what 
anxious struggling, what attentive search after all 
means conducive to this end! When at all this we 
cannot sufficiently wonder, how is it pofsible to ex- 
prefs it in words! The progenitor of our wise hero, 
that great prince Alexis Michaelowitzt, of blefsed me- 
mory, amid many other famous actions, laid the foun- 
dation of a regular army = and the advantages obtained 
by its means in his fortunate campaigns in Poland; and 
provinces recovered to the empire, sufficiently testity 
* This is a very curious historical fact which hitherto had escaped 
Moy notice. 
+ Alexius was the son of Michel Federowitz, under whose reign 
the Rufsians were first able to make head against the Poles, and thus 
to afsume somewhat the appearance of an independent empire. Adex- 
ius was a good prince, made many good laws, and added to the pro- 
sperity of Rufsia. Theodore, who succeeded him, was the immediate 
predecefsor of Peter. 
