from this time he was inseparably associated with catherine in all important diplomatic affairs, though officially he was the subordinate of the vice-chancellor, count ivan osterman. he wrote all the most important despatches to the russian ministers abroad, concluded and subscribed all treaties, and performed all the functions of a secretary of state. he identified himself entirely with catherine's political ideas, even with that of re-establishing the greek empire under her grandson constantine. the empress, as usual, richly rewarded her comes with pensions and principalities. in 1786 he was promoted to the governing senate, and it was through him that the empress communicated her will to that august state-decoration. in 1787 he accompanied catherine on her triumphal progress through south russia in the capacity of minister of foreign affairs. at kanev he conducted the negotiations with the polish king, stanislaus ii, and at novaya kaidaniya he was in the empress's carriage when she received joseph ii.