Catherine the Great assumes the throne of Russia

Source:  Readings in Modern European History, edited by James Harvey Robinson and Charles Beard (Boston: Ginn and Company, 1908), vol. 1, p. 208, citing Annual Register, 1762, p. 227

Catherine issued the following proclamation upon her assumption of the throne of Russia (and the murder of her husband, though she never quite got around to mentioning that fact).

Humbly adoring the degrees of Divine Providence, we assure our faithful subjects that we will not fail by night and by day to invoke the Most High to bless our scepter and enable us to wield it for the maintenance of our orthodox religion, the security and defense of our dear native country, and the support of justice ; as well as to put an end to all miseries, iniquities, and violences by strengthening and fortifying our heart for the public good.

And as we ardently wish to prove effectually how far we merit the mutual love of our people, for whose happiness we acknowledge our throne to be appointed, we solemnly promise on our imperial word to make such arrangements in the empire that the government may be endued with an intrinsic force to support itself within limited and proper hounds ; and each department of the State be provided with wholesome laws and regulations sufficient to maintain good order therein at all times and under all circumstances.

By which means we hope to establish hereafter the empire and our sovereign hover (however they may have been formerly weakened) in such a manner as to comfort the discouraged hearts of all true patriots. We do not in the least doubt that our loving subjects will, as well for the salvation of their own souls as for the good of religion, inviolably observe the oath which they have sworn to us in the presence of Almighty God; we thereupon pledge them our imperial favor.