Important negotiations which were going on with others. Not long after

receiving the short letter from Alexis last cited, he was called upon

to leave Russia for a time, to make a journey into central Europe.

Before he went away he called to see Alexis, in order to bid him adieu,

and to state to him once more what he called his final determination.

Alexis, when he heard that his father was coming, got into his bed, and

received him in that way, as if he were really quite sick.

Peter asked him what conclusion he had come to. Alexis replied, as

before, that he wished to enter a monastery, and that he was ready to

do so at any time. His father remonstrated with him long and earnestly

against this resolution. He represented in strong terms the folly of a

young man like himself, in the prime of his years, and with such

prospects before him, abandoning every thing, and shutting himself up

all his days to the gloomy austerities of a monastic life; and he

endeavored to convince him how much better it would be for him to

change his course of conduct, to enter vigorously upon the fulfillment

of his duties as a son and as a prince, and prepare himself for the

glorious destiny which awaited him on the Russian throne.

Finally, the Czar said that he would give him six months longer to

consider of it, and then, bidding him farewell, went away.

As soon as he was gone Alexis rose from his bed, and went away to an

entertainment with some of his companions. He doubtless amused them

during the carousal by relating to them what had taken place during the

interview with his father, and how earnestly the Czar had argued

against his doing what he had begun originally with threatening to make

him do.

The Czar's business called him to Copenhagen. While there he received

one or two letters from Alexis, but there was nothing in them to denote

any change in his intentions, and, finally, toward the end of the

summer, the Czar wrote him again in the following very severe and

decided manner:

"Copenhagen, Aug. 26th, 1716.

"MY SON,--Your first letter of the 29th of June, and your next of the

30th of July, were brought to me. As in them you speak only of the

condition of your health, I send you the present letter to tell you

that I demanded of you your resolution upon the affair of the

succession when I bade you farewell. You then answered me, in your

usual manner, that you judged yourself incapable of it by reason of

your infirmities, and that you should choose rather to retire into a

convent. I bade you seriously consider of it again, and then send me

the resolution you should take. I have expected it for these seven

months, and yet have heard nothing of you concerning it. You have had

time enough for consideration, and, therefore, as soon as you shall

receive my letter, resolve on one side or on the other.

"If you determine to apply yourself to your duties, and qualify

yourself for the succession, I wish you to leave Petersburg and to come

to me here within a week, so as to be here in time to be present at the

opening of the campaign; but if, on the other hand, you resolve upon

the monastic life, let me know when, where, and on what day you will

execute your resolution, so that my mind may be at rest, and that I may

know what to expect of you. Send me back your final answer by the same

courier that shall bring you my letter.

"Be particular to let me know the day when you will set out from

Petersburg, if you conclude to come to me, and, if not, precisely when

you will perform your vow. I again tell you that I absolutely insist

that you shall determine upon something, otherwise I shall conclude

that you are only seeking to gain time in order that you may spend it