UNDER PETER THE GREAT iz

body of troops marched through Finland and crossedthe Neva, in spite of the Russians, some leaguesabove St. Petersburg, designing to burn the south-ern part of it, on the Ingermanland side, wherethen were the storehouses, magazines, ships on thestocks, and the principal part of the buildings.The Russians, destitute of force to oppose thisdesign, had recourse to stratagem, writing lettersto the governors and commandants of the nearestplaces, to send forthwith such and such regiments,either not in being or in remote parts, to theirassistance. These letters, as they intended, fell intothe enemy’s hands, and, striking them with a panicfear, they drew off with precipitation to Cape Kara-valda, 1 five leagues below Kronslot, and there bythe General’s order killing all their horses, andembarking on board the Swedish Fleet, were trans-ported to Viborg. These mistakes of the Swedesgreatly encouraged the Russians, whereas, if theyhad taken opportunity by the forelock, the Tsar wouldhave met with insuperable obstacles in increasing hisnaval power: considering the many difficulties hewas to struggle with in carrying on such stupendouswork in a new-settled country, all marshes andwilderness, producing nothing to subsist the multi-tudes of men in continual employment; all suppliesfor that purpose being entirely derived from oldRussia.

The Tsar proceeded to augment the navy withsundry galleys; and about 1708 set up two shipsof 52 guns each, at Lodeinoe Pole on the LadogaLake, under the care of Mr. Bent; one he finished,

required for higher ones ’ (Biografiskt Lexikon ofver NamnkunnigeSvenske Man , vol. viii.; Stockholm, 1876 ; p. 364).

1 MS. ‘ Harwaldy.’ ‘ Between Karavalda island and Stirspoint at 12 miles N. by W. of it lies the entrance to St. PetersburgBay’ (Baltic Pilots ii. p. 292).