Catharine now divided her extensive realms into forty-three great provinces, over each of which a governor was appointed.  These provinces embraced from six to eight hundred thousand inhabitants.  There was then a subdivision into districts or circles, as they were called.  There were some ten of these districts in each province, and they contained from forty to sixty thousand inhabitants.  An entire system of government was established for each province, with its laws and tribunals, that provision might be made for every thing essential to the improvement and embellishment of the country.  The governors of these provinces were invested with great dignity and splendor.  The gubernatorial courts, if they may so be called, established centers of elegance and refinement, which it was hoped would exert a powerful influence in polishing a people exceedingly rude and uncultivated.  There were also immense advantages derived from the uniform administration of justice thus established.  This new division of the empire was the most comprehensive reform Russia had yet experienced.  Thus the most extensive empire on the globe, with its geographical divisions so vast and dissimilar, was cemented into one homogeneous body politic.

Until this great reform the inhabitants of the most distant provinces had been compelled to travel to Petersburg and Moscow in their appeals to the tribunals of justice.  Now there were superior courts in all the provinces, and inferior courts in all the districts.  In all important cases there was an appeal to the council of the empress.  Russian ships, laden with the luxuries of the Mediterranean, passed through the Dardanelles and the Bosporus, and landed their precious freights upon the shores of Azof, from whence they were transported into the heart of Russia, thus opening a very lucrative commerce.

The Polish nobles, a very turbulent and intractable race of men, were overawed by the power of Catharine, and the masses of the Polish people were doubtless benefited by their transference to new masters.  Russia was far more benignant in its treatment of the conquered provinces, than were her banditti accomplices, Prussia and Austria.

The road to China, traversed by caravans, was long and perilous, through pathless and inhospitable wilds, where, for leagues, no inhabitant could be seen, and yet where a fertile soil and a genial clime promised, to the hand of industry, all the comforts and luxuries of life.  All along this road she planted villages, and, by the most alluring offers, induced settlers to establish themselves on all portions of the route.  Large sums of money were expended in rendering the rivers navigable.

In the year 1776, the grand duchess, consort of Paul, who was heir to the throne, died in childbirth, and was buried in the same grave with her babe.  About the same time Prince Henry of Prussia visited the Russian court to confer with Catharine upon some difficulties which had arisen in the demarcations of Poland.  It will be remembered that in the division which had now taken place, the whole kingdom had not been seized, but a remnant had been left as the humble patrimony of Poniatowski, the king.  In this interview with the empress, Prince Henry said,