The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-06-02 00:00:00

THE IMPERIAL MANIFESTO.

Immediately after the coronation the Imperial
Manifesto was, in accordance with custom, issued.
It occupies twelve columns of foolscap, its leading
features being a remission of all arrears of taxes due
up to the Ist of January, 1853, including those of the
poll-tax and direct and indirect imposti ; a mitigation
of the penalties incurred under judgments which
have not yet been enforced ; a partial pardon
for various crimes, and a mitigation of punish-
ments not yet fully undergone ; the removal
of police supervision and permission to return
to their homes for persons banished by admi-
nistrative procedure; permission to return for
refugees who have left the country ; a full amnesty to
all classes of participants in the last Polish insurrec-
tion who have been under prohibition from residing in
the capital or other towns of the Polish provinces, and
from entering the public service. The preamble runs
as follows :

"By the grace of God, We, Alexander, Emperor
and Autocrat of All the Ruesias, Czar of Poland,
Grand Duke of Finland, tic., having by the will of God,
assumed the Crown of our Imperial Ancestor, and
having been anointed with the sacred oil give thanks to
God with our whole heart, by whose decree we fulfil
this holy rite, bequeathed us by our forefathers, and
equally dear to ourselves and all true sons of Russia.
May the great Rider of Kings and kingdoms bless
the day and the hour wherein before His presence
we repeated the solemn vow of the Imperial call-
ing on the spot sanctified from old time by the
faith and prayers of the whole Russian land! May
His Omnipotent Spirit support the power of our
Sovereignty, and endow us with wisdom and strength
for the pacification of all troubles, for the maintenance
of order and justice, and for the enlightenment of the
people to the truths of religion, for the confirmation
in every class of obedience to duty and to the law, the
preservation of the rights and privileges of all men,
arid of the general security, and for the increased
prosperity and glory of our beloved Fatherland.
"Being desirous, on this holy and solemn day, to
bend our merciful glances upon all our subjects, we
now, in accordance with the inmost dictates of our
heart, turn towards those who are specially in want or
oppressed—to those who, owing to insufficient means,
the result of misfortune or circumstances beyond their
own control are not in a position to fulfill all their
obligations towards the State; nor do we exclude from
our Imperial clemency those who, darkening their lives
.by crimes ormisdeeds, did so through misunderstanding
or carelessness, or having fallen into more serious
offences atone for them by bearing the punishment by
law allotted with meekness and submission, thereby
meriting pardon, or at least some alleviation of their
lot."
Great crowds besieged the printing•office to obtain
copies of the manifesto, and its perusal gave rise to
great rejoicing.
THE CZAR'S FIRST RECEPTION.

On Monday the Emperor received several deputa•
tions from various classes and from the Diplomatic
Corp!. The newspaper correspondents were allowed
a position close to the Throne, just behind the Grand
Dukes, and the Grand Duke Nicholas amiably ex•
plained to them the characters of the various deputa•
tions. The Emperor stood in front of the Throne
attired in the uniform of a Russian General, the Crown
and other of the Imperial regalia being placed on a
table close by. He wore a gay and good-humoured
aspect.

The Empress was in a white dress with a magnifi-
cent gold brocaded blue train, and a dazzling coiffure
of diamonds, the brilliancy of which was equalled by
the necklace of similar precious stones.
The Emperor said a few words to each of the de-
putations. They all bore bread and salt, presents of
gorgeous gold salvers, swords, or sacred images. The
appearance of the Asiatic deputations was wonderfully
pictmesque. The Khan of Khiva, the heir apparent
to the Kban of Bokhara, and the group of Tekke
Tnrcomans from Mery were graciously received, and
were obviously deeply impressed with the magnifi-
cence of the Russian Court.

The Duchesl of Edinburgh wore a Russian dress,
and a blue coiffure studded with diamonds. She stoed
with a group of Grand Duchesses on the left of the
Throne, and manifested great interest in the Asiatic
deputations,