The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-15
III.

with tender admiration and unceasing sorrow"
In 1880 the Prince de Ligne paid his first visit
10 Russia. Owing TO the regard which the En-
peror Joseph II. was known to have for him, our
author was received with great cordially at the
Court Of Petersburg, From that time until her
death in 1895 the Empress Catherine IL,
was in moro OF less frequent cores
pondence with him. The account given
of her in this book differs materially
from most of the current biographies The first
portrait OF Catherine rough draught will be
found on pages 303-6 of the first volume. The
Prince tesfes that "The Empress is mixture
OF soul and good sense, of loftiness and vigor.
Those are the four columns that support the great
colossus that she governs. Her perceptions are
not quick: one must be too subtle in Jest or
wit for she is liable TO suppose II the reverse Of
what Is meant; what we say TO her must be as
simple as she herself. Her Majesty is a little
susceptible. II her imperial self-love takes UNI
bragg as TO her wars or her finances. or even. as
to the Russian climate, she is no longer at her
ease. But, far from revenging herself, even for
a real offence. she merely wthdraws her familiar
ity, and II is difficult to obtain II again. She
has SO amazing kindness that, even after heavy
labors, which may have related TO treaties OF
alliance partitions Of Europe and Asia she
is ready to concern herself with the interests of
her friends persuading one Of them, for instance,
as knew her TO do TO cease making debts" In
proof of what he has said to GATHERINGS man.
ner OF sometimes taking things askew. our author
relates the following incident 1t is it seems
a Russian custom to chant the TIC Deum all over
the Empire after a victory: and, in Petersburg.
a minister Of state reads in loud voice an &C.
count Of the battle. with list of killed and wounded
and of oil those who have specially distinguished
themselves. On one occasion when this was
done, the Empress, on her return from the cere-
mony TO give audience to NJ. de Segur CFrench
Ambassador TO the Russian Court said 10 him:
i beg your pardon for having kept you waiting
To which, as hatterer of charming good taste
he replied: Madam, l am resigned; though
foresee il will soon be intolerable for we shall
have these ceremonies every day Referring
to this BIZ! OF fattery, which meant, of course
that he expected her TO be always victorious
the Empress said TO me; Did you notice how
| i'll -humored the Comte de Segur was? These
| Frenchmen never can get accustomed to my sue
ceases In vain ! endeavored to set her right
With an air OF the utmost attention, she did not
| listen to me. or even understand that was ex-
planning the matter Segur was not happy in
| his compliments. One day, when Peter the Great
| was mentioned before her. l said without wit
| but with much truth. that she was worth more
than he Scgur told her the same thing, but with
| far more delicacy. to which she answered: You
are right. NJ lie Comte, in saying that we can
not be compared He gave himself to all the
devils; and, as for me- could not speak for laugh
| ing"
The Prince dc Ligne says that by principle
| whether because she did not want to be led away
| In conversation. or because she wished 10 avoid
being bored the Empress never allowed anyone
TO speak to her on public affairs "An things
| had to go through her ministers who were only
the canals Of her ocean Of wisdom: her own head
was her cabinet Catherine was never so great
as under some reverse. She would have given
her whole wealth, the last inch of her vast do
minions. and life itself, sooner than do. | will
not say mcanness, but any action that was
not honorable. In her could be seen and noted
all the points Of difference between exalted and
| exaggerated sentiment" Our author goes on 10
say that, when found myself Obliged by her
great kindness 10 spend my days from O'Clock
to 10 in her private society with Ave OF six other
persons, brought her TO trial in my own mind
and Judged her living the Kings Of Egypt
in ancient times were tried and judged at theil
deaths, in order 10 feel wholly at my ease. NJ
de la Rulhieres, in his history of Anarchy in
Poland has collected all sorts Of lies and false
tales Of every kind. Before speaking Of the death
Of Peter III GATHERINGS husband. who was
did. the old servants at Oranienbaum, where
the Emperor murdered. Nothing could
better prove the total ignorance OF tho great Cath
crime about d death she never ordered than tn,
perfect liberty those old servants OF the Emperor
had 10 tell what happened. Apparently, she
is ignorant that the crime was imputed to her
! learned incidentally from those who did no
like her that she was seized with an involuntary
convulsion when she heard OF the death at the
house Of Comic Panin where sho happened &c
be with the Grand Chamberlain SchuvaloG. Prob
ably the fear Of being thought accomplic,
produced that effect She did not dethrone he
husband until she knew positively that. on tn,
following day. he would incarcerate her in
convent for the sole crime Of being loved by thu
Empire much as he was detested by it," Anothe
indication OF GATHERINGS innocence is cited, Jest
ing with us one day when the Grand EQuerr!
Narischkin pretended to be the Grand Turk
Let us strangle him. she said, Would she eve
have uttered that word II she had stained her hand
with a death OF that kiGd? To this first accuse
ton, her detIactors have added crime upon crime
The poisoning Of Ivan, that of the first Gram
1 Duchess. and, lastly, Of Potemkin. Tho lie