46 Unpublished Letters of Catherine II. 
had excited in the whole army. But the 
extraordinary soldier, whom he had 
honoured with a seat on his right hand, 
was borne in triumph, by the officers, out 
of the tent, and shewn to the assembled 
multitude of soldiers and people, who 
received him with rapturous applause. 
I could swell the number of these 
anecdotes to a much greater extent. I 
could relate, in particular, of a naval 
hero, who, like a second Regulus, ad- 
vised his countrymen to resist, although 
death was to be the reward of this obsti- 
nacy. But I fear that any farther nar- 
rative would only weaken the impress- 
ion of the above account, which, con- 
sidering it in all its bearings, has per-. 
haps no parallel in history. Y.Z 
—<_>_—— 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
UnevsiisHep Lerrers of the Empress 
Catuerine II. between the Years 
1763 and 1768. 
(Continued from No. 402, page 335. ) 
ETTER eighteenth is a recom- 
mendation of Quarter-Master- 
General Baur to the Count; in which 
the Empress tells him, that the French 
did every thing in their power to draw 
him into their service; but that he pre- 
ferred that of Russia. She also intro- 
duces to the General’s notice a Baron 
Stein, who, she says, is going to join 
the army as a volunteer. 
XIX. Autograph. 
Allow me to ask you candidly, whe- 
ther you still hope to take Ibrail (Brai- 
low), and whether you consider the 
possession of this post important for 
the occupation of Moldavia during the 
next summer? Task you this, because 
T see from your letters that Lieutenant- 
General Stofeln has been moving about 
for nearly a month, and there is still no 
appearance of storming the post, let 
me therefore know, in a confidential 
manner, how matters stand. 
18th July 1770. CATHERINE. 
XX. Autograph. 
I send you hereby a portable tele- 
scope, the best and most convenient I 
ever saw. By the accounts received 
from Constantinople yesterday, I learn 
that the lower orders there have ill- 
used the French Ambassador, as they 
did the Austrian last year. Our first 
squadron is safely arrived at Port-Ma- 
hon (Minorca), and the second in Eng- 
land. The Sultan has issued an order 
to kill all the Moldavians and Walla- 
chians under the age of seven, and to 
lead all those under that age, together - 
with all females, into captivity. This, 
impolitic order will compel those to 
[ Feb. 1,- 
fight for us, who did not do so before.’ 
They say that throughout the Levant 
all is ready to cast off the abominable 
yoke. I think that the confusion among 
the Turks may be increased, if you 
could spread a report among them, 
that their mad-brained Sultan refuses 
peace, although he might obtain it ; for 
they well know that Russia never’ 
wished for war, although she always 
defends herself vigorously, as they find 
from experience,—a circumstance which 
might bring ‘about the downfall of the 
Turkish empire. I wish you health, 
and remain. &c. CaTHERINE. 
P.S. There is no preparation what- 
ever making in Constantinople for the 
ensuing campaign, but every thing is 
there in confusion and consternation. 
G4th Feb. 1770. 
XXI. Autograph. 
I beg you to inform me, whether the 
Moldavian and Wallachian revenue 
might be made available for the extra- 
ordinary expenditure of the state. For 
they say that the Turks drew above 
three millions from these principalities ; 
and although I well know that there 
cannot be as much now, I yet think ' 
that if it were but one million, it would 
relieve Prince Wjasemsskoi of some of 
his cares. CATHERINE. 
(Upon this letter the Count replied, 
that owing to the distress of the inha- 
bitants of the principality, he had re- 
mitted to them the capitation tax, for 
which they were to furnish provisions 
for the troops and horses ; and all the 
remaining taxes were paid to the divan, 
which was then composed of Boyars 
and Russian officers. | 
XXII. Autograph. 
I have received your letters of the 
fourth and fourteenth of this month; 
and reply to the first. I recognize the 
utility of your enterprize upon Brail, as 
it will tend to mask your plan upon 
Bender, and to prevent the enemy from 
strengthening himself in Moldavia and 
Wallachia. It is a pity that you did 
not succeed in taking the castle, which 
makes the result of the enterprize im- 
perfect ; but as you have taken Shursha, 
I donot doubt that this will afford you 
means for weakening the enemy still 
more. The castle of Brail can no longer 
be important, since it is, as it were, 
surrounded by our troops. Iam most 
concerned about the difficulty of form- 
ing magazines in the conquered coun- 
tries; do, for God’s sake, strain every 
nerve to obviate every want! It seems 
that there may be still some corn left 
in. 
> —— 
