The articles in the Leyden Courant from the beginning of 1787 containing the reports from Petersburg, Kamieniec Podolski and Warsaw, refer to the excursion of Catherine II to Kherson in order to visit the newly conquered Turkish provinces planned for 13 January, and all the reports contain references to Poland. In the report from Petersburg, we can read about the arrival of general Jan Komarzewski. It was correctly assumed that the main goal of his visit was to prepare the meeting between the Russian empress and the Polish king during her visit in the southern provinces. It was deemed interesting due to the friendship that previously connected the two, even before they sat on their respective thrones. The correspondent of the Leyden Courant correctly assumed that the requirement that the meeting should take place on the Polish territory, because of the provision that the king may not leave the country without explicit permission from the Sejm, granted only in special circumstances, would be the biggest obstacle. In the report from Kamieniec we could read about the arrival of the two dignitaries from Warsaw, whose task was to prepare the stops for the numerous court of Catherine II during her travel throughout Polish Ukraine. The correspondent admitted that he did not know the exact plan of the Russian empress’ visit – as there were numerous contradicting rumours circulating. The correspondent from Warsaw described Komarzewski as one of the most trusted associate of the king, and his travel to Petersburg, in order to officially invite Catherine II. The corresponded referred to the letters from Russia, confirming that the task has been carried out by the head of the military office. Everyone, however, admitted ignorance of the fact whether the invitation was accepted or not.
In fact, Stanisław August prepared for the meeting with the empress since the summer of 1786. His goal was to convince her to agree to a military alliance and auction of the army, in order to prepare for the expected war with Turkey, and to confederate a Sejm in order to carry out some reforms.
In the end of January, the Leyden Courant cut the speculations and informed the public about the return of Komarzewski to Warsaw. The empress agreed to meet the Polish king, and the delegate himself received some generous gifts. The departure of the king was set to take place in the beginning of February, because the meeting was planned to take place in Kaniów, a starostwo, located near Kiev. The reports of preparation for the empress’ travel through Belarus were also published, with explanation that before the first partition it was a part of Lithuania. The Russian ruler was expected in Mścisław on 25th of January, and 41,000 horses for her court were allegedly prepared on her way. In the next issue of the international newspaper an information was added about the departure of marshal Mniszech, whose mission was to prepare the stop for Stanisław August in Wiśniowiec. The departure of Stackelberg was purportedly scheduled on 10th of February, he was supposed to travel with Catherine II to Kherson.
The departure of Catherine II from Tsarskoye Selo to Kiev, intended to take place on 18th of January 1787 was announced two days earlier by the Leyden Courant. The correspondent from Petersburg reported that she was to be accompanied by the French ambassador Ségur and Alleyne Fitzherbert, the English ambassador. The empress changed her mind about travelling with her two grandsons, the Grand Dukes Alexander and Konstantin. They were supposed to be left under their parents’ supervision in order for them to avoid the hardships of a long travel. As the author of the written report, there was no doubt that the meeting with Joseph II would take place in Kherson, from where he would go back to Vienna without stopping in Kiev, where the empress would meet with Stanisław August.
The article, dated on 31st of January, written from Warsaw confirmed the departure of Catherine II from Tsarskoye Selo on the previously announced date. The first part of the empress’ excursion, as described in the Leyden Courant was Smolensk, where she was hosted by the governor, Prince Panin. In Belarus she would meet Potemkin, and later she would depart for Kiev, where she would wait until April, for the ice on Dnieper would then melt and she and her court would be able to continue their journey on board of galleys. From Kiev the empress would go to attend the meeting with the Polish king, who would depart for the meeting place in the first days of March. After the meeting Catherine II would spend several days in Kremenchuk and Ekaterinoslav, and five or six days in Kherson. According to the correspondent in Warsaw, the last visit depended on the emperor. There was no guarantee that Joseph II would arrive to this port town on the Black Sea, or whether he would only be able to get to Ukraine. From Kherson the empress would go to Kinburn, near Ochakiv, and from there she would go to Perekop in Crimea, from where the excursion around the peninsula would begin, with stops in Kaffa and Bakhchysarai. From there she would return through Taganrog, Azov, Bakhmut, Voronezh and Moscow, in order to return to Petersburg in July. In Kiev, Kherson and in Crimea she would be protected by a numerous army. The Military Department of the Permanent Council had received a message from hetman Branicki, who was sent to Ukraine, about the order given by field marshal Pyotr Rumyantsev to move out the Polish troops from the Kiev voivodeship in order to make room for 10 Russian regiments. Bila Tserkva – the residence of hetman Branicki, who was the nephew of Potemkin by marriage - was supposed to be their headquarters, reminded the correspondent from Warsaw.
According to the Leyden Courant the departure of Stanisław August was planned on the Ash Wednesday on 21 February. The author expected that the king would give out some expensive gifts to the dignitaries travelling with Catherine II, because the overall cost of jewellery purchased by the Court was estimated to be 2 million zlotys.
In the middle of March, the Leyden Courant reported that the king had left Warsaw – it happened on 23 February. He was seen off by the ministers, senators and magnates, as well as the City Council. The people gathered in great numbers on the way where the king was going to go. In the carriage Stanisław August was accompanied by Prince Józef Poniatowski, who had recently been awarded the Order of the White Eagle by his uncle. The newspaper reported that among the king’s suite there was Adam Naruszewicz, a bishop known for his talent and knowledge of Latin poetry, and the Lithuanian hetman Ludwik Tyszkiewicz, general Komarzewski and Kazimierz Konstanty Plater, a starosta from Livonia. The king was supposed to spend his first night on the way in Kozienice, where he was supposed to wait until the Vistula River would be passable again, because at the time it was spilled and frozen over. After crossing the river, the king would then go to Demblin and Wiśniowiec. Two days after the departure of the king the same report announced that Stanisław Poniatowski and other prominent figures would depart from Warsaw.
In the middle of March, the Warsaw correspondent informed that the King had safely reached Wiśniowiec. The newspaper reminded their readers about the meeting between Stanisław August and the Grand Dukes of Russia in the very same residence of the Grand Crown Marshal Mniszech in 1781. However, at that moment the most prominent local noblemen were to gather in Wiśniowiec. Some of them, including Count Mniszech were supposed to become a part of the suite that would assist the king during his travel in order to meet his old friend. The reporter referred to the information from Kiev and wrote that the health of the empress was in perfect health, but because of the sheer number of foreigners in the city, the prices went up significantly. A 2-room apartment devoid of most amenities cost approximately 300-400 ducats, and a pound of butter could cost even a ruble. The orders were given to provide supplies from the neighbouring areas. The splendour and the luxury of the court, unparalleled in the entire Europe caused the increase in demand so big that even the necessities became too expensive for the residents and the foreigners alike. The reporter concludes with a short summary, that this was the main reason why the empress’ stay in Kiev was not devoid of inconveniences.
In the meantime, the newspaper continued its story about the travel of Stanisław August, full of obstacles caused by harsh winter. Because of his correspondence we know that on 19th of March the king met with Potemkin in Fastów, in the presence of Stackelberg, hetman Branicki and Prince de Nassau, who arrived from Kiev. Prince Potemkin showed up in the uniform of Bracław voivodeship, decorated only with two Polish orders. He kissed the hand of the Polish ruler just like he was his vassal. Stanisław August spent three hours on a discussion with Potemkin behind closed doors, and then the aforementioned men dined together, and on the next day they reached Kiev with the king. Despite the hardships of the travel, the king enjoyed perfect health. In order to prevent the Commonwealth from spending too much on the king’s travel, Catherine II allegedly gave a big sum of money to Stanisław August. According to the correspondent from Warsaw, it was approximately 2 million rubles, however this report has to be considered as propaganda, because it was the king who may have had interest in strengthening the relation between him and Potemkin, because of his role as a host of the empress’ visit in the southern Russia. Potemkin also cared about showing his kindness to Stanisław August. When he bought the city of Smiła and its surroundings from Ksawery Lubomirski with an unknown purpose, he also bought out the estate in Bracław voivodeship, which explains why the Prince would dress in the local uniform.
Another report from Warsaw in the beginning of April was very optimistic about the person of the king. The report describes his recovery after rhinitis and intense cough he had developed in the meantime. They were caused by the hardships of the travel, which had to be partially carried out on foot because the frozen or swamped roads were impossible to pass otherwise. The reception funded by the empress was quite representative of her friendship, she also removed the custom fees from Polish products in Kherson. The fact that two rulers met in Kiev and the wait for the third one brought a number of people, including Polish and Russian nobles, and others. Among the people who arrived there were three Spanish Grands – Prince Charles Joseph de Ligne, de Nassau and de Belmonte. Every day sumptuous parties were held. On the day of St Joseph, on 19th of March the Austrian ambassador, Ludwig von Cobenzl organized an event to commemorate the ruler, which concluded in a ball, to which Catherine came, and the number of guests was outstanding. The prices were also quickly rising, but the nobility, not used to being deprived of luxuries, did not limit their expenses. The empress chose Branicka, wife of the hetman and niece of Potemkin to be in charge of her table, for which she paid her 5000 rubles a day.
The information published in Leyden Courant about the meeting between Stanisław August and Catherine in Kiev were disproved in a report from Poland dated on 19th May. It assured that the king did not leave Kaniów, and he met with Prince Potemkin and other Russian members of the court. This short report mentioned the meeting of the monarchs only in one sentence, where it announced that it was going to take place on 6th of May in Kaniów. The content of the information is laconic in that regards – we know only that the meeting was going to take place on board of a ship on the Dnieper river. The same day the emperor left Lviv and set off to Brody, from where he wanted to get to Kherson.
The next week saw the Leyden Courant publish a long report from the meeting between Stanisław August and Catherine, with all characteristics of being inspired by the king. The relation was preceded by an introduction written in Kaniów on 9th May, which announced the departure of the Polish king, after spending 7 weeks there. The report also confirmed that Prince Potemkin and other Russian dignitaries also visited Kaniów. The meeting of the two monarchs took place on 6th May and had a very ceremonial character, as the relation described.
The report mentioned the sighting of 20 galleys on Dnieper in the morning of the day of the meeting, their names and intended use (for example the dining hall) were listed. 2 hours later the fleet reached Kaniów. The galleys were then anchored in the middle of the river, 1000 steps wide. Catherine was welcomed by a salvo from 101 cannons, located on the nearby hill. The galleys also responded with similar salvo, and the Polish king observed it from the palace, surrounded by princes de Ligne, de Nassau, as well as his suite and ministers. The show was done by the galleys filled with Russian soldiers, sailors and army musicians. Around noon, two dinghies were sent to the Polish shore with delegates of the empress, Count Aleksandr Bezborodko and court marshal Fiodor Bariatyński. They were let into king’s chambers where they announced the arrival of their empress and told him that she wished to see him on her galley.
The king then picked some dignitaries who were supposed to accompany him to the meeting and set off in a carriage to the shore of the Dnieper River, where he sat in one of the boats awaiting him and his dignitaries there. He was accompanied by Mniszech family, two Russian delegates, Stanisław Poniatowski – the Undertreasurer of Lithuania, field hetman Tyszkiewicz, princes de Ligne and de Nassau, and Bishop Naruszewicz, Antoni Dzieduszycki – the Grand Notary of Lithuania, and general Komarzewski in the second boat. It was almost 1pm when Stanisław August finally reached the empress’ galley, welcomed by the salvos from other ships, beating of the drums, waving banners and presented weapons. The Polish ruler got on the empress’ ship by walking on a gangplank, covered with red fabric, where he was welcomed by Potemkin. Without hesitation Stanisław August went through the salon to the office of the Russian ruler, and after that he returned to the salon where Potemkin presented him the Russian dignitaries gathered for this occasion. On this day they wore only Polish orders, and those of Poles who were awarded any Russian medals had them pinned to their clothes. The empress appeared soon after, dressed richly and tastefully.
She was presented to lady Mniszech and other Polish dignitaries, and then discussed with them for about 30 minutes. The discussion was interrupted by the information that the tables are ready for dinner. The empress and the king went to her boat, covered with pink fabric embroidered with gold, accompanied by Potemkin and the Countesses – Branicka and Skawrońska, nieces of Potemkin. Others were placed in other boats, which then left to the great galley, where a table for 60 people was already prepared. During the meal Catherine drank to the king’s health, and the king responded by the same. After the dinner the king walked Catherine to her floating apartment, and from there he went to the galley of Prince Potemkin, where he was given a place to rest. As soon, however, as he reached the galley, general-major Aleksandr Mamonov gave him the order of St. Andrew, the cross and the ribbon. The king, decorated with this new medal moved to the salon of the galley in order to participate in the meeting between the Polish and Russian dignitaries, which took until 6pm. In the meantime, Bishop Naruszewicz was called to the empress’ galley in order to baptise the son of Rafał Tarnowski and his wife, Urszula Ustrzycka. Stanisław August and Catherine II decided to be the godparents of the child. The Bishop of Smolensk was assisted by the canons from Kiev and Michał Pałucki, the official from Kiev. The ceremony was conducted according to the Roman rites.
The child was named Stanisław Paweł, after the heirs to both Polish and the Russian throne. In fact, the boy born in 1785 was named Władysław and had been baptised before, according to the journals of Adam Naruszewicz. The Leyden Courant omitted this fact, as it obscured the propaganda message of the text.
After the ceremony the courtiers went to play cards and both monarchs discussed for about 2 hours, after which the king, along with Prince Potemkin walked the empress to her rooms, and returned to the shore with her boat, assisted by two Russian dignitaries, whose efforts were rewarded with two snuffboxes encrusted with diamonds. Other dignitaries invited to a dinner received similar gifts. As soon as the king reached his palace, a salvo from the Polish cannons was shot, which was a sign to start the fireworks display. The column decorated on three sides with the number of Catherine was illuminated by thousands of lanterns, the hill, where thousands of fireworks were placed, reminded of Etna with a river of magma, and the bouquet composed of thousands of rockets shot in the sky at the end of the display illuminated not only the city, the palace and the river, but also left an impression that the entire horizon was burning. According to the Leyden Courant correspondent, he’d never seen such an amazing thing in his lifetime. After the supper the Russian guests were transported back to the shore of the Dnieper River in royal carriages.
At this point the relation ends, however it is later on completed with correspondence from Poland, dated 23 May, which provides further details about the meeting in Kaniów. The readers get to know that the representative of the Permanent Council, Count Plater and general-lieutenant Komarzewski were awarded the order of St. Alexander Nevsky, and the adjutant of Catherine II, Mamonov, was awarded the Order of the White Eagle, identical to the one Catherine wore on that day. The Leyden Courant did not, however, clearly say that he was the favourite of the empress, which fell within its policy not to publish scandalous information.
The very next day the Russian fleet set off for Kremenchuk, and the author of the relation announced that the empress would continue her travel by land, in order for her to get to Kherson on 16th of May. The author expected that Joseph II will arrive sooner, and both monarchs will remain in the city until 22nd of May. The relation also mentioned an unconfirmed information about the meeting between the Polish king and the emperor that allegedly took place somewhere on the way from Kaniów to Krakow. After 2-hours long discussion the leaders were on their way again. Another unconfirmed information concerned the possible organization of a Sejm as a result of the meeting, although at the moment of writing, the information still required confirmation.
Translation: Lingua Lab
