. Petrograd, past and present . many of the crimescommitted and attributed to Catherines is the penalty of being a ruler; but, on the otherhand, much of the glory which should go to the men ofgenius around the Court often reverts to the sovereign. A splendid statue of Catherine II., with hercouncillors at her feet, is to be seen in the Great Squareon the Nevsky Prospekt in front of the AlexanderDramatic Theatre. She died on 6th November 1796. If we can believethe rather superstitious chronicles of the time, she hadseveral premonitions of her approaching end somemonths before. Du
. Petrograd, past and present . many of the crimescommitted and attributed to Catherines is the penalty of being a ruler; but, on the otherhand, much of the glory which should go to the men ofgenius around the Court often reverts to the sovereign. A splendid statue of Catherine II., with hercouncillors at her feet, is to be seen in the Great Squareon the Nevsky Prospekt in front of the AlexanderDramatic Theatre. She died on 6th November 1796. If we can believethe rather superstitious chronicles of the time, she hadseveral premonitions of her approaching end somemonths before. During a thunderstorm, lightningdamaged many ornaments in her favourite room, forinstance; and in some historical notes published inParis under the name of Louis XVIII. the authorstates that she was once compelled by a curious im-pulse to go to the throne-room, where she saw herselfseated on the throne. Once, when setting out toattend a ball of Count Samoileff, she saw a brightmeteor fall behind her carriage. On the next day she. •• IJAIlOdSIlKA KkaTEKINA II: Catherine i.\ CATHERINES FAVOURITE RETREAT 205 remarked to her companion, Countess Matushka : Just such an omen, the falling of a star, heralded thedeath of the Empress Elizabeth, and this foretells myend. A few days before the end she spoke muchabout the death of other monarchs, and of her ownalso, to Narishkin. Was this not a premonition ? he asked. Subsequently Perekooseka and Zotoff,gentlemen of the bed-chamber, stated that after risingas usual about seven the Empress said : NowI am about to die, and added, pointing to the clock : See—for the first time it has stopped ! A watch-maker was summoned, and the clock had started again. Thou seest! exclaimed Catherine, and gave him20,000 roubles, adding: This is for thee ! Afterthis she drank two large cups of strong coffee, jokedwith Perekooseka and went into her cabinet, occupyingherself with her usual work. This was at eight t
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