HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
305 
The History of a Princess of Russia, at Mauritius , &c. 
The Baron Grant, in his Letters X. and XI. written in the year 1750 and 1751, 
describes, in a very interesting manner, the scenes of domestic life in that country; 
but we shall content ourselves with extracting one of the principal facts mentioned in 
the first of these two letters, and in the secret memoirs of Mr. Duclos, concerning 
the curious history of the Princess Wolfenbuttel, who passed some years at the Isles 
of France and Bourbon, during the residence of Baron Grant there. 
“ Charlotte Christina Sophia de Wolfenbuttel, wife of Czarovitz Alexis, son of 
Peter the First, Czar of Muscovy, and sister of the Empress of Charles VI. was 
born the 25th of August, 1694. This princess, though possessed of beauty, ^race, 
and virtue, in a very high degree, became an object of aversion to her husband, a 
man of a most ferocious and savage character. He had several times attempted to 
poison her, when she was saved by counteracting medicines. 
“ At length, he one day gave her such a violent kick on her belly, when she was 
eight months advanced in her pregnancy, that she fell senseless on the floor, which 
was soon encrimsoned with her blood. Peter the First was then engaged in one of 
his journies. His son, having every reason to believe that his unfortunate Princess 
would not recover, set off immediately for his country house. 
" The Countess of Konismarck, mother of Marshal de Saxe, attended on the 
Princess when she was brought to bed of a dead child, and nursed her with unceas¬ 
ing care. Being sensible, however, if the Princess recovered, that she would perish, 
sooner or later, from the brutal nature of the Czarovitz, formed a plan to gain over 
the women belonging to the Princess, to declare that she and the infant were both 
dead. The Czarovitz accordingly ordered her to be interred without delay and 
without ceremony. Couriers were dispatched to the Czar to inform him of the 
event, and all the Courts of Europe put on mourning for the bundle of sticks 
which was interred. 
tc In the mean time the Princess, who had been removed to a retired spot, 
recovered her health and strength ; when, possessed of some jewels, with a sum of 
money which the Countess of Konismarck had procured for her, and clothed in the 
dress of common life, she set off for Paris, accompanied by an old German domes¬ 
tic, who passed for her father. She made but a short stay there, and having hired 
a female servant, proceeded to a sea-port, and embarked for Louisiana. 
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