The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-04

WIN the great pioneering work w, -.
been done elsewhere, notably by NJ VANS
zeuski, and that this book would never nave
been penned had that writer's biography'
with Its tremendous wealth OF quotations
from sources not accessible in Engiana'
been likely to fall within the range OF one
ordinary reader. Mr.. Sergeant aoknowi-
edges profound indebtedness to tha1 IN.
vestigator, and also to Messrs. Jauhert ana
Rambaud, but not on that account mas ne
deemed himself relieved from the duty OF
consulting. wherever It was possible the
original authorities, including. conspicu-
ously, Masson's contemporary Memories
Secrets. and the Life OF Catherine H.
by the Rev. w. r. Tooke, who In 1774 De-
came chaplain to the English factory AZ
st. Petersburg. We have no intention OF
wearying the reader by here following III
detail the monotonous and nauseous record
OF Catherine's innumerable lovers, but
seems worth while TO note what the author
has to say about her connection with the
death OF her husband, Peter ILL.,. and 10
outline some Of the conclusions to when
the study OF her character and career has
led.
I.
There is no doubt that Sophia-the daugh-
ter Of a brother OF the ruler OF the petty
German principality Of Anhalt-Ze rbst. VINO
did not assume the name OF Catherine until
she became a member Of the Greek Churcn,
after being selected by the Czarina Eiizaoetn
for the bride Of her nephew Peter. the
grandson Of Peter the Great, and the recog-
nized heir Of the Russian Empire-was
privy to the conspiracy by which her nus
band, Peter ILL.,, was deposed. 1t 10 also
indisputable that such excuse az may pe
furnished by the law of self-preeervation
she had. For, had Peter III. been allowed 70
rule any longer. he would have divorced
her and put her to death, or at least sent
her into exile. 1t is, however O matter OF
controversy whether her unfortunate hus-
band was murdered in the confinement 10
which he was condemned and whether,
il he was assassinated she had any FORE
knowledge Of the plot to commit the crime
According to the official report. Peter
death was due TO apoplexy, but the almost
universal belief, expressed both at the time
and in the works OF later writer's, was that
the deposed Emperor was murdered.
Alexis Orlof was generally accused OF the
deed, and our author comedies that, II the
death was unnatural probabilities point to
Alexis Orlof as the author OF 1t; but he holds
that all elaborate accounts OF a piteous
strangling or poisoning scene. such as
few writer's furnish, may be dismissed as
fictitious. II Orlof or another did kill Peter
the crime was accomplished without wit
nesses. Peter was a weaklng whom 1t
would be easy to put out OF existence.
1t is obvious that, II there was murder
done. GATHERINGS knowledge or Ignorance
Of it becomes Of great Importance IN an
estimate of her character. The Prince de
LiRne, who knew her we'll, took pains to
establish her complete innocence, and
questioned the Einperor's old servants,
whose perfect liberty to tell what had oc-
Cured struck him AZ the best possible proof
Of Catherir e's total igr ORANGE OF the deed.
Apparently" wrote the Prince de Ligne.
1she does not know that the crime is i'm
puted to her this could hardly be quite
correct; the lies he adds. after mention
ing how her detractors heaped crime on
crime as hers, .of lackeys or OF souls as
base have endeavored to dim the luster OF
that immortal reign. One only needed to
see the Empress. to listen to her, to know
her life story, to be sure Of her goodness,
Justice and mvarying kindness" The
terms in which this dissolution was pro-
nounced are justly described by the author
OF this volume as excessive, but it Is at the
same time pointed out that the Prince de
Ligne, though a partizan. was anything
but a simpleton. His view" says Mr..
Sergeant, in the matter Of Peters death is,
in eject, that of every trustworthy judge
contemporary with Catherine. The accu-
sation against her Of orderin 6 her husbands
assassin alton is only put forth by the
scandal loving. the disreputable or the
utterly prejudiced.'
A question still remains to be answered,
namely, whether, although Peter iii. may
have been slain entirely without her knowl-
edge, Catherine did not condone the deed
when it had been done. Our author admits
that she made no attempt to punish any
one. She was satisfied with the report
made by the physicians who conducted the
post -mortem examination. and took no
steps to reassrlre hesitating public. while
she forbade any discussion OF the event.
There Is Trustworthy evidence for the asser-
ton that -her manner on receipt Of the news
which Alexis Orlof brought to st. Peters
burg as fast as he could ride on the day the
death occurred was against her. She was
Just about to make her appearance at court
and did appear there with tranquil air,
but Immediately afterward shut herself up
with Orlof, Panin and others to deliberate
whether the Senate and people should be
told at once. 1t was determined to wait a
Gay, and Catherine, after dining as usual,
held an evening court.
sNext day the news was made known,
ostensibly for the first time, to Cath crime,
as she sat at table. whereupon she rose,
with her eyes full Of tears, az though she
had just heard Of the catastrophe. dis
missing those sitting at the meal with her
shut herself up, and for several days showed
signs OF profound grief This is Tooke's
account, and our author sees no reason
to doubt it's correctness. It Is certain that
in the proclamation announcing her hus-
bands death from violent collie, she bade
her people pray sincerely to God for the
repose Of Peters soul. but asked them
to consider the unexpected and sudden
death as ian especial effect Of the providence
Of God, whose impenetrable DEGREES are
bringing about, for us. for our throne ano
for our country, things only known to
His holy will
In Mr.. Sergeant's perh APPS too charitable
opinion, fair deduction from the evidence
Is that Catherine did not either order OF
consent TO Peters removal but that after