CAT 



6.33 



CAT 



tubular, monopetalous, and twice the length of the 

 calyx. T(u- iil.im-nts are numerous, twice the length 

 of the corolla ; anthers roundish ; gerrnen oval, sup- 

 porting a slender style of the same length with the 

 stamens, and terminated by a simple stigma. 



Fruit lanceolate, compressed, pod smooth, brown, 

 margin thin. It contains six roundish flattened 

 eeds. 



The following is the mode of preparation, as nar- 

 rated by Mr Kcrr, who was formerly assistant sur- 

 geon to the civil hospital at Bengal. 



' After felling the trees," says this gentleman, 

 " the manufacturer carefully cuts off all the exterior 

 white part of the wood. The interior coloured part 

 is cut into chips, with which he fills a narrow-mouth- 

 ed unglazed pot, pouring water upon them until he 

 lees it among the upper chips : when this is half eva- 

 porated by boiling, the decoction, without straining, 

 is poured into a flat earthen pot, and boiled to one- 

 third part : this is set in a place to cool for one day, 

 and afterwards evaporated by the heat of the sun, 

 stirring it several times : when it is reduced to a con- 

 siderable thickness, it is spread upon a mat or cloth, 

 which has previously been covered with the ashes of 

 cow dung ; this mass is divided into square or qua- 

 drangular pieces by a string, and completely dried, by 

 turning them in the sun until they are fit for sale. 



Catechu is imported into this country in bags, and 

 occasionally in small chests that contain 3 or 4- cwt. 

 each. Both varieties are mixed up together in the 

 same package. 



Catechu is used in India in some processes of dye- 

 ing. It is a chief ingredient in the betel composi- 

 tion, which is so generally chewed by the natives of 

 the East. The Indians also use it as an ingredient of 

 an ointment, in high repute for curing sores. 



In Europe, it is chiefly employed for medicinal 



Eurposes. Its astringency renders it peculiarly va- 

 jable in some cases of dysentery and diarrhoea, when 

 astringents are indicated. From the quantity of 

 tannin which it contains, it may become a very valu- 

 able article in the preparation of leather. 



See Medical Observations, vol. v. Phil. Trans. 

 for 1803. Aikin's Chemical Dictionary. Thomson's 

 System of Chemistry. Willdenow, edition of Lin- 

 nceus Species Planlnrum. (c. M. ) 



CATENARIAN CURVE. See BRIDGE, p. 490. 



CATERPILLAR. See GARDENING. 



CATESBEA, a genus of plants of the class Te- 

 trandria, and order Monogynia. See BOTANY, page 

 121. 



CATHARINE II. Empress of Russia, was born 

 at Stettin May 1, 1729. She was the daughter of 

 Christian Augustus, prince of Anhalt-Zerbst-Dorn- 

 burg, and of the princess of Holstein ; and was ori- 

 ginally denominated Sophia Augusta Fredenca. 

 Under the judicious and prudent tuition of her mo- 

 ther, who was distinguished for her talents and beau- 

 ty, she displayed at an early age a taste for learning, 

 and devoted much of her time to literary and philo- 

 sophical studies. In 1744, she visited, with her mo- 

 ther, the court of Petersburgh, and received from 

 the Empress Elizabeth the most flattering marks of 

 regard and esteem. This princess had been betrothed, 

 and affectionately attached to her uncle the prince of 

 Holstein-Eutin, whose premature death alone had 



VOL, V. PART II. 



prevented the accomplishment of the marriage ; auu 

 the appearance of Sophia awakened iu her the ten* " 

 dcr remembrance of her loss. The affection winch "^ "V^ 1 ^ 

 she cherished for her betrothed husband, she now ex- 

 pressed towards his niece ; and scarcely was Sophia 

 settled in the court of Elizabeth, than the plan was 

 formed of uniting her in marriage with the Grand 

 Duke Peter, and of thus raising her to that throne 

 which had been intended for her uncle, but which 

 death had prevented him from ascending. 



In the prospect of her exaltation, Sophia formally 

 renounced the doctrines of Lutheranism, in which she 

 had been educated, and embraced the religion of the 

 Greek church, when, at the same time, she assumed 

 the name of Catharine Alexievna. On their first in- 

 troduction, the young pair were pleased with each 

 other. They were both handsome, and a mutual at- 

 tachment seemed to be formed, which promised the 

 happiest consequences. But an unexpected circum- 

 stance occurred, which not only retarded for a while 

 their union, but which completely alienated the af- 

 fections of the princess. The Grand Duke was seized 

 with the small-pox, which, being of a very malignant 

 nature, so disfigured his countenance, that Catharine 

 could not behold him without disgust. Ambition, 

 however, was a stronger passion in her heart than 

 love. She had sufficient art to conceal her dislike ; 

 and submitted, with apparent chearfulness, to the nup- 

 tial ceremony. Her mother and the empress were 

 both delighted with the alliance. But the abilities 

 and accomplishments of Catharine very ill accorded 

 with the weakness of her husband. She soon began 

 to perceive that her hand had been given to one upon 

 whom she could place neither her affections nor 

 esteem. His follies and vices were to her a daily 

 cause of shame and regret ; and she often blushed at be- 

 holding him so unworthy of her. Peter, on the other 

 hand, blushed at the superiority of his wife. He 

 felt constrained in her presence. Her company wa 

 forsaken ; and his days and nights were generally spent 

 in the midst of his dissolute companions. Mutual dis- 

 gust and jealousy was the consequence, which both 

 parties took so little trouble to conceal, that it soon be- 

 came apparent to the whole court. But Catharine con- 

 soled herself with the hope of a crown ; and while 

 the grand duke was indulging in drinking and ga- 

 ming, she was busily employed in acquiring partisans 

 among the nobles, and in laying the foundation of 

 her future power. 



Pleasure, however, was not forgotten, though it 

 never was allowed to interfere with her plans of am- 

 bition. She revelled in all the wantonness of an un- 

 principled and debauched court. Her amours with 

 Soltikof, the prince's chamberlain, were notorious, 

 and her partiality was so unguardedly expressed, 

 that Peter alone was blind to his shame. Such, in- 

 deed, was his indifference, that he vindicated before 

 the empress the innocence of Soltikof. Catharine 

 had the address to profit by his folly, and pleaded 

 also the cause of her paramour and of her own ho- 

 nour with such eloquence, that Elizabeth was led to 

 discredit the various reports which were circulated 

 against her, and to receive her again into favour. 

 Emboldened by success, Catharine renewed her cor- 

 respondence with the chamberlain, which continued 

 without interruption until his removal to Hamburgh 

 4L 



