Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-09-03
From the NesuXork Commercial Advertissr.
THE EMPEROR ALEXANDER.

From tie NespXork Commercial 44dOertissr.
THE EMPEROR ALEXANDER. !
II has been seen by the last arrival from
Europe, that the aspect of the political
horizon portended war between Russia
and Turkey, in a more marked degree
than was indicated by some OF Our pre-
vious advices Still it must be ackDow-
lodged, that these hostile appearances are
more the result OF conjecture, in conse-
ouence of the new atrocities committed
by the Turks, than, of any thing which
had transpired to justify the opinion that
Alexander, or the mobiles of Russia, had
decided on making common cause With
the Greeks. We have been SO long &C
custolned to hear the character OF the Rus-
sian autocrat extolled; to view him as the
patron OF the arts and sciences, and as the
'magnanimous" friend OF the human race,
tina: it has been with some difficulty we
have been led to doubtthe sincerity OF his
professions, and to torn an opinion OF his
views rather different from that which we
entertained when he made his triumphant
entry into Paris, and wished the world to
believe that be was all advocate OF the
''rights Ct man" in the legitimate sense OF
these emphatic words.
We are far from wishing it 10 be be-
lieved that we entertain hostile tee lIDgs
towards the Emperor Alexander on the
vague statements of foreign Journals
These, we are aware, are as liable to ms
represent facts as we find them every day
misrepresented in our own country. We
rest our opinion on what history acknbw-
le6ges to be true. and what, if false, it is
10 the power of any one to controyert.-,
Of the political character OF Alexander
previous to bis appearing in the held as
the antagonist ofNapoleon, little is known
The ci,cum stance OF his not having called
the marderers OF his father TO account,
when he assembled the throne as bis sue
cessor, certainly lays his conduct open to
strong suspicious OF having, indirectly at
least, given his sanction to that barbarous
deed. At all events, bis forbearance does
not say much for that independence OF
feeling which, we are assured, Influences
all bis actions. In the treaty Of Iilsit,
which followed the battle of Friedland, it
must be acknowledged that the Emperor
of Russia gave no proof to the world OF
that 6rmness and vigor which had hitherto
been supposed to belong to his private
character Before his territories had been
| invaded, or the energies Of his country
| tried, he accepted such peace as So
vereign who possessed any portion OF the
spirit of Peter the Great would not have
signed If the French army had been be-
| fore St. Petersburgh. By this treaty he
agreed to give up Moldavia and Walla-
CHA and, v hich be had conquered from
| the Turks. He also agreed to give up the
mouths of Cattaro, the Russian forts IN
| Dalnatia, and the island OF Corfu; by this
means surrendering the claims and views
which Russia had so long entertained for
the dismenlberment of Turkey, to the
French emperor. who had protested 10
! take that country under bis high protec.
ton, Ifitwas degrading TO the sovereign
of forty millions of people to purchase Sc
curity from attack by such great sacriti-
ces, the emperor Alexander was still more
| degraded by what he was obliged to take
from his conqueror, than what he gave up,
He accepted Of part Of the dominions OF
his ally the king OF Prussia; an acquisition
which was too small to give any sensible
increase to the strength of Russia, but suf
| fciently large 10 shew that its sovereign
was no way restrained by feelings of hon
or or of principle.
| In bis conduct towards the Greeks, we
cannot shut our eyes TO the strange vscil-
| lation which he has shown, and which has
| been the unfortunate cause OF the many
suferings that unhappy people have en-
| dured. On the faith OF aid from Russia,
they have been twice betrayed INTO insur-
rection once by the successor of Catha.
rine, and once by the present autocrat;
who referred the Greek deputies to bis
| brother Constantine, as their future des-.
tined monarch. Should the rumours afoat
| respecting the future intentions Of Alex
ander prove correct, we shall have a third
instance of similar per6dy. After The
most solemn assurances of protection; af
ter so openly countenancing the efforts of
the Greeks, that il became the subject OF
complaint by the Turkish Diyan, We shall