I.Description of Russia.II.Continuation of the description of Russia, population, finances, armies, customs, religion: state of Russia before Peter the Great.III.The ancestors of Peter the Great.IV.John and Peter.—Horrible Sedition among the Strelitzes.V.Administration of the princess Sophia. Extraordinary quarrel about religion. A conspiracy.VI.The reign of Peter the First.—Beginning of the grand reformation.VII.Congress and Treaty with the Chinese.VIII.Expedition to the Palus Mæotis; conquest of Azoph.—The czar sends young gentlemen into foreign countries for improvement.IX.Travels of Peter the Great.X.A conspiracy punished.—The corps of strelitzes abolished, alterations in customs, manners, church, and state.XI.War with Sweden.—The battle of Narva.XII.Resources after the battle of Narva. That disaster entirely repaired. Peter gains a victory near the same place. The person who was afterwards empress made prisoner at the storming of a town. Peter's successes. His triumph at Moscow.XIII.Reformation at Moscow.—Further successes.—Founding of Petersburg.—The czar takes Narva, &c.XIV.Peter the Great keeps possession of all Ingria, while Charles XII. is triumphant in other places.—Rise of Menzikoff.—Petersburg secured.—The czar executes his designs notwithstanding the victories of the king of Sweden.XV.While Peter is strengthening his conquests, and improving the police of his dominion, his enemy Charles XII. gains several battles: gives laws to Poland and Saxony, and to Augustus, notwithstanding a victory gained by the Russians.—Augustus resigns the crown, and delivers up Patkul, the czar's ambassador.—Murder of Patkul, who is sentenced to be broke upon the wheel.XVI.Attempts made to set up a third king of Poland.—Charles XII. sets out from Saxony with a powerful army, and marches through Poland in a victorious manner.—Cruelties committed.—Conduct of the czar.—Successes of the king of Sweden, who at length advances tow…