UNDER PETER THE GREAT 77

XVII DIGRESSION CONCERNING GENERAI-ADMIRAI COUNT APRAXIN.

Frederick Count Apraxin, 1 General-Admiral, Ac.,sprung from the ancient Russian nobility, and relatedat a distance to the Tsar, is about sixty-four 2 yearsof age, of a moderate height, well-made, fair, incliningto feed, curious 3 of his hair, [which is] very long andnow grey ; and generally wears it tied up with aribbon. A native cleanness adds a lustre to thedignity of his magnificent mien, wherein he surpassesall the noblemen of his years in Russia. Althougha widower of a long date, is without issue, yet youobserve an incomparable economy, order and decencyin his house, gardens, domestics and dress. Allthat have the honour to be thoroughly acquaintedwith him, unanimously vote in behalf of hisexcellent temper ; but he loves to have men comportthemselves according to their rank, and expectsfrom all that approach him a due and adequaterespect; nor dare the Court buffoons, even in thepresence of the Tsar, take their usual liberties inCount Apraxin’s palace. Sobriety and early rising

1 The first name of this distinguished Russian was Feodore{Theodore). Feodore Matveievitz Apraxin was born 1671, anddied November 20, 1728. Kleinschmidt (p. 177) says, ‘Apraxin wasthe real creator of the Russian navy.’ He was, beyond dispute,Peter’s most efficient native fellow-worker in cr-eating a fleet. In1710 he was given the title of Count. In 1711 he commanded inthe Black Sea. His services in the Baltic are recounted in thetext. In 1722 he accompanied Peter in his Persian campaign,and was the first to fly an admiral’s flag in the Caspian Sea(Kleinschmidt, pp. 177-8).

2 He was really about 54. The substitution of 64 for the realnumber is probably due to the copyist of the original MS.

3 ‘Curious, f 1. Bestowing care or pains ; careful, studious,attentive ’ {New English Dictionary ).