The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-30


marry the daughter Of Menzrkof; and =
lbfol Oh the same influence marriage was
also agreed upon, between the son oil the
latter and the Princess Anna. Both couples
were betrolhed; and Menzikof, leiI
nothing to desire, thought himself hence
Gorh secure from all IeYerses; but It was
not long before he experienced the proven
bal Inconsistency Of fortune. All his efforts
10 place his power on a solid basis proved
frnitless: the sudden death Of Catharlne L.,
which took place two years after that oil
her husband, entirely changed the asPec,
of affairs. Peter III. assembled the throne,
and soon the impending storm burst upon
bis head. The Dolgorouki family were
the counsellors and iayorites oil he new
monarch, and they had long been the enc
mics of Menzikoff. They excited in the
Cars mind a jealousy Of the power OF his
intended faiher-in-law, and succeeded MOI
only in breaking off the projected mar.
1ages, but in procuring the Punishment oil
Menzkoff to his estate OF ReunebuIg, about
$50 leagues from Moscow. But their ha-
ued was not yet satisfied his wealth alone |
gave him formidable power; he might re- |
appear at court and they now represented
| ID the Gar in the most Odous light The PomP
and spendor which Menzikoff had been
inprudent enough to display in the removal
of MS family from Moscow; and the ruin
of the unhappy man was irTevOcably sealed.
AT some distance from Moscow a detach-
nent Of soldiers, commanded by one oil his
utter enemies, came up with him, and de-
cree was shown 10 Menzikoff cOndsmnlng
him for the rest Of his life to Siberia, stripped
OF all honors and wealth. He was made
to alight from his carriage, and after be and
mis- wife and children had been compelled
10 put on the coarse garb OF peasants, they
were placed in the covered carts which
were to convey them to their place oil exile.
Who can paint the despair OF the IN
happy Menzikof A few short days before,
he held the second rank in the State, under
an Emperor whose throne hi, daughter was
10 share; and COW, stripped OF his posses
sons, Of liberty, Of hope, he was borne
along in wIetched vehicle to the horrible
piece where he was henceioIlh TO drag out
his miserable existence As a favor, the
Emperor sent him TO the circle OF lschim,
called the "ltaly Of Siberia, because q
few days OF summer are known in it, the
winter lasting only eight months buI
that winter is intensely cold, though not as
long as in other parts Of the country. The
norm wind is continually blowing, and
comes charged with ice from the deserts OF
the north pole; so that from the month Of
September till the end Of May the river
Iobal is completely frozen over, and the
snow thickly covers It's rude and desolate
banks.
Immediately on his arrival in Siberia,
Menzikof was put in possession of a Isba
phe Russian name for the peasants hOvel)
situated in a very remote district Of the
, gloomy region, and there he was subjected TO
] the strictest watch. He was forbidden, with
{; his family, TO pass beyond a certain pre-
scribed limit, even 70 60 to clutch. A
D few days after their installation in their
5 wretched abode. some COWS and sheep, and
a quantity Of fowls, were brought TO Men
e zikof, without any intimaIi0n 10 whom he
, was indebted lOr this act OF kindness. 1t
L was indeed am alienation Of his sad fate,
}. not only as an addition 10 his physical CON-
> fort, but inspiring cheering hope, by show
ng that he had friends who still remembered
e and were interested in him. Perhaps their
d zeal to serve him would not stop here
; This feeble ray Of hope sufficed TO cheer
! the unhappy family, and imPart to them
/ some degree Of fortitude for the endurance
e Of their misery and Menzi<off steadily de-
voted himself TO the cultivation Of the
/ ground which was to be the support of be.
II ings so dear to his heart. But new trials
a awaited him. The health of bis beloved
J. wife gave way under the sad reverse anC
o unwOnted privations of her new situation
and short time after their arrival she died
d MenzikOf, in his despairing grief, would
y have soon followed her; but the though
e Of his helpless children babe him live to b,
y their guide and stay. Religion now impart
J. ed to his mind that elevation and iortitud,
which ii alone can give; he now knew tn,
d fleeing nature, the nOthngness Of the riches
% and hOnOTs Of which a moment sufficed L
S deprive him; and he submitted with Tesig
lie nation to his fate, finding in prayer and il
lie the affection Of his family his sweetest con
81 ISOLATION. But his cup Of sorrow was no
ID yet full; his three children were attacked
g at the same time by the smallpox. Hi
IT son and one Of his daughters recovered; bu
lie the eldest, she who had been betroihed t
If the Gar, fell victim to the fearful dsor
der. The unhappy father could not bea
l. this fresh bereavement he sunk under hi
T. gIief on the I'd Of November, 1929
n after two years abode amid the SHOWS o
ID Siberia.
ss The death Of Menzikoff caused some re
1t Taxation in the severity Of the government
al and a little more liberty was now al
I'd lowed to the two children; such as permits
e. sion to go on Sundays TO devine service a
ut the town Of Isahim, considerable distanc
E. from their Isba; but they were not allowet
" the qualification Of being IOgether-th
at brother going one day and the sister III,
~ next.
{, Three years elapsed without any chang
in IN the situation OF the young Menzikoffs
N bat now events occurred that totally altere,
a, the aspect OF affairs at the court Of Russia
lie Peter III. died without issue, and Anna, III
d eldest daughter Of Peter l., assembled tn,
throne. The solicitations Of the friends o
n tha unhannv family fonnd a ra.Jr 100000