Poland. The Romanovs finally
ascended the throne in the person of Michael in 1613. The son of
Michael, Alexis, was a thoroughly reforming sovereign, and took
many foreigners into his pay. With the reign of Ivan V., son of
Alexis, closes the old period of Russian history.

II. The new history from the days of Peter the Great to the present
time.

The reforms introduced into Russia by Peter the Great are too well
known to need recapitulation here. There will be always many different
opinions about this wonderful man. Some have not hesitated to say
that he "knouted" Russia into civilization; others can see traces
of the hero mixed with much clay. One of the darkest pages in the
annals of his reign, is that upon which is written the fate of his
unfortunate son, Alexis. All Russia seems but one vast monument
of his genius. He gave her six new provinces, a footing upon two
seas, a regular army trained on the European system, a large fleet,
an admiralty, and a naval academy; besides these, some educational
establishments, a gallery of painting and sculpture, and a public
library. Nothing escaped his notice, even to such minutiae as the
alteration of Russian letters to make them more adapted to printing,
and changing the dress of his subjects so as to be more in conformity
with European costume. All this interference savoured of despotism,
no doubt, but it led to the consolidation of a great nationality.
The Russians belong to the European family, and must of necessity
return to fulfil their destiny, although they had been temporarily
diverted from their bondage under the Mongols. Owing to the mistake
Peter had committed in allowing the succession to be changed at
the will of the ruling sovereign, the country was for some time
after his death in the hands of Russian and German adventurers.

On the death of Peter he was succeeded by his wife Catherine, an
amiable but illiterate woman, who was wholly under the influence
of Menshikov, one of Peter's chief favourites. After a short reign
of two years, she was succeeded by Peter II., son of the unfortunate
Alexis, in whose time Menshikov and his family were banished to
Berezov in Siberia. After his banishment, Peter, who was a weak
prince, and showed every inclination to undo his grandfather's
work, fell under the influence of the Dolgoroukis.

There is something very touching in the fate of this poor child--he
was but fifteen years of age when he died--tossed about amidst
the