, 1854-09-02
The Emperor Nieholns.

GcOrge M. DallaS, lalc vice lCsluCHl
of the United States, and Minister to Rus
sia, thus sketches the Gar:
No admitted merit, no length Of ser
vice, no elevation of rank can avert the
blow with which he is ever ready TO strike
the culpable or disloyal To maintain the
discipline of his troops, he is in the habit
of suddenly visiting their stations without
warning, when, woe to the officer or pri-
I vate then detected in fault He has been
known, on the instant Of discovering re-
missness or inattention, to tear of, with
his own hands, the epauletts and decora-
tions of veteran and favorite officer
There rCvels in his temperament what may
be called a dash Of romance, which, set of
by form of great elegance and muscular
strength gives to his actions, viyacity and
Interest. When representing the Imperial
chief, his details of grandeur and magnifi-
cence may be truly and orientally gorgeous
his audience, banquets and festivals as
imposing and dramatic as those in the Ara
bian Nights yet often from them he
breaks abruptly away, travels through his
kingdom, unknown and unobserved, gain
ing, perhaps, admission to the palace Of
some neighboring sovereign, under ficti-
| tious name; or, as q mendicant by the way
side, claims the charity of his Empress I;
or, it may be, as an awkward captain of o
steamer, affects to run down lubbering
captain of a small craft on the Baltic; and,
while supposed to be thus roaming over
the Empire, alarms his Ministers by sud-
denly presenting himself amongst them
A few years ago an American frigate
alike celebrated for the beauty of her pso-
portions, the solidty of her form, and quick
ness Of sailing, entered the harbor of Crons-
tadt Her arrival was at once communi-
Gated to Nicholas, and, before her anchor
was fairly down, one of his richly orna-
mented steamers was observed approaching
across the wide bay. The steamer stop
ped at about one hundred yards distance
from the frigate, and dazzling group Of
officers was seen to enter a barge, the
course Of which was Immediately directed
towards the ship Acting as coxswain to
this barge, and seating himself on the
stern, appeared a conspicuous figure, with
small white cap, encircleu by red band,
and attired in single-breasted bark green
frock coat, the attire corresponding with
the individuals subordinate capacity, and
presenting a singular contrast TO the epau-
let's and other fnery of those under whose
orders he seemed stationed. Always pre-
pared to receive such visitors, our naval
commander met them at the gangway, and
gave them a cordial welcome Among
them was the Vice Chancellor of the Em-
pire, the Minister of Marine, and number
Of admirals and general officers, who went
aft in the cabin of the Commodore,
whilst their coxswain, as if conscious that
he must look out for himself, walked for
ward and mingled carelcssly with the
common sailors. =. As he examined the bat
terry and scrutinized the bulwarks, asking
now and then some questions, the hardy
tars, trained TO discern the air and tone of
real authority, instinctively touched their
tarpaulin hats, and, wnking knowingly to
each other, whispered their conviction, that
it was the old boy himself 7 This suspi-
cion circulated with rapdity throughout
the frigate, but no Que deemed it decorQus,
by the slightest word or look, to intimate
its existence TO him who thought himself
as he wished to be, absolutely unrecognized.
After inspecting this proud specimen Of our
naval architecture and armament, the
splendid eayalcade re-entered their barge.
And now arrived the moment when the
commodore was to decide whether he should
give the ordinary salute Of twenty-one
guns, or twice that number, constituting
an imperial salute. The suspected cox
swain was then observed alone, and lean
ing on the wheel Of the steamer, as the
man-of-war's heavy cannon Numbered from
her ports He remained silent and sta
tionary until, at the sound of the twenty
second gun, he started with surprise, gath
cred his officers around him, and, after he
had explained to them that the cute
Yankee had seen through his disguise, he
issued his orders for the resumption Of his
true character; signals were Immediately
noticed to be exchanged with the surround
ing forts, and ten or twelve Russian ships
in the harbor. The star-spanged banner
was then hoisted at the masthead Of the
steamer, gracefully playing across the
bows Of the American ship, while every
other armed vessel commenced firing an
swering salutes When these ceased, the
flag of the Union slowly descended, and
Nicholas proclaimed his real presence by
hoisting in its stead the standard of his
house-the dark double-headed eagle, on a
yellow grouud--whose presence, as if by
magic, dwoke the cannon both on the
shore and the bay, producing the deafening
roar Of 1000 guns. The self.eonfdonce