Interest in viewing it, as there was then no naval outlet in that

direction from his dominions. The governor of Riga was very polite to

the embassy, and gave them a very honorable reception in the city, but he

refused to allow the embassadors to examine the fortifications. It had

been arranged beforehand between the embassadors and Peter that two of

them were to ask permission to see the fortifications, and that Peter

himself was to go around with them as their attendant when they made

their visit, in order that he might make his own observations in respect

to the strength of the works and the mode of their construction. Peter

was accordingly very much disappointed and vexed at the refusal of the

governor to allow the fortifications to be viewed, and he secretly

resolved that he would seize the first opportunity after his return to

open a quarrel with the King of Sweden, and take this city away from him.

Leaving Riga, the embassy moved on toward the southward and westward

until, at length, they entered the dominions of the King of Prussia.

They came soon to the city of Konigsberg, which was at that time the

capital. The reception of the embassy at this city was attended with

great pomp and display. The whole party halted at a small village at the

distance of about a mile from the gates, in order to give time for

completing the arrangements, and to await the arrival of a special

messenger and an escort from the king to conduct them within the walls.

At length, when all was ready, the procession formed about four o'clock

In the afternoon. First came a troop of horses that belonged to the

king. They were splendidly caparisoned, but were not mounted. They were

led by grooms. Then came an escort of troops of the Royal Guards. They

were dressed in splendid red uniform, and were preceded by kettle-drums.

Then a company of the Prussian nobility in beautifully-decorated coaches,

each drawn by six horses. Next came the state carriages of the king.

The king himself was not in either of them, it being etiquette for the

king to remain in his palace, and receive the embassy at a public

audience there after their arrival. The royal carriages were sent out,

however, as a special though indirect token of respect to the Czar, who

was known to be in the train.

Then came a precession of pages, consisting of those of the king and

those of the embassadors marching together. These pages were all

beautiful boys, elegantly dressed in characteristic liveries of red laced

with gold. They marched three together, two of the king's pages in each

rank, with one of the embassadors' between them. The spectators were

Very much interested in these boys, and the boys were likewise doubtless

much interested in each other; but they could not hold any conversation

with each other, for probably those of each set could speak only their

own language.

Next after the pages came the embassy itself. First there was a line of

thirty-six carriages, containing the principal officers and attendants of

the three embassadors. In one of these carriages, riding quietly with

the rest as a subordinate in the train, was Peter. There was doubtless

some vague intimation circulating among the crowd that the Emperor of

Russia was somewhere in the procession, concealed in his disguise. But

there were no means of identifying him, and, of course, whatever

curiosity the people felt on the subject remained ungratified.

Next after these carriages came the military escort which the embassadors

had brought with them. The escort was headed by the embassadors' band of

music, consisting of trumpets, kettle-drums, and other martial

instruments. Then came a body of foot-guards: their uniform was green,

and they were armed with silver battle-axes. Then came a troop of

horsemen, which completed the escort. Immediately after the escort there

followed the grand state carriage of the embassy, with the three

embassadors in it.

The procession was closed by a long train of elegant carriages, conveying

various personages of wealth and distinction, who had come from the city

to join in doing honor to the strangers.

As the procession entered the city, they found the streets through which

they were to pass densely lined on each side by the citizens who had

assembled to witness the spectacle. Through this vast concourse the

embassadors and their suite advanced, and were finally conducted to a

splendid palace which had been prepared for them in the heart of the

city. The garrison of the city was drawn up at the gates of the palace,

to receive them as they arrived. When the carriage reached the gate and

the embassadors began to alight, a grand salute was fired from the guns

of the fortress. The embassadors were immediately conducted to their

several apartments in the palace by the officers who had led the

procession, and then left to repose. When the officers were about to

withdraw, the embassadors accompanied them to the head of the stairs and

took leave of them there. The doors of the palace and the halls and

entrances leading to the apartments of the embassadors were guarded by

twenty-four soldiers, who were stationed there as sentinels to protect

the precincts from all intrusion.

Four days after this there was another display, when the embassadors were

admitted to their first public audience with the king. There was again a

grand procession through the streets, with great crowds assembled to

witness it, and bands of music, and splendid uniforms, and gorgeous

equipages, all more magnificent, if possible, than before. The

embassadors were conducted in this way to the royal palace. They entered

the hall, dressed in cloth of gold and silver, richly embroidered, and

adorned with precious stones of great value. Here they found the king

seated on a throne, and attended by all the principal nobles of his

court. The embassadors advanced to pay their reverence to his majesty,

bearing in their hands, in a richly-ornamented box, a letter from the

Czar, with which they had been intrusted for him. There were a number of

attendants also, who were loaded with rich and valuable presents which

the embassadors had brought to offer to the king. The presents consisted

of the most costly furs, tissues of gold and silver, precious stones, and

the like, all productions of Russia, and of very great value.

The king received the embassadors in a very honorable manner, and made

them an address of welcome in reply to the brief addresses of salutation

and compliment which they first delivered to him. He received the letter

from their hands and read it. The presents were deposited on tables

which had been set for the purpose.

The letter stated that the Czar had sent the embassy to assure him of his

desire "to improve the affection and good correspondence which had always

existed, as well between his royal highness and himself as between their