Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-05-16
VWK PKESS
From the Boston Journal.
PETER TME GREAT;
Oh THE AUDIENCE IN THE MAIN TOP.

the next historian.
In common with almost every traveller who
visits Amsterdam, ] have seen the village o
Saardain, and the humble workshop, and udV
lighthouse Of "Pe,er the Great" which arc still
pointed out with manifestations of pride and ex.
slistion by the worthy and hospitable inhabi.
tants. But the village is not now as flourish.
ing as II was in the days of the Gar. Holland,
which at that time was equal ~ any nation as a
maritime power, has wofuIy degenera'ed in
this respect. England, France, Spain, Russia,
40 well as our own country, are greatly her su.
periors, aud Saardam has declined IL, population
and the enterprise Of the inhabitants, IN proper.
zion as Holland has declined as naval power.
But still an interest is attached to the place.
which makes It an important object in the eyes
OF travellers, and there without being me Ian il.
choly Jaques,' ono could Ell, and moralize for
hours.
But TO my story, Peter, while working as a
carpenter or blacksmith at Saardam, did no, en-.
deavor 10 preserve his ncoenito. II was soon
know to every court in Europe that The Car of
Russia was residing in Holland; and although
the different European nonarchs were at thai,
time unable To appreciate his character, az man.
ifes'ej by his voluntary labors, and sacrifices of
pomp and personal c,rnIuris, they respected
him as the powerful and energetic head of a
archs sent to him, with much display and cerc.
xuonv, ambassadors rendering him their respects.
and inviti' him to visi, their respective courts.
William OF England, however, was 1llatory
in thus evincng his respect for the Gar, much
10 the dissatisfaction OF the Russian monarch,
who was particularly DESTROYS of being on the
most friendly terms with the English King. At
length, after waiting impa,ienty for several
months, he learned with much qualification that
King William was about to send hree ambas.
sailors, selected from among the most ds,in
gushcd nnbclnen, and attended by brilliant
cOriege, to do honor 10 Peter Of Russia. The
Gar, with spirit of eccenricilv which he not
unfrequently exhibited, resolved 10 teach these
envoys lesson which they would not soon for
get, and punish them in a whimsical manner
for their hardness.
When the ambassadors reached Amsterdam
they were asonshed Ia learn that Peter was at
Saardan, busy engaged in building ship.
which was nearly finished, and that he would be
delighted TO see them at that place. The En-
glish noblelnen. who expected TO be received al
Amsterdam with the pomp and ceremony cor.
responding TO the character Of their mission,
were not little embarrassed by this informa-
tion but sci off, post haste. for Saardam, to find
the carpenter monarch, and sent an dram c0ur-
rier, with dispatches. announcing their nten,
tiOHs. Hey TcdCHeu At tHe appointed
hour, but TO their great surprised were inform
ed that the Gar was then on board his ship
where he awaited their arrival, and was mpa.
,ient to give them an audience. They we're al.
so informed that boat was in waiting at the
ship yard 10 put them alongside.
The English ,ligniraries hardly knew what to
think of this affair. There were no prccedenis
by which to frame their line of conduct. They
were DESTROYS for many reasons, to have an in.
tervicw with The Gar. and we're great slcklers
for etiquette, yet after a hurried consultation,
they determined to q ,tler the whns of the bar.
baran monarch, aud visit him on board his ship
A couple Of hurley Dutchinen, in a large and
clumsy boat, pulled off the ambassadors, and
portion of their suite. They were received at
the gangway. by a man dressed in the costume
Of a sailor, WHO in a rough manner welcomed
them on board. Wondering at their singular
reception bu, surprising il a specimen Of Rus
sian manners, they inquired for the Gar, and
their CONSERVATION was actually ludcrous when
.ibe sailor with afnewinr grin. pointed to the
maiDtop, and assured tue grave and stately re
prescntallves of Albion. that PETERBAs was
aloft. where he expected the pleasure of receiv-
ing the ambassadors of his friend and brother,
the King of England!
Tie ambassadors were stupefed at this ar
rangement and gazed at each other with de.
spairlng looks, when told that the hall of audi.
ence OF the Russian monarch was tie main.top
OF sloop Of war! They could rot conceal their
perplexity, and indeed entertained sorle suspi.
cions that they were the victims of hoar-bu,
when they were assured that the Car was &C.
tually in the main-top, and wished and expected
them To climb the rigging and introduce them
selves to his presence, their hearts failed, their
limbs trembed. and they hardly knew wha,
course to adopt.
What said the proud and venerable Earl
Of Tewksbury, does the Car Of Russia expect
me TO climb up those rope. ladders, and play the
part Of harlequin at this period of my life
To ascend that crows nest, in such a way,
would not on! y be highly undignlfed in per.
son Of my rank, but actually impossible =
No. said Sir Nicholas Granger with spice
of Indignation as well as sorrow in his tone,
'tlis is most unreasonable exacton on the
part Of the Gar. For my part, continued the
knight, taking survey OF his portv proportions,
and then gancing at the shrouds, Il Should as
soon think OF flying, as of going aof to the main
top by means OF the rigging. No-if ! ge,
there, they must hoist me up by pulleys.'
Upon farther inquiry, they satisfied them.
selves that they must visit the bear in his dem
elevated as II was, or return TO England without
accomplishing the object of their mission. They
hesitated few moments, uncertain which horn
OF the dilemma 10 seize--but Lord Cover, the
youngest of the party, who had once been as
far as Constantinope in ship of war, and who
therefore boosted Of his nautical experience.
suggested that there was nothing SO very alarm
ing or dangerous in the Cars request-that i,
was neither frolic nor a hoax-but a mark of
respect to great maritime government, to re-
eelve her ENJOYS in a noble ship; and that il
they should refuse his invitation to 90 alolt and
hold personal interview, after having proceed.
ed thus far, the Car would consirue il into an
insult. take umbrage, and war between the
two powers OF Eng land and Russia must be the
inevitable result.
These arguments had due weight, and the
other ambassadors, with sour looks and an un.
gracious grun', at length signlfed their re!uc.
tant assent to the arrangement, and prepared
to 60 up the riggng'-a feat which is some.
what awkward and difficult even to young and
active landsman, and was truly appalling TO
those venerable and heavily -moudcd noblemen.
II was an act Of devotion to their country and
their King, Of which we can hardly find par
allel in the pages OF history.
They heroicslly mounted the gunwale, Lord
Cover leading the way and they were also
assisted by the rough parsonage who received
them at the gangway, and who subsequently
proved 10 be the celebrated lie Fort, one of the
most faithful and able among the councillors and
friends Of the Russian monarch
They got upon the ratlins, and slowly ascen.
ded, painting for breaih-and pausing IN their
career, every few moments They were gazed
At with admiration by the crew aud officers on
the deck of the ship, who could hardly help
cheering them in their arduous undertaking.