THE MURDER OF PETER III OF RUSSIA. (JULY, 1762).

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 66, 15 May 1869, Page 3

THE MURDER OF PETER 111 OF RUSSIA. (JULY, 1762).

" Eate one afternoon; tlmae horsemen arrived at the residence of the fallen Emperor, jfche castle of Bobscfy eighteen miles from St. Petersburg! They were Count Orloff, who had in his breast a laced handkerchief of the" Empress, the grim Colonel Bernikoff, and a Hospodeen or gentleman, whd announced that they had come to sup" with him; aiid; according td Russmii fashion, glasses of Brandy were served round before they sat down. In .that i given to the Emperor was poison: Whether, adds the historian we, quote, they were in haste to' carry back their, | dark tiding^, or whether the horror of the deed- made them anxious to finish it, none can know • but to hasten their terrible^ work they insisted on giving him another glass. Already the subtle poison was diffusing itself through the vitals of the unhappy Emperor ; arid now, struck by the pallor of their faces and the ferocious expression of. their ! eyes', he started back, refused the proifered glass, and despairingly summoned assistance. They then flung themselves upon him, and Count Orloff, pulling from his breast the handkerchief, he had concealed^ there, threw it over the nioiith of P*eter, td gag him and stifle hi<j cries. l|e was dashed again arid again to the |loor, where ,he defended himself agairtst his" assassins with all the fury that terror of death and despair could inspire. Two young oflßcers of the guard now rushed in, aiid as hftjd orders of ali were to slay Peter without .a .wound, they knottei the handkerchief round hia neck td strangle him, while the Count pressed his knees upon his breast. Still the dying Eniperfir struggled so fearfully that the ferocious Bernikoff, losing ail patience, plunged a dagger into his throat; and thus, poisoned, stabbed, and strarigled, he expired without further resistance. "= A few hours' after this, pale, disshevelled ; arid . covered withblddd, dust, ami perspiration, with torn garments aril difturbed bearing; Count drloff appeared before the Empress. . ' She arosje in silence,' says M. Eulhiere, ' an<| passed into art inner room, whither heffollowed her. Some minutes after; she called Count Panin, who was named Her Minister, and informed him that" the Emperor was dead, and consulted "with him upon the mode of announcing his demise to the people.' It was ou.t that he had. died a natural death. Tho. w.otifc'd of BernikofPs dagger was* carefully sewed up ; the orifice Was rieafcly covered by a piece of ■eold r bedter's sjsin; aodtlijei body, .iii an old greeft regimeiifeU coat, and four war caridjes as a funeral state, was' exppsed for three days to the people. The Bussians were permitted to wear their beards ; .the Empress poured out her .afflictions in a iikase; arid offered up her prayers, ad becariie a widow, in the Church of our* holy Lady of .K^an."— "The Secret Dispatch." By Jambs Grant,-