The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-22 00:00:00

ALEXANDER.

The following information comes in a letter from
St. Petersburg, dated the 9th :

"The acts of the Government, and especially the
official words of the new Emperor, tend to show more
and more clearly the line of conduct which he purposes
to follow. All these speeches, addressed at the pre-
sent moment to the representatives of the different
bodies and administrations of the State, may be con-
densed in these two words, maintiendrai,' or in
other words, ' I am firmly resolved to march in the way
traced out by my father.' The evening before he ad•
dressed the Diplomatic Corps, the Czar appeared
at the Council of State. There, for more than half
an hour, he spoke on the present situation of affairs with
an eloquence and precision of language which struck
every one present. His warlike address to the officers
of the Guard, who assembled to take the oaths of alle-
giance to him, was also much remarked ; and the depu-
tation of the nobility having presented themselves, in
order to render an account to his Majesty of the
election of the Chiefs of the Militia, were harangued
in their turn with much warmth. This discourse
terminated thus I solemnly declare that I will
not give up a single inch of Russian territory to
our enemies. I will take good care to prevent their
penetrating further on the soil of our country—and
never, never—may my hand wither Bret t —will I
affix my signature to a treaty which shall bring the
slightest dishonour on the national honour.' These
words were spoken with a tone and energy of vehemence
which excited among all present the most rapturous
applause.
"In order to explain this enthusiasm, I must mention
to you that in the saloons of the capital, and particu-
larly at Moscow, the centre of the old Russian party,
the late Emperor was frequently reproached with having
made too many concessions. You may judge by that fact
if it be possible for his successor to grant any of the kind
expected from him by the Western Powers. Amid the
general movement of the public mind which carries them
on more and more to a war d routrance—to a war
which is declared to be holy throughout the whole
empire, I must not conceal from you that a good deal of
discontent begins to show itself. Whether right or
w rong—and this fact time alone can show to be just—
the Slavonic party accuses the new Sovereign of show-
ing tendencies by far too Germanic. The old Musco•
vites murmur at what they terra the German invasion
in the most important public offices of the State. They
complain that the men who have the nearest access to
the person of the Czar are of German extraction. For
example, they see in the rank of his most intimate
counsellors the two Counts Alderberg, father and
son ; two other aides-de-camp, Pa'koul and Her-
der, who enjoy especial favour, derive their origin
from the Baltic provinces ; the recall of Prince
Menschikoff,and the nomination of General 0 sten•Sacken,
Luders, Berg, and Rudiger are not of a kind to re-
assure the Russians of the old stock on the Germanic
tendencies with which they reproach the Rrnperor Alex-
ander IL; and, finally, the personages sent to the dif-
ferent Courts to notify his accession to the Crown are
all of Teutonic origin, ae, for instance, Generals Lieven,
Grunewald, Budberg, ard the son of Count Nesselrode.
This predilection for the German party excites, I repeat,
serious complaints. It is generally supposed in Europe
that the Autocrat is absolute master in his empire, but
this is a great error. The Czar is much more subservient
than people think to the exigencies of his nobility, and
he is obliged to allow them a large share in his govern-
ment. The great difficulty for him is to know how to
distribute his favours so as to avoid giving dissatisfac-
tion either to the Slavonic party or the German party,
between whom the struggle has never for a moment
ceased since the time of Peter the Great. At the com-
mencement of each reign ( ash of these r;val l arties make
desperate efforts to raise its influence above the other,
and they wage a mortal -%Vrir, The Rus.sirats were in
high favour under Canerine IL, but were ousted by the
Germans under Alexander 1., so mu _,h e ) that General
Yermoloff is related t> have :aid one day to that Sove-
reign, when asked to demand some favour, ' Make me
a German.' The Emperor Nicholas showed much ability
in holding the balance, so as not to 'ncline to one party or
the other, and he kept both down with an iron hand.
. .

Will his successor succeed in doing the same? That is
the question. It wilt be resolved before lour but in the

and duration-of the present conflict:"