The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-04-24

plate which, by an ingenious machinery, in
dicated the direction of the wind, and with
this plate he was in raptures.
He soon became weary of his residence
He found that he was too far from the oh
|jeccts Of his curiosity, and too near to the
crowds to which he was himself an object Of
curiosity. He accordingly removed to Dept
ford, and was there lodged in the house, Of
John Evelyn, house which had long been
favorte resort Of men of letters, men Of
taste, and men of science. Here Peter gave
himself up to his favorite pursuits. He nav
igated yatch every day up and down the
river. His apartment was crowded with
models of threc-dcckers and two-deckers,
fligates, sloops, and fire ships. The on
ly Englishman of, rank in whose society he
seemed to take much pleasure was the eccen-
trio Caermathen, whose passion for the sea
bore some resemblance to his own and who
was very competent to give an opinion about
every part of a ship, from the stem to the
stern. Caermarthen, indeed, became so
great favoritc that he prevailed ON the Gzar
to consent to The admission of limited
quantity of tobacco into Russia. There was
reason to apprebend the Russian clergy
would cry out against any relaxation of the
ancient rule, and would strenously maintain
that the practice of smoking was condemned
by that text which declares that man is de-
filed, not by those things which enter in at
the mouth, but by those which proceed out
Of it. This apprehension was expressed by
deputation of merchants who were admit
ted to an audience Of. the Car, but they
were re-assured by the air with which he
told them that he knew how to keep priests
in order.
He was, indeed, so free from any bigoted
attachment to the religion in which he had
been Brought up, that both Papists and Prot
estants hoped at different times to make him
a proselyte. Burnet, commissioned by his
brethren, and impelled, no doubt, by his
own restless curiosity and love of meddling,
repaired to Deptford, and was honored with
seucrai audiences. ts
The Car could not be persuaded to exhibit
himself at st. Paul's, but he was induced to
visit Lambeth palace. There he saw the GER
emony of ordination performed, and ex-
pressed warm appreciation of the Anglican
ritual. Nothing in, England astonished him
so much as the archiepiScopal library. 1t
was the first good collection of books that he
had seen, and he declared that be had never
imagined that there were so many printed
volumes in the world. ... a.
The impression which he made on Burnet
was not favorable. The good bishop could
not understand that mind which seemed to
be occupied With. questions about the best
place for a capstan and the best way to rig a
jury mast, might be capable, not merely of
ruling an empire, but ofcreating nation
! He complained that he had gone to see a
great prince, and found only an industrious
shipwright. Nor does Evelyn seem to have
formed much more favorable opinion Of his
august tenant 1t was, indeed, not in the
character Of tenant that the Car was likely
to gain the good word of civilized men. With
all the high qualities which were peculiar to
himself, he had all the filthy habits which
were then common among his countrymen.
To theend Of his life, while discplining ar
mics, founding sehosls, framing codes, or
ganizing tribunals, building cities in deserts,
joining distant seas by artificial rivers, he
lived in his palace like a bag in sty and,
when he was entertained by other sovereigns,
never failed to leave on their tapestried walls
and velvet state-beds, unequivocal proofs
that a savage had been there. Evelyn's
house was in such state that the treasury
quieted his complaints with considerable
sum Of money.
Toward the close of March, the Car visit
ed Portsmouth, saw sham-sea fight at Spit
head, watched every movement of the con.
tending fleets with intense interest, and ex-
pressed in warm terms his gratitude to the
hospitable government which had provided
so delightful spectacle for his amusement
and instruction After passing more than
three months in England, he departed in
high good humor.