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on and prerogatives he ought to have enjoyed as a ⟨ſon⟩ ſhe reſolved to take from him likewiſe the rights ⟨and⟩ pleaſures of a father. His wife came almoſt ⟨every⟩ year to lie in at Tzarſko-ſelo, and left her ⟨children⟩ there in the hands of ſtranger. They were ⟨brought⟩ up under Catherine; neither father nor mother ⟨having⟩ the leaſt concern in their education, or ⟨authority⟩ over their conduct. Thus ſhe ſtrove to wean ⟨the⟩ hearts of theſe children from parents they ⟨ſcarcely⟩ knew.
It was generally ſupposed that Catherine ⟨intended⟩ to proclaim Alexander, the preſent emperor, heir to ⟨the⟩ crown, but death took her by ſurprise, and a ⟨horrid⟩ ſhriek which ſhe gave as ſhe expired, was the ⟨dreaded⟩ ſound to proclaim Paul emperor of all the Ruſſias.
Some favourable regulations made by Paul on ⟨aſcending⟩ the throne tended to raiſe a confidence in ⟨the⟩ public, which was ſoon done away by the ⟨childiſh⟩ whimſical, and impolitic conduct he pursued. ⟨The⟩ numerous anecdotes which his conduct has given (illegible text) to, ſhew him to have been impetuous and ⟨cowardly.⟩ It would be cruel now to enlarge on theſe, let the ⟨following⟩ ſuffice as a ſpecimen.
Paul had taken a ſingular averſion at round ⟨hats⟩ and iſſued an order to take them away, or tear ⟨them⟩ from the heads of those who wore them. This ⟨occaſioned⟩ ſome ſcandalous ſcenes in the ſtreets, and ⟨particularly⟩ near the palace. The ſoldiers of the po(illegible text) ran up to the paſſengers ſnatched off their hats, ⟨and⟩ beat thoſe who not knowing the reaſon attempted ⟨to⟩ defend themſelves. An Engliſh merchant go(illegible text) through the ſtreet in a ſledge, was thus ſtopped, ⟨and⟩ his hat ſnatched off; ſupposing it a robbery, he ⟨leapt⟩ out of his ſledge, knocked down the ſoldier and ⟨called⟩ the guard. Inſtead of the guard, arrived an ⟨officer⟩ who overpowered and bound him, but as they ⟨were⟩ proceeding to the police he was fortunate enough ⟨to⟩ meet the coach of the Engliſh miniſter, who was (illegible text)ing to court, and claimed his protection.
Charles Whitworth, made his complaint to the ⟨Em-⟩
