b o o k indeed the ftrongeft.expreffions can fcarcely dojuftice to the
. UL . attention and kindnefs of this excellent nobleman : not content
with admitting us to his table without form, he was
anxious that our curioiity fhould be gratified with the fight
of every remarkable objedt at Mofcow ; he oidered his aid-de-
camp to accompany us to different parts of the city.; and as
we were extremely defirous to become acquainted with Mr.
Muller, the celebrated hiftorian of this country, he-one day
invited that refpe&able old gentleman to meet us at dinner.
Gerard Frederick Muller, a native of Germany, was born,
in 1705, at Herforden, in -the circle'Of AMeftphalia. He
came intoRuffia during the reign of Catharine I . ; and was
not long afterwards admitted into the Imperial Academy of
•Sciences, of which fociety he is one of the moft antient
members. In 17 3 x, foon after the acceffion of the emprefs
Anne, he commenced, at the expence of the crown, his
travels over European Ruilia, and into the extreme parts of
Siberia. He was abfent feveral years upon this expedition;
■and did not. return to Peteriburgh until the reign -of Elifa-
beth. The prefent emprefs, an able judge and rewarder of
merit, conferred upon him a very ample falary, and appointed
him counfellor o f ftate and keeper of the archives at Mofcow,
where he has refided about fixteen years. He collected,
during his travels, the moft ample materials for the hiftory
and-geography of this extenfive empire, which was fcarcely
dcnown to the Ruffians themfelves, before his valuable researches
were given to the world in various publications.
His principal work is a '“ Collection of Ruffian Hiftories",
in nine volumes oftavo, printed at different intervals at the
prefs of the Imperial Academy of Sciences. The firft part
* Samlupg Rufliicher Geichicbte,
came
came out in 1732, and the laft made its appearance in 1764. CHA?-
This ftore-houfe of information and literature, in regard to ;
the antiquities, hiftory, geography, and commerce of Ruffia,
and many of the neighbouring countries, conveys the moft
indifputable proofs of the author’s learning, diligence, and
fidelity. To this work the accurate and indefatigable writer
has fucceffively added many other valuable performances
upon fimilar fubjeits, both in, the German and Ruffian
languages, which elucidate various parts in the hiftory of
this empire.
Mr. Muller fpeaks and writes the German, Ruffian, French,
and Latin tongues with furprizing fluency; and reads the
Englifh, Dutch, Swediffi, Danifh, and Greek with great facility.
His memory is ftill furprizing; and his accurate acquaintance
with the minuteft incidents of the Ruffian annals
almoft fupaffes belief.
At the conclufion of the dinner at prince Volkonfki’s, I
had the pleafure of accompanying this eminent hiftorian to
his houfe, and paffed fome hours in his library. He poffeffes
moft of the books in the different languages of modern Europe
which treat of Ruffia : the Englifh waiters who have
written upon this country are far more numerous than I
imagined. His collection of ftate-papers and manufcripts
are invaluable : they are all arranged in the exafteft order,
and claffed into feveral volumes, diftinguifhed by the names
of thofe illuftrious perfonages to whom they principally
relate; fuch .as Peter I. Catharine I. Menzikof, Oftcrman,
&c.
* The emprefs has lately pvirchafed this arranging and printing, at her expence, a
fihe*colle6lion o f books and manufcripts for Collection o f Treaties between Ruilia and
£2000. BachmeiiTer RuiT. Bib. for 1781, the other powers, in the form o f Dumont’ s
p. 554. This great patronefs o f letters has Corps Diplomatique,
coniigned to Mr. Mullet the charge o f