New Hampshire Statesman

LEGITIMATE SOVEREIGNS

The father of the present emperor of Russia, was murdered, and those universally believed to be among the assassins of the father, are in confidence and employ of the son ! His grandmother murdered her husband, put to death all his relatives, and received several of the murderers into her bed ! The brothers of the name of Orloff, were ministers to her lusts, and the creatures that used the dagger, when required by her. The last person that had a claim to the throne by birthright, was a most beautiful and accomplished young lady, who said she was the daughter of the empress Elizabeth, predecessor of Peter, the husband of Kate, by a private marriage. She had kept this a secret, but at last it became known. In 1775, lured by an agent of Count Orloff who commanded the Russian fleet in the Mediterranean, she came to Pisa. The wretch appeared to be much interested in her cause—and to cut the story short, courted and married her, that they might mount the throne together. A grand naval fete was announced to be given on board the fleet then at Leghorn—she was received in the grand cabin, hand cuffed, and sent off to Russia by sea, and never afterwards heard of. Whether Catherine closed her life by a dagger, or suffered her to die for the want of food, was of course unknown—but some believe she had been drowned in her dungeon, by an overflow of the Neva. Such is the illustrious family of Russia.—Niles Reg.