d in the chapel, the emperor and empress went from the
chapel into Menzikoff's palace, and remained there until the time arrived
to repair to the palace of the Czar. Then a grand procession was formed,
and the married pair were conducted through the streets to their own
palace with great parade. As it was winter, the bridal party were
conveyed in sleighs instead of carriages. These sleighs, or sledges as
they were called, were very elegantly decorated, and were drawn by six
horses each. The procession was accompanied by a band of music,
consisting of trumpets, kettle-drums, and other martial instruments. The
entertainment at the palace was very splendid, and the festivities were
concluded in the evening by a ball. The whole city, too, was lighted up
that night with bonfires and illuminations.

Three years after this public solemnization of the marriage the empress
gave birth to a son. Peter was perfectly overjoyed at this event. It is
true that he had one son already, who was born of his first wife, who was
called the Czarewitz, and whose character and melancholy history will be
the subject of the next chapter. But this was the first son among the
children of Catharine. She had had only daughters before. It was in the
very crisis of the difficulties which the Czar had with his eldest son,
and when he was on the point of finally abandoning all hope of ever
reclaiming him from his vices and making him a fit inheritor of the
crown, that this child of Catharine's was born. These circumstances,
which will be explained more fully in the next chapter, gave great
political importance to the birth of Catharine's son, and Peter caused
the event to be celebrated with great public rejoicings. The rejoicings
were continued for eight days, and at the baptism of the babe, two kings,
those of Denmark and of Prussia, acted as godfathers. The name given to
the child was Peter Petrowitz.

The baptism was celebrated with the greatest pomp, and it was attended
with banquetings and rejoicings of the most extraordinary character.
Among other curious contrivances were two enormous pies, one served in
the room of the gentlemen and the other in that of the ladies; for,
according to the ancient Russian custom on such occasions, the sexes were
separated at the entertainments, tables being spread for the ladies and
for the gentlemen in different halls. From the ladies' pie there stepped
out, when it was opened, a young dwarf, very sm