His first literary work was a Russian translation of the German book, 'The Republic of Learned People, or an Allegorical and Critical Description of the Arts and Sciences,' by the Argentine statesman Cornelio Saavedra.
He also translated the comedy The Churchwoman by Christian Fürchtegott Gellert, and the same author's Fables and Tales, as well as The Republic of the Scientists by S.
His creative output also included comedies, opera librettos, and even music set to them.
His operas Regeneration (Перерождение, 1777), and Saint-Petersburg's Trade Stalls (Санкт Петербургский Гостный Двор)[nb 1] had considerable success.
The second one, a scathing satire to the government officials and their thievish behaviour, is one of the first examples of Russian comic opera.