The Correspondence of Catherine the Great when Grand Duchess with
Sir Charles Hanbury-Williams, English Am- bassador at the Russian Court, translated and edited by Lord Ilchester and Mrs. Langford Brooke (Thornton Butterworth, 21s.), is a collection of documents of great interest newly offered to the public. They cover a period of only two years—from 1755 to 1757. Catherine's letters were always returned to her by the messenger who brought the replies, but her careful corrrespondent always copied them out. When he left Russia, however, she returned them to him. This was not the end of their adventures, for they got back again to Russia and finally came, through the late Czar, into the hands of their present editor. The letters for the most part concern the young Pole, Poniatowsky, with whom Catherine has had a liaison and whose return to Russia she ardently desires. The Ambassador is very willing to help her. lie saw in the future Empress a woman of genius and he wanted her friendship for England ; he felt her astonishing charm and he wanted it also for himself. He promised to make Poniatowsky one of his staff if he could outwit the party in Russia who wanted to keep Catherine's lovers away from her. Several letters from Poniatowsky himself give us a picture of a much-flattered young man made anxious by his father's caution and his mother's dis- approval, and really attached to Sir Charles Hanbury-Williams, whom he regards as a second father. Catherine's own letters are frank, amusing, cynical, friendly, and determined. She is quite open in her hopes that death will soon step in to give her a chance of reigning. She makes no secret of her contempt for her husband, who she contentedly asserts always comes to her in moments of crisis to direct him. " He came after dinner to-day," she writes ; " we agreed that he should pay more attention to the officers of the Guard, and in Church he should make ten to twelve more signs of the Cross." The letters give an impression of ebullient youth in spite of their utter disillusionment. She looks at people as they are, she says, and " finds few men bad enough for their own safety." Her acquaintance as Lord Ilchester introduces her is well worth making, though the letters in no way foreshadow her future greatness.
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