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ning to recover from the effects of thofe dreadful calamities which it has fo long endured; and its extenfive plains once more to fmile under the hand of cultivation.

The moderation and influence of the court of Petersburg, has also produced a very happy effect upon the conduct of the other great partitioning powers; they both having defifted from feveral of their late claims, and relaxed greatly from that rigour and violence with which they had treated the republic. The unfortunate city of Dantzick has, however, found no alleviation to its fufferings; and feems a victim abandoned to its fate. In the mean time, the Ruffian troops are ftill detained in Poland; and it is probable, that caufes or motives will never be wanting, for their keeping a frong force in that

country. March 18th.

A treaty of commerce which has been concluded between the Republic and the King of Pruffia, as it is very advantageous to the latter, may probably be a means of prolonging harmony in that quarter. The unfortunate Dantzickers are fufferers in this as in every thing elfe. While measures feem to be taking by the permanent council and government to encourage foreigners to repeople the defolated provinces of that kingdom, which they will find a work of long time and much expence, before any confiderable benefit is received, they are continually harraffing the Jews, (who form a great body of the people, and are the most induftrious of its inhabitants) in fuch a manner, by additional poll taxes, and partial oppreffive reftrictions, as will pro

bably oblige them totally to abandon the country. Such is the boafted policy of flatefmen and nations; and fo prevalent will the force of prejudice and error ever continue.

The Diffidents have been at length remembered by the court of Ruilia; and their privileges are now afcertained and fecured. They are particularly fecured in the public profeflion and exercife of their religion, and are allowed churches and fchools even at Warfaw; but are refrained from the ufe of bells in the former. Some other regulations have taken place in their favour, particularly a right of appeal in all cafes of grievance to a tribunal, in which a certain number of their own communion are to be admitted as affeffors. They are, however, ftill debarred from fitting in the fenate, and from occupying any offices in the departments of adminiftration.

Ruffia enjoys her power, influence, and glory, with a noble and fplendid magnificence. Ail her affairs are conducted upon a great and extenûve fyftem, and all her acts are in a grand ftyle. She fits fupreme between Europe and Afia, and looks as if the intended to dictate to both. We fee in her a great but fill growing empire, which not having reached the fummit of her defined power, feels life and vigour growing in every part. The fucceffes and confequences of the late war, have enlarged the spirit, extended the views, and dignified the minds of the people. In fuch a ftate, every thing is bold and masculine. Even vices and crimes are great.

The impoftor Pugatfcheff, with four of his Jan. 21ft.

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accomplices, were publicly executed at Mofcow in the beginning of the year. Pugatscheff, with his principal affociate, named Perfilief, were beheaded; the three others were hanged, and eighteen more underwent the knout, and were feat to Siberia. If the fentence had been fulfilled, Pugatfcheff's hands and feet would have been firft cut off and expofed to the people, before the final operation took place; but through fome fingular mistake, the executioner cut off his head firft; an error, for which it is fuppofed he fuffered a feverer punishment than that which he inficted. Pugatscheff met his fate with the molt undaunted refolution; but was induced to acknowledge the juftice of his fentence, the deception he had ufed, with his true name and condition; all of which agree in the material parts with the account which we have already given of him. If a history of his life, which is faid to have been published by authority at Moscow, can be relied on, he went through a feries of the most extraordinary adventures of any man living, even exclufive of the confequences of the late imposture; but this account is of fo romantic a caft, and recites matters of fo exceedingly improbable a nature, that its authority feems very doubtful. It is, however, certain, that he was, even by birth, of the first rank and condition among the Coffacks, and that through his uncommon abilities, as well as the ftrange viciffitudes of his life, he had acquired a degree of knowledge and learning, which would not have been thought defpicable in the most polite nations. It is said, that an observation made

feveral years ago by the celebrated Count Tottleben, of the ftriking refemblance which he bore to the late Emperor Peter the IIId, took fuch poffeffion of his mind, as to have been the operating cause of that calamity and ruin, in which he involved with himself a great part of the empire.

The heavy burthen of the late war, has not prevented the empress from already taking off moft of the taxes which were laid for its fupport; and as if the ftrength and riches of government in that country, increafed with its expence, the has alfo abolished a number of the ancient taxes, which were either confidered as difcouraging to manufactures and agriculture, or burdenfome and oppreffive to particular provinces, or orders of the people. In the fame spirit of beneficence and good policy, fhe has lent great fums of money, intereft free, and for a specified term of years, to thofe provinces which were ruined by the late rebellion; and to crown a general pardon, has ftrictly forbidden any particulars of that unfortunate affair to be called up, or any reproaches ufed on its account, but condemns all matters relative to it, to perpetual filence and oblivion.

She has also established a number of other regulations, all tending to the fecurity, advantage, and happiness of her fubjects; to abolish pernicious diftinctions, deftroy ruinous monopolies, restrain the cruelty of punishment, remove oppreffive or impolitic reftrictions and prohibitions, and to rettore mankind to a more equitable degree of equality, in those different ranks which they fill in fociety. A pardon was alfo paffed to those criminals, who had

already

the city of Baffora, during the greater part, if not the whole of the year. Though they have met with frequent repulfes and and loffes, they notwithstanding continued the fiege with fuch obstinacy, and the means of relief were fo remote, that it does not feem improbable

but the place may by this time be in their hands. We shall obferve to the honour of the prefent Grand Signior, that he fhews the fame favourable difpofition to the Chriftians in his dominions, by which his brother was fo much diftinguished.

CHRONICLE.

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