Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

From the American Herald.

A SKETCH of the celebrated Princess CATHERINE Romanowna Dashkow, Lady President and Director of the Imperial Academy of PETERSBURGH.

Her illustrious character may, in many instances be compared to the munificent, learned and almost adored Stanislaw, King of Poland. Her great and shining talents, united to an elegant, graceful figure, add a distinguished lustre to the appointment of her royal mistress. This is perhaps the first woman in Europe who has presided over an Academical institution; and is a glorious instance for the sex in general; since her uncommon abilities and virtues are well known by her travels through England, France and Italy. In the year 1781, this popular Princess resided in Edinburgh, in order to superintend the education of her son in person, and that she might have an opportunity of conversing with the most eminent men in every branch of learning.

On her taking the chair of the Royal Academy, she addressed the members in the following manner.

Gentlemen,

"I beg you will not deem it a mere compliment of course, but the expression of an heartfelt sentiment, when I assure you, that I feel myself highly honoured with the choice it has pleased her Imperial Majesty to make of me. I cannot dissemble to myself how greatly inferior I am to my predecessors in point of knowledge and abilities; but animated with the same desire, I shall ever be found ready to do justice to your eminent qualities. I shall make it my duty to lay, with due submission, before the throne, a faithful account of your respective deserts, and of the advantages the empire is like to derive from this institution. In this, and nothing more, my appointment to this place may prove useful to you. Give me leave, Gentlemen, to give you here the most solemn assurances of my esteem, and of the constant zeal with which I shall endeavour to contribute to every thing that may tend to the honour and credit of your learned society."