UNDER PETER THE GREAT 43

the havens for want of men the Victory, Britannia,Ormonde, St. Nicholas, Strafiford, and Lansdowne.

This fleet sailed in July from Revel, and put intoRager Wik ; 1 where the Tsar, observing the situa-tion of the place, had a plan drawn, the variousdepths of the water taken, and the width of the bayat the entrance measured with lines ; determining thefirst favourable opportunity to build a haven there ;if upon conclusion of the war he should keep posses-sion of the Province. Seven sail of Russ ships outa-cruising, first discovered the British and Dutchsquadron under the command of the HonourableSir John Norris, 2 Admiral of the Blue; they passedin sight of Rager Wik on the 23rd of July, steeringfor Revel, where they had been before the begin-ning of June this year. The next day the Russianfleet returned to Revel and anchored in a halfmoon betwixt the British squadron and the shore.About a fortnight was spent in a mutual exchangeof civilities betwixt them ; and the 2 nd of AugustAdmiral Norris entertained the Tsar, Tsarina, andthe Russian Court in a very splendid magnificentmanner.

About this time, Count de Buss being dead,Captain-Commodore Ismaivitz was advanced tothe rank of Rear-Admiral of the Galleys, succeeding

1 MS. ‘Rogerwyck.’

2 Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Norris, born 1660, died1749. Third son of Tho. Norris of Speke, Lancashire, andKatherine, daughter of Sir Henry Garraway. Lieut, of the Edgar,1689. Commander of the Pelican, fire-ship, 1690. PostedJanuary 13, 169s, in the Sheerness, frigate. Rear-Admiral, 1707 ;Vice-Admiral, 1708; Admiral 1709. Sat in the House ofCommons several times for Portsmouth and for Rye. FirstCaptain of the Britannia, flag-ship of the joint Commanders-in-Chief, Sir C. Shovell and Earl of Peterborough, in the war of theSpanish succession. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pleni-potentiary at St. Petersburg in 1717. Repeatedly at the head ofa fleet sent to the Baltic {Diet. Nat. Biog., vol. xli., 1895).