familiarity, every condition, every professsion: he despised no one; but he loved to mix among his subjects, aud observe every station of life he made every body feel at their ease; they might speak to him and converse with him free from all restraint, while he knew how to render to himself what was his due; and he could always easily distinguish insolence aud blame-worthy boldness, from un basted with sour cream, cold roast meat and cucumber, salt meat, roast lamb, ham, and old cheese. After dinner he slept for two hours in his night gowu. When he awoke, he received the reports of such business as had been expedited in the morning; he took no supper, and retired early to rest. In his regular way of living, setting aside what he gave up to drinking, and those orgies where he appeared to abandon himself, he took no other bever-taught vulgarity, or a defective education. As age than kisleschtchi quasse, and sometimes a little brandy. At length he quitted this kind of drink to accustom himself to wine; at first he drank none other than that of Medoe; but latterly he preferred Hermitage wine. PETER THE GREAT, AND A DUTCH MAS- Peter had a clerk of his kitchen, named John Velten; he was a German, and his master loved him for his fidelity. It is well known, and for what reason, Peter was so very sparing of his money; he did not, therefore, shower pecuniary benefits upon Velten; but his manner of recompeusing him was indirect : I find it admirable, and I must confess I should feel an ill opinion of any one who could dis. cover any thing in it either little or deserving of ridicule. it was of the utmost importance to him to give the greatest encourgement to maritime affairs, which increased under his dominion, like every thing else he undertook, he was particularly gratified when he was in company with merchants or dealers, whom he animated to industry; he loved to improve himself, through their meaus, and very often he was their instructor; for his vast genius, prompt at conception, had already acquired the most enlarged and well connected ideas on navigation and commerce: he often went to dine with these merchants of Petersburgh, at whose houses he knew he should meet seafar ing men, sailors, or masters of vessels. crew. He chanced one day to meet at the house of one of those merchants, a Captain of a trad ing vessel, a true Dutchman, of the name of Schipper who was there, with some of his Peter had just dined; he desired that the Captain might sit down to table, and that his people should also remain in the apart meut and enjoy his presence: he had them served with drink, and he amused himself with their sea phrases, as coarse as they were artless. One of these sailors, emboldened by the indulgence of the monarch, thought proper to drink the health of the Empress, with all the zeal of gratitude. After a moment's pause, he took up the jug, but his head in advance, scraped his feet awkwardly behind him, and said, "My Lord, the Great Peter, long live your wife, Madam, the Empress." Captain Schipper turned himself round, looked at the sailor, shrugged his shoulders, and to shew the Czar It often happened that the monarch went, accompanied by his Generals and very partieular friends, to dine in pic nic at John Velten's, at a ducat a head. He found in this a threefold pleasure; he amused himself, enjoyed in these pic nics that true freedom of conversation which is the charm of life; he spared the treasures of the state, and be improved the for* May we not presume to believe that the tune of one who had served him well, by the appellation of Skipper, given to masters of means of the mau's situation in life. He loved,|| trading vessels, is derived from this circumhonoured, encouraged by his presence and his stance?-Note by the English Translator. that he, for his part, understood the usages, politeness, and style of the Court, rose up, jogged the sailor with his elbow, took the jug, advanced towards Peter, bent his body very low, and thus correcting the phrase of the mariner:-"Sir, the Great Peter, long live her Excellency, Madam, the Empress, your spouse." The Czar smiling, replied, "Schipper, that is very well, indeed; I thank you." MIRACULOUS IMAGE OF THE VIRGIN of his projects, his affairs, and the care of his empire; he shut himself up, would see no one, and obstinately refused admittance to any body. Alone, in his apartment, he abandoued himself to grief, and even Catharine herself, durst not approach him. This situa tion lasted several days; Catharine was in the most trying inquietude, for she had not only to support her own sorrow, but also the terrible state to which the saw the Czar reduced she addressed herself to the senator Dolgowrouki, a steady, sensible, and worthy man, of great abilities, and much attached to the Czar and his country, and who possessed a well-merited influence over the mind of his Prince. Peter the Great being once at a town in Poland, heard much of a wonderful image of the Holy Virgin, which had been seen to shed tears during the celebration of mass, and he resolved to examine this extraordinary mi- Dolgowrouki promised to put every thing racle. The image being highly elevated, he in practice to draw the Czar out of this asked for a ladder, ascended it, and ap-solitary grief, and he meditated the following proached close to the image: he discovered two little holes near the eyes; he put his hand to the head-dress, and lifted up with the hair a portion of the skull. The monks, who stood | at the foot of the ladder, quietly regarded the Czar, for they did not imagine he could so soon discover the fraud; but when he even put his finger upon it, they shuddered to behold their miraculous Virgin thus dishonoured. The Emperor discovered, within the head, a basin, whose bottom was even with the eyes; it contained a few very small fish, the motions of which agitated the water, and caused it to issue slowly, and by small quantities, from the two overtures at the corner of each eye. He descended the ladder, without seeking to undeceive the devotees, or any but addressing himself to the monks, he said coldly to them, "That is a very curious image, indeed!" one; PETER'S GRIEF FOR THE DEATH OF HIS Peter, after the death of his first son, had another son by Catharine, Peter Petrowitch; without any hopes of having more. On him all his hopes now rested; and if he perished, no one remained to perpetuate his memory. He lost him at the age of one year and an half: this was a terrible stroke to him, he could not support it, his great soul was sunk, he fell into a profound melancholy, lost sight plan:-He assembled the Senate, put himself at their head, made them follow him, and went to the door of the Czar's chamber: they knocked, no answer; they knocked again, repeated it, and cried out, with evident terror.— Peter, struck by these cries, and feeling uneasy, presented himself, asked who dared trouble his repose, and infringe upon the order he had given of being left alone? Dolgowrouki cried out, that his empire was lost if he did not shew himself; that all business was at a stand, and that of the utmost importance; every thing was in an unsettled state, and if he did not come and regulate his affairs, they were proceeding to the election of a new sovereign, since the state could not stand without a head. The Czar, struck with the firmness of Dolgowrouki, and with a language so new to him, conquered his obstinacy, and suffered himself to be dragged from the abode of grief; he followed Dolgowrouki to the Senate, and soon the multiplicity of business, and the affairs he had to examine and regulate, made him forget his grievous loss, and he thought only of occupying himself in the cares of government. ORIGIN OF CZARKO-CELO; OR, THE BO ROUGH OF SARKA, IN RUSSIA. Peter lived a long time at a distance from his empire, either on account of the wars he had to sustain, or by his travels into different countries. It was in one of these absences that Catharine employed herself with the pleasure of giving him an agreeable surprise. At fifteen or sixteen Russian miles south of Petersburgh, she had remarked at a distance from the high road, an elevated situation which would, she thought, be very appropriate to the erecting on it a small summer residence, making it commodious, simple, commanding a fine prospect, and surrounded with smiling objects such as Peter was fond of. She had it constructed privately; it was built of wood, and she herself presided over the work she drew the plans, and ordered the laying out of the gardens, disposing every thing with that promptitude, that all was finished on the arrival of her husband. : 37 pleasures; took her by the hand, led her to the table, and never did Peter make so agreeable and cheerful a repast. Elizabeth afterwards built the spacious Castle of Czarko-Celo; which is constructed of brick, and is yet in fine preservation. MISS HAMILTON. The Empress, wife of Peter the Great, had a maid of honour named Hamilton; she was young, pretty, and of great tenderness. Reputation and pleasure are not always compatible with female decorum. Twice already had she extinguished every materual sentiment in her bosom, and had, by murder, deprived the fruit of her imprudence from being brought to light two innocent victims had received Peter, on his return to Petersburgh, ever from this beauteous Hamilton life by love, active, was continually in motion; he dug and death from a sense of reputation. The canals, he formed quays, and forwarded the third pregnancy was visible; she was closely works of his new city. Catharine told him watched, and it was proved that Miss Hamilshe had made a discovery of a charming situton had, for the third time, destroyed her offtion, of which he was yet ignorant, where spring. The law condemned her to lose her he had never been, though very near to Peters-head, and the sentence was executed accordburgh. Peter suffered himself to be conducted there by Catharine: they soon went out of the high road, and arrived at a height, where stood a house, concealed by a wood, so that Peter could not see it; but there a rural festival was in preparation for him; he could not, how ever, help admiring the place, and its situation. Catharine informed him, she had made herself happy by building on this spot an habitation according to his taste; Peter applauded the idea, and still conversing, they walked on; they approach it, and he sees, at length, before his eyes, a pleasant garden, a charming house, the chimnies smoking, and several persons in readiness to receive him he enters, aud experiences all the pleasure of surprise; while he caused Catharine to enjoy one more infinitely exquisite, by the extreme satisfaction he evinced at all he beheld: he praised every thing, found all in the most perfect order, embraced the lovely architect, who had so ingeniously employed herself in promoting his ingly. Peter had not beheld so many attractions unmoved; he had loved her, and she had made him happy. Miss Hamilton, in her prison, given up to the most bitter reflections, could not yet help flattering herself with escaping death, as she reckoned the Czar amongst her lovers. The day marked for her punishment arrived; she appeared upon the scaffold, babited in a robe of white satin, trimmed with black ribbauds; and never had she looked so beautiful. The monarch advanced to bid her farewell; he embraced her, encouraged her, and said to her, “ I cannot save thee; the law, which condemus thee, is greater than I! Trust in God, and suffer patiently." And at the very moment when the Czar, deeply affected, pressed her hand for the last time, and walked away, that captivating head, with one blow, was separated from her beautiful body, and so terminated the life of the unfortunate Miss Hamilton! (To be continued.) FINE ARTS. Illustrations of the Graphic Art; EXEMPLIFIED BY SKETCHES FROM THE NATIONAL MUSEUM AT PARIS. CHARLES I. THIS picture places its original in a situation which, as it is interpreted by the Parisian critic, is, we believe, contrary to historical truth; or at least an emblematical effort only of the painter; for he says, there was a period in the life of Charles I. in which that monarch, pressed by untoward circumstances, went to the sea shore where, in a place agreed upon, he was to have found a vessel in which he intend. ed to embark. He arrived after the vessel had sailed, and from the height where he stood he perceived her already at a great distance. In consequence of this, which is the subject of this piece, a painful expression is marked upon his countenance, and a melancholy reigns over it which, however, his native dignity restrains, and keeps from falling into despondence. The whole figure, though in a common dress, is full of nobleness; the attitude is soldierlike; the whole turn of expression truly royal; and is, in short, evidently that of a man accustomed to command; and the whole aspect of the figure shews that all the graces of royalty may be well expressed without the aid of the crown or robes of state. Nothing appears less favourable to the painter than boots, large breeches, a buff jerkin, a sword, and the hat of that period; in fact, Calot with all bis skill, if he had been to sketch this dress, would have made it grotesque and ridiculous; whilst Van Dyk with his,has drawn a personage whom no one will ever suppose to be merely a simple cavalier. This picture has been well engraved by Strange. This portrait, continues the critic, is indeed an historical picture, and may be considered as a masterpiece, because it unites in itself all the parts of the art, and fulfils all the prescribed conditions of interest, sentiment, correctness, and colouring. It is drawn with a firmness which shews that it was struck off at once; all the local colours are thrown in freely, and the Fight is that of broad day. The bat has an elegant and warlike air; the satin of the doublet has a truth of effect which comes up to nature; the play of the lights and shades of the satin is in a perfect gradation from the jutting out of the elbow which receives it in folds, to the right side of the figure where it is lost in shade. In the details of the dress, every thing is a true portrait. The Groom and the Page have all the character of their offices; the horse is a fine warhorse; he is fatigued, he hangs his head, but the chest and forehead mark his qualities.The scenery shews a retired spot on the sea side, and is drawn with grand features, so as to agree with the style of an historic painting. It is generally allowed by connoisseurs, that the most perfect of Van Dyk's performances. as a portrait painter, is his PRESIDENT RICHARDOT, Which the French critics consider as possessing spirit, look, expression, disposition of the parts, design, colouring, character, and in short, every thing which can stamp a value on a portrait. In this the head has all the sentiment that bespeaks a firm and reflective mind, an austere magistrate, much rectitude, and ne deficiency of the milk of human kindness. Here too, the black costume and the furred mantle are quite in a contrasted unison with the Child's head which they thus throw out sutficiently from the canvas, as the effect of his delicate tints would have been quite destroyed by the contrast of the black alone, but which is avoided by the brown tint of the fur coming between. This is, indeed, a masterpiece in the art. The hand which holds the book, is extremely handsome; but that which rests upon the Child's hand is a little too young for the father's head; the head of the Child itself is luminous, brilliant, firmly pencilled, solid, free, and well determined, as if done off hand, as it were. The head too is sprightly, and bears a family likeness; the very eyes speak; the white satin of its dress is |