coxe’s TRAVELS IN RUSSIA.

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to a padry-cook, and fold pies in the directs of Mofcow ; that Peter (lopping to con-verfe with him, was druck with his ready-wit and quick repartees, took him into hisfervice, and advanced him, by rapid promotions, to the height of favour which he after-wards enjoyed: others declare, that he was the fon of a groom belonging to the court,and was cafually placed about the perfon of the Emperor *. Both thefe accounts, how-ever contradictory to each other, diffidently (how the uncertainty of his origin ; andindeed it is no wonder that the genealogy of an updart favourite (hould not be exaftlytraced. The earlied account upon record concerning him is, that, in 1687, he wasone of the youths f whom Peter formed into a corps, and difcipliued after the Eu-ropean manner. The young Tzar was only fifteen years old, and Mentchikof, thenknown by the name of Alexafca , or Little Alexander, of the fame age; and being re-markably aCtive in his exercife, was obferved by Le Fort, and recommended to Peter.Several perfons of this company were afterwards promoted very high in the Ruffianfervice, and many circumdances concurred to forward the advancement of Mentchikof.He rendered himfelf remarkably ufeful to the Tzar in his plans of reformation-, he paidparticular attention to foreigners, whom Peter was continually drawing into his fervice ;he dudied his mader’s character and temper, and knew how to fubmit to the grolfedmfults. “ The Tzar,” fays Gordon, who was himfelf an eye-witnefs, “ often kickedhim publicly, and beat him like 3, dog ; fo that the by danders concluded him undone ;but always next morning the peace was made up, which people believed could not pro-ceed but from fome preternatural caufe

One indance of his implicit obedience to the commands of the Tzar , and dexterityin performing them, is recorded by Korb, fecretary to the Audrian embady. Peter wasaccudomed to affid at the examination of the prifoners who were accufed of high trea-fon, and was prefent at the tortures inflicted to force confeflion; he frequently attendedat their execution; fornetimes performed the office of executioner §, and occafionallyconfigned that talk to his favourites and principal nobles. Soon after the infurrectionof the Strelitz in 1698, Peter fcornfully reproached many of the nobles who trembledat being compelled to behead fome rebels; adding in a drain of fanguinary judice, “ Novictim is more acceptable to the Deity than a wicked man.” Mentchikof, however,did not labour under fuch delicate feelings ; for as a prelude to the execution of onehundred and fifty Strelitz, he drove through the dreets of Mofco-.v in a fledge, bran-difhing a naked fword ||, and boailed of his adroitnefs in cutting off twenty heads. H edid not, however acquire the confidence of Peter merely by afts of buffoonery andcruelty, but by his fuperior abilities both as adatefman and a foldier^j". Being chofenby the Emperor for the companion of his travels, he was created Prince of the Germanempire, and rapidly elevated to the highed employments both in the civil and militaryline. On particular occadons he was even permitted to perfonate his Sovereign, by

* The former opinion, that he was a paftry-cook’s boy, feems to be the mod probable, as it is preferredby Weber, Manftein, Bruce.

f Muller’s Nach rich t von der Urfprunge des Preobafehenkifchen, &c. in Journal of St. Peterfburgh forMarch, 1778, p. 173. Furft Menzikow war einer den erften Potefchnii. See alfo Manftein, p. 11.

f. Gordon’s Life of Peter, vol. ii. p. 278. Korb alfo fays. “ Alexafcam verb favoritam fuum, gladtoaccindtum inter tripudia deprehendens, deponendi gladii morem inflidto colapho docuit; cujus impetum fan-guisex naribus abunde defluus fatis, teftatus eft,” p. 84.

§ “ Quinque rebellium capita a noblijfima Mofcovie mar.u fecuri effe amputata.” Korb Diarium, p. i 7 °*

|[ Ojlcnclit ad hue eo %'efpere [gpe diffus Alexander, carpento per omnia urbis compitla DeSus, creberr'ima nudi tnfitiftentatione , quam fanguinolentam cra/lint diet tragsdiam expeSaret. Crudelior Alexafca de Sig'.nti decaffs captfibusgloriabatur. Korb. p.330.

^ At the battle of Pultawa he had three horfes (hot under him.

IQ

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