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She resided alternately, till her fifteenth year, in Strettin, in Dornburg, or in Zerbst; she also accompanied her mother in several journeys, by which her mind was enlarged and her manners improved. She frequently made some stay at Hamburg, with her maternal grand-mother, the widow of the bishop of Lubeck, at whose court she received from M. von Brummer, gentleman of the bed-chamber, the most select productions of contemporary writers: attached to letters, to learning, and to meditation, she derived from these communications both profit and pleasure. Her visits to Brunswick were yet more frequent,. where, with Elizabeth Sophia Maria, duchess dowager of Wolfenbuttle, she sometimes passed the whole summer.

In December, 1743, she was instructed, at Brunswick, by the court preacher Dové, in the principles of the lutheran church. In the preceding year she made a visit to Berlin, for the purpose of being present at the nuptials of the

her, and from whom she received her first lessons in French. She presented also to her writing-master a sum of money. In the latter period of her life, she. sent, with expressions of esteem, her picture, to a lady, who had been the playmate of her childhood..

prince of Prussia. She likewise revisited Prussia in the beginning of the year 1744, whence she proceeded to Russia.

Three years after the appointment of Peter to the succession, by the empress Elizabeth, by whom he had been called to Russia for the purpose, it was determined to marry him. Sophia, princess of Anhalt Zerbst, was selected, on this occasion, by Elizabeth, for his consort. As a pre-liminary to these nuptials, the princess embraced the formulary of the Greek church, and, at her initiation, received the name, afterwards so celebrated, of Catherine Alexievna. This alliance, which afforded to politicians a subject of conjec-ture, had its origin in the influence of private sentiment. The empress had been formerly betrothed to the prince of Holstein-Eutin, brother to the mother of Catherine, who died at the instant when the marriage was about to be cele`brated. Tenderly attached to her lover, Elizabeth. became inconsolable for his fate, and, in the bitterness of sorrow, renounced for ever the nuptial tie. The irregularities of her subsequent conduct failed to banish from her heart the memory of her first lover, whom she never mentioned but with tears. Of this tenderness the princess of Anhalt-Zerbst resolved to take advantage, for the

advancement of her daughter to the throne; and, having confided her project to the king of Prussia, she received from him both encouragement and support.

Elizabeth had received the princess at Petersburg with kindness and distinction, while the graces of her daughter made on the heart of the grand-duke a powerful impression. The good figure of Peter having also attracted the attention of Sophia, the attachment between the young people was considered as reciprocal, and afforded to the court a subject of animadversion. This predi--lection was observed by the empress without dis-pleasure: the princess of Zerbst seized a favourable moment, and pleaded the cause of the lovers at the feet of Elizabeth; whom she reminded of the prince of Holstein, and of the attachment of her youth. The empress, affected by these re-presentations, mingled her tears with those of the princess, and promised all that was required of her. On the following morning her choice was announced to the council, and to the foreign ministers; an early day was fixed for the nuptials, and magnificent preparations commenced for the celebration

A cloud obscured these favourablé prospects: Gatherine was menaced with the fate of her im

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perial patroness; a fever had seized her lover, accompanied by alarming symptoms. The distemper terminated in a malignant small-pox, which spared the life of the duke, but proved, in its effects, a severer trial of the affection of his mistress. The features of Peter suffered a cruel alteration, his comeliness was wholly defaced, and his countenance for a time scarred and dis-torted. No one was permitted to approach the princess from the apartment of her lover, lest infection should be conveyed; but tidings of the (progress of the disorder were daily brought to Catherine by her mother, who, by an exaggerated description, prepared her for its probable conse-quences; warning her at the same time to dissemble any disgust which the change might occasion.

These precautions, however prudent, failed in preserving Catherine from a secret horror on her first interview with the duke; but repressing, as she had been instructed, her emotions, she fell on his neck and affectionately embraced him, with marks of the most lively joy. The impressions which had seized her, however stifled at the moment, were not to be effaced; on her return to her chamber she fell into a swoon, from which she revived not till after several hours.. With

these feelings, on her recovery, ambition struggled,, and finally prevailed: she sought not to defer the celebration of her nuptials, an event so ardently desired by her mother, and which the empress anticipated with pleasure. The marriage was: accordingly solemnised, while the attachment, which had preceded it, and which was built on a superficial foundation, was already expiring. An apparently good understanding subsisted for a time between the ducal pair, which, while necessary to her interest, was carefully supported by the grand-duchess.

Brought up under the eye of a sensible mother,, at no great distance from the court of Frederic, the seat of the sciences and arts, Catherine had,, to a strong and comprehensive mind, added extensive knowledge, and a facility of expressing: herself, in several languages, with elegance and grace. With an excellent heart and some under standing, the education of Peter had been wholly neglected; deficient in those graces and accom plishments, and in that cultivation of mind, which so eminently distinguished his wife, he felt her superiority and blushed, while she repined at the fate which had united her to a man so little worthy of her, and so ill suited to contribute to her happiness or improvement. Their mutual disgust,