Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-08-26
OF an svenging God, into Poland md

Of an svenging God, into Poiano
e,d c-uehed that kingdom from the
f.cs OF thu esrth. During this
reicu. R1i those Immediately uece cd
inc. a code Of laws Ess intrcdpctd IN
the' kingdom. ard il improved IL clVili-
zatiop ct slow but steady pSce down
IN the DAYS Of Peter the Great, woo Wss
cr, wned in 1899 81 the age OF seventeen
vesrs The ruling passion OF tnls won
ierf1I man was 8 desire to eXseDd MS
ennnire and consolidate his power, ACC
with this in view he made war On the
Turks. which ended dissstrously TO MIN,
as have ended like erussdes by ms de-
sCendants. But the energies OF fe'er
did not flag, and in IT'S he had driven
the Swedes out of Finland, carried MS
frontiers to the G ;spian see, ana In otntE
directions had gained Large terrltoTieF:
He abolished the ancient COUNCIL ana
took the government lnto MS own
hands; he quarreled with and oeposeo
the patris chs Of tie church; he violated
with immunity venerable foTmsIiues OF
their faith, and in general way MADE
himself autocrat OF Russia, although
that title had been denied bis ancestor,
the youthful Michael. He sacrjh 3ed I'M
relentingly everything and every oouy
for the purpose OF carrying AIS planf,
and though it is not certainly known
that violence was the cause, the rae.
remains that his own son, who opposed
his policy, died suddenly IN l1io' soon
after having BEEN visited and cross
examined by his father. he had
been accused of an intention to kill
Peter and possess the crown. Pc
ter founded the city of st. Petersburg
under cjrcums anees to be hereinafter
mentiope1. He possessed q resolute
will. which dtfsd all difficulties. de
vent to the continent, and as an appren'
tice learned ship.building. Returning
to his kingdom, be built and bequeathsd
to r 1ssia a powerful navy; formed and
brought into high state Of discipline
| q magnificent army; caused to be buli'
canals and other works Of pubic utility
10 various parts Of the empire; else
schools. colleges and universities, aho
estaLltshed commercial relations WIZ
almost all countries of the world. n
was capable OF enduring fatigue and prl
walton to an almost incredible extent
he'rose at four o'clock, aud devoted MIN
self with unc easing industry, day ate
| day, appearing to thir k that by MS owl
| nais mai effort he coulO drive his emplr'
| forward TO an extent not dreamed OF D1
| others. He even found time for iiiera
| lnrP. and was the author OF seVers
works, besides ira cslating into the Rus
| sian number of others. TINS Russian
date their civilization from his reign
| and, indeed, his services were great fo
thirty -four years he DEVOTED himsei'
with zeal thai knew no wesriness
halting, to tbe obi set OF his ambition
! and died in 1724, in the hsty.second yes
of his Sga, from the effects OF col
which he had caught in attemplD
to save the lives OF some drown
ing fishermen at point near .:
Peer. burg, On the river Neva. Tal
last and browning aes was ehsrac
terist G OF this wonderful man. = .rthl
notentates are too often careless OF hu
man life, and it is but seldom we res
of an emperor masking such sacrihc
for the humb.ess of their subj 9cts. Fo
yonr readers OF the legal persuasion 81
ane ciote is added: going, one aay, Whe
siait to London, with Loid Gal
narVon, to WesTmtnstor hall. whe
it was, as usual, filed with men veal
Jag wigs and gowns, Peter asked VIII
those people might be, and when tol
that they were lawyers, be wss astnDist
Ell beyond measure. "Lawyefe!' b
said; "Why L have but two in all 10
dominion, and ] believe shall hap
one OF theaa the moment get home !
Maybe Peter was right, but the jnda
mant was shockingly sum mary, inas
much as there was no appeal from /
1t is not recorded that be carried his il
Lenti0n into execution. Il was suppose
that Peter intended that his daughte
Anne should succeed MIN, bEt his dyin
hand could only rlee the words "gi7
alp on the slate that was brought
him, at his request, shortly before he bt
came insensibie, and the scepter passe
into the hands of his wife, Cath srine
Hsr reign was short, and nothing mari
cd thoes OF her successors down 10 th
time of Cstbarine' II, crowned in l76.
succeeding her husband, who was tu
focaEed shortly after he had ascende
the throne. L e. DYER