Washington sentinel., 1898-12-31

and Alexis Orlov, who conse-
QuentlY became equal participants
OF her tavors. Gregory, the elder,
was empty headed but exceedingly
handsome; Alexis was masteriul,
sensual and Of an energetic, rest
less temperament, which was evil
IDENTIFY inherited from their fore
father, a Strelitz named Ivan, sur
named Orel, which signifies an
eagle. He, with hundreds of others,
had been condemned to death by
Peter the Great after the rebellion
at Moscow in 1908, and owed his
life to the perfect sangtroid he eX-
hibited when, finding the portion
of the beam which served as the
block for whole ranks encumbered
with the head G. one of his COM
panions, he kicked it away, saying,
This is my place; it must be
clear" This act, which was wit
messed by the Emperor, reused his
admiration; he granted him a par
don forthwith, and placed him in
a regiment Oi the line, where he so
distinguished himself that he ac-
quired the rank Of officer. and con-
sequently the title Of noble, which
remained in the family.
The ambition to diveSt Russia
of its Oriental character and to IN
troduce European men and man
ners, initiated by Peter, was carried
out TO the letter by Catherine, who
taught her courtiers to feel and
enjoy the destinations oi French
life, while at the same time she had
the wit to make her subjects forget
her German extraction by selecting
her ministers entirely from the
people. The principal Of these
were Gregory Orlov, Galatzin,
Potemkin, ROmantzov and Panin.
Adventures and adven-
turesses sprang up like mush-
rooms. One OF these was lady
Who claimed 70 be the daugh er Of
the Empress Elizabeth, and there
fore the rightful heir to the throne.
Her career, not entirely an unblem
ished one, and the manner in which
she was entrapped by Count Alexis
Orlov, was one OF the sensations
Of the day.
Before relating her story, how.
ever, it is necessary to record the
positions held by the two brothers
at Court. Gregory remained at
GATHERINGS right hand, invested
with the title of Prince, having
apartments in the royal palace,
with Ommunicationt to GATHERINGS
private rooms by means of sliding
panels IN the walls; while it fellto
Alexis to guard her half foolish
husband Peter ILL.,, and, in concert
with his fellow officers, 1eploV and
Feodor Bariatinski, to put an end
to his lie, which is said to have
been done in a most barbarous
manner in the castle OF Ropcha,
though whether or not with the
Empress's sanction has never
transpired. Count Alexis was
then about twenty. six years Of age,
and is described as being remark
able for his immense height, ath-
letic form, muscular power, and
surprising agility. An enormous
cash which he has received in the
iace during a quarrel had not COM
pletelY effaced the primitive beauty
of his features. Such a man, then,
was the second favorite, who was
given the rank OF Lieutenant Gen
eral, with the order Of St. Andrew,
the highest in the empire, and in
addition to this the key as cham.
berlain, with right Of entry to the
kmpress's rooms at any hour Of
the day or night.
The war with Turkey, which
then broke out, furnished him
with an opportunity of justiiying
this extraordinary promotion, and
OF which he promptly avbiled him
self by submitting a plan for a
naval expedition 10 the Archipel-
ago, and obtaining the command,
with Admiral John Elphins one
and Captain Greig as cheif officers;
the latter afterwards becoming
Admiral in his place. BY an ar
rangement with the Archduke Of
Tuscany, Leghorn was made the
headquarters OF the fleet, and at
the desire Of the Empress the
British there, Sir John Dick, with
the permission Of King George Ill,
was appointed Russian agent, but
in private capacity, receiving in
1870 as an acknowledgment OF
his services. the order OF ST. Anne
set round with diamonds, with a
letter from Count Panin conveying
the thanks Of her Imperial Majesty
and her Ministers.
When Count Alexis had occa-
sion to be at Leghorn he re sided
chiefly with St. John, but he had
also a residence at Pisa, where he
spent the intervals in the campaign,
during one oil which he signalized
himself. to the horror and disgust
Of the inhab bitants, by his execu-
ton Of the Poetess, Madelaine
Morelli, soon after she had been
crowned with laurel at the Capitol
in 1871 1t was shortly after this
event that the myst .rious lady
already alluded to first appeared
on the scenes. Although the
bearer Of many names, to the end
she remained nameless. Born no
one knows where, educated no one
knows how, yet the mistress OF
several lang uages, she first became
known 10 the public in London,
where she lived in great style in
company with certain Van Toers,
the son OF a Dutch merchant at