Star.
London, England, 1801-12-17 00:00:00

EMPEROR P4U4, 1.

The following curious particulars relative to
the extraordinary challenge of the Sovereigns of
Europe, inferted in the Peterfbugh Gazette, by
order of the late Emperor Nut I. are given in
the Second Part of Kor z Eno t's moil remarkable
Year of his Life :
Count Von der Pahlen had fent for M. KOT-
mums to conic to When I came to the
Count, (rays he) he laid to me, laughing, the
Emperor will have a challenge to a Tournament,
addreffed to all the Sovereigns of Europe, and
their Minifters. I muit write it, and it is then to
be publifhed in the Gazette. Baran Thuguet-is
particularly challenged to break a lance : and
General Kutufoff and myfelf are to be named as
seconds to the Emperor (the thoughts of the fe-
conds had fuggefted itklf to the Emperor about
half an hour before ; and lie immediately wrote
it down with a black-lead pencil, which lay on the
Count's table). This extraordinary produition is
to be ready in an hour, and the Emperor has or-
dered that I fhall carry it to him in perfon.
" I undertook to w rite it ; and in an hour's
time brought the challenge. The Count, who was
better acquainted with the fentiments of the Mo.
narch than 1, thought it not farcaftic enough '
I therefore fat down in his clofet, and wrote a fe-
fond, which he liked better. We then went to-
gether to Court. I was now, for the firft time, to
Rand before the man who, by his feverity and be-
nefits, had been to me the caufe of fo much terror
and joy, grief and gratitude. I had not wished
for this honour, and feared it could not but prove
injurious to me, as I could fcarcely fuppofe that
the fight of me could be very agreeable to him.
" We waited a confiderable time in the anti-
chamber. The Emperor was gone to take a ride,
but at length he returned. Count Pahlen went to
him with my paper, Raid with him tome time,
and then came back, with an air of dirappoint-
tnent,"fayin.7 to me, as he pafkd me, only there
words—' Come to me again at two o'clock—it
mull he ftronger.'
" I returned home, convinced, as I thought,
that I fhould not in this way gain the favour of
the Monarch ; but fcarcely had I been half an
hour In my chamber, when one of the attendants
of the Court came to me, almoft breathlefs, to or-
der me to come inftantly to the Emperor. I made
all the haße I could.
" When I entered the clofet I found only Count
Pahlen with him. The Emperor was (landing at
a writing defk, and when lie raw me advanced to
meet me, and with a flight bow, raid, and, in a
manner inexpreflibly gracious—' M. Vote Korzt-
t, I mug begin by being reconciled to you.'
" I was much confuted by this unexpected re.
ception. What a magic power is there in the con-
delcention of princes ! All rancour immediately
vanifhed from my heart. As the etiquette requir-
eel, I attempted to kneel and kifs his hand; but
he prevented me in the kindeß manner, kiffcd me
on the forehead, and proceeded as follov;s, in very
good German :
" You are fuificiently acquainted with the world
to be au f..it to political affairs. I have often, (raid
he, jokingly) been foolilh enough, and to pimilli
myfelf for it. as it is but ju fhould be punifhed,
I have refolved that this—(bolding the paper in
his hand)—lhall be Welted in the Hamburgh
Gazettes."
" On this he took me confidentially by the arm,
led me to the window, and read to me the Chal-
lenge, which was in French, in his own hand-writ-
ing. When he came to the conclufion where it
is raid—, We know not what credit is to be given
to this report; though it appears not to be without
foundation, fince it bears the Ramp of what he has
been often accufed of—( Data it a fcaven! rti taxi '
be laughed very heartily, and I too laughed obfe•
quiouffy.
" Why do you laugh r (Lid he, twice repeat.
in g the words very quick, and laughing himfelf
all the time.)
" To find your Majefty to well informed," (an.
fwered I.)
" There, there, (raid he, handing me the paper)
go and translate it. - Keep the original, but bring
Esc a copy."
" I accordingly went, and tranflatcd it. The
Lift word, taxi, fomewhat perplexed me. Should
I put scented (beide/AO the expreffion might tip-
pear too berth; and offend the Emperor. After
much thinking, I chofe a middle way, and tranf:
lated it—' of what he has often been thought ca-
pable.'
1, At two in the afternoon I went again to
Court. Count Kutuffow announced me to the
Emperor. I was immediately admitted, and found
him this time quite alone.
" Sit down," Paid he to me, very friendly; but,
from rerpeß, I did not immediately obey—., No,
fitdown," (repeated he with forme earneftnefs.)
I then took a feat and placed myfelf oppofite to
bim at the writing-defk.
" He took the French Original in his hand :
Read to me, (raid he). I read floaly, and lone-
times glanced my eye over the paper towards him.
At the words—" iaclofed barriers"—he laughed.
With refpeft to the net, he fcve, al times gave a
gracious nod of approbation, till I came to the
1-41 word.
" Thought capable ?" (raid he.) " No, that is
not the right word ; charged (taxirt) would be
better." C 'oak the liberty to inform him that
this word in German had quite another meaning
from what it has in French. Very well," (rid
he, " but the other is not the proper expreffion."
" I now adventured to ail:, in a low tone, whe-
ther stAufed Oefehrldik) would be a proper
word ?
" Right, right (laid he), that is the word," re-
peating it three or four times : and I wrote it by
his direition. He thanked me in the molt friendly
manner, for the trouble Thad taken, and dirmif-
fed me—much affeacd and pleated with his kiad
and wandefcending behaviour. Whoever has ap-
proached his perfon will agree with me; that he
could be extremely engaging. and that it was dif-
ficult, nay alsoft imponte! withltand