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W czasie reform administracyjnych [[Paweł I Romanow|Pawła I]] ukazem z 12 września 1796 (wszedł w życie w 1797) połączono ją z [[Gubernia słonimska|gubernią słonimską]] w jedną [[Gubernia litewska|gubernię litewską]] z siedzibą w [[Wilno|Wilnie]].
Za [[Aleksander I Romanow|Aleksandra I]] gubernia litewska w 1801 podzielona została na wileńską (do 1840 nazywaną litewsko-wileńską) oraz [[Gubernia grodzieńska|grodzieńską]] (dawniej gubernia słonimska). Od [[1819]] roku gubernia wileńska pozostawała pod naczelnym zarządem administracyjnym wielkiego księcia [[Konstanty Romanow (1779–1831)|Konstantego]]<ref>[[Wacław Tokarz]], Wojna polsko-rosyjska 1830 i 1831, [[Warszawa]] [[1993]], s. 55-56.</ref>.
<blockquote>''Wilna''. - This was formerly the capital of a Lithuanian palatinate, but now of a Russian province or government. It is situated in a hilly country, and occupies several eminences near the river Vilna or Vilia, 400 miles south-south-west of Petersburgh, and 195 east of Koningsberg. Its circuit is nearly four miles ; its population, amounting in 1788 to 21,000, is now nearly 30,000. Like other towns in Poland and Russia, it is built chiefly of wood, very deficient in cleanliness, and exhibits a'striking contrast of wretchedness and tawdry magnificence. Wilna is the seat of a Greek metropolitan and a Catholic bishop. Its university, established 1570, was new modelled by the Russian government in 1803. Connected with the establishment is an observatory and several libraries. There are in Wilna also a gymnasium or classical school, a seminary for the education of the Catholic clergy, another for those of the Greek church, and an institution for youths of good family.
'''The province of Wilna contains the north part of Lithuania'''. It extends from 53° 40' to 56° 15' of north lat. ; has an area of 2300 square miles, and a population of 1,000,000. The trade, such as it is, is carried on by the Jews. The principal rivers are the Niemen, the Vilia, the Pripez, and the Narew ; and the chief towns are Lida, Breslaw, Smorgone, Dory, Oszmiana or Oshmiana, and Molodegno. At the latter place, on November 29, 1812, the Emperor Napoleon, surrounded by an escort of officers, left the miserable remains of his army, on their retreat from Moscow.''
M. Ross (of Durham.) A History of Poland, from Its Foundation as a State to the Present Time ... 1835 <ref name="Durham.)1835">{{cite book|author=M. Ross (of Durham.)|title=A History of Poland, from Its Foundation as a State to the Present Time ...: To which is Prefixed : a Descriptive View of the Country, Its Natural History ... and the Manners and Customs of Its Inhabitants|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fqxDAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA41|year=1835|publisher=Pattison & Ross|pages=41–}}</ref></blockquote>
W 1843 część obszaru przeszła do nowo utworzonej [[Gubernia kowieńska|guberni kowieńskiej]]. W wileńskiej powstały wtedy powiaty: wileński, oszmiański, [[Powiat święciański|święciański]] ([[Powiat święciański|powiat zawilejski]]) i trocki, a także przekazany z guberni grodzieńskiej [[Powiat lidzki (gubernia wileńska)|lidzki]] oraz z [[Gubernia mińska|mińskiej]] – [[powiat wilejski]] i [[Powiat dziśnieński|dziśnieński]].
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