The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-05-14


damaged by . severe storm an inundalioI
upon the coast, and the Empress had it re
paired at her own expense. Accordingly, al
its stores and sumpiuous furniture were un
laded and lodged in the apartments of ih,
Admiralty, and then, by the labor of some
hundreds of people, and by means of lever.
and engines constructed for ths purpose, the
yacht was lifted on shore, and the repairs
completed
After short residence, however, the Ouch.
ess displayed too much the weaknesses o
her character, to retain the respect of the
Russian court. She did not maintain thai
dignity Of behavior, and that elegance of
manners, which became woman of exalted
rank. A: iimes she seemed by her lavish
expenditure 10 rival the entertainments of the
palace; at others she excited universal con.
tempt BY her meanness and servili,y. The
consequences were unpleasant. The EN-
4 press Withdrew her attentions. She sank in.
10 neglect and obscurity with the court; and
the mortified Countess was constrained 10
depart from ST. Petersburg, and sail for Italy,
where her adventures became afteiu ards suf.
ticiently notorious.
Catharine did Iot neglect any means where-
by the attachment of her subjects might be
secured. In 1779 she established Two honor.
ary ofders that of ST. George and ST. vladi-
mir The former is military order, and di.
vided into four classes: lis badges are
black ribbon with George and dragon.
In 1890 this order was worn by about five
hundred persons. A certain number of each
class enjoy pensions of from one to seven
hundred rubles. The order of St. Vladimir
was Instituted in 1885, by the Empress, on
her twentieth coronation day. Its chapter
was held in the church Of St. Sophia. The
slar is of eight points, of gold and silver, hav.
ing red area, bearing cross, with rib
bon of two black stripes and one red one. In
1890 the number Of knights was seven hun
dred.
Amid the perplexities of thousand cares,
Calharine found time even 10 WOO the muses.
1t is we'll known that she was the author of
comedies, in which fanalicism and supersli.
ton were attacked with severity and ridicule.
She displayed her talents as an author in
the obstruction for the Code of Laws,n
which exhibits the masculine mind of pro-
found legislator, and which was composed
by herself, and written in full in her own
hand.
| Even these multiplied cares and labors did
not preven. hefs from indulglnz in .he lighter,
\ faeo,uu.iouo- OF fovo uuSi of udventure. She
possessed all woman's caproes. The Ser
Wan Zori,ch had now enjoyed her affections
for lwelvemonlh, during which time he had
received very considerable presents. His
mistress seemed perfectly satisfied with him.
All at once, be received permission 10 enter
on his travels. Astounded at this sudden re.
verse of fortune, Zortch ran in dsmay 10 Po-
tempkn. The minister, plying the misfor.
tune of this harmless favorite, was willing 10
exert himself in his behalf. He repaired 10
the Empress, and inquired the reason OF her
sudden change of feeling. She answered -
81 was fond of him yesterday: to-day am
not. Perhaps, if he were better educated,
might love him still; but his ignorance puts
me to tie blush. He can speak no other lam
guase than Russ. Let him travel into France
aud England, and learn foreign languages"
Zoritch, finding the Empress inexorable,
yielded 10 necessity, and visited the various
countries of Europe. He spent some time at
Paris, and afterwards returning TO Russia, he
resided at small town on the Dnieper,
where he built theatre, and lived at an
enormous expense. He never returned to
court.
| The same day that saw the dismissal of
Zortch, Potempkin set about finding a sue
cessor for bim. But Catharine had already
anticipated him. Going that very evening
10 the palace, he beheld handsome youth
behind the chair of Catharine, whom he in.
stantly knew 10 be the favorile. His name
was Korsakof, seargent in the imperial
guards. This person possessed handsome
figure, and elegant manners; but hs was as
deficient in education and talent as was his
predecessor. He was NOT adapted therefore
10 encroach upon the influence of authority
of Potempkin. Immediately after his sleva-
tion, he thought that it was essential TO his
dignity, that he should possess library
Accordingly he sent for the principal book
seller of ST. Petersburg, and told him his
wishes. The merchan, inquired what books
he would be pleased 10 haves The favorite
answered: "You understand the matter bet
Ter Than I; that is your business. Let there
be large books at the bottom, end smaller
and smaller up 10 the Top. That is the way
they stand in the Empress library" The
bookseller, understanding his interests ir The
case, went TO his warehouse, unearthed a
number of old German commentators on The
Bible and jurisprudence, which had lain fol
many years in sheets, ever since he had ia.
ken Them for bad debt, from a bankrupt
bookseller in Leipsic he had them elegant.
ly bound, and placed them at high prices in
the lavorils's library. He shrewdy inter.
spersed among them, set OF voltaire, o
Rousseau, of Button, and other fashionable
writer's, at convenient distances, in conspc.
uous positions in the library, to be at hand
10 case some Of KorsakofPs more erudte
friends should enquire for them. For the rest
tha;r 81 xuara .,, a, ..1os -, l.