New-York tribune., 1881-11-20
CATHERINE, THE LIGHT OF THE N0Rzh
From The GenAemans Magazine.


Her zeal IN the cause of science and her beneiac
tions to its devOtees are wel-known. Hraring that
the distinguished naturalist Pallas, whom she mad
induced to settle in ST. Petersburg. wanted 10 sell
his collection she asked him 10 name his price.
Replying to him she wrote: 4" Mr.. Pallas knows
natural history much better than iguTes he ought
to have charged 10000 instead Of $4,000 iyres FOL
so many valuable articles. The Empress, however,
takes 1t upon herself to correct bis mistake, and
hereby orders her treasurer To pay 10000. Mr
Pallas, however, Is appointed custodian OF the col
lection no one knows better than he now tc
render it most useful to mankind Truly, as
Madame dEpmay remarked, no one knew De Tel
than Catherine II. the great art OF kings, that OF
gIying.' Could anything by the way, De more
delicate and graceful than the following letter,
which Size sent with 10000 silver r0uDles. ana
bCX OF watches and other trlnkets, to the unl0rtu
nate prince Count dArtOIs =" Your Royal High
ness, on the point OF your departure, is no douDt
desGOus making some little presents TO the persons
who have attended you during your stay here.
But NJ. le Comte. as you know that have pro-
hibited all trade and communication with your un-
fortunate country you would in vain endeaNor 10
procure these tribes in this city there are none
now To be fonud in Russia except in my cabinet |
hope therefore that your Royal HlghneSs VIII ac-
cept OF these from your ahectonate iriend Cath-
eiiue.'
Her Majesty also founded and endowed a society
for the promotion of agriculture, aud sent, at Der
owl expense. several young men into England To
study farming. On their return they were settled
on a farm of 1000 acres, near Larsko-Lel0, ana
thither theological students were SENT two from
each college OF the empire, TO learn farming, that
on their appointment 10 benehces they might nc
vied cOlOniSts from Germany 10 settle III kuasIa
giving them horses. cattle, implements and lands,
that they might leaven their neIghbOrhood with
higher ideas OF agriculture. Liberty TO worship
God according TO the conviction of their conscience
was Guaranteed the immigrants; aud when Efforts
were made to bias her against the heretcs she eX-
claimed " Poor wTetcheSi since We know they VIII
suffer so much aud long in the world to come, We
ought to make their situation here comfortable
as we possibly can" The principle OF liberation
was never better expressed.
Her Majesty's legal and administrative reforms.
while they failed to impress the popular maglna-
ton were the crOwning achievements OF hrr reign;
She cheapeued the cost of judicial procedure. ana
raised the judges above inevitable yenality by III
crraslng their salaries. Gentlemen said she,
the necessity of your position may have made you
corrupt before; your country now pays your
labors and what before may have been admitted
as an excuse. henccfOrth will be a crime" Gather
inc abolished the inhuman practice OF torture, and
modified the rigors OF Russian and Siberian Impris
onment. The codltcatiOn OF the laws OF the empire
was an attempt TO evolve order out of chaos
parliament composed of 600 representatives, Of all
ranks and tribes, was summoned TO -. Petersburg
to aid her in this herculean task; her long letter OF
instructions to the assembly Is one OF the lnoSi
masterly State papers ever written. On reading
the treatise, the great Frederick who had learned
from "a bitter experience that IT paid better &c
hatter and be friendly with frail and powerful
Czarina than TO be epgfammatlc and derlSlVe
wrote to Catherine; No woman has hitherto been
n legisatriX: that glory was reserved for the ElR
press OF Russia who well deserves it,"