The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-04-04

He married Catharine Dalgourky and re.
tired. leaving the government principally
| in the hands of his brother.in-law, Ivan.
Peter II died at the age of fifteen, leaving
no male of the line OF Romanoffs. Again
was Russia without head. The soldiers
however made choice Of Anne, daughter
OF Ivan the fool, and were strong enough
to weigh down all opposition and give her
the crown. This woman possessing little
ambition and less energy, left the affairs
of government to tavorite named Biren.
This minister endeavored TO secure the
regency, at the death of Anne. she being
childess. by having Ivan, declared sue
cessor. Ivan was The son Of the Duchess
of Brunswick, niece Of the Empress, and
at that time but three months old But
the soldiers rose and declared Ivan Gear.
and his mother regent, and drove Biren
from the country. The Duchess, being
only sixteen years Of age, neglected the
public affairs, and quarreling with her
husband, soon became unpopular.
The soldiers again determined on a
charge Of rulers, and selected Elizabeth.
daughter OF Peter the Great. So sudden
| ly was this brought about, that the first
intim alton the Regent had OF il, was when
reused from her bed and on her way TO
prison, her ears were greeted with the
shou, Of long live the Empress Elizabeth
Poor little Czar Ivan, not yet two years
old. was confined in prison outside Of the
walls. Of which he never again saw, ex-
cept when being removed from one to
mother. For all he knew Of the world
outside he might as well have been in his
grave, except that he had dim notion
that he ought to be Gear. This he un-
fortunately mentioned to his jailcr. who
reported il to the Empress, whereupon she
had him murdered.
Elizabeth exiled all the remaining mem
bers OF lvan's family, and as many IS she
| thought dangerous OF her own, 10 Siberia.
She registered a vow never to marry, in
consequence Of disappointmep in a love
affair. which she faithfully kept Blu. she
cohabiled with Alexis Razumoffski, a noble
Of her court, by whom she had two chill
dren. One of these. the Princess Tar.
akanoff, was exceedingly beautiful, and
being reared in Italian society. her ac-
comphshments excited the jealousy OF
Catharine the Great, who had her decoyed
into a ship and taken to prison in the
lowlands, at the mouth Of the Neva. One
night, ten years alter her entrance into
the prison. the water OF the Neva rose,
and. filing her cell, she was drowned,
Elizabeth abandoned herself to the most
debasing pleasures, and finally died in a
bottle in her hand. ~
Peter Ill, son Of sister o! Elizabeth.
succeeded her on the throne. He mar.
ried Catharine aflerward the Great, then
! a German Princess. For a time Peter
gave promise OF being an excellent SOW
ereign, but soon fell into the habits for
which the Russian court was so notorious
| Catharine was driven from his presence.
and about a year aiterward gave birth TO
son, who aiterward became the Emperor
Paul. Taking advantage OF his Incidence,
she enlisted the soldiers in her behalf, end
mounted The throne, she had Peter carried
to prison. where. after suffering the mos,
brutal violence, he was poisoned. Cath
arine the Great, reigned thirty three years,
and the world is left in doubt whether it
would not have been as well off without
her. She was despotic. cruel and revenge.
ful, but increased her dominions one.twen.
tie,h in extent, and one.third in popula-
ton.
Catharine died of the effects OF her
] recklessness, and was succeeded by her
son Paul Paul was married when child
to a German Princess, by whom he had
two sons, Alexander aud Constantine.
He was afterwards married to Marie, also
German, who was the mother OF Nicho.
las. The weakness OF this Gear invited
conspiracy, which soon appeared. headed
by his son Constantine. As he lay in his
bed. Constantine and his band fell Upon
him and murdered him. Alexander was
|aPaul's successor, and Tor once Russia had
worthy sovereign. His reign was char
acterized by none Of the bloody domestic
tragedies OF his predecessors. His history
is so interviewer with the career OF Ma.
poieon, and consequently familiar to our
readers, that we need not rehearse it..
From, 1915 TO 1890, his life constituted
almost all there was of the history Of con.
tinental Europe. lie was an excellent
Prince. a powerful warrior, wise diplo.
matist, and withal a peaoeably disposed
man. He died in the twenty ninth year
Of his reign deeply lamented by his
country.