but diplomacy by no means exhausted bezborodko's capacity for work. he had a large share in the internal administration also. he reformed the post-office, improved the banking system of russia, regulated the finances, constructed roads, and united the uniate and orthodox churches. on the death of catherine, emperor paul entrusted bezborodko with the examination of the late empress's private papers, and shortly afterwards made him a prince of the russian empire, with a correspondingly splendid apanage. on the retirement of osterman he received the highest dignity in the russian empire - that of imperial chancellor.