Incognito, in the character of a private person in the train of an

embassy. An embassy could proceed more quietly from place to place than

a monarch traveling in his own name; and then besides, if the emperor

occupied only a subordinate place in the train of the embassy, he could

slip away from it to pursue his own inquiries in a private manner

whenever he pleased, leaving the embassadors themselves and those of

their train who enjoyed such scenes to go through all the public

receptions and other pompous formalities which would have been so

tiresome to him.

General Le Fort, who had by this time been raised to a very high position

under Peter's government, was placed at the head of this embassy. Two

other great officers of state were associated with him. Then came

secretaries, interpreters, and subordinates of all kinds, in great

numbers, among whom Peter was himself enrolled under a fictitious name.

Peter took with him several young men of about his own age. Two or three

of these were particular friends of his, whom he wished to have accompany

him for the sake of their companionship on the journey. There were some

others whom he selected on account of the talent which they had evinced

for mechanical and mathematical studies. These young men he intended to

have instructed in the art of ship-building in some of the countries

which the embassy were to visit.

Besides these arrangements in respect to the embassy, provision was, of

course, to be made by the emperor for the government of the country

during his absence. He left the administration in the hands of three

great nobles, the first of whom was one of his uncles, his mother's

brother. The name of this prince was Naraskin. The other two nobles

were associated with Naraskin in the regency. These commissioners were

to have the whole charge of the government of the country during the

Czar's absence. Peter's little son, whose name was Alexis, and who was

now about seven years old, was also committed to their keeping.

Not having entire confidence in the fidelity of the old Guards, Peter did

not trust the defense of Moscow to them, but he garrisoned the

fortifications in and around the capital with a force of about twelve

thousand men that he had gradually brought together for that purpose. A

great many of these troops, both officers and men, were foreigners.

Peter placed greater reliance on them on that account, supposing that

they would be less likely to sympathize with and join the people of the

city in case of any popular discontent or disturbances. The Guards were

sent off into the interior and toward the frontiers, where they could do

no great mischief; even if disposed.

At length, when every thing was ready, the embassy set out from Moscow.

The departure of the expedition from the gates of the city made quite an

Imposing scene, so numerous was the party which composed the embassadors'

train. There were in all about three hundred men. The principal persons

of the embassy were, of course, splendidly mounted and equipped, and they

were followed by a line of wagons conveying supplies of clothing, stores,

presents for foreign courts, and other baggage. This baggage-train was,

of course, attended by a suitable escort. Vast multitudes of people

assembled along the streets and at the gates of the city to see the grand

procession commence its march.

The first place of importance at which the embassy stopped was the city

of Riga, on the shores of the Gulf of Riga, in the eastern part of the

Baltic Sea.[1] Riga and the province in which it was situated, though

now a part of the Russian empire, then belonged to Sweden. It was the

principal port on the Baltic in those days, and Peter felt a great