1824.] 
ting them to paper in the ordinary way. 
Nor am 1 so young in the:art of travel- 
ling,’as to comment on the proceedings 
of a déspotic governnient, and then trast 
my observations to its post. Probably 
I might have learnt this useful’ lesson as 
Mis , DD » i. I 
soon as, Captain.C. himself, being some 
years his senior, and having, I conceive, 
had almost as much experience., 
In justice,to Captain C., 1) cannot 
conclude: without» expressing: my. grate: 
ful obligations: to: him» for’ the! informa- 
tion ‘and. useful’ introductions she: was 
kind enough to fivour me'with. 
Hy Ofd Ss J remain, &e. 
yii6 1 ser 
James Houtman, 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
UNPUBLISHED, LETTERS of the EMPRESS 
CATHERINE I. between the YEARS 1763 
and.1768, 
(Continued from page 315.) 
OUNT. Peter) Alexandrowitch,—I 
have received your report of, the 
27th August... The descriptions. which 
you give me’of the former constitution 
of Little Russia, clearly prove the neces- 
sity of altering it; and I hope that the 
management: of the’ present will, under 
your direction, place that government 
3. better! condition. than .that which 
arose from the improvident donation of 
towns yand: villages, which had no legiti- 
mate owners ; and,as; you have already 
reported:to’ the senate, on this subject, 
you shall\-be informed of my. decision 
Tespecting it. oon 4 
i Concerning, the, foundation. of new 
towns; dnd; the: ‘employing. of. all. the 
officers,under-your command in the go- 
vernment.of New, Russia, who might be 
engaged -in |the construction of plans 
aridemiaps,: I, expect to, see Lieutenant- 
General Brant, who-has, been. ordered 
here: for«the, purpose of drawing up 
yar Newsconstitution,.for that govern- 
mient}/and I wish that. you would, on his 
passing through: it, explain yourself to 
/him,:soas:to-put him in possession of 
‘every: requisite knowledge on) the. sub- 
ject: previous to his coming here. . I 
approve of, the application of all. the 
ash you-can obtain to the building of 
-Gluchow, since, at all events, they must 
have beenconsidered as lost; but respect- 
»ing-yourideasas to the uselessness of that 
. tewn,, which sare to ‘be referred: tethe 
consideration of the chancery. of. the 
government ‘of, Kew, I shall, have a 
“eonversation with you,on your coming ” 
ohere:next, winter... Concerning the regi- 
-ments which,,are to be, maintained .at 
‘thesexpense of Little Russia, I have 
ret) 
Unpublished Letters of Catherine II. 
331 
given orders according to your report; 
and I, expect, touching the excise, a 
memorial: from, ‘the ;¢chamben ‘of - com- 
merce! tomy former wkase, which shall 
be taken; into considerations together. 
with your report. Respecting! your: first 
and second reports concerning thes Sa- 
porogians and. ‘Turkish: frontiers, ; I;ican, 
only «tell. you that. these) matters are 
now. in consideration here, and the:eon- 
ferences with the: hetman-continue.; but, 
the matter: willbe! againcudiscusséd with 
youson your comingshere! jAs) to, your 
attempts in the imstruction-of the:youth 
of, your goyernment I.wish»yeu success. 
22d Septembers,1 7653. CATHERINE. 
Count Peter Alexandrowiteh,—I have 
received your: two letters of the, 18th of 
April on the 22d ;;\bun the preparations 
for my departure; from/-Moscow,-have 
prevented my replying to:them:till:this 
day. I see. from; them» that’ theowell- 
known manifesto: of the.14th) December 
1766, has experienced someé,-opposition 
at your place. But I consider it as,.of 
little importance, being only the; charac- 
teristics of former times; which will,:un- 
doubtedly, vanish ; as;neither yow nor 
I will allow them: to prevailh:whetever 
they do not. correspond>with: the:.com- 
mon good,-as indeed: they donot )de- 
serve to do; but it’ is) expected; that 
like all ether: good subjects, «those jof 
your government,will obey mys orders ; 
on which account T-approve: of the tone 
of authority which» you were-obliged!.to 
assume. The trouble) which: you take 
to regulate the’ elections, and.,to> free 
the instructions from the -whims.of the 
minority, is necessarily connected: with 
all great deeds of which. glory.is the 
result. As to these matters, however, I 
only wish to observe, = that, -although 
-some circles, like that ef: Sarodub: for 
instance, haye introduced into théir in- 
-Structions: requests» foreign: to the! sub- 
ject, their deputies will feel! ashamed to 
insist in the assembly: om matters which 
wills be laughed’ at: by the majority of 
deputies, especially’ when, with, )an; in- 
»structiom filled: with: nonsense, another 
of a moderate turn, like that of Tcher- 
negow, be read. am-well )pleased with 
the conduct.ef the: Saporog: Ssetcha.* 
Your annulling of the: election, for .No- 
“wogorod-Ssjewerka, © as’ having: been 
contrary to my ordonnance ; and. your 
; We DTS |. VIE ' soo4lemand 
4 Ssetcha, a town inhabited by Cossacs ; 
in. this sense, however, it means the assem- 
_ bly of all-the, deputies of the Cossacs.. These 
are, called. Saparog, Cossacs, because, they 
live beyond the falls of the Dnieper. 
2U 2 
