HISTORY OF MA tTA.

also a still greater, on the score of religion, over the minds ofa superstitious people; and they took advantage of this cir-cumstance to induce them to throw off the authority of theirlegitimate sovereign.

Notwithstanding the particulars of this plot were closelyconcealed, it however transpired that the minister of a powerwhich had been long ambitious of possessing a port in theMediterranean had been concerned in the affair. The marquisde Cavalcado*, minister to Catherine II. has since beennamed ; but he absolutely denied that he had acted in amanner so unworthy that great princess. What, however,gave the greatest cause of suspicion that some crowned headsupported .the rebels was the natural question, what theycould possibly hope from the success of their enterprise, with-out some very powerful foreign assistance ?

Whatever might have been the intentions of Russia at thatperiod, she has since made ample reparation for the conductimputed to her; for to her the order owes its preservation: atthe same time that it must he grateful, to England, for the re-stitution of its principal place of residence.

In all elective states, there are constantly some personsnear the throne who either aspire to the sovereign dignitythemselves, or are jealous of the rival who holds the reins ofgovernment; it was therefore reasonably suspected, that some

* Ransijat.—See Mirabeau, Dottfes sur la Lilerte de I'Escaut ; and Recherches Historiques1 1 PoUtiqves, page 10G.