to be stocked with plants, not only from all parts of Europe, but from Asia, Persia, and even the distant parts of China. 10. Printing-houses, where he abolished their old barbarous characters, which, through the great number of abreviations, were almost become unintelligible. 11. Interpreters for all the languages of Europe; and likewise for the Latin, Greek, Turkish, Kalmuc, Mogul and Chinese. 12. A Royal library, composed of three very large ones, which he purchased in England, Holstein, and Germany.

These and many more were particular institutions. and establishments; but the Czar made general reformations, to which, indeed, the other were only subservient. He changed the architecture which was ugly and deformed; or, to speak more properly, he' first introduced that science into his dominions. He sent for a great number of pictures from Italy and France, and by this means instructed in the art of painting, a people who knew no more of it than what they could collect from the wretched daubing of their Saint's painters. He sent ships laden with merchan. dize to Genoa and Leghorn, which returned freighted with marble and statues. He introduced knowledge where it was wanted. He took away part of the revenues of those churches and monasteries which he thought too wealthy; and, leaving only what was necessary for their subsistence, added the overplus to his own demesnes.

Lastly, he established a general liberty of conscience throughout his dominions; and, if we had no other proof of his civilized spirit, this would be sufficient. There is one more reformation, and perhaps as necessary and useful as any of the former, which he made even in his last illness, though it was exceedingly painful. When the Senators and great personages then about him, mentioned the various obligations which Russia lay under to him, for abolishing ignorance and barbarism, and introducing arts and sciences; he told them that he had forgot to reform VOL. III. No. 23. A 3

one of the most important points of all, viz. the maladministration of justice, occasioned by the tedious and letigious chicanery of the lawyers; and signed an order from his bed, limiting the determination of all causes to eleven days, which was immediately sent to all the courts of his empire.

This wonderful person died January 28, 1725, aged 53. He had a son who lived to be a man; but this son engaging with his mother, whom Peter had divorced in 1692, and other malcontents, in a conspiracy against his father in 1717, was condemned to die, however, he saved the executioners the trouble by dying a natural death. The Czar composed several things upon moral affairs; and his name must be added to the short catalogue of sovereigns who have honored the public with their writings. The Czarina, his widow, and second wife, whom he nominated his successor, was, upon his death, immediately acknowledged Empress of Russia, by the several states thereof. The history of this lady is curious and extraordinary. She was born in Livonia, in 1684; and, losing her parents, who were of low condition and poor, she became destitute. The parish clerk who kept a school, took her into his house and kept her, till Dr. Gluck, minister of Marienburg, happening to come to that village, eased the clerk of the girl, whom he liked exceedingly, and carried her home with him. Dr. Gluck treated her with kindness and care, and not only had her taught spinning and sewing, but instructed her also himself in literature above her sex, and especially in the German language. At length a Livonian serjeant in the Swedish army, fell passionately in love with her, and she agreed to marry him; but the next day the Russians made themselves masters of Marienburg; and the General casting his eyes accidentally on Catharine, and observing something very striking in her air and manners, took her then under his protection, and afterwards into his service. Sometime after she was ad

vanced to be a house-keeper to prince Menzekoff, who was the general's patron; and there the Czar seeing her, she made such an impression on him, that he married her. She was taken at Marcenbury in 1708, and married to the Czar in 1711. What became of her former husband the serjeant, is not known. She was a woman of wonderful abilities and address, and in truth, a very fit consort for such a one as Peter the Great, whom she rescued from ruin by her good management, when she was surrounded by the Turks. The Czar made her the partner of his councils and undertakings, as well as of his bed. He shewed the high opinion he had of her, by nominating her to succeed him. She had several daughters by the Czar, the youngest of which, Elizabeth, after the heirs of the elder branches were extinct, ascended the throne in 1741. The lenity of this princess has been carried to a degree unparalleled in the history of any nation. She had promised, that during her reign, nobody should be put to death; and she kept her word. She is the first sovereign that ever shewed this regard to the human species. Malefactors are now condemned to serve in the mines and other public works; a regulation, not less prudent than humane, since it renders their punishment of some advantage to the state.

PENN, (WILLIAM) an illustrious person among the quakers, and founder of the former colony, and present state of Pennsylvania, was born in the parish of St. Catharine, near the Tower of London, Oct. 14, 1644, and educated at the school of Chigwell in Essex. Afterwards he went to a private school on Tower Hill, and had likewise the advantage of a domestic tutor. In 1660 he was entered a gentleman commoner of Christ's Church in Oxford, where he continued two years, and delighted much in manly sports at times of recreation, but mean while, being