The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-04-13
Peter the Great.

The house, or rather cottage, in
which Peter the Great resided during
the foundation of Petersburg, is held
almost sacred by the Russians, and
has been covered over by a brick
building of arches, to protect it from
the ravages of time. 1t was at this
cottage, which consists of only three
rooms, that Peter entertained Dutch
skipper; who hearing that st. Peters
burg vas building, and that the en-
peror had great passion for ships and
commerce, resolved to try his fortune,
and accordingly arrived with the first
vessel that ever sailed up the
Neva. The Dutchman W rs the bearer
of a letter of introduction to the Cap
tain of the port, from friend i'll Hol-
land, requesting him to use his inter-
est to procure a freight for him.
Peter was working like common la
borer in the admiralty, as the galliot
passed an saluted with two or three
guns. The emperor was uncommon
" delighted; and being informed of
the Dutchman's business, he resolved
to have frolic with him. He accord
ingly commanded the captain of the
port to see the skipper, as soon as he
landed, and direct him to the emperor
as a merchant just settled there.
Peter repaired to his cottage with his
empress, who, to humor the joke,
dressed herself in a plain habit, such
as suited the wife of a merchant. The
Dutehman was introduced to the en-
peror, who received him with great
kindness, and they sat eating bread
and cheese, and smoking together,
for some time. The Dutchman's eye
in tho mean time examined the room,
and he began to think that one who
lived in so mean place could be OF
any service to him. The empress
soon entered the room, when the
skipper addressed her by saying that
he had brought her cheese; for which,
affecting an awkward manner, she
thanked him. Being much pleased
with her appearance, he took from his
coat piece of linen, and begged her
accept of it also. "Oh, Kate'!" ex-
claimed the emperor, "you will now
be as fne and as proud as an empress
there, you are lucky woman; you
never had such shifts as you will now
have in your life before" This was
followed by the stranger begging to
have kiss, which she cody permit
| ted. At this moment Prince MenZi-
| koff, the fayorite and minister of Pc
| ter the Great, entered decorated with
all his orders, and stood before the
emperor uncovered. The skipper be-
gan to be amazed; and Peter perceiv-
| ing it, made a signal to the prince
! that he wished him to retire. The as
tonished Dutchman said, "Why you
appear to have great acquaintance
here ~ A little explanation soon put
the stranger little more at his ease,
and he drank and smoked very cheer
fully. He then made bargain with
the imperial merchant for cargo
and Just as he concluded it, an officer
of the guard, which had been changed
entered to receive orders, and before
Peter could stop him, addressed him
by the title of imperial majesty. The
Dutchman sprung from his chair, fel
Oh his knees before the emperor and
empress, and implored forgiveness fol
the freedom he had used. Peter en-
| ioyed the scene, and raised the terri
fed supplicant, made him kiss thu
hand of the empress, presented hin
| with fifteen hundred rubies, gave hin
a freight, and ordered that his yesse
as long as her timbers kept together
should be permitted to enter all tht
Russian ports free of duty.