Litchfield enquirer., 1857-10-15
Character of Peter the Great.
BY s. II. SMUCKER, ESQ.

It has fallen to the lot of but few of the human family to mould the characters and control the distinies of millions of their fellow b'l lngs This unenviabe pre-eminence has be longed to such men as Mahomet, Charlemagne, Columbus and Napoleon. In degree almost equal to any of these, it was also the portion of the great man, who has justly been termed the founder and creator of that vast, divt rsi- fed and powerful empire, over which the hcus Of Romanof now sways such d despotic scel- tre
 It is singular to observe, how, in the written instructions which Peter left behind for the gnlia of his successors, there is to be found designated the exact line of policy which they have ever since pursued. In those iustruc- tsol' he cnoins that the Russian nation mast De constantly kept on a War footing that the most able commanders from other countries mast be invited to take service in tine army o: Russia that no Opportunity must be lost in Interfering in the af1.rs aud disputes of thc rest of Europe that Poland mus be divido d by intcrhul feuds in order that she may uitl- mately be ro"qntrcd that the imp' raj f'm ly must always marry umong the Gtrman princes {; and, especially, that constant refer NHN' ii'' V N''i pC H'iu to LII paramount purpose of sui,ju.ati.s thc domn- ions of the Sultan O the sceptra of the Mus cov.tr kngs. And the real intent of h.s am ut1oI w.il be apparent from the toi'owing pas sage, with which he concludes these rctlurk- bic instructions:
 "Whcn Sweden is ours, Persia vanquishcd, Poland subjugatcd, and Turkey conquered when the Euxnc and the Baltic are cu.nIIcto- Iy and exclusively subject to onr contrCl, over lures should be made to the Courts 0; Yer salIleS anu Vienna to divide with them the do- miulon of the world If either of them ac- reptS, We must make use of one to assist Us in su! .u-ating the other We may then, on some Sl:c;ou> prttcxt quarr'l with our only remain ing rival, and subjuyatc him to our l,ower'
 In a word, the vast geri.is Of Peter had prnjecte'! tac aclnsiton ot universal Empire. The same impossible but glorious chimeta that had lnlh'ncd the mlnu of Napoleon, had also attracted the adventurous and daring genius of Peter thus proving that between intel lects ot the highest and mightlc>t cAlbre, there are often strange varieties and Concnlcnccs, both Dt passion and nf weakness.
 T!.o vh ,ractcr Of Peter the Great WAS s;n ,nlAr com ,inaton of adverse and inco yrn- ous Q'aI.tes bHt combination in wInc.. the good and great largely predominant d. His mind po<s 'sSed extraordinary vigor and ener- gy. Nothing Was tco nI,itc and insignificant to escape his scrutiny II t either promoted his purl o>rs or impcdcd them. Thus during one of his foreign tours, he sent back to Russia the mo Tel of coffin. At another time he ilE- ported al jmntlsc number of brlS!-mAk k"rs, of basket-maKerS, of rat-catch, rs and of Dutch cats, into his capital. A the same time, while he was descending to these insignificant de- tails, the grandeur and magnitude of his en- terprSe We're such as to excite the wonder of all men, and to rival even those of Charc- magnr and Napoleon The innumcrable inte rests of nearly half of two Continents cngross- ed his attention, nor d:d they seem to b" too great for the grasp of his comprehensive mind. The ject of all his reforms and labors eyi- dcnt!y was to do good. aaG to benefit his peo- pie. That he was wise. slgaciouS. pCrSvVcl- ing prince, cannot be d.niel That under any circumstances, or in any position of life, he would have been remarkable person, Is uuVur>tionablc But it is also true that h. was dotnrmed by several great defects. His passions were un"overnable and he cared but l.tt:c for the value of human life. It is true that hr could found a vast empire that he could iuusc into the minds of his subjects, q spirit of strict subordination but he lackea oAe of the most important requisites in tLc character of every man qualified to govern wei--l mean, the almost magical power of Hlfgovernmcnt-thc ruling of one ; owo se,- I>h pasSjons-wlich Scripture assures us, rem ders a man greater than he who taketh a city,