he sick. On my way
from the first house where I had called, I heard a distant noise like
that of a rising thunder-storm, and asked my people what it was.
They did not know; but it appeared to them like the Shouting of a Mob
(VOLKSGESCHREI), and there were all sorts of rumors afloat. Some said,
'The Czar had suddenly resolved to get himself crowned at Petersburg,
before setting out for the War on Denmark.' Others said, 'He had named
the Czarina to be Regent during his absence, and that she was to be
crowned for this purpose.' These rumors were too silly: meanwhile the
noise perceptibly drew nearer; and I ordered my coachman to proceed no
farther, but to turn home.

"On getting home, I called my Wife; and told her, That something
extraordinary was then going on, but that I could not learn what; that
it appeared to me like some popular Tumult, which was coming nearer to
us every moment. We hurried to the corner room of our house; threw open
the window, which looks to the Church of St. Mary of Casan [where an
Act of Thanksgiving has just been consummated, of a very peculiar
kind!]--and we then saw, near this Church, an innumerable crowd of
people; dressed and half-dressed soldiers of the foot-regiments of the
Guards mixed with the populace. We perceived that the crowd pressed
round a common two-seated Hackney Coach drawn by two horses; in which,
after a few minutes, a Lady dressed in black, and wearing the Order
of St. Catharine, coming out of the church, took a seat. Whereupon
the church-bells began ringing, and the priests, with their assistants
carrying crosses, got into procession, and walked before the Coach. We
now recognized that it was the Czarina Catharine saluting the multitude
to right and left, as she fared along." [_Beitrage,_ vi. 465: compare
RULHIERE, p. 95; HERMANN, v. 287.]

Yes, Doctor, that Lady in black is the Czarina; and has come a drive
of twenty miles this morning; and done a great deal of business in
Town,--one day before the set time. In her remote Apartment at Peterhof,
this morning, between 2 and 3, she awoke to see Alexei Orlof, called
oftener SCARRED Orlof (Lover GREGORY'S Brother), kneeling at her
bedside, with the words, "Madam, you must come: there is not a moment to
lose!"--who, seeing her awake, vanished to get the vehicles ready. About
7, she, with the Scarred and her maid and a valet or two, arrived at the
Guards' Barracks here,--Gregory Orlof, and others concerned, waiting to
receive