160 Nations lately become Liter an). [Cii. XXVL 



of normal Schools, by Catharine, in every pro- 

 vince in her empire. This estabhshment com- 

 menced about the year 1780, when places of in- 

 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 

 throuG:hout her dominions. It is scarcely neces- 

 sary to add, that the influence of these institutions 

 has been benign and extensive. 



Beside the seminaries of learning already men- 

 tioned, the various sovereisrns of Russia durinij 

 the last age, and especially Catharine II, formed 

 numerous societies for the promotion of Jrts, Ma- 

 nufactures, and Agriculture i established Libraries, 

 not only in Petersburg, but also in other parts of 

 the empire; made large collections of specimens 

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

 thods, to awaken the attention of an ignorant and 

 barbarous people to the improvements of civilisa- 

 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 

 notwithstandnig 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 



