The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-11-07 00:00:00

THE EMPrintALE.LINb'tR.

nu en ARA etEra DRAWN IX A TIIIVATX LIITTEk,
OMD A /X-1.4-CII t PELLE, OCl`6Blll 31.

The Emperor Alexander arrived I.eie this even-
ing between seven and eight o'clock from the re-
view. The King of Prussia is hot expected till
Monday. The Grand Duke Constantine, who
accompanied his brother the E,orveoe I,„e
not returned with him. The Gland Doke Abuh.o I.
with a ',umber of Itn•siau Genebtil 'officers, ar-
rived two or three days ago. The mite-retires for
some (hip past have been languishing, owing to
the absence of the Sovereigns, particularly of the
Emperor Alexander, and the necessity under
which their Minister► felt themselves of consu►ting
them, before they came to any fiord ilecisio.a. The
presence of the latter Sovereign, who is almost his
own Minister, woe found indispensable to their fur-
ther progress. His servants cannot proceed a step
without consulting him, and he probably wished
to see Ironer with his own eyes, and lean► the
state of parties front those hest able to inform
him, before he came to any determination re-
gerding the pending negociations on the sub-
ject of the lenience. He arrived late this even-
mg, therefore his Ministers had instructions to wait
upon him immediately. You express a surprise,
in speaking of the reviews, at the rapidity of his
motions, and the almost übiquity of his presence :
those who have more immediate access to him, who
consult him on the affairs of office, and who thus be-
come acquainted with his habits, are still inure sur-
prised at the unceasing activity of his • I, his un-
wearied application to the duties of his high station,
and his amazing dispatch of business. He is not on-
ly hit own prime Minister, and Minister for Foreign
Affairs, but his own Minister of the Interior, of Police,
and of Finance. The most trifling details,as well ns
the most important projects or uegociations, are laid
before him, and receive their due share of considera-
tion. Pleasure or amusement are never allowed for u
moment to interfere with the calls of duty or the
exigencies of business. He gives orders to admit
every one into his presence who has any petition to
offer, •r any useful plan to propose ; and the rapi-
dity with which he conceives its objects, or decides
upon its merits, is equalled only by the spirit and
willingness with which he enters on its examination.
When Mr. Clarkson saw him at Paris, in 1914, on
his return from England, though he had only 24
hours to spend in that capital, he devoted two of
them to an audience on the details of the Slave Trade
question ; and I know from good authority, that
amid the multiplicity of his business here, he had
thoroughly read ■nd considered M►. Owen's me-
morial, and would have heard his explanations,
had he seen any thing feasible in his plan, or
even any thing not dangerous iu his doctrines.—
He rises every morning at six o'clock. and often
does not go to bed till two. When he finds that he
cannot enjoy even this short period of regular re-
pose, he refreshes himself by a short sleep of an
hour, or half an hour, during the day, in his chair,
as he can find opportunity. by a power which he
has acquired of using •toy moment of leisure he
chooses for such • refreshment—a power which,
perhaps, chews Ids command over his time, and the
general tranquillity as well as activity of his mind.
His morning devotions are never omitted. whatever
other duties lie has to perform—a habit which is
common to him with the rest or his family : nor
is he less attentive to the little forms and re-
fined civilities of life than if they constituted its
more serious employment. So punctual is he in
this respect, that those who had no nearer views of
his charseter would suppose that he comprised the
whole business of a Sovereign in doing popular
things, and shelving refined attentions. The anec-
dote regarding his first visit to the Duke of Wel-
lington, on coming here, you will not have forgotten.
On the Sunday after his arrival he appeared in
four changes of dress, in compliment to those whom
he was to see: he transacted business in his usual
habit in the morning; he waited afterwards on the
King of Prussia in the uniform of the Prussian
guards ; he waited on the Emperor Francis, in that
of A ustriak and he was dressed spin in • Prussian
uniform, at the ball given by the city in the even-
ing. The Liege papers celebrate some of the po-
pular things which he (lid on his way to the re-
view; and I have no doubt the French journals will
echo their praises, by reciting similar acts of popu-
larity in France. This episode on the personal ac-
tivity and popular manners of the Emperor Alex-
ander may he thought at first sight minute and ill-
placed ; hut it will reuse to appear NO, when we re-
flect cm the great influence which, joined with his
military success, they have already had on the world.
and consider how much the individual character of
• Momorch under an absolute Government moulds
the conduct of his people, and controls the policy
of his empire. On the views and policy of Alex-
ander depends in a great degree, at present, the
measures which shall be pursued towards France,
and consequently the future stability of the Vuro-
peen Confederation.

Among the claims that hare been suhmitted to
the Congress of Aix.la.Chapelle, is that of the Elec.
torof Hesse Cased to be made a King. This Prince,
under the title of Elector, reigns over about half a
million of melt, whom he formerly took the liberty
of selling, to be killed in the wars of any State that
did not with to kill its own subjects; and yet he is
not contented with his title. At the Congress of
Vienna be had a dispute shout precedency with
the Grand Duke of Ilesse-Dsruistedt, which was
carried on with as much animation as if the hap-
piness of their subjects had depended on which of
their ambassadors should make the first bow at a
levee, or subscribe their mimes first to it document :
A thought struck his Electoral Highness, which
gave him winch uneasiness, and induced him to
make this application. As there is now no Em-
peror of Germany, there can be no Electors, and Ns
title thus becomes u nuillity. He could not descend
into a Duke ur Grand Duke, he must therefore be
made a King, " and lie would be crowned." Stich
was Lis reasoning. The Congress at Vienna refused
the dignity demanded, not seeing sufficient grounds
for the demand ; and the present Congress has
been equally impenetrable to his argument. liaden
lids 1,001,000, Ilesse-Dirnistailt has 019,000, and
this Elector of Hesse has only 50,000 subjects.
'Elie two former are refused the royal titles; snit,
hard fate! his Highness of (Jesse-Cassel must re.
man an Elector