— Rank and Claim to the Russian Throne as the lawful Daughter of the Empress Elizabeth and Grand-daughter of Peter the Great— Excites the jealousy of Catherine II.— Is advised to leave Russia without delay — Claims the Protection of Prince Charles Radzivill, the richest grandee in Poland — Is carried clandestinely by him to Poland, and treated with the regard due to her illustrious rank— Her Danger— Sets out for Italy with Prince Radzivill— Stops at Rome — Lives in apparent Seclusion, attended by Masters — Intrigues— Infamous Propositions to Radzivill for betraying the Princess rejected — Tricks of the Russian Agents on the latter in Italy — Devastation of Radzivill's Possessions in Poland by the Russian Generals— His pecuniary difficulties— Sets out for Poland — Leaves the Princess under the care of a Governess — Arrives in Poland— Is duped — Count Alexy Orloflf's Stratagem in Italy — His artful Snare to entrap the Princess— Carlo Ribas — His acquaintance with the Princess — Introduces Orloff to her — Mock Marriage of OrlofF with her— Orloff leaves Rome, goes to Pisa, and ultimately to Leghorn — Treachery of the Russian Fleet — The Princess falls a Victim— Her real Lover — Indignation of the Inhabitants— The Princess arrives in Irons at Petersburg— Is put into a Dungeon, and treated with harshness and dies — Remarks.
Before we proceed to a description of one of the darkest and most abominable intrigues that stained the reign of Catherine II., it may be proper to give some information to the reader about the early days of its unfortunate victim; and we must revert to the time of the Empress Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Petrowna, empress of Russia, second daughter of Peter the Great, inherited from her father, neither his natural cruelty, his firmness, nor mental ability: she was more known by her personal attractions, by her love of good living, and fondness of pleasure, than by any brilliant quality suitable to her exalted position.
Left a widow in the meridian of life, on the throne of one of the largest empires in the world, Elizabeth was often the dupe of the first court intriguer whom chance brought to her palace; and who flattering her passions, and possessing a firmer mind, availed himself of any favourable opportunities for promoting his private aggrandisement; a result not always favoui'able to the welfare of the country.
Having a large field for the gratification of her caprices, and dreading no control, Elizabeth had many lovers, whom she changed according to her fancy, and to whom she refused nothing. She seems not to have been much inclined to share with any of them the yoke of matrimony. As she was, however, not exactly free from the clergy's influence, Count Alexy Gregorovitch Razumoskoy, master of the buck-hounds, and one of her most favoured lovers, whom she had raised to the first dignities of the empire, taking skilful advantage of an expression which fell accidentally from her majesty's lips, prevailed on her (through the advice of her confessor, who was in his pay,) to marry him privately. She left three children by this marriage; namely, two sons and a daughter, the Princess Tarakanof.
No sooner had Catherine ascended the Russian throne, after the murder of her husband, Peter III., than being apprised of her existence, she became evidently jealous of her; whereupon the friends of the youthful princess, dreading some sinister design against her, advised her to leave Russia without delay. Conforming to their advice, the princess sought the protection of Prince Charles Radzivill, who, having gained over one of her female attendants, brought the princess to his estate in Lithuania, where she was treated with regard and kindness.
As, however, Poland at that time was full of Russian troops, and was already governed as a Russian province, Radzivill having accidentally discovered an intrigue dangerous to the safety of his illustrious protegee took her suddenly with him to Rome, where, in comparative seclusion, she received instruction suitable to her birth and rank.
Perhaps the prospect of being able to put a stop to the domestic, foreign, and religious war excited by Catherine II. in Poland, induced Radzivill to protect a young lady who, under proper circumstances, and as the grand- daughter of Peter the Great, might become a formidable rival to Catherine's power. Her very name rendered her dear to the Russians; perhaps the loftier aim of mounting with her the Russian throne, secretly governed the conduct of the Polish grandee towards the fair object of his attention.