Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Scientific Magazine, And Freemasons' Repository, For January 1797.
trifling pursuits , or to the lowest gratifications . At Petersburg !] , he lived more in the style of a state prisoner , than of a successor to the crown . When Elizabeth removed to Peterhof , he was permitted to reside at his favourite palace of Oranienbaum , where he indulged himself in his passion for military pursuits . Impatient of this restraint , he occasionally broke into open and bitter invectives . ' These expressions either wantonly exaggeratedor maliciously interpretedwere
car-, , lied to Elizabeth ; and the enemies of Peter had at one time almost prevailed on her to declare bis son Paul ( the present Emperor ) her heir , and Catharine regent , in case of a minority ; but upon more serious reflection , she persevered in her former appointment , and Peter ' s . enemies were disgraced . . During the reign of the empress Elizabeth , Catharine employed
her hours of leisure in a course of assiduous study ; and particularly applied herself to those authors who were eminent for political knowledge : born with superior abilities , she improved them by a constant habit of reflection , and paid an unremitting attention to the cultivation of her mind . Her mild and insinuating manners , her engaging addressthe graces of her personher unwearied assiduitiesand a
per-, , , , petual fund of interesting conversation , had conciliated the favour of the suspicious Elizabeth , who ever treated her with complacency and affection . Even her husband , though in his general behaviour to her contemptuous and unmannerly , occasionally testified great respect for her superior abilities , and usually demanded her advice on every emergency . Whenever any quarrel arose between him and Elizabeth ,
Catharine was sure to mediate between them ; and Peter often owed a favourable reception at court to her influence . Such was the situation of the court , when Elizabeth died , on the 25 th of December , 1761 . - Upon this event , Peter ill . assumed the government of Russia , with all the joy of a person enlarged from a long imprisonment into a state of the most perfect liberty ; and immediately proceeded to conduct , himself on principles diametrically opposite to those of his predeces ^
sor , Elizabeth , at the time of her decease , was , in conjunction with the couits of Vienna and Paris , engaged in a war with the great Frederick of Prussia . But Peter had no sooner ascended the throne , than , sacrificing every other consideration to his enthusiastic regard for tlie character of that monarch , he dispatched an envoy to Berlin to ' propose an immediate reconciliation ; and in the space of only a few
months , Frederick was enabled , by the assistance of Russian troops , to drive the Austrians from Silesia . ¦ Peter having gratified his wishes in this treaty , turned his thoughts ¦ to a revival of his claim to the Duchy of Slesvic , and to a reform of the interior administration of his empire : mid it must be allowed that Russia dates several' useful and important alterations fromthe short
, period of his reign ; during the lirst six weeks of which he proposed so many salutary regulations , accompanied by so manyjudicious re-- flectiuua , that many persons conceived themselves mistaken in the ideas ^ they had formed of the extent of his cap . ir . ity ; and that , during tlie rei « n of Elizabeth , he had , from motives of policy , affected a w ^ kness of understanding . His subsequent conduct , however , Droved
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Scientific Magazine, And Freemasons' Repository, For January 1797.
trifling pursuits , or to the lowest gratifications . At Petersburg !] , he lived more in the style of a state prisoner , than of a successor to the crown . When Elizabeth removed to Peterhof , he was permitted to reside at his favourite palace of Oranienbaum , where he indulged himself in his passion for military pursuits . Impatient of this restraint , he occasionally broke into open and bitter invectives . ' These expressions either wantonly exaggeratedor maliciously interpretedwere
car-, , lied to Elizabeth ; and the enemies of Peter had at one time almost prevailed on her to declare bis son Paul ( the present Emperor ) her heir , and Catharine regent , in case of a minority ; but upon more serious reflection , she persevered in her former appointment , and Peter ' s . enemies were disgraced . . During the reign of the empress Elizabeth , Catharine employed
her hours of leisure in a course of assiduous study ; and particularly applied herself to those authors who were eminent for political knowledge : born with superior abilities , she improved them by a constant habit of reflection , and paid an unremitting attention to the cultivation of her mind . Her mild and insinuating manners , her engaging addressthe graces of her personher unwearied assiduitiesand a
per-, , , , petual fund of interesting conversation , had conciliated the favour of the suspicious Elizabeth , who ever treated her with complacency and affection . Even her husband , though in his general behaviour to her contemptuous and unmannerly , occasionally testified great respect for her superior abilities , and usually demanded her advice on every emergency . Whenever any quarrel arose between him and Elizabeth ,
Catharine was sure to mediate between them ; and Peter often owed a favourable reception at court to her influence . Such was the situation of the court , when Elizabeth died , on the 25 th of December , 1761 . - Upon this event , Peter ill . assumed the government of Russia , with all the joy of a person enlarged from a long imprisonment into a state of the most perfect liberty ; and immediately proceeded to conduct , himself on principles diametrically opposite to those of his predeces ^
sor , Elizabeth , at the time of her decease , was , in conjunction with the couits of Vienna and Paris , engaged in a war with the great Frederick of Prussia . But Peter had no sooner ascended the throne , than , sacrificing every other consideration to his enthusiastic regard for tlie character of that monarch , he dispatched an envoy to Berlin to ' propose an immediate reconciliation ; and in the space of only a few
months , Frederick was enabled , by the assistance of Russian troops , to drive the Austrians from Silesia . ¦ Peter having gratified his wishes in this treaty , turned his thoughts ¦ to a revival of his claim to the Duchy of Slesvic , and to a reform of the interior administration of his empire : mid it must be allowed that Russia dates several' useful and important alterations fromthe short
, period of his reign ; during the lirst six weeks of which he proposed so many salutary regulations , accompanied by so manyjudicious re-- flectiuua , that many persons conceived themselves mistaken in the ideas ^ they had formed of the extent of his cap . ir . ity ; and that , during tlie rei « n of Elizabeth , he had , from motives of policy , affected a w ^ kness of understanding . His subsequent conduct , however , Droved