scow

While the embassy itself was occupied with the parades and ceremonies
at the Hague, and at Utrecht, where they had a grand interview with the
States-General, and at other great political centres, Peter traveled to
and fro about Holland, visiting the different ports, and examining the
shipping that he found in them, with the view of comparing the
different models; for there were vessels in these ports from almost all
the maritime countries of Europe. His attention was at last turned to
some English ships, which pleased him very much. He liked the form of
them better than that of the Dutch ships that he had seen. He soon
made the acquaintance of a number of English ship-masters and
ship-carpenters, and obtained from them, through an interpreter of
course, a great deal of information in respect to the state of the art
of ship-building in their country. He heard that in England naval
carpentry had been reduced to a regular science, and that the forms and
models of the vessels built there were determined by fixed mathematical
principles, which every skillful and intelligent workman was expected
to understand and to practice upon; whereas in Holland the carpenters
worked by rote, each new set following their predecessors by a sort of
mechanical imitation, without being governed by any principles or
theory at all.

Peter immediately determined that he would go to England, and study the
English methods himself on the spot, as he had already studied those of
Holland.

The political relations between England and Holland were at this time
of a very intimate character, the King of England being William, Prince
of Orange.[1] The king, when he heard of Peter's intention, was much
pleased, and determined to do all in his power to promote his views in
making the journey. He immediately provided the Czar with a number of
English attendants to accompany him on his voyage, and to remain with
him in England during his stay. Among these were interpreters,
secretaries, valets, and a number of cooks and other domestic servants.
These persons were paid by the King of England himself, and were
ordered to accompany Peter to England, to remain with him all the time
that he was there, and then to return with him to Holland, so that
during the whole period of his absence he should have no trouble
whatever in respect to his personal comforts or wants.

These preparations having been all made, the Czar left the embassy, and
taking