CATHERINE II OF RUSSIA. AUTOGRAPH LETTER signed... Lot 4

CATHERINE II OF RUSSIA. AUTOGRAPH LETTER signed with an initials addressed to Stanislas Auguste Poniatowski. [late 1762]. 4 pages in-4. IMPORTANT AND REMARKABLE LETTER, WRITTEN IN FRENCH, FROM "CATHERINE THE GREAT", Empress of Russia from 1762 until her death in 1796. Written a few months into her reign, it was addressed to her former lover, STANISLAS II AUGUSTE (1732-1798), Grand Duke of Lithuania and future King of Poland (1764-1795), thanks to the support of Catherine II and her ambassador in Warsaw, Nicolas Repnine. Beginning with a tone of reproach: "You read my letters with little attention, I have told you again and again that I run the last risks on different sides if you set foot in Russia", the Empress's missive enjoins the addressee not to come and meet her in Russia: "your arrival is capable of producing the saddest effects". She evokes her entourage: "Osten has too much spirit, I prefer a fool whom I can overcome [...] the D. [Princess Dachkov] is suspicious of me, and then the Court makes quibbles with me about my son's affairs, about which I have every reason to complain", specifies that she has given leave to the "wretched" Monsey and sent Keyserling to Poland: "My sisteme is and will be a moins de perdre l'esprit de ne vouloir être sous le joug d'aucune Cour [...] de faire la paix de métre mon état obérés dans le meilleur etat que je pourres et puis s'est tout, tout ceux qui vous dites autre sont de grand menteurs. " She mentions her ministers and advisors: Alexis Bestoujev, whom she has forgiven and who has "honorable views for the fatherland", Hettmann, who "is always with me", and Nikita Panine, who "is the most skilful, sensible and zealous man in my Court". She adds: "I can swear to you that they only do what I tell them, I listen to them all and I make my conclusions myself". Finally, she assures her correspondent of her attachment: "Adieu soyés assurés que j'aurai toujours une singuliere amitié pour vous et tout ce qui vous touche et laisse moi demeler mes embarras. If all the embarrassments of eighteen years or naturally I had to succumb are reduced to make me what I am what should I expect but I can not flatter and I do not want to lose us. ". Finally, she adds: "I forgot to tell you that Bestoujev loves and caresses very much those who have served me with as much zeal as the beauty of their character could lead one to expect. Truly they are heroes ready to sacrifice their lives for the fatherland and as esteemed as they are estimable." A BEAUTIFUL DOCUMENT, both Catherine II's confession of her vision of the political situation at the time, and a demonstration of her inextinguishable will to achieve her ends. ¶ Provenance: Former Georges Ullmann collection (November 7, 2000, no. 248) - Femmes, lettres et manuscrits autographes, Ader, (November 19, 2014, no. 267).