Catharine II has been equally censured and praised. With all the weakness of her sex, and with a love of pleasure carried to licentious ness, she combined the firmness and talent of a powerful sovereign. Two passions were pre dominant with her until her death, love and ambition. She was never without her favorite. yet she never lost sight of her dignity. She was distinguished for activity, working with her ministers, writing letters to Voltaire and Diderot, and signing an order to attack the Turks, or to occupy Poland, in the same breath. She favored distinguished authors, and was particularly partial to the French. At Paris she had a literary agent (Baron Grimm). She several times invited Voltaire to her court, pro posed to D'Alembert to .finish the pmdia' at Saint Petersburg, and to undertake the education of the Grand Duke. Diderot visited her at her request, and she often allowed him the privilege of familiar conversation with her. By these means she gained the favor of the literati of Europe, who called her the greatest of rulers; and, in fact, she was not without claims to this title. She protected commerce, improved the laws, dug canals, founded towns, hospitals and colleges. Pallas and others trav
eled at her expense. She endeavored to put a stop to the abuses which had crept into the administration of the different departments of government; but she began without being able to finish. Civilization advanced but slowly in Russia under her reign; and her anxiety to enlighten her subjects ceased when she began to entertain the idea that the French Revolution had been brought about by the progress of civilization. Laws, colonies, schools, manufac tures, hospitals, canals, towns, fortifications, everything was commenced, but frequently left unfinished for want of means. Consult Bil basoff,