The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-08 00:00:00

How Nicholas Grasped the Russian Sceptre,

The events which followed Alexander's death remain to
this day strangely unintelligible, writes a Saturday Re-
viewer. According to the account drawn up by baron
Korff, a generous contest took place between the Grand
Duke Constantine and his younger brother Nicholas, each
desiring to induce the other to ascend the throne. Nothing
can be more touching than the picture of fraternal love de-
picted by "his Imperial Majesty's Secretary of State."'
The only fault with which his heroes can be charged is a
Homeric partiality for tears. They appear to have been
in the habit of giving way to their feelings on the slightest
provocation, and the book resounds with their Grand
ducal sobbings ; but perhaps the baron is not entirely to be
depended upon. An air of mystery still hangs about the
events which followed the death of Alexander. Constan-
tine took the oath of allegiance to IN, icholas at Warsaw.
Nicholas, at St. Petersburg, swore fealty to Constantine.
The Grand Duke Michael posted up and down betweenthe
cities in a state of distraction, and allowed several days to
pass without swearing allegiance to either. As to the
troops, they swore at random by platoons, following the
lead of their commanding officers, home of whom had their
own interests to servo by the operation. The interregnum
had lasted more than a tortnignt, when one morning, be'
fore daybreak, an officer insisted on seeing Nicholas, and
delivered to him a packet addressed to the Emperor, "Ra-
fleeting," says Korff, " that the duty of a subject is to sac-
rifice himself," Nicholas opened it, and, on reading its con-
tents, was " struck with so unspeakable horror" that a
cloud of asterisks has been found necessary to cover his
emotions. The packet contained letters giving a full ac-
count of the impending insurrection; and Nicholas, seeing
the necessity of immediate action, determined to coquet with
the Crown no longer. In the Baron's words, "He silenced
in his heart, before the sacred debt of his country, the
voice of self-preservation and self-interest ; with a sou
overflowing with the most pious confidence in
Almighty wisdom ho yielded to its decree. The next
morning, his son, the present Emperor, then a boy of seven
years of age, was informed of his father's accession to the
throne, and " cried a good deal when he heard of it." The
new Empress also wept, and said that she ought to bo con-
doled with, not congratulated. And, indeed, although that
day passed away quietly, all felt that a great storm was
approaching. On the following morning, the troops were
summoned to take the oath, and the dreaded insurrection
broke out. The leading members of the Secret
Societies, knowing that the Emperor was acquainted
with their plans, and perceiving that it was no
longer a time for cautious measures, attempted to
strike the blow which they had been so long preparing. It
is difficult to u ixklstand how they could have entertained
any hope of a737Theii anent success. By circulating a false
report that Constantine had been forcibly deprived of the
crown by Nicholas, they induced a part of the army to
mutiny; but even the men whom they misled had not the
slightest sympathy with their constitutional or republican
tendencies. It is unnecesary to dwell upon the events which
followed the outbreak. Every one knows what courage and
firmness Nicholas displayed, and how the insurgents were
either convinced by his arguments or annihilated by his artil-
lery. By half-past six in the evening the mutiny was at an
end, and having got rid of his scruples and a considerable
number of troublesome subjects, the new Emperor was at
liberty to attend to his dinner and his devotions. The day
had been one of trial for him; for his family the terror and
the suspense must have been almost unbearable. Early
that morning, the youthful Czarevich had been interrupted
in his task of colouring a print representing the passage
of the Granicus by Alexander the Great—a picture which
is still preserved by his Majesty the Emperor in the same
state as it then was—and carried off for greater security to
the Winter Palace. There the ladies and children of the
Imperial family were assembled, and there throughout that
long day they remained, anxiously awaiting the result of
the disturbance. Vague rumours reached them at intervals
from without, and with the evening came the roar of artil-
lery. The Dowager Empress, "struck by a touching thought,
besought Demidoff to take her late husband's portrait and
show it to the insurgents. The sight of his features, she
thought, would recall them to their duty." The Empress
fell on her knees at the first sound of the cannon, and "re-
mained in that attitude in fervent prayer till the arrival of
Adlerberg with intelligence that all was over." At length
Nicholas arrived in triumph. His victory was complete.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

4>.

WAKEFIELD—FRIDAY.
Fresh wheat was fully as dear. Other sorts were no.
glected. Spring corn unaltered.
Averages for the week :
Wheat 2,451 qrs., at 47s 44d
Rye — —s Oct
Oats
Beans