Here the king interrupted him, replying,

“Instead of which, you behold a hoary-headed valitudinarian, who could never have wished for a superior happiness than that of welcoming within these walls the hopeful heir of a mighty empire, the only son of my best friend, Catharine.”

After half an hour’s conversation, the grand duke was led into the apartment of the queen, where the court was assembled.  Here he was introduced to his contemplated bride, Sophia, Princess of Wirtemberg, and immediately, in the name of the Empress of Russia, demanded her in marriage of the grand duke.  The marriage contract was signed the same day.  The whole company then supped with the queen in great magnificence.  Feasts and entertainments succeeded for many days without interruption.

On the 3d of August, Paul returned to St. Petersburg, where his affianced bride soon joined him.  As he took leave, the King of Prussia presented him with dessert service and a coffee service, with ten porcelain vases of Berlin manufacture, a ring, containing the king’s portrait, surmounted with a diamond valued at thirty thousand crowns, and also a stud of Prussian horses and four pieces of rich tapestry.  Upon the arrival of the princess, she was received into the Greek church, assuming the name of Maria, by which she was ever after called.  The marriage soon took place, and from this marriage arose the two distinguished emperors, Alexander and Nicholas.

The empress was exceedingly gratified by the successful accomplishment of this plan.  With energy which seemed never to tire, she urged forward her plans for national improvements, establishing schools all over the empire, which were munificently supported at the imperial expense.  The splendor of the Russian court, during the reign of Catharine, surpassed all ordinary powers of description.  Almost boundless wealth was lavished upon gorgeous dresses—­lords and ladies glittering alike in most costly jewelry.  Many courtiers appeared almost literally covered with diamonds.  They sparkled, in most lavish profusion, upon their buttons, their buckles, the scabbards of their swords, their epaulets, and many even wore a triple row as a band around the hat.  Frequently eight thousand tickets were given out for a ball at the palace, and yet there was no crowd, for twenty saloons, of magnificent dimensions, brilliantly lighted, afforded room for all.  Her majesty usually entered the saloons about seven o’clock, and retired about ten.

The empress never ceased to look with a wistful eye upon the regions which the Turks had wrested from the Christians.  The commercial greatness of Russia, in her view, imperiously required that Constantinople and its adjacent shores should be in her possession.  In May, 1780, Catharine had an interview with Joseph II., Emperor of Germany, at Mohilef.  Both sovereigns traveled with great pomp to meet at this place.  After several confidential interviews, they agreed