The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-06-24
MenschikOH.

ATenschikon.
This minister, who figures very largely in the
recent diplomacy of Russia with Turkey, is thus
described in sketch which appears in the New
York Tribune of the 22d instant. 1t should be
taken, we suppose, with the allowance at least
that it il not written by an admirer:
ssThe Mehschikoff family does not date from the
early times of the Russian aristocracy but is
comparatively recent. 1t was founded by a jour-
neyman pastry cook, who cried his wares through
the streets of Moscow until he cried himself into
the regard of Peter the Great, who made him one
of his special favorites. This, however, did not
prevent his being sent to Siberia by Peter H.,
grandson of that monarch, who, though he had
hac Menschikoff for his tutor, yielded to the Dol
goroucki family 80 far as to Danish him, instead of
marrying his daughter as he had desired OF this
ex-pastry cook the late most demonstrative envoy
to Constantinope is the fourth direct descendant.
He belongs in the very front rank of the public
men of Russia, along with Nesserode, Tcherni.
chef, Bludoff, Kisselof, Strogonof, Orloff Sonia
win, and very few others. He is one of those
admitted to almost daily intercourse and intimacy
with the Emperor. OF them all he is perhaps the
most ambitious, and certainly the most conceited.
Like most of bis countrymen, Menschikoff has
always been devoured by the desire to see his name
figure in some grand affair, and to gain what is
called European reputation-a glory which until
now has been denied him. With mortal bitter.
dorff Orlof, and others; making noise in the
world, though in his arrogance he has despised
them as ignoramuses and utilities. His own men
tai organization is, however not of high order.
For twenty years nearly be has been Governor
General of Finland and Minister of the Marine,
though in all his life he never sailor and for
a long time held steam vessels in holy horror,
owing to which there are comparatively very few
of them in the Russian navy al this day.
'On the other hand he does not lack a certain
sort of superficial capacity. In his youth he studied
for a while at the University of Leipsic and has
since kept up yarnsh of information by that kind
of general reading which give the airs of knowing
every thing without bestowing profound or exact
acquaintance with anything. Thus, In the salons
OF st. Petersburg he has acquired the reputation of
immense and many sided abilities, which would
render him successful in whatever he might un.
dertake. This fame has not been diminished bv a
bitter and sarcastic humor, which loves to riot at
the coet of others, and has long rendered him the
first wit and author of bon mots at the court For
these reasons he is more feared than liked; sem
tmenl penetrating even into the bosom of the
imperial family, which has admitted him in
considerable measure into its intimacy, but has
never regarded him as favorite
'There are in the court of St. Petersburg two
leading political parties, the Russian and the Ger.
man. The former cherishes the idea of prcdomi
nance in Europe, but particularly desires imme-
date extension in the Orient, with the absorption
of Turkey, and. in case of need, even of Austria
The German party Is more pacific in regard to the
Eastern question. Its scheme is to aggrandize the
influence of Russia in the Weet, in the affairs of
Germany for instance-a policy steadily pursued
for these many years, and especially manifest in
the events of 1s4S and '49. The leader of this
latter party is naturally Count Nesselrode, sup
ported chiefly by Baron Brunow, the Russian Am
bassador at London, M. de Meyendorff Ambassa.
dor at Vienna, and few other Germans, both
soldiers and civilians. Under the influence of
Nesselrode, most of the diplomatic agents of the
empire are either Germans or other foreigners.
Thus. Mr.. ROdiSCO. at Waship js
like Walachian, and Protestant in religion
So it is with others.
"Prince Menschikoff belongs to the Russian party
Though disciple of Voltaire, as far as religions
ideas are concerned, he holds 10 the influence of
the Greek Church as the principal lever of Russian
action in the Orient In fact, this is his hobby
Thus, after the campaign of 1929, ending with
the treaty of AdrianoPle, our hero-who had held
the position Of chief of the staff under the late
Prince Peter Wolkonsky, and had distng uished
himself the year before at the capture of Warna,
where he was very severely wounded-quitted the
service because in his opinion, the treaty did not
sufficiently the rights of the Greek Oriental
Church.
1.-The ambition of Menschikoff has always aimed
as high as that of a Russian noble is allowed to
aim. He has sought to acquire controlling infu-
ence over the mind of the Gear and to hold the
first place in his councils. But the monarch has
never allowed hmaelf to be entrapped The truth
is, he has rather disked the obsequious vet AFRO
giant seductions of the ambitious courter. In de-
has, however, in latter years succeeded in gaining
considerable influence over the heir to the throne.
"When, after the disasters which the Russian
troops continually experienced in Circassia, under
the mixed command of Rosen, Grabbe, Sass, and
other German generals, the Emperor resolved to
send there some Russian with an eminent and i'm
posing name, and with the full powers of an alter
ego, Menschikof strained every nerve to get the
place, bringing into play all degrees of influence
and all kinds OF agencies, with the aid of both men
and women, the great fdVOrite with the lat.
ter.) 1t was even said that he threw himself on
his knees at the feet of the Gear to mplore the ia
vor But it was not granted, and afterward Count
Worontzow, since raised to the rank of Prince
carried off the honor.
&c In this way the jealous courtler grew to be
some seventy years of age without the desired op
portunity of adding historic iustre to his name
In the affairs of Germany in 1S49 the German
party had had its way, and it seemed opportune
now to give the Russian party chance in the
Oriental question. Of that party and its discon.
tent Menschikof was the organ and the trumpeter
at st. Petersburg He not only gave out in pri-
vate that the moment had come to fall on Turkey,
but there was another why something
should be done to crafty him. He had lately been
obliged to yield the post of naval minister to the
Grand Duke Constantine, the second son of the
Emperor, and the special ornament of his family,
who had been educated sailor. In these sim, lie
facts may be found the principal reasons why
Menschikof was sent to Constantinople. What
ever be the final issue of the affair." his vanity has
at least mad momentary qualification. He has
made noise in Europe, he has occupied the atten.
ton of the political world, his name has become
known beyond the boundaries of the empire.
"But las now seems more than probable-this
mission, after being begun with much fuss and
pomp, should all end in smoke, may be certain
that the Emperor WILL for little while be furious
and mortlhed-nay, we may suppose that he was
so when the news of the turn which events had
taken arrived at ST. Petersburg. Butt when the
hrst burst OF ve1ation has passed, nobody will be
more Dleased than him aef at Ho4,s
hure He will feel no regret at the downfall suf
fered by man 30 much boasted of in the social
circles OF the capital on his first trial in important
practical affairs. He will be the fret to apply to
The disappointed and ridiculed ambassador ia
mIiar proverb of the Russians, whose meaning ie
'he has fallen back among the blockheads again."
GENERAL JACKsoN's LAW OFFICE 1t NAV not
be generally known among distant readers
that the office IN which General Jackson read law
in this town is still standing. 1t is small frame
building, and seems to have been once painted
red; but its color at present would be hard to de-.
has