728 COXe’s TRAVELS IN RUSSIA .

Peter having, in 1724., decreed that the reigning fovereign fhouid have the power ofappointing his fucceflor, ought, in common prudence, to have provided one in cafe ofhis fudden death ; but he was feized with his laft illnefs before he had performed thatneceflfary duty. His diforder was a ftrangury, which was not at firft attended withalarming fymptoms : but fuddenly increafed to a violent degree, and occafioned fuchexcruciating tortures, as totally deprived him of his fenfes. In a lucid interval he de-manded pen and paper, and endeavoured to write, but could only trace chara&ers thatwere not legible. He then called for his daughter Anne; but before her arrival hisfpeech and underftanding failed, and he remained in this Hate fix-and-thirty hours untilhe expired * *.

It is evident from this account, drawn from unqueftionable authorities, that he didnot appoint his heir ; and though fome perfons concluded, that he purpofed entailingthe crown upon his grandfon Peter, yet he probably deftined his eldeft daughter Anneto be his fuccelfor; but was prevented, by the fuddennefs of his death, from carrying hisdefign into execution.

While Peter was yet lying in the agonies of death, feveral oppofite parties were ca-balling to difpofe of the crown. At a confiderable meeting of many among the princi-pal nobility, it was fecretly determined to arreft Catharine, at the moment of his diflo-lution, and place Peter Alexievitch upon the throne f. Baflevitz, apprized of thisrefo-lution, repaired in perfon to the Emprefs, although it was already night. “ My griefand confternation,” replied Catharine, “ render me incapable of acting for myfelf; doyou and Prince Mentchikof confult together, and I will embrace the meafures whichyou fhall approve in my name.” Baflevitz, finding Mentchikof afleep, awakened andinformed him of the preffing danger which threatened the Emprefs and her party. Asno time remained for deliberation, the Prince inftantly feized the treafure, fecured thefortrefs, gained the officers of the guards by bribes and promifes, alfo a few of the no-bility, and the principal clergy. Thefe partizans being convened in the palace, Catha-rine made her appearance; fhe claimed the throne in right of her coronation at Mofcow;expofed the ill effedls of a minority, and promifed, that “ fhe would receive the crownonly as a facred depofit, to be reftored to the Great-Duke, when fhe would be united,in another world, to an adored hufband, whom fhe was now upon the point of lofing.”

The pathetic manner with which fhe uttered this addrefs, and the tears which accom-panied it, added to the previous diftribution of large funis of money and jewels, pro-duced the defired effe£t; and the remainder of the night was employed in making theneceflary preparations to enfure her acceffion.

The death of Peter, in the morning of the 28th of January, being divulged, the fe-nate, the generals, the principal nobility and clergy, haftened to the palace to proclaimthe new fovereign. The adherents of the Great-Duke feemed fecure of fuccefs, andthe friends of Catharine were avoided as perfons doomed to deftru&ion. At this junc-

foon ended in his death. Upon his death-bed hegrievoufly repented of his fins, confeffed that he had fhedmuch innocent blood, expreifed the greateft concern for his behaviour to his unfortunate fon ; adding, how-ever, that he hoped God would forgive his fins, in confideration of the good he had conferred on his coun-try.” Bufch. Hid. Mag. xi. p. 496. Gordon fays, " he caught cold, which, with a violent ftranguryand retention of urine, occafioned by an impofthume in his bladder, put an end to his life on the 28th ofJanuary, 172 s-”

* Baflevitz in Bufching, ix. p. 371. alfo Weber Ver. Ruff. vol. ii. p. 199.

f Tant qu’on lui favoit un foufle de vie, perfonne n’ofoit l’entreprendre. Telle etoit la force du rcfpeAet d? la terreur , qu’imprima ce heros. Baflevitz, p. 374,

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