tzar.  The great object of his aim was to make himself the first subject in the empire.  In the accomplishment of this object there were two leading measures to which he resorted.  The first was to keep the young tzar as much as possible from taking any part in the transactions of state, by involving him in an incessant round of pleasures.  The next step was to secure for the tzar a wife who would be under his own influence.  The love of pleasure incident to youth rendered the first measure not difficult of accomplishment.  Peculiar circumstances seemed remarkably to favor the second measure.  There was a nobleman of high rank but of small fortune, strongly attached to Moroson, who had two daughters of marvelous beauty.  Moroson doubted not that he could lead his ardent young monarch to marry one of these lovely sisters, and he resolved himself to marry the other.  He would thus become the brother-in-law of the emperor.  Through his wife he would be able to influence her sister, the empress.  The family would also all feel that they were indebted to him for their elevation.  The plan was triumphantly successful.

The two young ladies were invited to court, and were decorated to make the most impressive display of their loveliness.  With the young tzar, a boy of sixteen, it was love at first sight, and that very day he told Moroson that he wished to marry Maria, the eldest of the beauties.  Rich presents were immediately lavished upon the whole family, so that they could make their appearance at court with suitable splendor.  The tzar and Maria were immediately betrothed, and in just eight days the ardent lover led his bride from the altar.  At the end of another week Moroson married the other sister.  Moroson and Miloslouski, the father of the two brides, now ruled Russia, while the tzar surrendered himself to amusements.

The people soon became exasperated by the haughtiness and insolence of the duumvirate, and murmurs growing deeper and louder, ere long led to an insurrection.  On the 6th of July, 1648, the tzar, engaged in some civic celebration, was escorted in a procession to one of the monasteries of Moscow.  The populace assembled in immense numbers to see him pass.  On his return the crowd broke through the attendant guards, seized the bridle of his horse, and entreated him to listen to their complaints concerning the outrages perpetrated by his ministers.  The tzar, much alarmed by their violence, listened impatiently to their complaints and promised to render them satisfaction.  The people were appeased, and were quietly retiring when the partisans of the ministers rode among them, assailing them with abusive language, crowding them with their horses, and even striking at them with their whips.  The populace, incensed, began to pelt them with stones, and though the guard of the tzar came to their rescue, they escaped with difficulty to the palace.  The mob was now thoroughly aroused.  They rushed to the palace of Moroson, burst down the