A Russian princess admitted defeat with a most gracious compliment.
John Smeaton (1724-1792) was an English engineer who made advances in water and steam power, and engineered bridges, canals, harbours and land drainage schemes. Such was his reputation that Empress Catherine of Russia, who had a high regard for English know-how, dangled the lure of her glittering Court and immense treasury in the hope of landing him.
Posted January 1
Jigsaws: Join this group of ideas together to make a single sentence, in as many ways as you can. See if you can include any of the words in square brackets.
Catherine offered Smeaton a job in Russia. She told him to name his terms. He declined the job. [Accept. Sum. Turn.]
Picture: By Dmitry Levitzky (1735-1822), via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.. Source.
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