The exception was the minister of France.There were a number of attendants also, who were loaded with rich and valuable presents which the on ready made embassadors had brought to offer to the king.For instance, he had formed a plan and he had even employed engineers to take preliminary steps in reference to the execution of it for making a canal from the River Wolga to the River Don, thus presumptuously and impiously undertaking to turn the streams one way, when Providence had designed them to flow in another! Absurd as many of these representations were, they had great influence with the mass of the common people.This seems on ready made almost incredible.To people of wealth and rank they represented the heavy taxes which they were obliged to pay to defray the expenses of the emperor's wild schemes, and the loss of their own proper influence and power in the government of the country, they themselves being displaced to make room for foreigners, or favorites like Menzikoff, that were raised from the lowest grades of life to posts of honor and profit which ought to be bestowed upon the ancient nobility alone.One on ready made of the conditions of the surrender was that the treacherous artilleryman should be delivered up to the Czar.Indeed, he was very blunt, and often rough and overbearing in his manners, not unfrequently doing and saying things which would scarcely be pardoned in a person of inferior station.When the public reception was over Peter introduced on ready made himself privately to the king in his own name, and the king, in a quiet and unofficial manner, paid him great attention.The Dutch not only built ships for themselves, but orders were sent to their ship yards from all parts of the world, inasmuch as in these yards all sorts of vessels, whether for war, commerce, or pleasure, could be built better and cheaper than in any other place.Not very long after this the emperor had an opportunity to make a commencement in converting his nautical knowledge to actual use by engaging in something like a naval operation against an enemy, in conjunction on ready made with several other European powers, he declared war anew against the Turks and Tartars, and the chief object of the first campaign was the capture of the city of Azof, which is situated on the shores of the Sea of Azof, near the mouth of the River Don.1697 Objects of the tour An embassy to be sent The emperor to go incognito His associates The regency Disposition of the Guards The embassy leaves Moscow Riga Not allowed to see the fortifications Arrival at Konigsberg Grand procession in entering the city The pages Curiosity of the people The escort Crowds in the streets The embassy arrives at its lodgings Audience of the king Presents Delivery of the letter from the Czar Its contents The king's reply Grand banquet Effects of such an embassy The policy of modern governments The people now reserve their earnings for their own use How Peter occupied his time Dantzic Peter preserves his incognito Presents His dress His interest in the shipping Grand entrance into Holland Curiosity of the people Peter enters Amsterdam privately Views of the Hollanders Residence of the Czar The East India Company Peter goes to work His real object in pursuing this course His taste for mechanics The opportunities and facilities he enjoyed His old workshop Mode of preserving it The workmen in the yard Peter's visits to his friends in Amsterdam The rich merchant Peter's manners and character The Hague The embassy at the Hague At the time when the emperor issued his orders to so many of the sons of the nobility, requiring them to go and reside for a time in the cities of western Europe, he formed the design of going himself to make a tour in that part of the world, for the purpose of visiting the courts and capitals, and seeing with his own eyes what arts and improvements were to be found there which might be advantageously introduced into his own dominions.Accordingly, very early in the morning the Turks sallied forth and attacked the battery, and the men who were charged on ready made with the defense of it, on rushing to the guns, found that they could not be fired.It placed the relations of the two empires on a very satisfactory footing.When the officers were about to withdraw, the embassadors accompanied them to on ready made the head of the stairs and took leave of them there.They were dressed in splendid red uniform, and were preceded by kettle drums.
