The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-11-09
PRINCE MENTscHIKoFF.

PRINCE MENTSC6lkOFF.
orr European correspondent has furnished
with some account of Prince Mentschikoff,
:. General who has played so important part
:, III, Turco- Russian struggle, and to whom
-, Cz.r has committed the defence of the Cri-
mea.
Prince ALEXANDER SERIOUS MESTsCHIKoFF
descendant of Alexander Mentschikof, the
c..,,rs fayorte OF Peter the Great, who, from
,.p, the apprentice of baker, rose, by de-
.,... IN the highest dignities of the Russian
Fr,,ro; but under the reign of Peter III, fell
IN disgrace. and was exiled to Siberia. The
e,,b.r Of Prince Alexander Sergius recovered,
Ir the favor of Paul /, the estates of the fam
~. but is. for the rest, almost unknown to his
,ory. Prince Alexander Sergius himself was
horn in the memorable year of 1889, and en-
,ar-l the Russian army in 1905. Some time
later. he was appointed attache to the Russian
I.,ation at Vienna. During the campaigns
from 1872 to 1915, he held the position of an
ahnan, Of the Emperor Alexander and rose,
+, that capacity, to the rank Of general. After
,f. raciGcation of Europe, he became most
ardent member Of the party which favored the
adams 81 the Greek Heteri, the object of which
IA, the Acknowledgement of the Greeks from
,b. Turkish yoke and the restoration of the
Byzantine empire, under the auspices Of the
Eulrror Alexander. There can be no doubt
that that Prince favored, at first, the plan in
question: but the military revolutions in Ma
,la.. Piedmont, and Spain, had the effect of
changing his views or perhaps, rather, of in
.,iring him with hesitation. His ears became
l-a, TO the most urgent representations in be-
half Of the Greeks. This induced Mentschi-
ksa together with Capodistrias, Strogonof, and
several other high Russian dignitaries, to re-
,.sn their Positions
But on the death of the Emperor Alexander,
and the succession of his brother Nicholas to the
throne. Prince Mentschikoff was sent as ambas
,a.ior penipotentiary extraordinary to Persia,
IN order TO attempt at inducing the Schah to en-
rer into an alliance with Russia against Turkey
The Prince failed in accomplishing the object in
view, because the Schah was by English ennis
.irics lel to believe that the affairs of Russia
revolt Of the troops, and that there was fair
chance of compelling the new Car to submit
q, advantageous peace. Therefore, in
Stead Of accepting the proflered alliance, the
S.hah declared war against Russia. But the
insult was, as is generally known, very unhappy
for the Persian prince, and consequently quite
the contrary to what he had been induced to
anticipate.
Prince MentschikOff instead Of returning to
st. Petcrsburgh, joined, without having, how
ever. received any official appointment, the army
which the Gar had sent against Persia. But,
on the outbreak of the war between Russia and
Turkey, in ISIS, he was appointed commander
Of "A corps. at the head of which he attacked
Anapa and compelled that important place to
surrender. on the 23d of June. From hence
lie VAS transferred, by the command of the
Emperor. to the European theatre of the war,
IN order TO cause the siege of Varna to be pur-
~l-d with Increased visor. But the remark-
alb. energy which he displayed at this place
va. of no long duration, on account of the
severe wounds which he received from can
( non hal, and which made him unfit for any
| further service during the war in question.
After tie healing of his wounds, he was APP
,o1,ied vice admiral and chief of the staff gen.
"ral OF the fleet. To him, it is affirmed by good
authority. much praise is DUE for the increase
q" strength ana emcieucy which tn, Russian
navy. since that time, has attained. In the
year 1881, he was appointed Governor Ge,eral
al 4rtt.,, al loo I, l.
and ln lS'6 he became minister of the navy
mt on reSigning that position, he returned to
Toe discharge of his duties rs Governor Gen
r'ai Of Finland, while ut the same time direct
Dag ms especial attention to the improvement
'at increase of the Baltic feet of Russia.
Count Leiningen having succeeded in obtain
ns rom Turkey some concessions demanded
'' Austria, and the French ambassador at Con-
t-i'nople having, by threatening that the
French fleet was ready to proceed to the coast of
>'rla, compelled the Turkish Government to sub
at t" certain demands relative to the Holy
Places, the Emperor of Russia deemed that the
Tine was come when he ought to take q deci-
ave step toward the ultimate aim which he had
J" 'e" relative to Turkey. He resolved, there
''F'' To send an ambassador extraordinary. pro.
,''' with very extensive powers and very
.'-' means. to the Turkish capital, in order,
' "''NaS"n' corruption, and menaces, to in
'''e TIA" Turkish Government to submit to
''Hdtons which the ambassador was tn nro
bose, and which, if accented woulJ have con
erred upon the Gar the right of interfering
IA certain respects, with the internal affairs Of
Turkey VI
rrhce Alexander Scrgius Mentscbikoff was
ne person whom the Emperor Nicholas select.
''' "S me most suitable of the Russian d;on;
'"ieS to proceed 10 Constantinople. to address
." The Sultan personally the arrogant demand
winch was intended to divest that Prince of a
an "i his sovereign right, in order to transfer
wy same to the Car, who, as the ambassador
'E 10 mention distinctly, would view n refusal
as casas JcHf.
AentschikoG, accompanied bv n npmorous
4 l,ehuia retlnue-includng one General,
\ ! =. ''onel'' and two Commodores of ships-of
i nue. Proceeded to Constantinople, where his
f'dueed the greatest excitement among
portion of the population. A great
-, o' "Feeks surrounded daily the palace
l ''e N'nSchikOtl had taken ND his residence;
/ r. ""(ne'er he made his appearance in pub
wrecks received him with manifest signs
''p'' as token of their especial regard,
'helr heads, which they use never to
during religious festivities. 1t APP
ueht that this class of Turkish sub
III Informed hat h.