Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/261

Rh She was of the middle size, yet by the habit of holding her head high, appeared tall, and had a perfect command of countenance; her eyes were clear and large, her complexion fair, her hair and eye-brows auburn, and her hands and arms beautiful. She, in general, dressed in green, which is the national colour of Russia. She was fond of magnificence, yet familiar and lively in her manner; fond of pleasure, yet vast in her projects, and unbounded in her ambition. It was her wish to leave two vast empires in her family, and she destined the thrones of Petersburgh and Constantinople to her two grandsons, Alexander and Constantine.

A coldness and jealousy, for some time before her death, which happened suddenly on the 4th of November, 1796, in the 67th year of her age, had subsisted between her and the grand duke, Paul; but her affection for his children was excessive, and they lamented her, as did all that had been accustomed to her society, with unfeigned regret.

The distraction of Orloff, and the gloom which imbittered the last days of Potemkin, the two of her favourites, who became afterwards her first ministers and generals, must have occasioned some pangs to the mind of CatherineCatharine [sic], though that heart was too closely veiled to let its secret emotions be visible, The former, seized with madness and remorse, fancied he continually saw the murdered Peter, in whose misfortunes he had so great a share, and shocked the ears of CatherineCatharine [sic] with bitter reproaches. It has been doubted, whether she was privy to the murder of her husband, or ever acquainted with the circumstances. Be it as it will, her mind always kept its balance. The most extravagant projects did not bewilder her