332 
blish this colony on the territory of the 
nobles, but on that belonging to the 
crown,  Your-journey to Njeshin will, 
I think, stop the disorders much the 
soonest; but I consider the election 
and. instruction of Gluchow asa pate 
tern for others, and’ such as will shew 
you, in the ensuing commission, the 
affairs and wants of your district in 
_ their proper light. I am convinced of 
the necessity of your presence on the 
spot; for no one is better qualified to 
curb the long-rooted confusion, and you 
must intrust the affairs to some one in 
your absence. I should have long since 
formed a decisive resolution according 
to your views, if all Russia together did 
not require and expect a constitution 
which may as much as possible be uni- 
form in all its parts; thus, after having 
provided for the general wants, we shall 
ultimately descend to partieulars. Con- 
cerning the remaining unfortunate cir- 
cumstances and defects in the admini- 
stration of justice, the loss of many or- 
donnances, and ofher wants of your dis- 
trict, I trust that you will draw up the 
most complete reports for the legislative 
commission, in which you will hold an 
important post yourself. If I had not 
already too many engagements for this 
year, [ should come to see you, as you 
wish me to do, and I am aware from 
your letters that such a journey would 
not be a useless one: but I delay it for 
a more opportune time, regretting that 
you are not with us. I left Twer yes- 
terday, and write the present on board 
a galley, forty wersts from.that city. 
Ly diy Be _. CATHERINE. 
Count Peter Alexandrowitch,—If the 
funds for the monument are not yet col- 
Unpublished Letters of Catherine II. 
[Nov. 1, 
lected, be so good as to delay doing it, 
for such expenses, to the people are use- 
less; but you will thank them: for their 
good intention, Jt is quite true what 
you write, about Skoropadsky he, be- 
haves. here like a,wolf,, and. does, not 
cheose to know any of our. peoples. The 
Liyonians, from whom we expected an 
example of civilization .and. politeness, 
have not answered. to.our expectations. 
At first. they requested that their, laws 
should be read seriatim. with ours, ac- 
cording to, their import; but when;the 
reading of them was; commenced, .and 
the deputies began.to speak about, their 
laws and ordonnances,, they accused the 
deputies, and, indeed, the; whole,.com- 
mission, of assuming a right which they 
had not; in short, I expected that-they 
would accuse the commission, of. trea- 
son.. When they at last saw that-many 
were offended at their conduct, all the 
Livonians in a body, put their opinions 
in writing, and presented: them. tothe 
commission, stating that. they neither 
wanted nor desired amendments or im- 
provements to be made in their. laws. 
Upon this, one of our people laid be- 
fore the commission . extracts, from 
twelve or more Livonian petitions from 
towns as well as from the nobility, in 
which, at. different periods, since, the 
conquest in 1710; they request,. ina 
body, that their laws might be;amended, 
as they were very imperfect, and in some 
cases very oppressive to them. It was 
now demanded of them,.whether,.the 
petitions or the opinions. delivered,.by 
them should be believed... In. this man. 
ner terminated the sessions of the.com- 
mission at Moscow, but now they.read 
here criminal laws. . Thus we are yet 
ignorant how the Livonians; will, extri- 
cate themselves from their contradictions. 
You will soon see the use J\shall. jnake 
of your different reports; and. if there.is 
any one about you whom. you. think 
deserving of a reward, inform.me,of,it, 
and your recommendation shall be. at- 
tended to. I also wish to know your 
opinion respecting the Starodubowskian 
colonelship. fay Aerts MANE 
Enclosed with this I send, you,.the 
supplement of the commission’s,instruc- 
-tions, with a sketch of the whole, of ,its 
labours. -CATHERINE., | 
16th of April 1768.02.) o\miute Nod 
Autograph... 405 aie 
In less than three weeks [,haye, by 
the help of God, been. freed. from.,the 
inoculated small-pox.. ‘The. latest, news 
is, that I have appointed-you, comman- 
der of the second corps of my army, 
. for 
