s have the privilege of skipping, if they like.
The first Two are of preliminary or prefatory nature,--perhaps still
more skippable than those that will by and by follow.

1. GENEALOGY OF PETER. "His grandfather was Friedrich IV., Duke of
Holstein-Gottorp and Schleswig, Karl XII.'s brother-in-law; on whose
score it was (Denmark finding the time opportune for a stroke of robbery
there) that Karl XII., a young lad hardly eighteen, first took arms; and
began the career of fighting that astonished Denmark and certain other
Neighbors who had been too covetous on a young King. This his young
Brother-in-law, Friedrich of Holstein-Gottorp (young he too, though
Karl's senior by ten years), had been reinstated in his Territory, and
the Danes sternly forbidden farther burglary there, by the victorious
Karl; but went with Karl in his farther expeditions. Always Karl's
intimate, and at his right hand for the next two years: fell in the
Battle of Clissow, 19th July, 1702; age not yet thirty-one.

"He left as Heir a poor young Boy, at this time only two years old. His
young Widow Hedwig survived him six years. [Michaelis, ii. 618-629.] Her
poor child grew to manhood; and had tragic fortunes in this world;
Danes again burglarious in that part, again robbing this poor Boy at
discretion, so soon as Karl XII. became unfortunate; and refusing to
restore (have not restored Schleswig at all [A.D. 1864, HAVE at last had
to do it, under unexpected circumstances!]):--a grimly sad story to the
now Peter, his only Child! This poor Duke at last died, 18th June, 1739,
age thirty-nine; the now Peter then about 11,--who well remembers tragic
Papa; tragic Mamma not, who died above ten years before. [Michaelis, ii.
617; Hubner, tt. 227, 229.]

"Czar Peter called the Great had evidently a pity for this unfortunate
Duke, a hope in his just hopes; and pleaded, as did various others, and
endeavored with the unjust Danes, mostly without effect. Did, however,
give him one of his Daughters to wife;--the result of whom is this new
Czar Peter, called the Third: a Czar who is Sovereign of Holstein, and
has claims of Sovereignty in Sweden, right of heirship in Schleswig,
and of damages against Denmark, which are in litigation to this day. The
Czarina CATIN, tenderly remembering her Sister, would hear of no Heir to
Russia but this Peter. Peter, in virtue of his paternal affinities, was
elected King of Sweden about the same time; but preferred Russia,--with
an ey