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Memoirs of Peter Henry Bruce, Esq
A Military Officer, in the services of Prussia, Russia and Great Britain (1783)


Containing
An account of his travels in
Germany, Russia, Tartary, Turkey, The West Indies, etc.


Note: You should note that this publication is written in the old style where the letter, lower case "s", is written as an "f". It doesn't take long to get used to this so hopefully you'll enjoy this publication.


  • Contents

  • Book 1
    The author's descent. - His grandfather's going into the Prussian service. - John Bruce's marriage and descendants, and the author's birth, etc. - His entering into the Prussian service. - Lines on the battle of Ramillies. - A remarkable story of the author's landlady. - His first campaign. - His second campaign. - Defeat of the French. - Siege of Lisle. - A remarkable accident to prince Eugene. - Captain Dubois. - A sad accident to the enemy's cavalry. - Bon mot of the duke of Marlborough. - Siege of Ghent. - Third campaign. - Siege of Tournay. - Battle of Malplaquet. - Story of a Swiss recruit. - Siege of Mons. - Fourth campaign. - Siege of Doway. - Siege of Bethune. - A sad misfortune to six Scotch officers. - Sieges of Aire and St. Venant. - Terrible story of the Jesuits at Tournay.

  • Book 2
    He goes into the Russian service, a captain. - Overtakes general Bruce at Pruss-Holland. - A curious story of a man at Elbing. - They arrive at Jaweross, where the Czar is privately married. - General Bruce's rank and honours. - Account of the Russian army. - Their numbers and cloathing. - Expedition against the Turks. - Council of war at the Neister. Prince Constanure joins them without any troops. - A swarm of locusts. - The Turks appear. - The Russians form on the river Pruth. - Engage the Turks three days. - The czarina saves the whole army and prince Canamire. - The king of Sweden upbraids the grand vizier. - The Russians return. - Colonel Pitt's lady and daughter carried off by the Tartars. - The grand seignior approves the treaty. - Captain Bruce sent express to Constantinople. - Description of that city. - Its mosques. - Accommodations for strangers. - Strength. - The seraglio. - Scutari, a fine view. - The port and harbour. - Suburbs. - Arsenal. - Air and climate. - The Turks contrasted. - Domestic Accommodations. - Internal government of the country. - Religion. - Worship. - The plague. - Their games. - Diet. - Rest. - Exercise of their youth. - Dress of their ladies. - Ointment of Pilo. - Their predominint interest. - Matrimonial privilege. - Concubine marriage. - Policy of their religion. - Severities on the amorous stranger. - Their laws of debt. - In criminal cases. - Their punishments. - The channel of the captain's information. - New difficulties to the Treaty at the Pruth. - Change of ministry. - A fresh treaty. - Fresh interruption to the peace. - Against which the czar remonstrates. - Ministry again changed. - The Russian ambassador, etc. sent to the Seven Towers. - Mighty preparations for war, which end against the king of Sweden at Bender. - Reflexions.

  • Book 3
    Marriage of the czarowitz. - The czar's celebration of his old wedding. - General Baur's discovery of himself to his friends and brother officers. - The empress Catherine's descent and rise. - Prince Menzikof's rise, and the czar's narrow escape from poison. - Expedition against the Swedes. - Description of the city of Moscow. - An ambassador from Persia; a great fire in Moscow. - A young physician burnt by the clergy, who are therefore deprived of the power of life and death, and holidays and convents abridged. - Manners of the gentry. - Description of the women. - Entertainments of the common people. - Marriage. - The princess Natalia's humorous fancy in the marriage of the dwarfs. - Three women punished for drowning their husbands. - The punishment of the knout. - The czar's birth and marriage. - A virtuous young lady. - Muscovite robberies and murders. - The czar's danger by them. - Remarkable murder of Swedish officers by Jews. - Suppression of the Robbers. - Seat of empire changed from Moscow to Petersburgh. - A description of the czarowitz's person and manners. - Ridiculous custom in burying. - Their images. - Their baths. - Manner of travelling. - Religious fasis.

  • Book 4
    City of Novogorod. - The Sterlit fib. - Marshal Zeremetof's military mistakes. - The readiest method to get out of the Russian service. - The city of Petersburgh. - The czar's usual table. - His entertainments. - His present of boats to different ranks, and its good design. - An ambassador from Usbeck Tartary. - A naval excursion for his entertainment. - Cronstadt and Cronelet. - Oramanbaum, Petersboff, and Catharinhoff. - The grand dutchess born, and the prince's behaviour on the occasion. - His disrespect to the czar. - Naval expedition, in which the czar was rear admiral. - His gallant action with Ehrenshield. - He takes Aland. - His triumphal entry at Petersburgh. - Promoted to vice-admiral. - He complimnts Ehrenshield's bravery. - His speech to the senate. - His resentment of the czarowitz's disrespect. - He institutes frequent social assemblies and a royal academy. - Court-martial on Admiral Kruys. - The order of St. Catherine. - Confusions in the revenue, and the consequent distress. - Many delinquents punished. - Fiscals appointed. - The czar's public entertainments. - Mr Slitter's perpetuum mobile. - The old Findlander. - Hard frost at Petersburgh. - Experiements on bears. - Method of killing them.

  • Book 5
    Descent upon Sweden. - Birth of the emperor's grandson Peter, and death of the princess, his mother. - The birth of Peter Petrowitz, son to the emperor. - A carnaval. - The czar's double eagle. - The czar's attention to improve his capital and country. - His military rewards and punisbents. - Thirty tall grenadiers for the king of Prussia. - A horrid murder at Riga. - Contributions on Dantzig. - His scheme in taking Weismar. - Conference with the king of Denmark and arrival at Copenhagen. - The combined fleets. - The Danes alarmed. - Resufe subsistence to the troops. - A conference with the king of Denmark in his capital, with its consequences. - The story of leutenant general Bohn. - Oppressive scheme of the Duke of Mecklenburg. - The distress of his people. - The czarowitz dissapears. - The captain refused leave to quit the Russian service. - The czar's return from Paris. - The return of his army to Petersburgh. - Desorders in his absence redressed. - Attempt to discover a north passage to India. - The fatal expedition of prince Beckwitz. - A new regulation at Petersburgh, and a silk manufactory at Moscow.

  • Book 6
    Return of the czarowitz from Moscow, and his esclusion from the succession. - His accomplices. - The prince, Mary concerned in it. - The trials of the czarowitz at Petersburgh. - His death and character. - The Swedish field-marshall Rheinshield's return home. - Negotiation at Aland, for  peace with Sweden, renewed. - King of Sweden's death. - The death of baron Gortz. - The fiscal's information against the grandees for misdemeanours, and their trial. - Prince Gagaren's unaccountable behaviour. - More of the czarowitz's confererates. - Death of prince Peter Oetrowitz. - Prince Peter Alexowitz made a seargeant, taught his exercise, and made ensign. - Negotiations for peace renewed, but fruitless. - The czar resolves to command it. - Memorable descent on Sweden. - The British fleet come too late. - The czar disgusted with Britain. - The Jesuits banished. - The czar seized with a fit at Revil. - General Weyde's illness, and the czar's concern for him. - Affairs of Sweden. - Marshal Weyde's death. - Ill treatment of his family. - His funeral. - The czar reproves Menzikoff. - Captain Bruce's inffectual attempt to quit the Russian service. - The new king of Sweden notifies his accession. - A second invasion. - The Swedes attack our fleet with loss. - The czar receives the duke of Holstein into his protection. - Court martial on lieutenant colonel Graves. A curious lawsuit between two brothers at Reval. - Fresh preparations against Sweden. - Proposals on their part, for a cessation of hostilities, rejected. - A third descent on Sweden, which obliged them to sign the preliminaries, and a child remarkdly preserves. - The fleet arrive at Petersburgh. - The czar honoured by his senate with the title of Peter the Great, &c. - A wise reformation in the benefits of the law. - The captain again refused leave to quit. - Triumphal entry into Moscow. - A proclamation and oath regarding the succession.

  • Book 7
    The reason for the Persian expedition. - Embark on the river Moscow. - Nismi Novogorod. - Embark on the gallies. - The Ceremiss Tartars. - Casan Tartars. - Manner of fishing in the Wolga. - Kinds of Fish. - Alabaster quarry. - Bulgarian Tartars, and the Maiden-Hill. - Kalmuch Tartars. - Astrachan. - Nagayan Tartars. - Short account of the Tartars in general. - The Nagayan Tartars manner of life. - Desarts near Astrachan rich with salt. - Fruits at Astrachan. - The Banyan woman's burning herself at her husband's death. - The inhabitants of India. The Banyans.

  • Book 8
    Army embark at Astrachan, 18th of July. - Variety of wild fowl on the little islands. - Terki, the capital city of Circassia. - Herring in the Caspian. - Voyage to Bustrow. - General Waterang's account from the province of Andreof. - Circassia, and its inhabitants, their manners, religion, &c. - Continuation of the voyage, and view of mount Caucasus, &c. - The army land at Agrechan. - March into Asia. - Kindness of the Dagastan Tartars. - The army pass the river Sulack. - General Wateraang joins the army. - Embarrassed on their march, a severe punishment of the officers of the guards. - Arrive at Tarku, with a description of the Dagestan Tartars. - Interview with the ladies. - The Dagastan ladies wait on the empress. - Erect a monument at Tarku, and march for Derbent through a fine country. - Sultan Udenack's cruelty, and its consequences. - Twenty desperate Tartars. - A beautiful Tartar youth slain. - Undaunted resolution of the priest. - Arrive at Derbent. - Description of the city. - Remarkable Tombs. - Alexander and Malkehatura. - Jackalls and sand hares. - Suchary bread. - Two express and one ambassador arrive at the army. - A Turkish ambassador obliges the emperor to return. - Occasion of the troubles in Persia. - The army return. - Cold nights. - Dangerous and harrassing march. - The new town of Swetago-Kerst. - Fort at the river Nitzi destroyed, and revenged. - The army re-imbark at Agrecham. - The provisions for the captain's galley lost; a starving voyage. - Arrive at Astrachan the 15th of October.

  • Book 9
    Progress up the Wolga to Czaritza. - The Gost there. - A short history of the Cossacks. - Stephen Ratzin's Rebellion. - Ordered to survey the Caspian Sea, on which he proceeds to Taik and Yembo. - Island of Kula, and Turkistan Tartars. - Gulf of Iskander. - River Oxus and the Usbeck Tartars. - The Gulf of Carabuga. - River Darta. - River Ossa. - Gulf of Astrabat. - Provinces of Terebat and Massenderan. - Gulf of Sinfili and City of Resbt. - Difficult path of the Pyles. - The Rivers Ardeschin and Linkeran, and the famous naphtha oil-pits. - The River Cyrus, or Kur. - The city of Baky. - City of Shamachie. - City of Derbent. - The river Sulack. - Gulf of Agrechan, Island of Trentzeni and city of Terki. - General description of the Caspian Sea. - Watch tower on John's Island. - General Matuskin's marriage to the window in tears. - Contest among the Kalmucks, and expedition against them. - Description of their kibbets. - A battle with the Kalmucks. - Some odd Customs among them. - The Baranetz, or Lambskin. - Returns for Moscow up the Wolga. - A narrow escape from the ice. - Proceed by land. - A cruel robbery in the woods. - A remarkable discovery of a town, with an account of it. - A wild girl taken in the wood. - Arrival at Moscow.

  • Book 10
    The Duke of Holstein. - The fall of baron Shasirof. - The captain endeavours to get his discharge. - A dignified troop of chevaliers. - A description of the cathedral. - Procession to the coronation of the empress. - Corenation ceremony. - Procession to the church of St. Michael. - Procession to the church of the Resurrection. - Dinner in the hall of solemnities. - New mode of promotion. - The captain obtains his furlough. - The captain leaves Moscow. - A Swedish colonel at Riga suspected of having shot Charles the XIIth of Sweden. - The captain embarks for Scotland. - Puts into Erdholm, a Danish harbour and fort. - Description of the harbour. - Departs for Elsingohr. - Driven into Marstr and dismasted. - Quarrel between Carnegie and his mate. - He arrives in Scotland.

  • Book 11
    The captain sent engineer to fortify Providence, and goes out in the Rose man of war. - Arrives at the island of Madeira. - Waits on the Portuguese governor. - Description of the island. - A hard passage to Carolina. - Misses a fine prize. - A violent storm. - The fortifications at Charlestown. - Arrives at Providence. The ruinous condition of fort Nassau. - Short history of the Bahama islands. - The oppresive practices of governor Fitzwilliam. - Governor Tinker succeeds him. - Short account of that gentleman. - The captain prevails on the inhabitants to carry materials for building fort Montague. - Nature of the stone. - and mastich wood. - Description of fort Montaque. - The governor's letter about it. - A quarrel with lieutenant Stewart. - The captain confined. - and set at liberty.

  • Book 12
    The treatment of two privateers and their owners. - Letter from Lieutenant Moone. - Letter from a friend. - Letter from lieutenant Dromgole. - Division of the quick silver. - The captain applies again to the assembly to bring the materials. - The Assembly withdraw the governors salary. - Letter from lieutenant Moone. - Another from Charlestown. - Letter from governor Glen. - Produce of the Bahama Islands, and the adjacent sea. - Observations on St. Salvador and the Bimini islands. - The inhabitants of Providence. - Description of Fort Nassau. - Cost of both forts. - The captain leave Providence. - Arrives at Charlestown. - A visit from a Cherokee kings. Captain Frankland's rich prize. - A short description of Carolina. - The captain sails for England. - Arrives at London.


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