202 
eataftrophe was at hand. This was actu- 
ally the cafe. The Chancellor Beftuchef 
had’ been banifhed to Siberia; his in- 
trigues were principally directed towards 
the nobles. Catherine, however, knew, 
that in an abfolute government, ‘whoever 
can fecure the military, may command 
the nation. She accordingly bent her 
thoughts to ‘that fole objeét, and agtually 
found meaas to gain a number of the 
guaras. Her pretexts, fpecious, and ad- 
mirably fuited to the comprehenfions of 
a barbarous foldiery, were founded on 
‘the innovations occationed by the Pruffian 
exercilfe, and an abolition of the ancient 
Ruffian uniform; the war im eS HE 
“the neceflary’ abfence ‘in ‘confec 
this, fYom ‘the de lights: of 
but above ail, the omiffion of the cere- 
mony of Peter’s being’ crowned at Mof- 
‘cow, wilich, accord ng to the popes of 
the Greek, church, made an infurreGion 
ceale to be a rebellion! Her agents con- 
fitted of thr ce brothers oft thé name eb Or- 
lof, two of whom were foldiers of 
Paffick and Bibikoff, two rene ay of 
the princefs Dafchkaw, who in the bofom 
of fervitude had cenceived fome notions 
of a republic 5 of Count Panin, gover- 
nor to the preient emperor, who had im- 
bibed favourable ideas of 2 limited mo- 
narchy, Ses an embaffy to the court 
of Stockh 2olm 5 and of Cyril Razou- 
moffiky, who from being a peafant of 
the Ukraine, had become commandant” of 
the cuards of Ifnmailoff; and Hetman 
of the Coffacks of Little Ruffia. 
‘The fate of one of the greateft empires 
in the world, was not only decided in a 
few hours, but even without a ftruggle. 
All the phommed heads of Europe were 
then as eager to recognize a fortunate 
ufurper, as : they have been finge tardy in 
acknowle edgi ing a ate ee government; 
and minixers flocked from every part to 
pay their refpeéts, on the elevation of 
Catherine! One prince only, | ftruck 
with the immorali ity of her condu&, re- 
fuled admiffion to her ambaffadors,.— 
This was the emperor of China! 

elie 
eawmita 
_-No fooner had the firft intelligence of 
this fingular event reached the cars of 
Count Poniatowiky, than he iniantiy 
pofted to the frontiers, and preffed ea- 
gerly to be permitted to'repair to court: 
But a: revolution: had taken place, not 
eae onan A eile) Mira Coven Vee Seles oO 
* ¢¢ Orlof iesplus belchomme du nord, 
@unenaifiance medioc “re, gentil nome, é 
Von veut, par “Ja polietion de quelques pay- 
fans‘efclayes, ayant fes fréres foldats dans les 
si = oli des gardes, &c.” 
rae 
Account of the late King of Poland: 
only in that empire, but in the 2 at tic? 
ments of its’ prefent’ fovereign.~ “Co 
Orloff, aman equally deitirute of deh? 
cacy and education, whe poffeffed a her- 
culean form, and who wile celebrated for 
nothing but perfonal bravery, enjoyed 
the affettions of Catherine, and m fome 
meafure monopolized her favours. The 
Girlie courier who had brought the letter 
from the count, was accordingly dif= 
patched to him haere A with a fhort 
note, in which he was enioined to repair 
to Warfaw, and expeét every thing aa 
the frien: pop of the emprefs.. This un- 
expected reply at firft affected’ him con= 
fiderably, for he was greatly attached te 
-her imperial. majefty, and had always 
confidered his abience from the court of 
Ruffia, as a {pecies of exile *. Ambi- 
tien , however, at letigth proved ‘victo- 
oe and he returned ‘to his native coun- 
try; pleaied with the idee that if he had 
loft a miftrefs, he was affured of a crown, 
His hopes were, indeed, fhortly rea- 
lized, for Auguftus, king of Poland, 
died at Drefden, on the 5th of O&ober, 
1753; this event was ealily anticipated, 
for his majefty’s health had been tor 
fome time in a declining ftate, and it 
was forefeen, that a conftituticn, enfee- 
bled more by debauchery than age, could 
not Jong refit the preflure of difeafe, 
The Czarina was accordingly prepared | 
for the occurrence; fhe had a large body 
of troops on the Copies of the wie 
and they entered Poland with equal joy 
and precipitation ; for that unhappy, but 
fertile country, has always been con- 
fidered as the paradife of the Ruffian fol- 
bbs But the court of Peterfburgh did 
not confine its operations to force alone $) ; 
ine was had recourfe to; {plendid 
promifes were made; threats were em-" 
ployed; and gold was diftributed every 
where. To complete all, Warfaw was 
taken poffeffion of by a body of Ruf- 
fans, and the imperial. ambaffador, ’ 
Count Kayferling, who was omnipotent 
in that- capital, “alrea: dy began to treat 
Poland \tike a conquered — province, 

- 
* Being obli Re to leave Ruffia with pre- 
cipitation, and without. being able to procure. 
a portrait of his miftrefs, in a country where _ 
the arts were but little cultivated, the. firit : 
thing he did on his retura to Warfav! was | 
to. tupply this deficiency, The ditt on 
this occation, worked under thé dire@tion of 
the count, who, asit were, diéiated. the feas 
tures... The xveiemblanceis faid toyhave been 
complete, and ‘the emprels was exceedingly; 
flattered by. this novel piece of gallantry srial 
In 
