The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-28

the deep sonoroU tones of his voice reverberate
among the vor ss Of his numerous commanders, like
the heavy notes OF an organ. Few princes nave
borne more unblemshed moral character.
stey lover OF Justice when not interfering with his
own pretensions or interests. be has endeavored 10
enforce its rigid administration according 70 uie
Russian code. But with all this, ne entertahs the
most exalted idea of the sacredness OF his own prero
gatiye and divine right; is naughty, unscrupulous
in his means; severe vindicve, and eagerto advance
the grandeur of Russia even at the cost OF the ives
the liberties, and the happiness OF ms subjects.
Much has been said about the external personal
apnearance of Nicholas. He Is vain glorious OF 1t
as any dandy The glance Of his large, blue-gree
ish crystalline limpd eyes, pierces through and
through as with the points Of two freezing icicles.
A cold paDg seizes ones whole being on receiving
their full glare.
During his reign the system Of secret police was
remodeled, and soon became the most perfect the
world had ever seen. Thousands OF agents and spies,
clothed with power, are engaged in its service. No
family in the land is free from the watchfu care OF
the government emissaries, and even when the Rus
sian travels abroad, this surveillance follows him like
a shadow. Though the army OF this great country
had for years been the special object of interest to
the government, Nicholas perfected the immense
machine. Neither pains nor expense were spared
to adopt the improvements made In military science
Wherever they originated, they we're without hesta
ton adopted, and perfected by the skill and expert
ments OF the Cars officers. The Emperor Is the
military head of two hundred and fifty thousand
horse and Eve hundred thousand infantry.
Although the Emperor has devoted agreat portion
of his lie to the study of military exercise, still he
was never destined to shine as an able gen.
eral. Indeed, not one Of his family ever dis
PLAYED any high capacity for military sciences.
Nicholas never had a good eye for Judging
distances. Thus. during the first campaign against
the Turks in 1925 be sought to earn military aures
by the suIeness OF his eye in matters OF siege and
fertilization. The Russian troops surrounded the
impregnabe fortress, Schoumla the key to the Bal
kan mountains. Nicholas pointed out the spo.
where the heavy ordnance was to be posted to open
the fire the fortressand the bullets fell half way
from the walls. His capacity "a commander has
never risen above that of directing the various
maI1uvres of single regiment o. cavalry. The
movements OF two regiments combined are too much
for him. During the aforementioned campaign IN
Turkey, Nicholas joined the army, commanded by
Field Marshal Prince Wittgenstein, interfering con-
tinually, as have been told, with its military ope
raions. To this untimey interference the unhappy
results of this first campaign were due. The next
year the command was transferred to Field Marshal
Diebitseh. The first condition in accepting it was
that both the Imperial brothers, Nicholas and
Michael should remain at home and keep quiet
Nicholas, grown wise by the previous years eXpe-
rience, acceded to the demand The results are
known. The army crossed the Balkan took Adria-
nope, and there the treaty, bearing that name was
signed. Diebtsch earned the surname of Zabakan-
ski (the Crosser of the Balkar)
Capital punishment, which WAS abolished in Russia
by the Empress Elizabeth, with The exception Ofthe
sentences Of court martial, was restored during the
reign Of the present Gar All his good qualities for
throne. He was at first very cautious in his move
ments and endeavored to surround himself with
honest men if possible. His councillors as it after
wards appeared, were not a honest; some Of them
being intriguing raseals, whom he summarily dis
missed from their Offices, and sentenced them to be
confined in the mines Of Siberia.
From the day OF his first ascending to the throne,
all his thoughts have been TO intensity and direct
the power which he has inherited. In striving to
attain this cruel end difficulty has been too great
to be surmounted, cruelty too atrocions to be
nloyed. He is the centre and soul of his gsvern-
ment and probably does all that one mans industry
can do TO advance the social welfare of his nation,
so far as may be compatible with his general policy,
but he will have no coadiutor in this work. His
primitive tendency was to be a reformer to give
new and refreshing impulse to the nation, and to
awaken its intellect and powers. The first steps
were successful the nation saw a new light, q new
era dawning before it. Nicholas proclaimed the su-
premacy Of the law over his own will, and his star
rose and shore more brilliantly than before The last
campaigns with Turkey Poland and Hungary proved
to him highly successful and lucrative. From these
conqress the people believed in him, and ne believed
that his mission was to he the conductor of his people
into light and civilization. In Persia, Greece Ger
many, Austria and above all, Turkey, his diplomacy
has ever been active, and pre- eminently sagacious
and successful The European events Of the last few
years haye Immensely increased the influence OF the
Car on The continent, and have constituted him the
pillar and groundwork Of Autocratic government
from the Nistula TO the Rhine.
CHAHCELLoR OF RUSSIA AND MINISTER OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS.
Charles Robert OF Nesserode was born in l1S0, at
Lisbon, Portugal, where his father was Russian
mitted. lie entered the army but there being 40
prospect Of active service, he gladly embraced an
oeI Of post of attache TO the Russian embassy at
Berlin in 1902, Alexander had Just assembled the
imperial throne which the assassination OF Paul had
vacated The position of Russia embarrassing
The French alliance was becoming more and more
rksnrno every day, and the sovereign found himself
in dilemma between his own interests, which were
closely linked with Napoleon the one side, and
those OF his subjects which were in many respects
seriously injured by the continental blockade the
other. He began slowly to withdraw from his rela-
tions Of anity with France. Precaution in the
measure was eminently necessary; and after some de-
liberation, Alexander fixed upon young Nesserode
OF whose ability he entertained high opinion, to
act as counsellor to the embassy at Paris. Nessel
rode succeeded in winning the favor OF Napoleon,
and when Alexander recalled him, the French EN-
peror stated publicly that his departure was the de-
struction of al hope Of negotiation.
After the close OF the war of lS12-13, M. de
Nesselrode represented Russia at the Congress at
Frankfort. In conjunction with Metternich on
behalf Of Austria, and Aberdeen on behalf
of England, he proposed peace, on terms
which lie aud his allies soon found means to
set aside. He one of the most determined
advocates for the invasion OF France. On his arri-
val in the capital, his influence was eagerly solicited
by the Bourbons; and, whether, as has been insinu
ated, more potent arguments than of state
offered, or whether he conscientiously con-
WINGED OF the justice OF restoration he took ac
tive part in tie measures which placed Louis XVIII
on the throne At the Congress OF, Vienna ne again
Represented his country, and succeeded 10 obtaining
for her the lions share Of the spoil.
This was one Of the last acts or Nesserodes dDl0-
matte career. He returned to St Petersburg in
1916 and was rewarded for his services by the post
OF Commissioner Of Foreign Affairs conformity with
Capo lstrias. The latter after resigned Office
TO assume the dignity Of President of Greece and
Nesselrode became sole Minister of Foreign Affairs,
post he has held for upwards Of thirty years.
Nicholas succeeded Alexander In 1875. His youth,
his warlike tendencies his ambition. all prompted
him TO pursue policy very different from his prede-
cessors 1t was resolved 70 push the boundaries Of
Russia eastward and southwer I'd, and the duty Of
supplying grounds ior tie movement devolved OF
Nesselrcde. His first exploit was an inter.
ference with Persia. Next followed the dex.
ferrous movement in favor Of tie Greeks, which
terminated with the battle of ksvarino and
raised rival to Turkey in the west, whose sup.
noft the Gar felt he could rely. Metternich alone