COXE’s TRAVELS IN RUSSIA.
718
Having long directed the affairs of a great empire, he could not brook retiring intoCourland ; he accordingly prevailed on the Emprefs, on her death-bed, to appoint hergreat nephew, Prince Ivan, her fucceffor, and himfelf regent, till the Prince attained theage of feventeen; and he managed this whole tranfadtion with fo much art, that he feemedonly to accept the regency at the earned: requefl: and recommendation of Marffial Mu-nich, the Chancellor Olterman, and the principal Ruffian nobility. Having thus fecuredthe regency, to the exclufion of Anne, mother of the young Emperor , the firft a£t ofhis adminiftration was to obtain for himfelf an annual revenue of 500,0co * roubles, andthe title of Imperial Plighnefs.
But the power thus acquired by intrigue, he attempted to fecure by perfecution andcruelty. Piquets were placed in the ftreets to prevent commotions ; numerous fpiesbrought vague accounts of contemptuous expreffions and ill-formed plots, and fcarcelya day paffed in which fufpe&ed perfons were not imprifoned and tortured to force confef-fion. But inftead of difarming the envy and jealoufy of the natives, who were difgulledwith the government of a foreigner, he increafed his unpopularity by the haughtinefs ofhis demeanour, and treated even the parents of his fovereign with extreme brutality.
Prince Anthony Ulric and the Princefs Anne, the father and mother of the infantEmperor, were difaffetted at their exclufion from the regency, and Anthony Ulric,who was a prince of great fpirit, expreffed his difapprobation in the ftrongeft terms tothe regent himfelf. Biron fufpedling that the Prince was cabaling againft his govern-ment, called on him early one morning, without being announced; “ Your Highnefs,”he faid, “ does not deal juftly with me, for you promifed to inform me of the cabals ofdifaffe&ed perfons, and you know that intrigues are carrying on againft me in yourown houfehold.” “ I know not,” replied the Prince, “ that any thing is in agitationwhich will be detrimental to the Emperor and the country.” “ I will take care,” re-turned Biron, “ to place this empire in fuch a fituation as no other perfon is capable ofdoing; for I am neither deficient in knowledge or power.” “ The nobles mult affiftyou,” faid the Prince, “ and you muff all be accountable to the Emperor .” “ Am Inot regent,” replied Biron, “ with abfolute authority ? Such affertions, fir, may occa-fion great commotions ; and your Highnefs mult know, that whenever factions arife, theEmperor and the country are in danger; and what muff be the inevitable confequence,Ihould you and I be at variance?” “ A maffacre!” returned the Prince with greatwarmth, putting at the lame time his hand on his fword.
After much altercation, the Prince accufed Biron of forging the teflament and figna-ture of the Emprefs, and the Duke quitted the apartment with thefe words: “ Thisaffair, fir, is of great importance, and mufl be laid before the principal nobility of therealm.” Repairing inftantly to his palace, he futnmoned the cabinet council, fenate,and principal nobility, and acquainted them with the converfation. When the imperialminilter, Count Keyferling, endeavoured to juftify the Prince, Biron called the Prince aliar ; and turning to Keyferling, faid, “ We want here no advocates, and no lawyer’squirks then traverfing the apartment in extreme agitation, exclaimed, “ Am I apoifoner! or do I contend for the throne and fceptre !”
To the Princefs Anne, who, informed of the mifunderfianding, now made her appear-ance, he recapitulated what had palled with great bitternefs. Anne was exceedinglyaffected, and appeared to blame her hufband’s conduct. At length, the Prince himtelfbeing fummoned, was prevailed upon to attend. Being reprimanded by Biron, and byfeveral who were prefent, in the groffefi: terms, His Highnefs at length fubmitted to
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