on his return from jassy, however, he found his confidential post of secretary of petitions occupied by the empress's last favorite, prince zubov. he complained of this "diminution of his dignity" to the empress in a private memorial in the course of 1793. the empress reassured him by fresh honors and distinctions on the occasion of the solemn celebration of the peace of jassy (2 september 1793), when she publicly presented him with a golden olive-branch encrusted with brilliants. subsequently, catherine reconciled him with zubov, and he resumed the conduct of foreign affairs. he contributed more than any other man to bring about the downfall and the third partition of poland, for which he was magnificently recompensed.