PETERHOF 



he said : " God has set me over you, and it is 

 my duty to see that I do not give places to 

 incompetent, or take them away from competent 

 people. If you are a good man, you will be 

 doing good, not so much to me as to your 

 country. For I shall have to give an account of 

 all of you to God. I shall have to answer for 

 it before His Judgment Seat if I do harm by 

 promoting bad and foolish persons. Serve faith- 

 fully and justly, little brother, and first God, and 

 then I also, will never forsake you." Peter's 

 end was characteristic and glorious. Seeing a 

 boatload of soldiers drowning, he plunged into 

 the water to save them. The chill contracted 

 brought on a fatal illness, in which he suffered 

 agonies. His last words, almost inaudible, were, 

 " Forgive everything." 



New Peterhof was founded by Peter the Great 

 in 1711. Here wealthy Petersburghers built 

 summer retreats. Peter built the Imperial 

 Palace in 1720 from plans by Leblond ; it was 

 enlarged in 1 746-5 1 by Rostrelli for the Empress 

 Elizabeth Petrovna, in imitation of Versailles. 

 The main building is in three stories, connected 

 with the wings by galleries. The roof is iron 

 268 



