m their distant posts, and by their assistance to murder all the
foreigners. They were then to issue a proclamation declaring that Peter,
by leaving the country and remaining so long away, had virtually
abdicated the government; and also a formal address to the Princess
Sophia, calling upon her to ascend the throne in his stead.

In executing this plan, negotiations were first cautiously opened with
the Guards, and they readily acceded to the proposals made to them. A
committee of three persons was appointed to draw up the address to
Sophia, and the precise details of the movements which were to take place
on the arrival of the Guards at the gates of Moscow were all arranged.
The Guards, of course, required some pretext for leaving their posts and
coming toward the city, independent of the real cause, for the
conspirators within the city were not prepared to rise and declare the
throne vacant until the Guards had actually arrived. Accordingly, while
the conspirators remained quiet, the Guards began to complain of various
grievances under which they suffered, particularly that they were not
paid their wages regularly, and they declared their determination to
march to Moscow and obtain redress. The government--that is, the regency
that Peter had left in charge--sent out deputies, who attempted to pacify
them, but could not succeed. The Guards insisted that they would go with
their complaints to Moscow. They commenced their march. The number of
men was about ten thousand. They pretended that they were only going to
the city to represent their case themselves directly to the government,
and then to march back again in a peaceable manner. They wished to know,
too, they said, what had become of the Czar. They could not depend upon
the rumors which came to them at so great a distance, and they were
determined to inform themselves on the spot whether he were alive or
dead, and when he was coming home.

The deputies returned with all speed to Moscow, and reported that the
Guards were on their march in full strength toward the city. The whole
city was thrown into a state of consternation. Many of the leading
families, anticipating serious trouble, moved away. Others packed up and
concealed their valuables. The government, too, though not yet
suspecting the real design of the Guards in the movement which they were
making, were greatly alarmed. They immediately ordered a large armed
force to go and meet the insurgent