The Empire of Russia: From the Remotest Periods to the Present Time
Chapter 26
REIGN OF CATHARINE II.
From 1774 to 1781.
Peace with Turkey.--Court of Catharine II.--Her Personal Appearance and Habits.--Conspiracy and Rebellion.--Defeat of the Rebels.--Magnanimity of Catharine II.--Ambition of the Empress.--Court Favorite.--Division of Russia into Provinces.--internal Improvements.--New Partition of Poland.--Death of the Wife of Paul.--Second Marriage of the Grand Duke.--Splendor of the Russian Court.--Russia and Austria Secretly Combine to Drive the Turks out of Europe.--The Emperor Joseph II.