[RICHARDSON, William]. Anecdotes of the Russian Empire. In a Series of Letters, written, a few Years ago, from St. Petersburg.

[RICHARDSON, William]. Anecdotes of the Russian Empire. In a Series of Letters, written, a few Years ago, from St. Petersburg. London: Printed for W. Strahan, and T. Cadell. 1784.

8vo. Modern half-calf over marbled boards, spine with raised bands, gilt-stamped black morocco lettering-piece; pp. xvi, 478, [2], complete with half-title and errata leaf; partial fading to binding, a little spotting initially and at the end, some scattered brown spots, early stamps of Birmingham Library to title-page and at the end; a good copy.

Uncommon first and only edition of these letters by the tutor to the two sons of the ambassador-extraordinary to the Russian empress Catherine the Great, Lord Cathcart, sent to St. Petersburg in 1768. Richardson served as well as secretary to Lord Cathcart and was therefore well-positioned to observe society, events in the capital and obtain information on the Russo-Turkish war. As a Scottish humanist William Richardson (1743–1814) describes the social position of the peasantry as being 'in a state of abject slavery' (p. 193); one chapter is headed Reflections on the Effects of Despotism, and he has not much good to say about the clergy.

ESTC T136683.

SKU: 2124918