The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-30 00:00:00

EMANCIPATION OF THE RUSSIAN

SERFS.

The Journal de St. Petersburg of the ith of
March publishes the following rescript addressed
by the Emperor Alexander to his brother, his
Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Constantino
Nicolaievitch :

"Imperial Highness,—l have signed to-day the mani-
festo which concedes to the peasants of the nobles the rights
of free cultivators, and I have sanctioned the general and
local arrangements as well as those concerning the peasants
and domestic serfs freed from the glebe—measures that had
been previously examined under your presidentship, in the
superior committee appointed to examine the question of
the peasantry, aid then submitted to the deliberations of
the Council of the Empire.

" On this very day, so memorable for Russia, the impulse
of my heart and the feeling of duty make me desirous of
expressing to you my most earnest and profound gratitude
for the exactitude, despatch, and perfect conformity with
my views and expectation with which this important affair
of State has been brought to a conclusion. Since the 15th
of July, 1557, the day on which you were called upon to
form part of the committee created for the projected reform,
you have incessantly taken the most active part in all my
labours, and when, after the completion, in the month of
October, 1860, of the labours of the subordinate committees,
I convoked the superior committee for the examination of
the projects presented by them, I charged, through the
particular confidence I reposed in you, your Highness to
preside over that committee.
" You have fully justified that confi lance. After having
attentively and deeply studied everything that born on the
important and various questions necessarily raised by the
scrutiny of the measures already projected, or of those 'that
might assist in the perfecting of them, in your ardent zeal
for the public good you have consecrated every day your
efforts, the whole of your time, to the labours of the supe-
rior committee. Also, thanks to you particularly, the de-
tailed examination in all its parts of this vast work, the
correction and completion of the projects, the solution of all
the uncertainties that arose pending this work ; lastly, the
drawing up of several new regulations have been finished
within the period defined by me.
" I invite your Highness to express my sincere gratitude
to the members of the superior committee charged with the
settlement of the question of the peasants for the proofs
they have given of indefatigable and meritorious activity.
I shall not forget the manner in which your Imperial High-
ness and all the members of the superior committee have
acted on this important occasion, and with myself all Russia
will preserve the remembrance of it beyond a doubt. The
future is known to God alone, and the final success of the
great work undertaken depends on His holy will, always
merciful. Nevertheless, from this time henceforth, we can
say to ourselves, with a tranquil conscience, that we have
employed for the completion of this work every means in
our power, and we can hope humbly that Providence, who
protects our well-beloved country, will bless the accomplish-
ment of our designs, the purity of which is known to it.

" In sanctioning the projects relating to the emancipation
of the peasants and domestic serfs, also to the settlement of
their condition for the future, I have deemed it indispen-
sable to take measures at the same time for the organisation
of the entire rural class upon general and uniform bases.
With this object I create a special committee under WY
immediate direction, of which I name you a member in
according to you the presidency. I have the conviction
that, when acquainted with my views and wishes in this
matter, you will actively undertake, with your usual zeal,
that nothing can diminish the labours of this fresh work,
so intimately connected with the one already terminated.
"I remain, ever your cordially affectionate and grateful,
" St. Petersburg, Feb. 10." "ALEXANDER.

It is reported that, owing to continued ill health,
Mr. W. Marshall, the Liberal member for East Cumber-
land, will shortly resign his seat.
LIFE-BOAT SERVICES.—BouImer, Northumber-
land, March 2Sth.—Last night the llanoverian schooner
Hortensia struck on Boulmer North Steel during stormy
weather, accompanied by a heavy sea and thick with rain.
The life-boat of the Royal National Life-Boat Institution
stationed at this place was launched as soon as practicable,
the tide being at the time very low. After the vessel
had been boarded, the master refused to leave her or to
allow his craw to do so. When the tide made again,
the ship drove further on the rocks. The sea being very
heavy and signals of distress made for assistance, the
lifeboat was again launched after much difficulty, being
three times filled with heavy seas, which, however, she
rapidly self-ejected. After reaching the wreck the captain
again obstinately refused to leave his vessel, being drunk
at the time. He was soon afterwards washed overboard in
the round house and drowned. The lifeboat's crew,
throughout the stormy night, behaved most gallantly and
twice used their utmost endeavours to save the captain,
who perished solely through his own perverseness—his
crew of four men having been brought safely ashore lathe
liraoat,

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