Sect. I.] Russia, 161 



is astonishing tliat her efforts were attended with 

 so much success. 



When this empress began her reign, little 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 

 natives and foreigners. Among the former, Lepe- 

 chin, Guldenst;edt, Ozeretzkofsky, Solokof, Suyef, 

 Rumofsky, and Florinsky, deserve to be mention- 

 ed with particular respect. Among the latter, 

 Pallas *, Gmelin, Falk, /Epinus, Georgi, Renovantz, 

 and several others, hold an honourable rank. . By 

 the labours and writings of these philosophers, a 

 considerable taste has been excited in Russia, for 

 the inquiries to which they directed their attention. 



* Peter Simon Pallas was born at Berlin in the year Mil, and 

 is the son of a distinguished surgeon of that city. After enjoy- 

 ing every advantage to be derived from the universities of Halle 

 and Gottingen^ he travelled into other parts of Germany, spent 

 some time in Holland and in England, and every where directed 

 particular attention to natural history, beside improving himself 

 in other branches of knowledge. He was, early in life, invited 

 by Catharine II to Petersburg, where he was appointed profes- 

 sor of natural history in the Imperial Academy of Sciences, and 

 v/here he has ever since maintained a growing reputation for ta- 

 lents and learning. Professor Pallas is probably the most ac- 

 complished naturalist now living. Wis Elcnchus Zoophj/torum ; 

 Ins Miscellanea Zoblogica ; his Nova; Species Qiiadnipedinn e Gli- 

 rinm ordine ; his Enumeratio Plantarum quce in Horto Procopii a 

 Demidof Moscua vivent ; his Neue Nordische Heytrage ; his Iconss 

 luKectarum, S^c; and his Flora Rossica, are too well known, and 

 too highly esteemed among natural historians, to render an ac- 

 count of their respective merits necessary. This great man now 

 resides in Crim Tartary, on an estate granted him by the empress, 

 where, in the enjoyment of dignified leisure, he devotes himself 

 to his favourite pursuits. 



Vol. III. M 



