The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-03-24
poyal Lives and Deaths in Russia.

tersburc the other day must have rem'hoeu
MANY reader that retrospect OF Russian
history. from its beginning, would afiord
view as dark aud bloody as can be found I'D
the annals OF any country.
A brief sketch. extending from the de-
cease Of PETER the Great, IN ITO, 10 'he
present time will furnish some ILLUSTRATIONS
Of The dangers 10 which power Is exposca
in that Empire.
CAruAR,Sr the First, widow OF PETER the
Great, died prema,urely, from intoxication'
q, the age OF thirty.nne.
PETER tue Second, boy OF fourteen
relcned nominally a few montbs.
ANNE. a niece Of PETER the Great, sue
eeeded PrrrR the Second. Both she ana the
country were ruled by BiREN, her iavori'e
and chamberlain, who banished as many as
twenty thousand persons to Siberia ana
pu, many others TO death by punshments
more or less cruel. When the more gentle
ANNE pleaded with him for some OF these
wre,ched sufferers he did not hesitate to
stop her entreaties by inflictins blows upon
her body.
After the death OF ANNE. in 1740, IVAN
the Third, descendant OF Ivan the brother
of PETER the Great, then an infani' was
proclaimed Emperor by BIREN, who declared
himself Regent But the mother OF the
Young prince arrested BIREN and sent him
10 Siberia. This was ANNE Of Mecklenourg.
She governed as Regent for one year. In
capable out mild, she forbore TO arrest her
cousin elizabeth, who aspired TO the
throne, and, taking advantage OF ANNE's
humanity. obtained it in 1871 by incltins
few Of the guards to areyo't.
IVAN and bis parents were imprisoned
during toe remainder OF their lives.
elizabeth was the youngest daughter OF
PETER the Great. She reiSned from i'4l 10
l76l. She was timid. and In constant Tear
OF her own safety; aud so mercIful that she
is said never 10 have beard OF a battle or
signed q warrant without sheddlng
tears. Two unworthy iavorites managed
the whole Government, and "never were
more wretcbes tortured, hunted TO death,
matiaed. and banished TO Siberia, than IN
the reign OF this mercifW princess" "Ihe
last ten years OF her life" adds Mrs. JANE
SON, from whom we quote, "were spent ID
fits O. terror, fits Of love, fits OF devotion,
and fits OF intoxicati0n." Her excuses NJ
length brought on disorders which termi-
mated her disgraceful existence, and she
died literally with cup Of brandy at her
lips.
"EIIzABEIH, in order to deprive the fam
ily OF Ivan Of all hope OF the succession, had
declared her nephew PETER the heir to the
thrope.v But being constantly in fear OF
a revolution In his favor, she brought him
up in such ignorance and secusion that he
was entirely unfit TO reign; and to one OF
her BED. chamber women, who demonstrated
with her on such course, she said, sloan
ma. lcnorest thou the road TO Siberid?" She
married PETER TO young princess, who
soon assumed the government under the IL
tie OF CATHARINE the Second.
CATHARINE the Second assembled the throne
OF Russia on the 2Sth OF June, 1862 Her fee
BILE husband, the lawful sovereign, bad pre-
viously, by her order, been arrested and
confined in the Palace OF Ropscha, having
been induced to sign declaration that ne
was not Dit to reign and voluntarily abdica-
ted the throne. This monarch, called
PETER the Third, begged CATHARINE to let
him carry with him to his place OF
confinement an old negro bufioon, who
amused him, favorite dog, his violin,
Bible, and few romances. His requests
were not granted, and excited much ridi-
Guile. Seven days after the accession OF
CATHARINE, PETER was assassinated in his
place OF confinement by certain persons
supposed to have been commissioned for
this purpose by CATHARINE. His murderers
first administered poison in glass OF BRAN
DIV, and then endeayored to force upon him
another glass. But be became aware Of
their purpose, and opposed them with
reproaches and entreaties, calling for milk
to allay the intense pain caused by the
first dose. One OF bis Wallets, French
man, nov entered. and PETER threw him.
self into bis arms, eXclaiming in faint
voice, 1T was not enough to deprive me Of
the throne OF Russia--I must now be MUIR
dered." The valet begged for mercy for
his master, but was forced out OF the room,
aud then fierce struggle for life began, in
which PETER defended himself with the
strength Of despair against ALExEY ORLoFF,
one OF the most powerful and gigantic men
in Russia, till the poor monarch was at last
A.. 49, nd "a cd yi
kin snstched from the dning-table.
Two other persons remained to trouble
CATHABINE. One was the youthful Ivan,
concerning whom she gave orders that if
should be put to death. MlROvITCH made
the attempt. Ivan was stabbed by his jail
ers. MIgoyITCH and some Of bis confede-
rates were executed.
The other person was CATHARINE, a natu.
raj daughter OF the Empress ELIZABETH, re-
siding in Rome. ALExEY ORL0FF was sent
to destroy her. He won her affections, pre-
tended TO marry her, and decoyed her on
board a Russian vessel. "She was convey
ed In fetiers TO Russia and there thrown
into dungeon, where she persisted misera-
bly,"
CATHARIyE, by her talents, her conquests,
and her crimes, became one Of the most
conspicuous persons in the history OF the
last century. While meditating new schemes
and new scenes for the display OF her bloody
ambition she was struck with apoplexy on
the morning OF November 10, 1896, while
alone in her closet. She expired the follow
ing day.