TULA. 
239 
presents from the inhabitants of Tula to each 
member of the Royal family, upon Paul’s ac- '> 
cession to the throne. These offerings were, 
however, refused by the Emperor , upon some 
pretext of dissatisfaction experienced by him 
from the people of the place. The true cause, 
however, was known to be his steady determi- 
nation of oppressing and insulting every indi- 
vidual, or class of individuals, patronized by 
his mother. Whatsoever might cast odium 
upon her memory ; whatsoever might sully the 
lustre of her fame ; by interrupting the progress 
of her plans for public improvement; by dis- 
missing her statesmen and her officers; by 
poisoning the sources whence she dispensed 
happiness amongst her people ; by overthrowing 
her establishments ; by blighting the tender but 
thriving shoots of science and of the arts, which 
she had planted; by converting good to evil, and 
joy to grief ; was the hourly occupation of her 
unnatural son. In the few years of his frantic 
tyranny (for every one saw, that of his govern- 
ment there would be a speedy termination) he 
proved a greater scourge to Russia than can be 
counterbalanced by another long and glorious 
career, like that of Catherine, distinguished by 
wisdom and power and conquest and beneficence 1 . 
(0 Such was, at least, the character of her public administration. 
Her private vices were those of the people over whom she reigned. 
The 
CHAP. 
X. 
