Such an appeal from a woman, beautiful, beloved and imploring protection from the murderous hands of one who was hated and despised, inspired every bosom with indignation and with enthusiasm in her behalf. With one impulse they took an oath to die, if necessary, in her defense; and cries of "Long live the empress" filled the air. In two hours Catharine found herself at the head of several thousand veteran soldiers. She was also in possession of the arsenals; and the great mass of the population of St. Petersburg were clamorously advocating her cause. Accompanied by a numerous and brilliant suite, the empress then repaired to the metropolitan church, where the archbishop and a great number of ecclesiastics, whose cooeperation had been secured, received her, and the venerable archbishop, a man of imposing character and appearance, dressed in his sacerdotal robes, led her to the altar, and placing the imperial crown upon her head, proclaimed her sovereign of all the Russias, with the title of Catharine the Second. A _Te Deum_ was then chanted, and the shouts of the multitude proclaimed the cordiality with which the populace accepted the revolution. The empress then repaired to the imperial palace, which was thrown open to all the people, and which, for hours, was thronged with the masses, who fell upon their knees before her, taking their oath of allegiance. The friends of Catharine were, in the meantime, everywhere busy in putting the city in a state of defense, and in posting cannon to sweep the streets should Peter attempt resistance. The tzar seemed to be left without a friend. No one even took the trouble to inform him of what was transpiring. Troops in the vicinity were marched into the city, and before the end of the day, Catharine found herself at the head of fifteen thousand men; the most formidable defenses were arranged, strict order prevailed, and not a drop of blood had been shed. The manifesto of the empress, which had been secretly printed, was distributed throughout the city, and a day appointed when the foreign embassadors would be received by Catharine. The revolution seemed already accomplished without a struggle and almost without an effort. CHAPTER XXIV. THE CONSPIRACY; AND ACCESSION OF CATHARINE II. From 1762 to 1765. Peter III. at Oranienbaum.--Catharine at Peterhof.--The Successful Accomplishment of the Conspiracy.--Terror of Peter.--His Vacillating and Feeble Character.--Flight to Cronstadt.--Repulse.--Heroic Counsel of Munich.--Peter's Return to Oranienbaum.--His Suppliant Letters to Catharine.--His Arrest.--Imprisonment.--Assasination.--Proclamation of the Empress. Her Complicity in the Crime.--Energy of Catharine's Administration.--Her Expansive Views and Sagacious Policy.--Contemplated Marriage with Count Orlof.