COXii's TRAVELS IN RUSSIA.

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All thefe allegations, however, thus urged againft the pretenfions of Demetrius, couldnot efface the prepoffeflions entertained by the generality of the Ruffians in favour o(his imperial tiefeent. A frefh infurreclion was hourly expe&ed, and fome tranfienttumults took place, in which Vaffili Shuifki narrowly efcaped deftruction. In this cri-tical (late of affairs he had recourfe to an expedient, for the purpofe of appeafing thepublic fufpicions. A rumour being fpread, that the body of the young Prince, formerlymurdered at Uglitz, had performed miracles, a deputation of feveral bifliops and nobleswas difpatched to take up the hallowed corpfe from the fepulchre. and to tranfport it toMofcow.

Upon opening the tomb,” relates Muller from the Ruffian archives, “ an agreeableodour filled the whole church 5 the body was uncorrupted, and the very clothes entire ;one of his hands gralped fome nuts that were fprinkled with blood, and which the youngPrince had been eating at the inftant of his affaflination. His relics were carried ingreat (late to Mofcow: on their approach to the city they were met by Vaffili Shuifki,the widow of Ivan Vaflilievitch II. and a large concourfe of people, and depofited withmuch folemnity in the cathedral of St. Michael. During the proceflion, many troubledwith various diforders were miraculoully reffored to health : after the body was placedin the cathedral, thirteen lick perfons declared themfelves relieved of their complaintsby the interpofition of the faint, and the fame number were healed on the enfuingday

Let us contrail this account with the relation of the oppofite party.

“ On the 4th of June a difpute concerning Demetrius arofe between the Strelitz andthe people, who afferted that he was not an impoftor. The Tzar and the boyars cryout, The people fhall have occular demonftration, that the true Demetrius was killed atUglitz ; his body is now removing to Mofcow, and has performed many ftupendousmiracles. The boyars procured a poor man’s child, about thirteen years of age, cut itsthroat, and having committed it for a few days to the ground, conveyed it to Mofcow,fliowed it to the people, arid declared that this was the true Demetrius, whofe body,although long interred, was Rill uncorrupted, which the foolilh multitude believed, andwere appeafed f.”

The reader will judge which of thefe two accounts is moR likely to be true.

With refpecl to myfelf, I fhall only add, that having endeavoured to examine the hif-tory of the Tzar Demetrius without prejudice or partiality, I am Rrongly inclined tobelieve that he was not an impoRor, but the real perfonage whofe name he affumed

Chap.

* S. R. G. vol. v. p. 371. j- Payerne in Schmidt Ruff. Geff. vol. i. 3^4.

$ For the hiftory of Demetrius, fee Petreius Mofcov. Chron. Margaret’s Eftat. de ia Ruffie, p/18 and19. ill —175. Payerne in Schmidt. Ruff. Gef vol. ii. and particularly Muller’s S. R. G. vol. v. p. 181to 380. That ingenious author has drawn together, in one point of view, the principal events of thistroublefome sera, and has reconciled, as much as poffible, the contradiftory accounts of the different writ-ers : and though he has adopted the Ruffian prejudices, yet he has given the arguments of the oppofiteparty with as much candour ns could be expedited from an author who wrote in Ruffia.

Since the publication of this chapter, the death of Muller allows me to declare (what delicacy at thattime prevented me from afferting) his full conviction that the Tzar was the real Demetrius. “ As hi 3impofture.” he faid “ is an article of faith, I could not venture to publifti my real opinion in this country-But in perufing my account with attention, you will perceive that the arguments which I have advanced if 1favour of the impofture, are weak and inconclufive.” He added, fmiling, “ If you write on the fubjeft,refute me with freedom ; but do not mention my confeffion during my life-time.” He then related a con-verfation with the Emprefs on this fubjedt, when (lie was at Mofcow. “ I am informed,” (he faid, “ thatyou doubt whether Grilka was an impoftor ; tell me freely what is your opinion ?” Muller refpedtfullyevaded the queftion ; but being (till further preffed, replied, “ Your Majefty is well acquainted that the

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