Lineage of Peter III.--Chosen by Elizabeth as her Successor.--The Bride Chosen for Peter.--Her Lineage.--The Courtship.--The Marriage.--Autobiography of Catharine.--Anecdotes of Peter.--His Neglect of Catharine and his Debaucheries.--Amusements of the Russian Court.--Military Execution of a Rat.--Accession of Peter III. to the Throne.--Supremacy of Catharine.--Her Repudiation Threatened.--The Conspiracy.--Its Successful Accomplishment. CHAPTER XXIV. THE CONSPIRACY; AND ACCESSION OF CATHARINE II. From 1762 to 1765. Peter III. at Oranienbaum.--Catharine at Peterhof.--The Successful Accomplishment of the Conspiracy.--Terror of Peter.--His Vacillating and Feeble Character.--Flight to Cronstadt.--Repulse.--Heroic Counsel of Munich.--Peter's Return to Oranienbaum.--His Suppliant Letters to Catharine.--His Arrest.--Imprisonment.--Assasination.--Proclamation of the Empress.--Her Complicity in the Crime.--Energy of Catharine's Administration.--Her Expansive Views and Sagacious Policy.--Contemplated Marriage with Count Orlof. CHAPTER XXV. REIGN OF CATHARINE II. From 1765 to 1774. Energy of Catharine's Administration.--Titles of Honor Decreed to Her.--Code of Laws Instituted.--The Assassination of the Empress Attempted.--Encouragement of Learned Men.--Catharine Inoculated for the Small-Pox.--New War with Turkey.--Capture of Crimea.--Sailing of the Russian Fleet.--Great Naval Victory.--Visit of the Prussian Prince Henry.--The Sleigh Ride.--Plans for the Partition of Poland.--The Hermitage.--Marriage of the Grand Duke Paul.--Correspondence with Voltaire and Diderot. CHAPTER XXVI. REIGN OF CATHARINE II. From 1774 to 1781. Peace with Turkey.--Court of Catharine II.--Her Personal Appearance and Habits.--Conspiracy and Rebellion.--Defeat of the Rebels.--Magnanimity of Catharine II.--Ambition of the Empress.--Court Favorite.--Division of Russia into Provinces.--internal Improvements.--New Partition of Poland.--Death of the Wife of Paul.--Second Marriage of the Grand Duke.--Splendor of the Russian Court.--Russia and Austria Secretly Combine to Drive the Turks out of Europe.--The Emperor Joseph II. CHAPTER XXVII. TERMINATION OF THE REIGN OF CATHARINE II. From 1781 to 1786. Statue of Peter the Great.--Alliance Between Austria and Russia.--Independence of the Crimea--The Khan of the Crimea.--Vast Preparations for War.--National Jealousies.--Tolerant Spirit of Catharine.--Magnificent Excursion to the Crimea.--Commencement of Hostilities.--Anecdote of Paul.--Peace.--New Partition of Poland.--Treaty with Austria and France.--Hostility to Liberty in France.--Death of Catharine.--Her Character. CHAPTER XXVIII. THE REIGN OF PAUL I. From 1796 to 1801.