The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-06-04
From The Philadelphia Inquirer,
THE SERFS, THE MOBILES & THE EMPEROR
OF RUSSIA
AN IMPERIAL REFORM.

AN IMPERIAL REFORM
Perhaps the most important item by the last steam
er, is that which alludes to the difficulty between the
Emperor Nicholas, the Nobes and the serfs of Rus
STA. Nicholas is generally regarded in this country
as monarch of the most determined character and
thoroughly welded to the old system of government.
lie is nevertheless fully alive % the welfare of his
people generally, and has more than once made eff
forts to ameorate the condition of the masses, al
though at the expense of the power of the mobiles The
existing dispute grew out III determination the
part OF the Emperor, to liberate by single act, the
immense portion of the population ofhis empire born
in state of seryitude. HIS intention lately am
nounced at meeting Of the Council of State, and al
though portion of the members present dissented,
the most decided opposition was manifested by the
old and powerful nobility, who declared that such an
| act would endanger their lives tnd property, and
would amount to little less than revolution The
matter produced much excitement, and the Autocrat
finally induced to yield TO compromise, although
he Immediately issued an ukasc foI the modification
of the condition of the serls which had also led TO
great excitement, although efforts made to pre-
vent knowledge of the true state OF the case from
becoming general among the people. We have seen
private letter received by the British Queen, which
states that should the Emperor persist his life would
not be safe for although the classes designed TO be
benefited by his conduct, which is ndeed worthy of
the spirit OF age of civilization andhumanity, can
not but feel deeply grateful, they al, yet too much
under the control of their more immediate masters,
will
We may state here that all the lands with The ex-
cepion OF few corners, are cultivated by SeIfs In
Russia and that the value Of a noblemns estate Is
estimated by the number not of acres, but Of slaves
Their treatment, generally, is milder than in the
West Indies and they cannot be sold separately from
the estates, but or y with such estates other pro-
prietors The most AFFECT submission is required,
and the lash is freely made Of In some instances
they permitted to pay annual rent in order to
frutIa in f,ltNn nj
The great body of the nation however, is divided in
to classes of mobiles and sers One of the former the
head of the Sehermetpv Family is said 10 have 1885,
600 slaves estimated at $50 roubles each. In 1916,
the peasants of the Crown amounted to 6 1928 000-
those Of private individuals to 1857 00O-lhe whole
of them being Invested of every right, political and
personal. he master can nhici any enlistment
which does produce death in twenty -four hours
The Crown las frequently made efforts to forward
emancipation while old mobiles have as frequently
contended for the old system OF bondage. Some of
these slaves have become quite distinguished me-
chanics and artists With this view OF the classes in
Russia the conduct of Nicholas is entitled to the
dial appreciation of the friends of freedom and human
rights throughout the world, and will if persisted in
and rendered successful productive Of the hap
pest results According to all accounts this monarch
is almost remarkable for the manly beauty OF his
personal appearance as tor the immense power WELD
ed by him over large portion OF the human family
work has Just been published in England called
Letters from the Baltic which the writer states
that the Emperor may frequently be seen dashng
along, his white feather streaming, and mutf1ed in his
military cloak in his solitary sledge with one hois ;
strding with powerful steps, utterly Unattended in
the dusk Of the evening, the whole length of the
Nevski. He notices a masquerade at the great the
are OF ST. Petersburg and the appearance OF Niche
las, thus.
The Heritier, the Grand Duke Michael, the Duke
de Leuchtenberg, all passing in TURN
each led about by a whispering mask-.Mais est
done rEmpereur 2 Hn'y EST pas encore, was the
swer but scarce was this uttered when a towering
plume moved, the crowd fell back and, Unframed in
a vacant space, stood ngure To which there is
cond in Russia if in the world itselfa figure Of the
grandest beauty expression, dimension and carriage,
uniting all the maJestles and graces of all the hea-
then gods-the little god Of love alone perhaps ex-
ceped-on its ample and symmetrical proportions.
Had this nobility of person belonged to common
Mougik instead of to the Autocrat Of all the Rus
sias the admiration could not have been less, nor
scarcely the feeling of moral awe. II was not the
monarch who was SO magnificent man, but the man
who was so truly imperial He stood awhile silent
and naughty if dsdainng all the vanity and levity
arouud him, when, perceving my two distinguished
companions, he strobe gradually towards our box,
and lust lifting his plumes with lofty bow stopped
and kissed the Princess's hand, who in return i'm
printed kiss on the Imperial cheek and then, lean
ing against the pillar, remained in conversation.
g In person, the emperor is a colossal man, in the
full prime Of life and health fory-wo years of age,
about six feet two inches high, and well filled out,
without any approach to corpulency; the head mag
nfcently carried splendid breadth ofshoulder and
chest, great length and symmetry of limb, with finely
formed hands and feet His face is strictly Grecian
forehead and nose in grand line the eyes finely
lined large, open and blue, with calmness, cold
ness, freezing dignity, which can equally quell
nsurrection, daun an assassin, paralyze petition
err the mouth regular fine teeth, chin prominent,
with dark musache and small whisker; but not
sympathy on his face y"
We may add here, that whatever the indications
of his face, his recent conduct maniiess the noble
sympathes OF his heart. We may also state, that the
history of Russia shows that one two Emperors
have been asassinaed, and it is believed through
the agency of the old mobiles, because of disposition,
officially avowed by the Crown, to mitigate the con-
dition Of the serfs. 1t to be hoped, however that
Nicholas, warned by experience, has adopted the
proper precautionary measures.
PUNCTUATION
CaXlnn had the merit Of Introducing the Roman