The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-02-01
The Emperor Nicholas and our Yankee
WRITER'S.

published, not long ago, very racy account about
"The Gar, his Court, and People," which threw
a considerable light upon the character of the En-
peror and the Russian nation but work has re-
Gently appeared, entitled GA Tour to Circassla,"
by George Leighton Dison, Esq, of Boston, which
has thrown more light upon his policy, and the
spread of his dominion in the East, than pretty
nearly all the other works together This volume
is dedicated to Prince Woronzofl, the Governor OF
Southern Russia-a man VINO has had an extraor-
binary history, and can be compared to only few
other great contemporaries, who have passed
through very similar scenes. He enacted part in
the history of the world, from the time OF Napo-
Icons empire TILL his final overthrow, almost as
conspicuous, and, perhaps still more important, in
some respects, than the Archduke Charles, or even
the Duke of Wellington. 1t was mainly under his
counsel and military guidance that Napoleon met
with his fatal overthrow IN Russia and, for many
years, Woroazoff distinguished himself by the
bravest and most heroic achievements, in the cause
OF the Holy Alliance when the desperate effort was
making TO crush the French empire As reward
for very long services, Prince Woronzoii has been
covered with almost every honor IN the gilt OF
Nicholas, and he now occupies the most important
post in the empre-uness, indeed, the Prime Mi
mister himself, Count Nesselrode, may, from al
ways having the ear of the Emperor, sway a larger
influence in the affairs of Russia. Woronzofi has,
for considerable time, been the Governor of
Southern Russia, which, from the rapid aad sure
spread of the Emperor's donations in the East,
now embraces a territory half as large the set
tied portions of the United States. For long pc
rlod the encroachments of the Russ ian emperors,
upon the old dominions of the Mussulman power,
have been continually increasing. until the very
foundations Of the Turkish monarchy are Slapped,
and awaiting final overthrow.
This book of Mr.. DItson is taken up, to a con-
siderable extent with polraying the progress of the
Russian power in the East, and some considerable
prominence is gwen TO the brave but unsuccessful
struggles of the dauntess Shemel, the Chief of the
Clfcassians. 1t is really curious spectacle to
that noble race, from whom the European nations
have derived their origin, yielding inch by inch to
the resstless inroads of the great Northern Bar
banan; and the account which he has given in this
volume of the noble struggles Of the Circasslans
against the despoilsm of Russia, will excite the
sympathy of every lover of liberty throughout the
world. Hitherto we have known very little, and
the world has known very httle, of the facts here
treated of; and although there is less information
gwen than was probably in the possession of the
author, yet We have no reason to complain of what
he has done, and, perhaps, future occasion, he
may crafty still further the curiosity of those who
are tracing with iAterest the fortunes of the Cir
casslan race and the progress of The resstess en-
pre- OF the Cars. Considerable portions OF the
book are taken up with picturesque and pleasing
accounts of the morals of the people of CIrcassia,
most OF which is new, and all of which will prove
intensely interesting to popular readers. II Is a
book which will be likely to rival, In popularity,
the stirring and graphic accounts which Ledyard
has gwen of the "Ruins of Nine vah;' but we have
been chiefly interested IN il because OF the light it
throws upon a region from which originated the
race we have sprung from, and about whom. in
modern times, we have had so few reliable and au.
thenic accounts.
The winter had certainly every opportunity to ex-
plore the country he went TO VISIT and in dedica-
ting h,s book Prince woou1of', hoo only paid "a
merited compliment TO him for his attentions to the
traveller lie seems to have furnished Mr.. Dtson
with every facility he could desire, to penetrate to
the centre Of Crcassia; and every convenience and
necessary means were pu, at his disposal, for rem
deripg his bleak and wild journey as agreeable
as possible. II is a matter of some import
Of the Russian power in the East, to have the
means Of forming correct estimate Of the charac-
ter OF such men as the Governor Of Southern Rus
STA. One of the most Distinguishing characteris-
ties Of great empires always has been, that Its dis.
tant provinces were governed by men who under
stood and earned out in all their actions, the home
policy Of the empire. Ia this way only has Eng
land belted the globe with her Commons. In this
way only Rene drove her chariot wheels to the
ends of the earth. In this way only has Russia
emerged from her eternal SHOWS, TO subject some
Of the iairest and richest portions Of the oriental
world. With such men as Prince Woronzof on
the southeastern extremity Of his empire, Nicholas
is preparing for his final stroke, which will level
the fabric Of the Moslem power with the dust.
Those who wish TO gain either clear and reliable
idea Of the condition, at the present time, of the
Clrcassian nation, or be furnished with the mlte-
rails for drawing correct conclusion as TO the
final result OF the struggle now gong on between
the Russian empire and the Eastern world, will
read the Tour TO Circassia" with profit and
pleasure.
PRINTING OF THE CORPORATION A movement