invidious thing to pry, with too 
much curiosity, into the frailties 
of such a character. The severest 
critic bas not been able to charge 
her with any thing unnatural, or, in 
her predicament and situation, not 
easily to be forgiven. As to the ob- 
scure event that led her to the throne, 
if this had not taken place, an event 
of another kind must have led her 
first tojmprisonment, and then, most 
assuredly, to death. 
The last of her grand designs 
was to curb the power and inso- 
lence of the Frerch republic. It 
was the policy of the empress, who 
detested the French republic, with- 
out loving the Austrians, to let both 
parties exhaust themselves: deter- 
mined, however, whatever might 
be the fate of their arms, to pre- 
vent either from acquiring an un- 
controlled sway in Germany. Or- 
ders were issued for a levy of a 
hundred and fifty thousand troops, 
destined to act, in some shape or 
order, for the relief of the em- 
peror of Germany. It has been 
questioned, whether it would not 
have been wiser policy, in her Im- 
perial majesty, to have moved for 
the assistance of the confederates 
sooner? She, perhaps, entertained 
a persuasion, that the allies would 
stand firm together, and make a 
more successful opposition to the 
republic. She was, no doubt, well 
enough pleased to see almost all the 
other powers of Europe weaken 
themselves by war; whilst, at the 
same time, it must have been her 
intention, as has since appeared, to 
interfere, more and more, in the 
general conflict, in proportion as 
the party she detested gained ground 
on a sovereign prince ; wuo, though 
a neighbour, and sncient enemy, 
yet possessed a hereditary throne, 
3 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1796. 
and had ceased to be a formidable 
rival, It isto be considered, far- 
ther, that had she moved sooner, 
the Turks, on the other side, insti- 
gated by French intrigues, might 
have moved also. The Czarina 
waited, too, until she should secure 
peace, on the most formidable frone 
tier, by a marriage between her 
grand daughter and the young king 
of Sweden; an object which she 
had much at heart, though it was 
found impossible to accomplish it. 
Catherine II. has left a name that 
will ever be memorable, and re- 
membered by future generations, to 
whom the benefits of her institu- 
tions will extend, with grateful ad- 
miration. Yet, it was the love of 
glory that was her predominant 
passion ; and the humane will re- 
gret that she pursued this through 
seus of blood : so that she will take 
her station in the temple of fame, 
among the great, not the good 
princes; and in this speculative 
age, add to the odium of absolute 
monarchy, by displaying the miseries 
that flow from unbounded power, 
united with unbounded ambition. 
This year also, general Washing- 
ton, the greatest of cotemporary 
men, as Catharine was of cotem- 
porary sovereigns, resigned the pre- 
sidency of the United States. These 
illustrious characters were both re- 
spectively at the head of the two 
latest, greatest, and most rising em- 
pires in the world; both nearly of 
thesame age; both of equal cele- 
brity; though not of true glory: 
pure and disinterested patriotism be 
ing the ruling principle in the mind 
of Washington ; the patriotism of 
Catharine only secondary to her 
ambition, and subservient to the 
love of fame. General Washington 
having rescued his country from the 
oppression 
