Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-08-20
HISTORICAL LETTERS.
To 9Ax Eo14on OF THE yIRcIx1A .facUs.
LETTER XIII.

4
Formation ofthe Kmgdoms Of Modern Eau
ro1te, after theJaA Of the Roman Emhire.
RUSSIA.
The fables of history, as we'll as those of
biography, owe their origin to the inattenti-
on OF mankind. The early stages of a natl
on'S progress to grandeur, and the first &C
tons OF a great man, are, in general, too OBJ
scure and insignificant to attract notice. 1t
IS not until both the one and the other have
performed some distinguished deed, or un.
til, from their power, their influence begins
TO be felt i'll the society of nations or of men,
that the human mind is drawn to serious
consideration of their birth and condition
Imagination must then supply what authen-
tic records do not furnish, and fancy, VIOLA
tile and inventive, frequently creates Incl
dents which reason will not sanction. Such,
| emphatically, is the case with Russian his
| tory, which is made to commence, by men
OF the most dilgent research, about the mid
die OF the ninth century. One Rurick who
| governed wide population on the shores of
the Baltic, either invited by the people of
| Novorogod, OF impelled by ambition, led Thu
ther an army, and finally established him
self in the country. The successors of this
chieftain inherited divided empire, which
in the end fell a prey to the rartars, who
| governed it from the thirteenth to the mid
die OF the fifteenth century, until Ivan Wa
seliwitz freed Ills inheritance from ignomi-
NOUS servi1ude. On the death of Ivan Ii.
confusion was produced in the government,
! and order was not restored until the family
| OF RomanoR was called to the throne. From
| this family Peter the Great descended and
| he is very justly regarded the founder of
| the present Russian empire. The empress
| Elizabeth, was the last sovereign of the house
of Romannff: She was followed by Peter
Ill, of the dolstcin family, who was depos-
ed and put to death at the instigation, and
by the paramours of his wife Catharine III,
who succeeded him on the throne. Catharine
reigned thirty-four years; and in the mids
| of the most execrabe righteousness, 20
verned Russia with masculine ability, ana
thlled Europe with the fame Of her policy,
and the renown of ncr arms. Those who
are DESTROYS of gaining particular knowledge
| OF the institutions of this empire, are advised
| to study the transactions of the government
OF this princess, and those of the reign of Pc
ter the Great. Paul |, was the successor Of
Catharine ii. He was an eccentric man,
and too much under the influence of a sub
limated imagination. During his sovereign
ty the Russians astonished the world by their
warlike efforts, and immortalized their va
Tor under the conduct of ouwarrow, VINO
had also distinguished himself in the time OF
Catharine-- The great military exertions of
Paul, however, exhausted the resources of
the empire SO much that he rendered him
self unpopular; and combination being en-
tered into among the leading men of the
court, he was privately assassinated a. ID.
1901. The faction that put Paul TO death
Immediately united in proclaiming the pre-
sent incumbent of the throne, Alexander
Paulowitz, emperor of all the RussiaS. This
prince, who is represented as humane, and
naturally inclined To- peace, has been engag-
ed in several wars with France, in conunC-
ton with Austria or Prussia. The most me
morable of these was il 1906 z, and was
terminated by the treaty of rIlsit on tie 9th
of July OF the latter year. BY this treaty
Prussia was reduced to third rate power,
and Napoleon's political association, known
by the name of the confederation of the
Rhine, was extended to part of Poland
This confederacy, embracing, in effect, the
ideas of Henry w, of France, places the
French empire at the head of an armed
league, composed OF the principal states of
! Europe; and promises, i'll time, to realize
. tho expression of Frederick the Great of
| Prussia, who asserted, that if he were king
of France there should not be cannon fired
on the European continent without his con-
| sent.
The principal wars in which the true in
terests of Russia have been most Consulted,
u are those with the Turks. Catharne III,
whilss she was not inattentve to European
politics, pushed her conquests more than "a
{ NY other Russian sovereign, on the side oil
the Black Sea- and III the direction of Asia
tic Turkey. The most splendid achievement
of her reign as, persons, the acquisition o.
the Crinea, the ancient Taurica Cherspne
sus, the peaceable possession of which wa.
; secured TO her in 1891, by the Turks, wllC
coded the fortress of Oczakow. 1t was it
the transactions of the Crimea, that Potem.
kin, the tavorite OF Catharine, and a very ex-
traordinary man, distinguished himself. The
history of his life is equally interesting t.
the philosopher. the statesman, and the sol
der.
I, 1t would be objectionable to omit in thi.
letter, all notice of Catharine /, who, by the
S graces of her person, and the force of hei
+ understanding, rose to the imperial dignity
g peasant by birth, and exposed in her ear
4 ly years to the caprces and miseries of SC
Il humble a fortune, in the course Of her sin
J, gular adventures she attracted the regard
u Of Peter the Great, and gaining IN ascen.
dency over him by the wisdom of her Coun-
" sci, and the excellence of her judgment, ht
married her, and caused her to be solemn,
= crowned empress Of Russia. At tie death
:, of her husband she assembled the throne
guided and supported by the abilities aut
n the influence of a favorite whose name
was McnzikoE History almost takes tn,
complexion Of Romance in reciting tht
t,tc ~ fbie yyoudcVfn1 tvCrnop t., ;rr,,-.