{"product_id":"richardson-william-anecdotes-of-the-russian-empire-in-a-series-of-letters-written-a-few-years-ago-from-st-petersburg","title":"[RICHARDSON, William]. Anecdotes of the Russian Empire. In a Series of Letters, written, a few Years ago, from St. Petersburg.","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e[RICHARDSON, William].\u003c\/strong\u003e Anecdotes of the Russian Empire. In a Series of Letters, written, a few Years ago, from St. Petersburg. \u003ci\u003eLondon: Printed for W. Strahan, and T. Cadell.\u003c\/i\u003e 1784.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e8vo. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUncommon first and only edition\u003c\/strong\u003e 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 \u003ci\u003eReflections on the Effects of Despotism\u003c\/i\u003e, and he has not much good to say about the clergy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eESTC T136683.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSKU: \u003c\/strong\u003e2124918\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sotherans","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57006561788281,"sku":"2124918","price":300.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0045\/2178\/7426\/files\/2124918.jpg?v=1778229376","url":"https:\/\/sotherans.co.uk\/products\/richardson-william-anecdotes-of-the-russian-empire-in-a-series-of-letters-written-a-few-years-ago-from-st-petersburg","provider":"Sotherans","version":"1.0","type":"link"}