Nations lately become Literary. 309 



struction were formed, not only for the children 

 of the nobility, but also for those of inferior rank. 

 For this object the Empress did not content her- 

 self with making ample pecuniary provision, but 

 also caused elementary books, for the instruction 

 of youth in religion and morals, as well as letters, 

 to be composed or translated, and distributed 

 throughout her dominions. It is scarcely neces- 

 sary to add, that the influence of these institutions 

 has been benign and extensive. 



Besides the seminaries of learning already men- 

 tioned, the various sovereigns of Russia, during 

 the last age, and especially Catharine II. formed 

 numerous societies for the promotion of Arts, Ma- 

 nufactures and Agriculture ; established Libraries, 

 not only in Petersburgh, but also in other parts of 

 the empire; made large collections of specimens 

 in the Fine Arts, and endeavoured, by other me- 

 thods, to awaken the attention of an ignorant and 

 barbarous people, to the improvements of civiliza- 

 tion, and the importance of knowledge. 



Perhaps it is not saying too much to pronounce, 

 that notwithstanding the detestable character of 

 Catharine II. considered in a moral view, and 

 notwithstanding the odious despotism which she 

 exercised, no crowned head ever did more, in the 

 same length of time, to raise the character, and 

 promote the general welfare of her subjects. And 

 when it is considered how low she found the 

 greater part of these subjects sunk in ignorance 

 and brutality, at her accession to the throne, it is 

 astonishing that her efforts were attended with so 

 much success. 



When this Empress began her reign, Yittle at- 

 tention had been devoted to Natural Philosophy, 

 or Natural History, in her dominions: but within 

 a few years past, much has been done in these 

 branches of science, by a number of persons, both 



