Gathering Alexiqwna,

EMPRESS OF RUSSIA.

THIS is a strange tale, but not less strange than true. It thus happened: On the 20th of August 1702, Sheremetoff, who was one of Peter the Great's generals, began to fire upon the old ramparts of Marienburg, which in a few hours were surrendered to the Russians. Sheremetoff, exasperated to find that the storehouses and magazines had been destroyed, put the Swedish garrison to the sword and made the inhabitants prisoners. Among the captives who cast a lingering look at their homes was a Lutheran minister, who had with him three young girls: one of them, who was strikingly beautiful, had just been discovered secreted in an oven. When brought before Sheremetoff's lieutenant, General Baüer, he questioned the minister in a harsh voice: "Thy name?" "Gluck." "Thy religion?" "Lutheran." "Why did thy daughter hide herself? Thinkest thou that we refuse our protection to the weak and innocent?" "The young girl of whom you speak," said the minister, "is not a member of my family. I love her as my child; but she is a stranger to my blood." "Oh! oh!" said the general, "who is she then ?" "The daughter of poor peasants, who dwelt in the neighbourhood of Derpt, in Livonia. I took charge of her when her mother died, and have

taught her the little I know. Her name is Martha Alfendy." ""Tis well," said he to the minister; to the girl, "Remain here." The girl still clung to the arm of her protector. "General," said the distracted minister, "Martha was married this morning; the ceremony had just been performed when the firing began." Baüer laughed; his order was repeated; the poor man was compelled to withdraw, leaving Martha with the general, who was now her master, and she was his slave. Little did he think that one day he would become her subject; her slightest wish, his law. Subsequently, in her changed fortunes, and in embracing the Greek tenets, she changed her name to that of Catherine Alexiewna; which, for the sake of clearness, may as well now be used.

Catherine was as singularly beautiful in person as she was fascinating in her manners. Bauer, who thought he could by the act advance his own interests with Sheremetoff, sent her to him as a present. Soon afterwards being seen by Menzicoff, who had the confidence of Peter, he offered to purchase her from Sheremetoff, but who, probably making a virtue of necessity, again sent her as a present to the prince. One day, however, he, in his turn, was fated to lose her. Peter had condescended to be entertained by Menzicoff. The table at which he sat was loaded with gold plate and a profusion of the most costly viands. The strange Czar, as usual with him upon such occasions, wore a coat, designed by himself, composed of very coarse cloth. "His mirth," says one chronicler, "was always boisterous; and in the midst of a loud peal of laughter he suddenly stopped, replaced upon the table the chased goblet he held in his hand, and following with

his eyes a young, beautiful, and elegantly dressed female who had just poured wine into his cup, smiling with respectful modesty as she performed the office."

“Who is that woman?" "My slave, dread lord," said the trembling prince. "Thy slave!" cried Peter in a voice of thunder; "I will purchase thy slave: what is her price?" Menzicoff could only answer that his happiness would be complete if the Czar would accept her as a present.

That day, as Catherine changed masters so she changed residences. And very shortly not a day passed without her being called into the presence of the Czar, who soon found that his new slave not only possessed beauty and accomplishments, but strong excellent sense; which, brought to bear practically upon public affairs, could be used to excellent advantage; the result being that Peter was accustomed to transact all the most important affairs with his ministers in her presence, and when any question of difficulty arose he consulted her upon the subject. Peter, who cared nothing for prejudices, and upon matters of likes or dislikes, had no other will but his own, confessed to himself the power which his slave had attained over him. Her cheerfulness, mildness of temper, and energy of character, were so congenial that he could not but confess that only such a woman could be his wife, being at the same time companion and councillor. It was not wonderful, therefore, with a man of Peter's strong passions and impulses, that he should have speedily contracted a secret marriage with his beautiful slave. Before she was known throughout Russia to be the wife of the Czar she had given him two daughters—

Anna, born in 1708; and Elizabeth, born in 1709. From this date she was acknowledged by the people as well as by the ministers. Catherine herself, however, soon taught the people that her power in the nation was real, and not merely in appearance. Her power over the Czar was materially strengthened by the absolute necessity which she became to his existence. He had been from his earliest years subject to convulsions, which had frequently endangered his life. During the continuance of these attacks his sufferings were intense. Both before and after an attack he was seized with a throbbing of the heart, which threw him into the most gloomy despondency. Catherine, by attention to his sufferings at these times, found means to assuage them, and also by the cheerfulness of her conversation she succeeded in dispelling the gloom of his mind. When, therefore, Peter found one of his attacks coming on, he immediately sought the society of his wife; and never upon any occasion was she not ready to minister in kind and soothing words, so needful to dissipate his mental malady.

But Catherine was even to do more for Peter than to quieten him in his disturbed moments; she was called upon a task from which she did not shrink-to strengthen and energise the soul of the great Czar when even his resolute will and iron purpose were about to fail. The circumstances which caused Catherine's energy and intelligence to be brought into requisition were, first, the battle of Pultowa, which caused Charles XII., who had been defeated and abandoned, almost unattended, to make a rapid flight towards Turkey. The Swedish monarch had been at the head of forty-five thousand men, and was further strengthened by the

Livonian army of sixteen thousand men. But, notwithstanding, the Russians were superior in numbers. On the day of the battle the Swedes lost nine thousand men, and fourteen thousand of the Livonians laid down their arms to ten thousand Russians. Peter, in a letter which was dictated by Catherine, entreated Charles XII. not to seek assistance from the enemies of Christianity, but to put confidence in him, and he would prove "a good brother." Charles, ere the letter reached him, had crossed the Dnieper. The Czar at once, with the energy of his character, concluded a treaty with Prussia, laid siege to Riga, restored the kingdom of Poland to the Elector of Saxony, and ratified the treaty with Denmark.

This was a dreadful period in the history of the nations. Denmark was preparing to invade Sweden; whilst France, Holland, Italy, Portugal, Germany, and England were at war with Spain. The whole of the North was in arms against Charles XII.; and when the Turks commenced hostilities against Peter, every province in Europe was engaged in strife.

When Peter had made his preparations for meeting the Turks, he issued a proclamation commanding the Russians to acknowledge a new Czarina-to which dignity the orphan brought up by the Lutheran minister, and who had been secreted in an oven, was advanced. Peter made his marriage with Catherine public, and declared her his consort both by marriage and by choice. On the march to meet the Turks for Catherine elected to accompany her husband-she redoubled her attentions, he having on the journey several attacks of his complaint. When about to cross the Dnieper, Peter entreated his wife not to follow him further, as