lity proposed to withdraw the country from the fupremacy of Poland, and to put it under that of Ruffia. The principle members of the grand council made a faint oppofition to this alteration, by obferving, that, before they proceeded to a refoJution, it would be expedient to wait the return of the duke. The Oberburgraff Hoven rofe up, and fpoke a long time in favour of Ruffa Some counfellors expreffed themfelves of his opinion, and others reproached them with treafon. The difpute grew warm on both fides; challenges were reciprocally given, and fwords were about to be drawn, when the Ruffian general, Paklen, appeared in the affembly. His prefence restored tranquillity. No one prefumed to raife his voice against Ruffia; and the propofal of the, nobles was adopted. The next day the act was drawn up, by which Courland, Semigallia, and the circle of Pilten, made a formal furrender of themselves to the emprefs of Ruf fia; and it was carried to Peterburgh, where the duke of Courland learnt, from the mouth of his own fubjects, that they themselves had deprived him of his dominions. The emprefs immediately fent a governor thither.

However fome difcontent remained in Courland: difcontent brought on profcription; and the poffeffions of the profcribed were given to the courtiers of Catharine. The favourite, Plato Zuboff, and his brother, Valerian, obtained a great part of thofe rich and fhameful fpoils.

The acquifition of Courland to Ruffia was of great importance. It produces much corn, as well as timber: in both of which articles it carries on a great commerce; and it has feveral ports advantageously

fituated on the Baltic, among which are Libau and Vindau: the first a flourishing and commercial city; the fecond, likely to become one day the ftation of the Ruffian fleets. The port of Vindau, which is never ob ftructed by ice, by a little improve ment, might be rendered capable of containing a hundred thips of the line.

At the fame time that the quietly ufurped the fovereignty of Cour land, the fent out her arms against Perfia. Under pretence of defending Lof-Ali-Khan, of the race of the Sophis, the aimed at the poffeflion of the Perfian provinces, which border on the Cafpian. Va lerian Zuboff, at the head of a numerous army, penetrated into the province of Dagheftan, and advanced to lay fiege to Derbent. His firft attack was directed against a high tower, which defended the place; and, after having made himself mafter of it, and put the whole garrifon to the fword, he was preparing to make an assault upon the town. The Perfians, intimidated by former fuccefles, and the impetuofity of the Ruffians, cried out for quarter; and the commandant, a venerable old man, of the amazing age of one hundred and twenty years, and the fame who, at the commencement of the prefent century, had furrendered Debent to Peter I. came now to deliver the keys to Valerian Zuboff.

Aga Mahmed was advancing with fuccours to the relief of Derbent, when he heard that the place was already in the hands of the Ruffians. Valerian Zuboff came forth from the place to offer him battle, in which victory declared for the Perfians, who forced their enemies to return into Derbent. Catharine,

To this object the

Catharine, being informed of this, fuccefsfal: in all, her regulations, immediately gave orders for a body for the internal government of her of troops, which he had in the Ku-, mighty empire, there appeared that ban, to go and reinforce the army benevolence, which, for the honour of Valerian Zuboff, not doubting of human nature, is ufually found that her general would very foon in conjunction with fublimity of give a total defeat to Aga Mah- genius. She wifhed, foon after her med. She also flattered herself with acceflion to the throne, to introthe hopes of obtaining a greater tri- duce civil liberty among the great umph. The new treaty, which the mafs of the people, by the emanhad juft concluded with Great Bri- cipation of the peafantry.. It was tain, and with Austria, secured to her found impracticable to emancipate the affiftance of those two powers their bodies without enlightening against Turkey. In a word, he their minds. now reckoned on the full accomplishment of her darling project, of driving the Ottomans out of Europe, and of reigning in Conftantinople. But the faddenly finished, by an eafy death, the career of a fplendid life, in the fixty-feventh year of her age, and thirty-fixth of her reign. She died at Petersburgh, of an apoplexy, on the tenth of November; on which her fon, the great duke, Paul Petrowitz, was proclaimed emperor.

Catharine was the moft illuftrious fovereign, after the exit of Frederick the great, king of Pruffia, on the theatre of Europe, for comprehenfion of mind, lofty ambition, courage, and perfeverance in her defigns, and the general influence of her policy and arms, in the affairs of Europe. Her ambition was, not directed merely to the fecurity and extenfion of the empire, but to the civilization and welfare of fubject tribes and nations, by the introduction, of arts, liberal and mechanical, and the improvement of manufactures and commerce: and all this, by means more gentle and gradual than many of thofe employed by Peter the great; and, confequently, more cffeaual. In all her wars fhe was

bent the powers of her inventive, though prudent, genius. Schools were infiituted in all parts of her dominions, and a way was opened for the loweft of her fubjects to liberty, by certain privileges, within the fcope of indaftry and merit The code of laws, drawn up by her own haird, was never exceeded in point, either of fagacity or goodnefs: for, we are always to bear in mind, that even Solon found it expedient not to dictate the best laws, but the belt that the people, for whom he dictated, were capable of bearing. Her military plans pare took of the ftrength of fimplicity. She did not feed the flame of war to no purpofe, by throwing in, as it were, faggot after faggot, nor, wafle time in tedious detours, but, with a mighty and irrefiftible-concentrated force, proceeded directly to her object.

She had not the

art of appearing affable, generous, and magnanimous, but the merit of really being fo. She was not only a patronefs, but a great proficient, in literature; and, had not her life been spent in great actions, it would, probably, have been employed, though with fomewhat lefs glory, in celebrating the illuftrious atchievements of others. It is an

invidious

invidious thing to pry, with too and had ceafed to be a formidable much curiofity, into the frailties rival. It is to be confidered, farof Tuch a chara&er. The fevereft critic has not been able to charge her with anything unnatural, or, in her predicament, and fituation, not eafily to be forgiven. As to the obfcure event that led her to the throne, if this had not taken place, an event of another kind muft have led her firft to imprisonment, and then, moft affuredly, to death.

The laft of her grand defigns was, to curb the power and infolence of the French republic. It was the policy of the emprefs, who detefted the French republic, with out loving the Auftrians, to let both parties exhauft themfelves: determined, however, whatever might be the fate of their arms, to prevent either from acquiring an uncontrolled fway in Germany. Orders were iffued for a levy of a hundred and fifty thoufand troops, deftined to act, in fome fhape or other, for the relief of the emperor of Germany. It has been queftioned, whether it would not have been wifer policy, in her Imperial majefty, to have moved for the affiftance of the confederates fooner? She, perhaps, entertained a perfuafion, that the allies would ftand firm together, and make a more fuccefstul oppofition to the republic. She was, no doubt, well enough pleafed to fee almost all the other powers of Europe weaken themfelves by war; whilft, at the fame time, it must have been her intention, as has fince appeared, to interfere, more and more, in the general conflict, in proportion as the party the detefted gained ground on a fovereign prince; who, though a neighbour, and ancient enemy, yet poffeffed a hereditary throne,

10

ther, that had the moved fooner, the Turks, on the other fide, inftigated by French intrigues, might have moved alfo. The Czarina waited, too, until the thould fecure peace, on the most formidable frontiet, by a marriage between her grand daughter and the young king of Sweden; an object which the had much at heart, though it was found impoffible to accomplish it.

Catharine II. has left a name that will ever be memorable, and remembered by future generations, to whom the benefits of her inftitu tions will extend, with grateful admiration. Yet, it was the love of glory that was her predominant paffion; and the humane will regret that the purfued this through feas of blood: fo that the will take her ftation in the temple of fame, among the great, not the good princes; and, in this fpeculative age, add to the odium of abfolute monarchy, by difplaying the miferies that flow from unbounded power, united with unbounded ambition.

This year alfo, general Wathington, the greatest of cotemporary men, as Catharine was of cotemporary fovereigns, refigned the prefidency of the United States. Thefe illuftrious characters were both refpectively at the head of the two latest, greateft, and moft rifing empires in the world; both nearly of the fame age; both of equal celebrity; though not of true glory: pure and difinterefied patriotifm being the ruling principle in the mind of Wafhington; the patriotifm of Catharine only fecondary to her ambition, and fubfervient to the love of fante. General Washington having refcued his country from the

oppreffion

oppreffion of the English government, and restored it, by a commercial treaty, in fpite of France, and almolt in fpite of itfelf, to an amicable connection with the English nation, voluntarily retired from power, after giving the most profound instruction and advice respecting union, virtue, liberty, and happinels: between all of which there was a clofe connection, with the

moft ardent prayers for the profperity and peace of America. There is nothing in profane hiftory to which his parting addrefs to the ftates can be compared. In our facred Scrip tures alone we find a parallel in that recapitulation of divine inftructions and commands which the legislator of the Jews made in the hearing of Ifrael, when they were about to pass the Jordan.*

It

In his addrefs to congrefs, on the feventh of December, 1796, having given an account of the @tuation of the United States, in relation to foreign powers, and strongly recommended the creation of a navy, he directs the attention of congrefs to the encouragement of manufactures, agriculture, a national university, and also a military academ. His fentiments, on thefe fubjects, are thofe of an enlightened and philofophical itatefman.

"I have heretofore propofed to the confideration of congrefs, the expediency of eftablishing a national university, and alfo a military academy. The desirableness of both thefe inftitutions has fo conftantly increased with every new view I have taken of the fabject, that I cannot omit the opportunity of, once for all, recalling your attentioa to them.

"The affembly to which I addrefs myfelf, is too enlightened not to be fully fenfible how much a flourishing ftate of the artsand fciences contributes to national prosperity and reputation. True it is, that our country, much to its honour, contains many fe minaries of learning, highly respectable and useful; but, the funds, upon which they reft, are too narrow to command the ableit profeffors in the different departments of liberal knowledge, for the inftitution contemplated, though they would be excellent auxiliaries.

"Among the motives to fuch an institution, the affimilation of the principles, opinions, and manners of our countrymen, by the common education of a portion of our youth, from every quarter, well deferves attention. The more homogeneous our citizens can be made, in thefe particulars, the greater will be our profpect of a permanent union; and a primary object of all fuch a national inftitution, fhould be the education of our youth in the fcience of government. In a republic, what fpecies of knowledge can be equally important? and what duty more preffing on its legiflature, than to patronize a plan for communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?

The inftitution of a military academy, is alfo recommended by cogent reafons. However pacific meafures may contribute to the general policy of a nation may be, it ought never to be without an adequate ftock of military knowledge, on emergencies. That first would impair the energy of its character, and both would hazard its fatety or expofe it to greater evils when war could not be avoided: befides, that war might not often depend upon its own choice.

"In proportion as the obfervance of pacific maxims might exempt a nation from the neceffity of practifing the rules of the military art, thefe ought to be its care in preferving, and tranfinitting, by proper establishments, the knowledge of that art. Whatever argument may be drawn from particular examples, fuperficially viewed, a thorough examination of the fubject will evince, that the art demands much previous ftudy, and that the poffetion of it, in its moft improved and perfect state, is always of great moment to the fecurity of a nation. This, therefore, ought to be a ferious care of every government; and, for this purpofe, an academy, where a regular courfe of infriction is given, is an obvious expedient, which different nations have fuccefsfully employed."

General

It has often happened, nay it the moft brilliant talents and tir has most frequently happened, that tues, in politicians and warriors,

have

General Washington, in September (1796), publifhed a little piece, entitled "A Letter from General Washington, on his Refignation of the Office of Prefident of the United States." This letter, written by the father and faviour of his country to his countrymen, on an occation when his heart was waria, and open, and the tenor and grand object of his life in his full recollection, paints the man in juster and livelier colours than any thing we can record. He begs the people of the United States to be affured, that his refolution to resign the prefidency had not been taken without a ftrit regard appertaining to the relations which bind a dutiful citizen to his country; and that, in withdrawing the tender of fervice, which filence, in his fituation, might imply, he was influenced by no diminution of zeal for their future interefts; no deficiency of gratitude for their past kindness; but was fupported by a full conviction, that the Rep was compatible with both. Having mentioned the motives that induced him to accept and continue in the high office, to which their fuffrages had twice called him, and those which had urged him to lay it down, he fays, "In looking forward to the 'moment' which is intended to terminate the career of my public life, my feelings do not permits me to fufpend the deep acknowledgement of that debt of gratitude which Towe to my beloved country, for the many honours it has conferred upon me; ftill more, for the fled. faft confidence with which it has fupported me; and for the opportunities I have then enjoyed, of manifefting my inviolable attachment, by fervices faithful and perfe vering, though in usefulness unequal to my zeal. If benefits have refulted to our country from thefe fervices, let it always be remembered to your praife, and as an inftructive example in our annals, that under circumftances in which the paffions, agitated in every direction, liable to milead; amidit appearances, fom times dubious; viciffitudes of fortune, often difcouraging; in fituations in which not unfrequently, want of fuccefs has countenanced the fpirit of criticism, the conftancy of your fupport was the effential prop of the efforts, and a guarantee of the plans, by which they were effected. Profoundly penetrated with this idea, I fhall carry it with me to the grave, as a ftrong incitement to unceafing vows, that Heaven may continue to you the choiceft tokens of its beneficence; that your union and brotherly affection may be perpetual; that the free conftitution, which is the work of your hands, may be facredly maintained; that its adminiftration, in every department, may be ftamped with wifdom and virtue; that, in fine, the happiness of the people of thefe States, under the aufpicies of liberty, may be made complete by fo careful a prefervation and so prudent a ufe of this bleffing, as will acquire to them the glory of recommending it to the applaufe, the affection, and adoption of every nation which is yet a ftranger to it.

"Here, perhaps, I ought to flop; but folicitude for your welfare, which cannot end but with my life, and the apprehenfion of danger, natural to that folicitude, urge me, on an occafion like the prefent, to offer to your folemn contemplation, and to recommend to your frequent review, fome fentiments, which are the refult of much reflection of no inconfiderable observation, and which appear to me all important to the permanency of your felicity, as a people. Thefe will be offered to you with the more freedom, as you can only fee in them the ditinterested warnings of a parting friends who can poffibly have no perfonal motives to bias his counfel. Nor can I forget, as an i encouragement to it, your indulgent reception of my fentiments on a former, and not diflimilar occation."

He recommends the love of liberty; the unity of government to which they were powerfully invited and urged by every inducement of fympathy and intereft; guards them against the caufes by which this union may be disturbed; all obftructions to the excution of the laws, all combinations and affiociations, under whatever plaufible character, with the real defign to direct, controul, and counteract, or awe regular deliberation and action of the conftituted authorities; the fpirit of party, and all encroachments of one department of government on another. Of all the difpofitions and habits which lead to political profperity, religion and morality are indifpenfible fupports. In vain

would