The Press. — London, England, 1857-11-21 00:00:00

THE PRESS, NOVEMBER 21, 1857. individuals of the same way of thinking, had succeeded in prevailing upon the soldiers not to take the oath. It is all a trick," said they; " they are forcing us to take the oath, and Constantine has not renounced : he is in chains, and Michael l'avlovitch, the chef of the regiment, too." At the same time Alexander 13estajeff, Aide•de•Camp to puke Alexander of Wurtemberg, who happened also to be there, gave out that he had been sent from Warsaw with orders not to allow the troops to take the oath. " The Tsar Constantine," cried the conspirators, " loves our regiment, and is going to add to our pay: if anybody is not faithful to him, run that man through." They ordered the soldiers to load their muskets and to take ball cart ridge, deprived the grenadiers of the colours that had been brought out for the ceremony of the oath, and one of the above specified officers wounded with his sabre, first General Freederickz, then General Shensin, who both fell insensible to the ground,—inflicted several blows on Colonel Klivostchinskii, and also wounded a grenadier and a noncommissioned officer who attempted to resist him At last a part of the regiment, led by him, ran out of the barracks, and, with colours displayed and cries of " Hurrah !" carrying with them by force all the officers and soldiers they met, streamed out in cont• plete disorder to the Square of the Senate. Behind and around it ran a crowd of people, also shouting " Hurrah for Constantine !"--an acclamation which for this mob, which had not read the manifest, had still all the force of a lawful devotion. Another portion of the regiment, though restrained by its officers and still remaining in the barracks, nevertheless obstinately continued to refuse the oath. The intelligence was immediately conveyed to Nicholas. and he acted with characteristic energy. "Ifl am only to be Emperor for one " hour," he had said, " I will show myself " worthy of being so ;" and he kept his word. Ordering the immediate concentration of the loyal troops in the great square of the Winter Palace, the Emperor, putting himself at the head of the Palace Guard, led the way. Vast crowds were collecting in the Senate Square, and the Emperor, at once apprehending the value of time to him, in order to enable his troops to concentrate, resolved, says the Baron Korff, " to divert the attention of these " people by something extraordinary" : " Have you read my manifest?" the Emperor began to inquire of the people who surrounded him. The majority answered in the negative. He Ihen took a printed copy from some one in the throng, and himself began reading it aloud, slowly and deliberately, with frequent pauses, and explaining almost every word. The listeners with joyful cries threw np their caps. To many of them the affair appeared to be completely new. • • • • Again raising his voice, the Emperor began to say that the duty of quelling the disturbance belonged to the authorities; that no private person was to dare to inter. fere, either by word or deed, in whatever might take place; that he should judge of their love and devotedness by their tranquillity and strict obedience to the orders of those who alone knew what was to be done. Lastly, terminating his address by advising them to go home, the Emperor said, " Now give us room ;'' and with the greatest order and in silence the crowd retreated to the edges of the square, clearing that area in front of the palace which was to lie occupied by the approaching battalion of the Preobrajenskii Regiment of the Life• Guard. _ _ _ Meanwhile, this dense mass of people of the lowest orders, " a whole masquerade of vice " and debauchery meditating crime," was gra- dually increasing and collecting round the mutinous Moscow regiment, which stood massed round the statue of Peter the Great. Shouts for " Constantine and Constitution "-- which they took for Constantine's wife—were raised amid deafening cheers. The gallant old general Miloridovitch mounted his horse, and, attended by an aide, rode boldly up to the rebels, in spite of Orloff's advice : He was followed, on foot, by Baslihtskii alone. They struggled through the crowd and stopped at about ten paces from the revolted soldiers. The people gave way before the horse, thus clearing a space in front, but thronging densely on the three other shies. Here the old warrior, the hero of Lecco, A instetten, Borodino, Krionoe, Calm, lirienne, La Fere Champenoise, was at last on his true stage. Brave, fearless, accustomed to speak to the Russian soldier, respected by him, he buret out into a powerful harangue, and at last, to prove that he would have been incapable of betraying the Cesarevitch Constantine, he drew from the scabbard the sword which he had received from him as a present; he turned the blade towards the insurgents and began to show it to them, and read in a loud voice the words that were in scribed upon it, " To my friend Miloradovitch." All this, together with his famous name, his valiant look, his breast covered with stars, and which had remained unviolated by a wound after fifty battles, acted powerfully on the soldiers: they stood drawn up to their full height, with shouldered firelocks, and gazing timidly in his face. But suddenly the raised arms of Miloradovitch sank like lead to his sides, the trunk bent heavily over, the horse gave a leap forward, and the rider fell into Bashatskii's arms. Eakheyskii, a retired lieutenant, who was standing, dis guised, in the crowd behind the Count's horse, glided up to him, and discharged a pistol, with the muzzle almost touching him, into his side, just under the cross attached to the cordon of St. Andrew which he wore. Besides this inevitably mortal wound, Miloradovitch received another tolerably deep one from a bayonet in the back On the trial of the rebels it was discovered that the latter been inflicted, at the same instant as Ksklinvskii's shot, by another officer, who affirmed, however, that he had only intended to wound the horde, in order to oblige the Count to retire. This was the first shot fired. An immediate attack of the cavalry on the rebels was repulsed with ease. Affairs were now assuming a serious aspect. The diplomatic corps thought so, for they deputed the Hanoverian Minister, Count Dotnberg, to express to the Emperor their desire to join his Majesty's suite, as " a still more powerful confirmation before the " people of the legality of his rights." " Tell " them," said the Emperor, " quit cette scene " est une al aire de famine, it laquelle l'Europe " n'a rien u demeler." But in spite of this assumed confidence, the Emperor felt no little anxiety. Orders were sent to prepare for the secret and immediate removal of the Imperial family from the Wiator Palace. The Empresses were in despair. Maria Feodo rovntt, frantic with grief, " made no secret of the " most melancholy apprehensions." And there was indeed cause ; for the Grenadiers of the Guard, a most loyal regiment, seized with one of those unaccountable caprices in mo ments of great public panics, had sud denly mutinied and declared for Constantine, and, though checked in their design to seize the Imperial family, their revolt was felt to be a most serious defection. Their determi nation to seize the Imperial family was skil fully designed, and frustrated by the merest accident—the arrival at the palace of an addi tional regiment sent by Nicholas to insure the safe-keeping of this important post. Frus trated here. the Grenadiers marched off en masse. As they came out of the gates of the palace, they met the Emperor riding in alone to assure himself of the safety of his family. The Grenadiers, rushing hastily along towards the great square, do not appear to have recognised bim : In some degree of doubt, but still withont suspecting the truth, he endeavoured to stop the soldiers and draw them up into some order. On his command of " Halt !" they cried out, "We are for Constantine !" "In that case, there is your road," coolly replied the Emperor, pointing with his hand to the Senate Square, and com manding the troops to make room to let the Grenadiers of the Life Guard pass between them. The latter, stream ing past him on both sides of his horse, soon mingled with the rest of the insurgents. It was evidently Provi dence itself that inspired the Emperor with this idea. By preventing the possibility of scattered attacks on the part of the rebels, suddenly occurring at various points, and at the same time scenes of bloodshed under the win dows of the palace, and by concentrating their whole assemblage into one spot, and thereby facilitating their ultimate defeat, this step alone, it may be said, decided the fate of the day. Great credit is due to Nicholas for this happy thought, for once having got the great body of the insurgents together in one spot, his task was comparatively easy ; and, as Baron Korff says, "it decided " the fate of the day. Rein forcements from different posts in the city, then no longer threatened, were now rapidly pushed up in support of the Emperor, who felt himself strong enough to take the initiative. An effort, by appeal to their loyalty, was made to bring the rebels to reason, and a curious proof of the light in which the rebels regarded the whole affair was offered by the reply of the Marines of the Guard, whom the Grand Dike Michael endea voured to recall to their duty : The Grand Duke rode straight up to the seamen, and addressed them with the usual salutation. From the rebel ranks resounded the friendly acclamation of," We wish you good health, your imperial Highness !" " What has happened to you, and what are you thinking of?" continue(' he. And the sailors began to explain that, a fortnight before, when nobody had even heard of the illness of his Majesty the Emperor Alexander Pavlovitch, they had been suddenly told that he was (lead ; that then they had been ordered to take the oath to his Majesty Constantine Pavlovitch, which they had (lone without a murmur; and that now, at last, they wanted to make them swear again to another Emperor, assuring them that the first would not have their oath and refused to reign. " How can we, your Highness," said they, " incur such a sin or 4 our souls, when the person to whom we took the oath is still alive, and yet we do not see him ? If they begin to tamper with the oath, what will remain sacred ?" In vain did the Grand Duke endeavour to convince them that Constantine Pavlo vitch had really of his own free will renounced the throne; that he, the Grand Duke, was a personal witness of his having done so, and that precisely on that ground he had himself taken the oath to the new Emperor. "We are always ready to believe your Highness," answered the blinded victims of the false suggestions of their immediate superiors; " but let Constantine Piivlovitch himself come • •:.• 1139 and affirm his renunciation to us ; as it is we don't know even where he is." All further reasoning remained inef• fectual. The iirand Doke was obliged to return without success, and not with•mt having run imminent risk of paying with his life for his gallant attempt. Every effort proved in vain. The men were becoming daring and the mob bold. The time for action, not for parley, had arrived, and Nicholas ordered his artillery to the front. The mutineers opened a rolling tire of mus ketry ; but their courage and consistency was about to be put to the proof. Four guns were unlimbered within point-blank distance. The Emperor gave the word to load with ball : The Emperor rode up to the front and saluted the sol• diers. " The guns are loaded," reprted Sukhozanet, in a voice so low that nobody else could hear it ; " but without ball; the ball cartridges will soon be here." In the meantime the audacity of the mutineers, rein forced by the Grenadiers of the Life• Guard, had risen to is still higher pitch. They increased the violence of their irregular fire, and the bullets were whistling round the Emperor himself. He was looking fixedly at lienkendorff, who stood at a little distance oft'. Remarking that the latter was reprimanding several of the soldiers for ducking their heads when they heard the shots, he inquired what was the matter, and, on hearing the answer, he set spurs to his horse, which carried him forward right into the thick est of the fire. At a yet earlier moment, the mob, slightly inclined to disturbance, and led away by the example of disorder, had been pelting the troops from behind hoardings and ronnd corners with logs of firewood and stones ; now several individuals of the lower class, bribed with money and brandy, began openly to run over to the rebels. At one of the volleys fired by the latter, the Emperor's horse shied and bolted aside ; and his eye was then struck by the tact that the crowd in his immediate neighbourhood, which at first he had not been able to persuade to cover their heads, was beginning to put on their caps and look at him with a somewhat insolent air. "Caps off!" cried he, with ir.- voluntary severity. In one moment every head was bare, and the crowd streamed away from him. After such different phases, a revolt which threatened to assume gigantic pro portions demanded a less sudden termina tion. But the rebels had no clear'y defined object in view ; they had no heart in the affair ; and if four-fifths of them did not exactly know what they were fighting for, nine-tenths were ignorant of the real details of the event they were prepared to oppose. The consequence was inevitable. As soon as the plans of the Emperor were arranged, undisturbed by any further outbreaks in the city, and with his enemy en masse before him, a general attack was ordered ; the artillery, opening fire, ad vanced rapid!) , to the front, the cavalry and Guards pressed the rebels on either flank, and at the first charge they broke and fled. The victory was complete. Resistance does not appear to have been thought of; the men rushed madly away, hid themselves in cellars, and flung themselves over the bridges of the Neva. In a few hours the revolt was quelled. Baron Korti's narrative ends abruptly here. There is room for an appendix,detailing the re sults of this victory, upon which much misrepre sentation has been given trt the world. After this result, the strength of the Emperor was that of the giant—ho was irresistible ; and it would have been only an act of justice to his great reputation to show to the world that this strength was not exerted beyond the limits required by Law and Order. A Hundred Years Ago. An Historical Sketch —1755 to 1756. By James Hutton. London: Longmans. THIS volume is remarkable for the indepen dence with which it is composed. Though both amusing and instructive, it is obviously written for the sake neither of amusement nor instruction to any one except the author. It has pleased him to preserve certain memo randa of the impression produced upon his mind by the study of a particular period. He does not seem to have thought much of the sensation which his book might create. It is rather the work of a contemplative mind regis tering results for its own sake than of a pro fessed litterateur writing for immediate profit. Yet we believe that Mr. Hutton will reap where he has not sown, and that a large share of popularity will be accorded to his present volume. It is not often that books afford us so perfect an insight into the character of the author, or that strong opinions are conveyed with so little obtrusiveness or dogmatism. Mr. Hutton's philosophy is certainly a some what bitter one—of that kind to which the Ma address by advising them to go home, the r.mperor -- - r . said, " Now give us room;'' and with the greatest order lows of the palace, and by ageinto one spot, sod their whole rus h e d ma dl y away , hid t h emse l ves i n ce ll ars , assemblage ud thereby facilitating their and in silence the crowd retreated to the edges of theand flung themselves over the bridges of alone, step defeat, ultimate this square, clearing that area in front of the palace which wasthe Neva. In a few hours the revolt was fate of the day. to be occupied by the approaching battalion of the quelled. Preobrajenskii Regiment of the Life• Guard. Great credit is due to Nicholas for this happy Meanwhile, this dense mass of people of the thought, for once having got the great body Baron Korirs narrative ends abruptly here. lowest orders, " a whole masquerade of vice of the insurgents together in one spot, his task There is room for an appendix,detailing the re- I " and debauchery meditating crime," was gra- was comparatively easy ; and, as Baron Korff sults of this victory, upon which much misrepre- dually increasing and collecting round the says, "it decided " the fate of the day. Rein- sentation has been given to the world. After nuititious Moscow regiment, which stood forcements from different posts in the city, this result, the strength of the Emperor was massed round the statue of Peter the Great. then no longer threatened, were now rapidly that of the giant—ho was irresistible ; and it Shouts for " Constantine and Constitution "-- pushed up in support of the Emperor, who would have been only an act of justice to his which they took for Constantine's wife—were felt himself strop enough to take the great reputation to show to the world that raised amid deafening cheers. The gallant initiative. An effort, by appeal to their this strength was not exerted beyond the limits old general Nliloridovitch mounted his horse, loyalty, was made to bring the rebels to required by Law and Order. and, attended by an aide, rode boldly up to reason, and a curious proof of the light the rebels, in spite of Orloff's advice : in which the rebels regarded the whole affair A Hundred Years Ago. &n Historical Sketch He was followed, on foot, by Baslintskii alone. They was offered by the reply of the Marines of the struggled through the crowd and stopped at about ten G u ard, whom the Grand D —1755 to 1756. By James Hutton. Dike Michael endea- paces from the revolted soldiers. The people gave way London : Longmans. before the horse, thus clearing a space in front, but voured to recall to their duty : thronging densely on the three other sides. Here the The Grand Duke rode straight up to the seamen, and Tuts volume is remarkable for the indepen- old warrior, the hero of Lecco, Amstetten, Borodine, addressed them with the usual salutation. From the rebel dente with which it is composed. Though Ktasnoe, Calm, lirienne, La Fere Champenoise, was at ranks resounded the friendly acclamation of," We wish you both amusing and instructive, it is obviously last on his true stage. Brave, fearless, accustomed to speak good health, your imperial Highness !" " What has written for the sake neither of amusement nor to the Russian soldier, respected by him, he buret out happened to you, and what are you thinking of?" continued i into a powerf u l h arangu e, and at last, to prove that he he. And the sailors began to explain that, a fortnight instruction to any one except the author. It would have been incapable of betraying the Cesarevitch before, when nobody had even heard of the illness of his has pleased him to preserve certain memo- Constantine, he drew from the scabbard the sword which Majesty the Emperor Alexander Pevlovitch, they hail been randa of the impression produced upon his he had received from hint as a present; he turned the suddenly told that he was dead; that then they had been mind by the study of a particular period. He blade towards th e i nsur gents and began to show it to ordered to take the oath to his Majesty Constantine floes not seem to have thought much of the them, and read in a loud voice the words that were in- Paylovitch, which they had done without a murmur; and sensation which his book might create. It is scribed upon it, "To my friend Miloradovitch." All this, that now, at last, they wanted to make them swear again to together with his famous name, his valiant look, his breast another Emperor, assuring them that the first would not rather the work of a contemplative mind regis- covered with stars, and which hail remained unviolated by have their oath and refused to reign. " How can we, your tering results for its own sake than of a pro- a wound after fifty battles, acted powerfully on the soldiers: Highness," said they, "incur such a sin or, our souls, fessed litterateur writing, for immediate profit. , they stood drawn up to their full height, with shouldered when the person to whom we took the oath is still alive, Yet we believe that Mr. Hutton will reap firelocks, and gazing timidly in his face. But suddenly and yet we do not see him ? If they begin to tamper with where he has not sown, and that a large share the raised arms o f Miloradovitch sank like lead to his the oath , what will remain sacred ?" In vain did the Grand sides, the trunk bent heavily over, the horse gave a leap Duke endeavour to convince them that Constantine payl o . of popularity will be accorded to his present forward, and the rider fell into Bashetskies arms. vitch had really of his own free will renounced the throne; volume. It is not often that books afford us Rakievskii, a retired lieutenant, who was standing, die- that he, the Grand Duke, was it personal witness of his so perfect an insight into the character of the pitied, in the crowd behind the Count's horse, glided up having done so, and that precisely on that ground he had author, or that strong opinions are conveyed to him, and di sc h arge d a pi s t o l, w i t h t h e muz zle almost himself taken the oath to the new Emperor. "We are with so little obtrusiveness or dt.ginatism. touching him, into his side, just under the cross attached always ready to believe your Highness," answered the to the cordon of St. Andrew which he wore. Besides blinded victims of the false suggestions of their immediate Mr. Hutton's philosophy is certainly a some- this inevitably mortal wound, Miloradovitch received superiors; "but let Constantine Piivlovitch himself come what bitter one—of that kind to which the ~. . • ' A lir .