Sect. I.] Russia. 159 



the growth of literature and science in every part 

 of her dominions in which they had been planted. 

 But there were two events in the reign of Catha- 

 rine which deserve to be particularly recorded, 

 and which must be supposed to have had a con- 

 siderable influence in promoting the diffusion of 

 knowledge among her subjects. 



The first is, the order issued, in the year 

 1768, by the empress, for translathig a number 

 of standard zvorks, in various languages, into the 

 Russian, thereby at once improving the national 

 tongue, and extending a knowledge of some of 

 the best publications of taste and science through- 

 out her empire. For defraying the expense of 

 this undertaking she granted an annual sum, and 

 engaged in the work some of her most learned 

 subjects, by whose labours many of the Greek 

 and Latin classics have been presented in a re- 

 spectable Russian dress * ; and a nun^ber of the 

 most valuable works in the English, French, and 

 German languages, given to the inhabitants of 

 that country in their own dialect. A considerable 

 portion of these translators were natives of Russia, 

 but the greater number were learned foreigners. 



The other event referred to is the establishment 



* Among the numerous versions made in consequence of 

 this imperial order, the following are worthy of particular no- 

 tice. The works of Plato, translated by Siderofsky and Pak- 

 homof; the works o( Hesiod by Fr\'antynofsky ; Homer-'s Iliad 

 by Yekimof ; the Mneis and Gcorgics of Virgil by Yekimof, and 

 also by Petrof ; the Metamorphoses of Ovid by Kofitzky ; and the 

 Odes of Horace by Popofsky. To attempt an enumeration of the 

 English, French, and German classical works which have been 

 naturalised in Russia, would exceed the reasonable limits of a 

 note. 



