Wilmot, Martha and Catherine. The Russian journals of Martha and Catherine Wilmot; being an Account by two Irish ladies of their adventures in Russia as guests of the celebrated Princess Daschkaw, containing vivid descriptions of contemporary court life and society, and lively anecdotes of many interesting historical characters, 1803-1808, edited by the Marchioness of Londonberry and H.M. Hyde. London: Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1934.

In these very descriptive and lively written diary entries by two sisters: Martha and Catherine Wilmot, the daily life of Russian high society in the early 19^th century comes alive. Russia, at this time, had control over the Baltic states and were beginning a century of dominion there, but the sisters did not travel outside of the Russian nation. These journals are filled with first hand accounts of Russian Count’s and Princess’s- primarily Princess Daschkaw (Dashkova), a close friend of Empress Catherine the Great and a major figure of Russian Enlightenment. Martha Wilmot resides with the Princess Daschkaw for 5 years, spending their time together in St. Petersburg and Moscow, while Catherine comes to visit them twice in-between. The Wilmot sisters were of respectable social standing in Ireland: both received strong educations and Catherine traveled extensively throughout Western Europe before receiving the invitation to Russia and passing it on to her younger sister, Martha. While Martha writes more of daily occurrences and social gatherings, Catherine writes a little of military strength and the emergence of a middle class (p.234-261). Catherine’s political interludes, however, are short and general, and the bulk of her writing is of daily occurrences. Although it is entertaining to read the particulars of high class Russian society in the early 19^th century, the true jewels of these journals are Martha’s short, scattered inserts describing the Enlightened ideals of Princess Daschkaw, and her descriptions of the Princess’s intellect and experiences. (SL 2005)