has met with fince her acceffion, we fhall with pleasure turn to the more tranquil parts of her reign; on which we may fpeak decidedly, without the imputation of prejudice, or the almot equal cenfure of partiality.

It is on all hands allowed, that the Emprefs of Ruffia has filled her exalted itation with the most distinguished reputation and ability, as far as relates to the improvement and civilization of her country, and the idea which the entertains of the true happiness of all her fubjects.

Her Imperial Majefty has effected many beneficial and important regulations in the interior police of her vaft empire: fhe has wholly abolifhed torture, and has adopted an excellent plan for the reformation of prifons in general.

Though the extreme defpotifm of the Ruffian government is a great impediment to the progrefs of the arts and fciences, as well as to the real profperity of the empire, the Emprefs has greatly encouraged learning and the arts, and conftantly directed her attention to the extenfion of commerce.

But, perhaps, the moft remarkable tranfaction of her reign is the efta'blishment of the Armed Neutrality, for the protection of the trade of nations not at war, from any infults which they might be liable to receive on the coafts of belligerent powers.

The Manifefto late published, in juftification of the Emprefs's taking poffeffion of the Crimea, is another important enterprize, and will probably be the means of producing a new contest with the Ottoman Porte.

Thefe are the larger features in the political character of her Imperial Majefty: let us now take a view of the more limited but not lefs amiable

traits which diftinguish her in domef

tic life.

The great attention fhe paid to the education of her fon, the Grand Duke of Ruffia, will appear from the following letter which fhe wrote to M. D'Alembert, at Paris, on his declining her invitation to settle in Ruffia,

I HAVE just received the answer you wrote to Mr. Odar, in which you refufe to transplant yourself to affift in the education of my fon. I eafily conceive that it costs a philofopher, like you, nothing to defpife what the world calls grandeur and honour: thefe, in your eyes, are very little; and I can readily agree with you, that they are fo. Confidering things in this light, there would be nothing great in the behaviour of Queen Chriftina [of Sweden] which hath been fo highly extolled, and often cenfured with more juftice. But to be born and called to contribute to the happiness, and even the inftruction of a whole nation, and yet decline it, is, in my opinion, refufing to do that good which you wish to do. Your philofophy is founded in a love to mankind: permit me then to tell you, that to refufe to ferve mankind, whilft it is in your power, is to mifs your aim. I know you too well to be a good man, to afcribe your refufal to vanity. I know that the fole motive of it is the love of eafe, and leifure to cultivate letters and the friendship of thofe you efteem. But what is there in this objection? Come, with all your friends; I promife both them and you every conveniency and advantage that depends upon me; and perhaps you will find more liberty and eafe here than in your native country. You refused the invitation of the King of Pruffia, notwithstanding your obligations to him; but that prince has no fon. I own to you, that I have the education of my fon fo much at heart, and I think you fo neceffary to it, that perhaps I prefs you with too much earneftnefs. Excufe my indifcretion for the fake of the occafion of it; and N 2

be

Moscow, Nov. 13, 1762.

CATHARINE.

In this whole letter I have argued only from what I have found in your writings: you will not contradict yourself.'

This letter brings to our remembrance another, which the Emprefs fent to Voltaire, under circumstances which will tend to illuftrate the characteristics of a liberal and a benevolent heart.

SIR,

THE brightnefs of the northern ftar is a mere Aurora Borealis. It is nothing more than giving from our fuperfluity fomething to our neighbours: but to be the advocate of human kind, the defender of oppreffed innocence, that indeed is the way to immortalize you. The two caufes of Calas and Sirven have given you the veneration due to fuch miracles. You have combated the united enemies of mankind, fuperftition, fanaticifm, ignorance, chicane, bad judges, and the power repofed in them, all together. To furmount fuch obftacles, required both talents and virtue. You have carried your point. You defire, Sir, fome fmall relief for the Sirven family. Can I poflibly refufe it? Or should you praife me for the action, would there be the leaft room for it? I own to you, that I fhould be much better pleafed if my bill of exchange could pafs unknown; nevertheless, if you think that my name, unharmonious as it is, may be of any ufe to thofe victims of the fpirit of perfecution, I leave it to your difcretion, and you may announce me, provided it be no way prejudicial to the parties,

CATHARINE.'

The revenue of the Emprefs is very confiderable, and fhe diffufes it with a bounteous hand for the encouragement of induftry and art, as

The fplendor and dignity of the empire are objects of her neverceafing attention: the buys up every thing which can ferve to enrich her own country from the imprudent, the unfortunate, or the ingenious, of surrounding nations; and encourages fcientific and fkilful men, from every part of the globe, to fettle in her dominions.

In the year 1772, in the midst of her expenfive war with the Turks, fhe purchafed of Gregory Siffra, a Greek, one of the richest diamonds in the world, to adorn the Imperial crown: it weighed 779 carats, and coft 100,000l. fterling.

To this may be added, from England, alone, the purchafe of the Houghton Collection of Paintings, and the fplendid carriages fent over by Mr. Hatchett, who has the ho nour of being coach-maker to the Emprefs of Ruffia.

On the 28th of November 1768, fhe fubmitted to be firft inoculated for the fmall-pox by Mr. Dimfdale, (on that occafion created a baron) who was purpofely fent for from England, and moft munificently rewarded.

Her benevolence to the unhappy fufferers by the ftorm and inundation at Petersburgh, in 1777, and by the dreadful fire in 1780, as well as on every other occafion where such public or private calamitous circumftances have occurred as had the fmalleft claim on humanity, are fuffi ciently known.

The Emprefs has been for fome years building, at Mofcow, a moft ftupendous palace, near three miles in circumference; which will, however, poffefs all that barbarous grandeur of tafle, for which the public edi. fices of this country are fo remarkable.

The royal palace of Zarfco-Zelo is the favourite retreat of her Imperial Majefty, which was built by Elizabeth, and is the compleateft triumph of the rude tafte juft mentioned that is any where to be feen. The fituation is low, and hardly contains any

any prospect, nor has it the smallest degree of natural advantage to claim fuch a preference. It is very large, and the front extends to a great length, as there is only a single story befides the ground-floors. The capitals of the pillars, the ftatues, and many other parts of the external ftructure, are richly gilt, and the eye hardly encounters any thing but gold in the internal parts of this fplendid palace. One room is in a very peculiar ftile of magnificence, the fides being entirely compofed of amber, decorated with feftoons and ornaments of the fame. The tranfparency of the amber, added to the confcioufnefs of it's fingularity and richnefs, all conípire to render it aftonishingly delightful. The embellishment of this room was a prefent from the King of Pruffia to the late Emprefs.

Among other inftitutions established by the Empress, there is one which can hardly be exceeded in utility by any in Europe: the edifice was erected by her predeceffor Elizabeth, who intended it for a nunnery. It is fituated juft without the city of Peterfburgh, and is a moft magnificent building. The Emprefs, who prefers real utility to vain fuperftition, has converted it into a public place of education, where females of all ranks are compleatly inftructed in every neceffary and elegant accomplishment, at her fole expence; the children of noble families being kept quite diftin&t from those of inferior birth. In this admirable feminary about two hundred and fifty girls of the first description, and five hundred of the latter, are fuppofed to be conftantly maintained.

The Foundling Hofpital at Mofcow, which was founded by the Emprefs, and is fupported by voluntary contributions, is another excellent inftitution. This is an immenfe pile of building, of a quadrangular fhape, intended to contain a compleat eftablishment for eight thousand foundlings. The children are carefully attended, and at the age of fourteen have the liberty to chufe their own

profeffions, for which purpose several manufactures are established in the hofpital, At the expiration of their apprenticeship, they are prefented with a certain fum, fufficient to place them in a little way of bufinefs; and are permitted to carry on trade in any part of the Ruffian empire.

There are likewife feveral other establishments, for the promotion of fcience and arts, under the immediate patronage of the Emprefs; who is, as we have before obferved, indefatigable in promoting ufeful knowledge throughout her dominions.

Previous to the appearance of the tranfit of Venus over the fun, in 1769, the Imperial Academy of Sciences at Petersburgh received the Empress's orders to provide, at her expence, every neceffary aftronomical instru ment for making accurate obfervations in eight different parts of her dominions.

The Academy of Arts, which has been but a few years compleated, is a fuperb edifice: it is well furnished with masters in the different branches of polite letters, and filled with cafts from the most renowned models of Greek and Roman fculpture.

To fum up the whole in a fingle fentence-fhe is the true counterpart of her celebrated predeceffor, Peter the Great, whofe plans for the civilization of this vaft empire fhe is every day augmenting and compleating.

Indeed, her veneration is fo exceffive for this famous ancestor, that about twelve years fince Archbishop Platon was ordered to pronounce an oration at his tomb; and she has lately erected an equeftrian statue to his memory, executed by the celebrated Monfieur Falconette, inconteftibly the most matchless production of it's kind in Europe.

The winter-palace of the Empress, which is large and heavy, greatly refembles Sir John Vanbrugh's ftile of architecture: it is enchantingly fituated on the banks of the Neva, and in the centre of the town. Contiguous to this ftupendous edifice is a Imall palace built by the Empress,

and

and called the Hermitage, though it no more resembles our idea of a building entitled to that appellation, than it does a temple; indeed, not to much. But, perhaps, it receives this name from it's being a fort of retreat for the Empress, who has no drawingroom or court when the refides there. The apartments, which are very elegant, are furnished with great tafte; and there are two fine galleries of paintings, purchafed at an immenfe expence in Italy.

The palace of Peterhoff, where the court is ufually kept, was begun by Peter I. but has been enlarged and improved by his fucceffors. It is fituated in the midst of spacious and delightful gardens, which extend along the shore of the Gulph of Finland, and are washed by it's waters. In the front there is a canal feveral hundred yards in length, uniting with the gulph, from which three fine jets d'eau are fupplied, which are continually playing; and not, like thofe of Verfailles, only used on extraordinary occafions. The apartments are all very fplendid; and, in the drawing-room, there are five matchlefs portraits of the fovereigns of Ruffia, all whole-length pieces.

On public occafions, there are mafquerades, illuminations, and fire

works, in the gardens, where all perfons are admitted, without distinction. There are, however, few or no fancydreffes; nor is any character fupport

ed.

The company appear in dominos, and her Imperial Majefty ufually joins them in the fame drefs, and plays at cards great part of the evening. Her hair is in general richly ornamented with diamonds; and though the is rather corpulent, there is a dignity, tempered with graciousness, in her deportment and manner, which ftrikingly imprefies a ftranger.

Ruffian and French comedies are performed generally once a week at the Imperial Palace, where the feats are adjusted by rank: no money is paid for entrance; as it is efteemed the Emprefs's own amufement, and limited to perfons of quality.

In fhort, there is not only a magnificence and pomp in the court of Peterburgh, which far exceeds what is to be met with in most other nations, but every thing appears on a vaft and coloffal scale, as if adapted to the fize of this prodigious empire.

By her confort, Peter III. the Emprefs had ifiue Prince Paul Petrowitz, born the firft of October 1754, and a daughter. The Grand Duke has been twice married, and has issue three children.

the grand arcana of nature. There is no doubt that the general form and component particles of the earth were always the fame from the beginning as they at prefent appear, and will fo continue till the end of time. The method of

philofophizing about the phænomena of it's operation and interior produce depends upon three fundamental principles. The first is an univerfal power, energy, or fpirit, which is the Divine Agent, or efficient principle, by which the whole mafs of matter in the earth is actuated, agitated, and preferved in conftant motion. The fecond principle is, an univerfal power of vegetation, by which all bodies in the earth increase in bulk. The third principle is, an univerfal plaftic power,

whereby