THE NEVA. 5 



little of what occurred before the bloodshed commenced, 

 and the spot was indicated to me by him, where, standing 

 between the two pillars of the Senate House, whence he 

 was looking down upon the commotion, he saw an officer 

 ride up to two or three soldiers, who were standing at his 

 feet, and greatly excited, and cry to the men, ' Call out 

 Constantine e Constitutzio ! ' The men hesitated, grounded 

 their arms, and insisted to know who Constitutzio was. 

 ' Constantine's wife, you blockheads/ was the reply. 

 1 Ah Xoroshos /' (all right), and forthwith the cry was 

 raised, Constantine e Constitutzio ! 



While these shouts were being raised a shot was heard, 

 whether fired accidentally or of design was unknown, and 

 Milardovitch, the Military Governor-General of the city, 

 who was riding in front of the troops addressing to them 

 soothing words, fell dead. He was a man universally 

 beloved ; great confusion immediately ensued, and fighting 

 began amongst those who had marched thither animated 

 by a common purpose. Soon regiment was firing upon 

 regiment, which of them in the supposed interests of the 

 Crown, which of them in the supposed prosecution of 

 rebellion, it would have been difficult to say. Dreadful 

 was the slaughter. At length one party remained masters 

 of the field either they were the loyal party, or if they 

 were not, and there were none such in the fight, they 

 found it convenient to proclaim themselves such; and 

 order was re-established. It was in winter, the snow on 

 the plain was everywhere red with blood; but during the 

 night which followed, openings were made in the ice which 

 covered the Neva, which flows past the place ; and into 

 these, it is said, the dead and the dying were thrown pro- 

 miscuously. These the rapid-flowing river carried quickly 

 away ; the snow was cleared off, and similarly disposed of; 

 and by the following day peace was restored. 



I said to one of the officers of a so-called loyal regiment: 

 ' Now, tell me, were you all perfectly loyal ? ' 'As loyal as 

 man is -to God/ was his reply, given with great solemnity 

 and assurance. I said, ' That is not in accordance with 



