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 ; and though often harassed by plots, that were incessantly formed against her, she constantly occupied herself with the improvement and aggrandizement of her empire. A resolution she had taken to marry Orloff, nearly proved fatal to them both, and she was obliged to renounce it.

In 1764, Poniatowski, a former favourite of Catharine's, was, by her exertions and the army she sent into Poland, elected king of that country, under the name of Stanislaus Augustus. In the same year, occurred the murder of Ivan, grandson of Peter the Great, and rightful heir to the throne of Russia. He was twenty-three years of age; and although his constant captivity is said to have somewhat impaired his faculties, yet his existence caused so many disturbances, that it was clearly for Catharine's interest to have him assassinated. Catharine's instrumentality in this murder was not proved; but the assassins were protected, and advanced in the Russian service.

The beneficial consequences of the regulations of Catharine became daily more apparent through all the empire. The government, more simply organized and animated with a new energy, displayed a spirit of independence worthy a great nation. Mistress of her own passions, Catharine knew how, by mingled mildness and firmness, to control those of others; and, whatever might be her own irregularities, she strictly discountenanced violations of decorum.

The perplexed and uncertain jurisprudence of Russia more particularly engaged her attention; and she drew up herself a code of laws, founded in truth and justice, which was submitted to deputies from all the Russian provinces. But the clause that proposed liberty to the boors, or serfs, met with so much opposition from the nobles, that the assembly had to be dismissed. In 1767, the empress sent learned men throughout her immense territories, to examine and report their soil, productions, and wealth, and the manners and habits of the people. About the same time, the small-pox was raging in St. Petersburgh, and Catharine submitted herself and her son to inoculation, as an example to the people.

In 1768, she engaged in a war with Turkey, which terminated successfully in 1774, and by which several new provinces were added to the Russian empire. But, during this period, the plague raged throughout the eastern countries of Europe to a great extent, and this disease is said to have carried o£f more than 100,000 of Catharine's subjects. While the war with Turkey was going on, the empress concluded with the King of Prussia and Emperor of Austria, the infamous partition treaty, by which the first blow was given to the existence of Poland.

Orloff, who had been of the greatest assistance to Catharine during the war with Turkey, and the disturbances caused by the plague, again aspired to share with her the throne. Catharine bore with his caprices for some time, through her fondness for their child, a boy, who was privately reared in the suburbs of the city, but at length resolved to subdue an attachment become so dangerous to her peace; and having proposed to Orloff a clandestine marriage, which he disdainfully declined, she saw him leave her court without any apparent grief, and raised Vassiltshkoff, a young and handsome lieutenant, to his place in her affections. She loaded Orloff with magnificent presents in money and lands, and sent him to travel in Europe.