OR, MEMOIRS OF ILLUSTRIOUS AND CELEBRATED WOMEN, OF ALL AGES AND COUNTRIES. Alphabetically arranged. BY MARY HAYS. IN SIX VOLUMES, VOL. III. LONDON: PRINTED FOR RICHARD PHILLIPS, 71, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD. By Thomas Davison, White-Friars MEMOIRS OF DISTINGUISHED WOMEN. CATHERINE II. (Concluded.) BESTUCHEFF, in the failure of his project, lost none of his influence, either with his mistress or her lover, from whom Vorontzoff daily experienced new instances of coldness, till, perceiving his decline certain, he demanded permission, under the pretence of recovering his health, impaired by the fatigues of his office, to travel two years in foreign countries. His request was readily granted: the empress, to whom his presence was irksome, saw him depart with satisfaction, yet with feigned tokens of respect and regret, while she entreated him to hasten his return, and to resume |