The new city was now considered as firmly established, and from this time it advanced very rapidly in wealth and population. Peter gave great encouragement to foreign mechanics and artisans to come and settle in the town, offering to some lands, to others houses, and to others high wages for their work. The nobles built elegant mansions there in the streets set apart for them, and many public buildings of great splendor were planned and commenced. The business of building ships, too, was introduced on an extended scale. The situation was very favorable for this purpose, as the shores of the river afforded excellent sites for dock-yards, and the timber required could be supplied in great quantities from the shores of Lake Ladoga. In a very few years after the first foundation of the city, Peter began to establish literary and scientific institutions there. Many of these institutions have since become greatly renowned, and they contribute a large share, at the present day, to the _eclat_ which surrounds this celebrated city, and which makes it one of the most splendid and renowned of the European capitals. [1] See map on page 221. CHAPTER XII. THE REVOLT OF MAZEPPA. 1708 Progress of the war--Peter's fleet--The King of Sweden's successes--Peter wishes to make peace--The reply--Plan changed--Mazeppa and the Cossacks--Plans for reforming the Cossacks--Mazeppa opposes them--The quarrel--Mazeppa's treasonable designs--The plot defeated--Precautions of the Czar--Mazeppa's plans--He goes on step by step--He sends his nephew to the Czar--The envoy is arrested--Commotion among the Cossacks--Failure of the plot--Mazeppa's trial and condemnation--The effigy--Execution of the sentence upon the effigy--New chieftain chosen In the mean time the war with Sweden went on. Many campaigns were fought, for the contest was continued through several successive years. The King of Sweden made repeated attempts to destroy the new city of St. Petersburg, but without success. On the contrary, the town grew and prospered more and more; and the shelter and protection which the fortifications around it afforded to the mouth of the river and to the adjacent roadsteads enabled the Czar to go on so rapidly in building new ships, and in thus increasing and strengthening his fleet, that very soon he was much stronger than the King of Sweden in all the neighboring waters, so that he not only was able to keep the enemy very effectually at bay, but he even made several successful descents upon the Swedish territory along the adjoining coasts.