Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-12-14
THE CAR NICHOLAS.

and well written letter in the London Morning
Chronicle from Sir Charles Shaw, a military of
ticer in the British service, upon the subject,
which is now the most engrossing one of all
others, of the Russian and Turkish armies, and
the prospect which the Sultan has before him
of maintaining his position against the Gar in
the existing war. Although the views entertain
ed by the writer of this letter are somewhat df-
ferent from those often expressed by us, yet they
are apparently, in some respects well founded,
and deserving Of attention.
We have no doubt that the greatness of Rus
STA in regard to arms is more imputed than real.
The military history of that power, when critical
" viewed, clearly indicates that such is the case.
The Circassians, themselves barbarans, and few
in number, have for twenty years de6ed the
power of the Car the Poles of 1880, with raw
troops, withstood his veterans, and were at last
only subdued by the overwhelming forces OF
Paskeiwitch the Turks in 1928 with new and
undisciplined armies, were only conquered by
treachery and purchases-the Governor of Var
ma being bribed by gold TO surrender that for
tress the French in 1912 drove the Russians
from their homes and firesdes, which they were
unable to defend until the ice blast came TO their
aid, and swept half million of Frcnchmen into
eternity, the victims, not of Russian vengeance,
but of Russian winter; and Massena, meeting
the greatest general of Russia, Suwarrow, in
the Alps, repulsed and conquered him, and sent
him home again, cured of his conceit and shorn
of his laurels. From all these circumstances of
history, Sir Charles is inclined to think that Tur-
key now need not fear the result.
Our noble letter writer has also as slight an
opinion of the Gar himself as he entertans Of
his armies, and in support of this opinion enter
tains us with several anecdotes Of his Majesty,
L ALI - ax.yho ,lotp. al
most in direct words, as the head of the Greek
Church. to be the Soldier and the Vicegerent of
God, whose mission it is TO break the power Of
the Mahommedans, and expel that race of infdels
from Europe.
Every body, says Sir Charles, knows that the
Car Nicholas is in body giant, possessing i'm
mense physical strength of which he isextreme-
" proud; and every body knows, also, that
vast portion of his time is devoted to reviewing
and inspecting his armies. Perhaps every body
is equally aware that Russian Generals and
Princes-Russan Emperors even, sometimes,
when engaged in this duty of military inspec-
ton, have way, not deemed strange or undig-
nified for great characters in that unhappy
country, of Gaming and otherwise matreating
soldiers in the ranks who happen to displease
them. Peter the Great, it will be remembered,
used to beat his courtiers, kicking and cutting
the great lords in the palace. The Archduke
Constantine 0he rghtful heir Of Alexander,
whom Nicholas, his younger brother, by some
hocus pocus, choused out of the succession) see-
ing an old soldier at u review with his neck
stock carelessy put on, rushed at him in rage
and beat him over the head; when, being in
formed the poor veteran wore his stock thus in
consequence of wound he had received in the
neck which disabled him from wearing it in
any other way, the high and mighty brute i'm
mediately reented, embraced the soldier, asked
his pardon, and gave him commission as an of
ficer.
The Emperor Nicholas, tho magnificent and
the pious, was guilty of a similar, or worse, act
of brutality, which was without any redeeming
trait of subsequent regret or generosity. He
found, one day, a soldier on parade, whose whis-
ker offended him. He dashed at the soldier,
seized him by the whsker, and never let 60 his
hold until he tore the whisker from the cheek,
with the flesh attached to it; and he actually
boosted of this feat, as a manifestation of his
strict attention to discipline.