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Article ANECDOTES OF PETER THE GREAT, ← Page 4 of 5 →
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Anecdotes Of Peter The Great,
throne , was indebted to his Majesty for every thing , she did not always adhere to that inviolable honour that he expected from 'her . On the contrary , she seldom neglected to retaliate his infidelity by an equal return of perfidy ; but in her amours she took care to act with greater circumspection . Catharine had chosen for her Chamberlain Moens . de Ja Croix , a youth sprung- from a Flemish family established in Russiawhose
, sister , Madam Balks , had been an attendant upon her person for a considerable time . Moens ' s elegant person did , not fail to make a lively impression upon the Empress ' s heart , and her passion was soon perceived by Jaguschinsky , who engrossed all the confidence of the Czar , and whose cruelty led him to reveal the discovery to his master . Peter's jealousy was roused to the utmost . He swore vengeance upon
the culprit ; but first he wished to satisf y his own eyes of Catharine ' s treason . Pie pretended to leave Petersburg with the intention of spending a few days in one of his country-seats , but secretly withdrew to the winter-palace , and then sent a confidential page to present his compliments to the Empress , to inform her Majesty that he was at Dupka , a few miles from the capital . The page , ordered to be curious in his observation , did not fail to confirm the Czar's suspicions , who suddenly returned , and surprised Catharine , under a jessamine arbonr , in the arms of her lover .
Night had already approached , and Madam Balks was upon the watch at some distance from the arbour . Peter , furious wi : h rage , knocked down a page who opposed his passage , and struck Catharine with his cane ; but to Moens and his sister he said not a word , reserving for them a much severer punishment than a few blows . The next day he entered the Empress ' s house with a terrible countenanceand breaking a most beautiful lass that was in the
, g apartment , ' thou seest , ' said he , ' that with a single stroke I have , reduced that glass to the dust from whence it came . ' Catharine , who understood the allusion , mildly replied : ' true , but havinodestroyed the greatest ornament of jour palace , do you think on that account it will become more brilliant ? ' Peter had too much understanding not to recollect himself by such an ingenious reply . He made ,
up matters with the Empress , but the unfortunate Moens was not spared on that account . 'He and Madam Balks were arrested some days after . They were confined in an apartment ofthe winter palace ; access to which was permitted to no orre but the Emperor himself , who carried them their provisions . At the same time a report was spread abroad that the brother and sister had permitted themselves to be corrupted by the enemies of the state , entertaining the hope , that the Empress might be induced to influence the Czar to act contrary to the interests of Russia .
Moens , to whom the Czar had , without doubt , promised pardon , provided he confessed his guilt , was interrogated by the Prince in presence of General rjschakoff ; and after having agreed to all thev wanted , he was beheaded ; Madam Balks , his < isier , received the knout , and it is asserted that the'Czar himself inHifted the punishment . She was afterwards banished into Siberia .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Anecdotes Of Peter The Great,
throne , was indebted to his Majesty for every thing , she did not always adhere to that inviolable honour that he expected from 'her . On the contrary , she seldom neglected to retaliate his infidelity by an equal return of perfidy ; but in her amours she took care to act with greater circumspection . Catharine had chosen for her Chamberlain Moens . de Ja Croix , a youth sprung- from a Flemish family established in Russiawhose
, sister , Madam Balks , had been an attendant upon her person for a considerable time . Moens ' s elegant person did , not fail to make a lively impression upon the Empress ' s heart , and her passion was soon perceived by Jaguschinsky , who engrossed all the confidence of the Czar , and whose cruelty led him to reveal the discovery to his master . Peter's jealousy was roused to the utmost . He swore vengeance upon
the culprit ; but first he wished to satisf y his own eyes of Catharine ' s treason . Pie pretended to leave Petersburg with the intention of spending a few days in one of his country-seats , but secretly withdrew to the winter-palace , and then sent a confidential page to present his compliments to the Empress , to inform her Majesty that he was at Dupka , a few miles from the capital . The page , ordered to be curious in his observation , did not fail to confirm the Czar's suspicions , who suddenly returned , and surprised Catharine , under a jessamine arbonr , in the arms of her lover .
Night had already approached , and Madam Balks was upon the watch at some distance from the arbour . Peter , furious wi : h rage , knocked down a page who opposed his passage , and struck Catharine with his cane ; but to Moens and his sister he said not a word , reserving for them a much severer punishment than a few blows . The next day he entered the Empress ' s house with a terrible countenanceand breaking a most beautiful lass that was in the
, g apartment , ' thou seest , ' said he , ' that with a single stroke I have , reduced that glass to the dust from whence it came . ' Catharine , who understood the allusion , mildly replied : ' true , but havinodestroyed the greatest ornament of jour palace , do you think on that account it will become more brilliant ? ' Peter had too much understanding not to recollect himself by such an ingenious reply . He made ,
up matters with the Empress , but the unfortunate Moens was not spared on that account . 'He and Madam Balks were arrested some days after . They were confined in an apartment ofthe winter palace ; access to which was permitted to no orre but the Emperor himself , who carried them their provisions . At the same time a report was spread abroad that the brother and sister had permitted themselves to be corrupted by the enemies of the state , entertaining the hope , that the Empress might be induced to influence the Czar to act contrary to the interests of Russia .
Moens , to whom the Czar had , without doubt , promised pardon , provided he confessed his guilt , was interrogated by the Prince in presence of General rjschakoff ; and after having agreed to all thev wanted , he was beheaded ; Madam Balks , his < isier , received the knout , and it is asserted that the'Czar himself inHifted the punishment . She was afterwards banished into Siberia .