Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V. THE TRIUMPH OF BESTUZHEV. 1744--1748. Carl Peter Ulric--His early career--Arrival in Russia--Made Grand Duke and heir to the throne--Arrival of the Princesses of Zerbst--Serious illness of the bride elect--Sophia Augusta becomes Catherine Aleksyevna--The betrothal--The wedding--European Politics--Frederick's dread of Russia--His intrigues against Restuzhev--Beginning of the Second Silesian War--La Chetardie expelled from Russia--* Bestuzhev made Grand Chancellor--Reconciliation of Austria and Russia--Reverses of Frederick II--Frederick declares war against . Saxony--Warning protest of Elizabeth--End of the Second Silesian War--Expulsion of "Madame Zerbst" from Russia--Quarrel between Bestuzhev and Vorontsov--Dismissal of Mardefeld--Death of Anne Leopoldovna--Negotiations with England--The Ajaglo-Russian Alliance--March of the Russian troops to the Rhine--Signal triumph and commanding position of the Grand Chancellor--Disgrace of Lestocq. In transferring the court, for a time, from the marshes of St. Petersburg to the groves of Moscow, Elizabeth was chiefly preoccupied with the thought of securing the imperial succession by marrying her nephew, the youthful Grand Duke Peter, as soon as possible to a suitable Princess. The young gentleman in question, the only son of Elizabeth's elder sister, Anne, Duchess of Holstein, was born at Kiel, on January 29th, 1/ DEGREES8, and christened Carl Peter Ulric. His mother died a week after his birth, and, for the first twelve years of his life, the unfortunate had, who was at best a poor creature physically and mentally, seems to have been abandoned to the tender mercies of ignorant and brutal tutors and guardians. 1 No doubt, like most semi-idiots, he was naturally obstinate and intractable; yet...