Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-17
AnAm.r,san I'm Russia.

The Louisville Journal publishes the follow
ing letter from distinguished American, now
at ST. Petersburg, to a gentleman of that city,
which will be read with interest
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia.
Ny DEAR SIR: After travelling six nights
and seven days without resting, am here
member by invitation Of the family Of Cover
nor Seymour, of Connecticut, our Minister
Plenipotentary at the court of Russia On
Friday made the acquaintance of Count Mes
selrode, for 30yeurs past the Russian Minister of
Foreign Affairs, gentleman who has not a
wrinkle on his brow, and whosold me he was
within two years of my age, and consequently
"a. A man of more amiable address l never
met. He proposed to introduce me to the en-
peror, and offered me a letter of introduction to
the commander of an army of $4,000 men at
Revel, and inquired if / had military costume
with me, that / might to-day accompany the
Emperor to review of 10000 men. He was
opposed to this war, and is universally regarded
here as a man of great virtue, as well as OF
great intelligence.
In few days shall proceed to Revel, leay-
ing most valued, may say beloved, Russian
friends who accompanied me from Rome to
Naples, and nursed me at the former when laid
up and attended by physician whose prescrip-
tons were much less efficient than their kind
attentions. Mrs. de G. speaks six languages,
among them the English as well as / do, and
free from all foreign accent. She is the most
beautiful woman have seen in Europe. Her
husband speaks seven fuently, and is in all
respects worthy of the finest woman | have
met since left America. spoke most highly
of them to Count Nesselrode, as / shall to the
emperor, if / have q suitable opportunity.
But he ia at present, have no doubt, greatly
depressed by the recent news from the Crimea,
where Menschikoff is said to have lost 5000
men in the encounter with the allies at the
river Alma, where he attempted to arrest their
| march upon Sebastopol. The government
here acknowledges the loss at 1000 out of 3d.
600 of Menschikoffs army. Of the fall Of Sc
bastopol melancholy forebodings are enter
tanned by the Russian population here, and as
| it is assailed by $4,000 men, the present force
marshaled against Fort Constantine, which
commands the city and harbor, have never
entertained doubt.
But of the effect OF its reduction have al
| tered my opinion since my arrival here, for
| have heard and seen at two large dinner par
| ties, one German and the other American,
given in the last week, more of the country j
am in. than did of Prussia in Berlin, France
in Pr4i, or the three great cities of Italy in all
! my much longer visits to any of them.
find K, formerly secretary of legation
and consulgeneral of Russia at Alexandra in
| Egypt, and at London, most valuable and in
telligent acquaintance. He is the uncle OF
Madame de g., and is to accompany me
shortly to Revel, which, it is said, viii be as
sailed by the British and French fleets.
| | came here believing that the conquest OF
the Crimea would end the war. / am now
thoroughly convinced that it will protract it.
| All that you hear through England about pow
erty and distress here is false. The emperors
popularity, imputable to his excellent private
character, and his figure and personal address,
is unbounded.
The manufactures of Russia are so far ad-
vanced as to supply all her wants; and the
wealth of this city alone concentrated upon her
churches, would sustain an army of FIVE hun.
dred thousand men for twelvemonth. She
has entered upon war not anticipated, and
| for which preparation is yet to be made. She
claims an armed force of two millions, and
can readily raise one-half that number, and
| that she is now doing.
/ am Turk in this contest, and therefore
impartial in these estimates. G. ID. M.