158 Nations lately become Literary. [Ch. XXVI. 



provision which had been made for its most active 

 members ; added a seminary for the instruction of 

 youth, under the superintendence of the profes- 

 sors ; and did much for the diffusion of liberal 

 knowledge. Both the academy, and the semi- 

 nary connected vv^ith it, flourished for some time 

 under the direction of baron Korf ; but upon his 

 death, towards the latter end of Anne's reign, a 

 person without erudition, wisdom, or enterprise, 

 being appointed president, many of the most able 

 and useful members quitted Russia in disgust. 

 At the accession of the empress Elizabeth, new 

 life and vigour were again restored to this institu- 

 tion; the original plan was still further enlarged and 

 improved; some of the most learned foreigners 

 were again drawn to Petersburg; and, what was 

 considered a very promising omen for the litera- 

 ture of Russia, two natives of the country, Lomo- 

 nozof, before mentioned, and Romofsky, another 

 man of genius and learning, were enrolled among 

 the members of the academy. 



But when Catharine II came to the imperial 

 throne, a new and illustrious era commenced. 

 Her exertions for the encouragement of literature 

 were more spirited and liberal than those of any 

 of her predecessors, excepting Peter, and more 

 extended and successful than even his. She fos- 

 tered the academy with the utmost zeal; provided 

 additional funds for its more ample support ; pre- 

 vailed on a number of learned foreigners to accept 

 of professorships in the academy, and other places 

 of honour and profit at her court; caused the 

 geography and natural history of her empire to 

 be carefully explored ; and gave a new spring to 



