The following “Chip” is from the chisel of a blacksmith—a certain Peter
Muller of Istra, son of the person to whom it refers. It was gathered
from his forge by M. Stæhlin, who inserted it in his original anecdotes
of Peter the Great, collected from the conversation of several persons
of distinction at St. Petersburg and Moscow.
Among all the workmen at Muller’s forge, near Istra, about ninety versts
from Moscow, there was one who had examined everything connected with
the work with the most minute attention, and who worked harder than the
rest. He was at his post every day, and appeared quite indifferent to
the severity of the labour. The last day on which he was employed, he
forged eighteen poods of iron—the pood is equal to forty pounds—but
though he was so good a workman, he had other matters to mind besides
the forging of iron; for he had the affairs of the State to attend to,
and all who have heard of Peter the Great, know that those were not
neglected.
It happened that he spent a month in the neighbourhood of Istra, for the
benefit of the chalybeate waters; and wherever he was, he always made
himself thoroughly acquainted with whatever works were carried on. He
determined not only to inspect Muller’s forge accurately, but to become
a good blacksmith. He made the noblemen who were in attendance on him
accompany him every morning, and take part in the labour. Some he
appointed to blow the bellows, and others to carry coals, and perform
all the offices of journeymen blacksmiths. A few days after his return
to Moscow, he called on Muller, and told him that he had been to see his
establishment, with which he had been much gratified.
“Tell me,” said he, “how much you allow per pood for iron in bar,
furnished by a master blacksmith.”
“Three copecks or an altin,” answered Muller.
“Well, then,” said the Czar, “I have earned eighteen altins, and am come
to be paid.”
Muller went to his bureau, and took from it eighteen ducats, which he
reckoned before the Emperor. “I would not think of offering less to a
royal workman, please your Majesty.”
“Put up your ducats again,” interrupted the Czar, “I will not take more
than I have earned, and that you would pay to any other blacksmith. Give
me my due. It will be sufficient to pay for a pair of shoes, of which
you may see,” added he, as he raised his foot, and displayed a shoe
somewhat the worse for the wear, “I am very much in need.”
Muller reckoned out the eighteen altins, with which the Czar hurried off
to a shop, and purchased a pair of shoes. He put them on with the
greatest delight; he thought he never had worn such a pair of shoes; he
showed them with a triumphant air to those about him, and said, “See
them; look how well they fit; I have earned them well—by the sweat of my
brow, with hammer and anvil.”
One of these bars of iron, forged by Peter the Great, and bearing his
mark, was kept as a precious relic in the forge at Istra, and exhibited
with no little pride to all who entered. Another bar which was forged by
his hand is shown in the Cabinet of the Academy of Sciences at
Petersburg.