New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-01-26
RECOLLECTIONS OF THE COURT OF
RUSSIA
BY AN Ix-cHAKBERLAIS or THE EMPEROR

BY An Ix-cHAMBERLAIN or THE EMPEROR
Should the great modification commonly called the
Ea,,ern Question lead any positive result may well
look for general of the world but should re-
main ,uch as now IT, il will sdorn the button holes OF
few diplomat. and soldiers with new rbbands and-that
will be all However be this MAJ, it is the great topic
of the moment on both sides of the Atlantic and yet tho
principal peronages figuring in it are but little knOwn-or
rather are quite unknown Seven years OF forced soourn
at the Court of Nicholas must at least Think So afford one
WHO was without ambition and looked not forward to any
important care or, the means Of deneattng calmly and
hutLuy III. principal characters performing parts in the
grst drama which now absorbs the attention of the whole
political word Atsl events am confident that what
tha cav will be the fruit Of impartial observation rpened
BY distance of time and place well as by the dspasson
ate and unbiased Judgment Of one enjoying the hospital,
IT, liberty and freedom of thought and opinion OF the
United States.
Tie Emperor Nicholas must naturally hold the first place
in this .eries of sketches Coming to the throne In the
mdst Of military sedton accident gave him an opportun
ty for 81, energetic stroke Of policy which impressed MS
friehIed subjects with feeling of ave- the impression oil
which has renal ed through all his subsequent reign
His scn on that occasion inspired by the advice oil
All old Polish General Count Grabowskyi it effected the
purpose in view completely and the instruction whiohwas
liz ut Of conspiracy being crushed there was nothing
10 prevent the Emperor from impressing upon his reign
whatever character he choe. Instead Of drawing the vel
of obeance and forgiveness over the ransgress'ons OF
the few persons whose connection with the move
ment was hardly known he sought them out caused sew
eral TO be hanged in public and eIed many others to
Siberia and the He knew no other basis OF power
than terror other way Of ruling than by fear The
death pepaty had been abolished in Russia The first act
Of b reign was to revive it Tbese facts have noted as
rovire and illustrating The main defect in the character OF
Nj toas-the want Of superior intellect He has On iron
will character OF steel Of bronze. of marble and il his
und.rstsrdpg were equally vigorous, ho would be truly
cre,t man When a mans ideas clear and distinct,
ard carried cut in bis mind to all their deductions
and consequences if he has also the strength OF Will
necessary for their execution may well expect great
things Of him but however endowed with strength oil VIII
md energy of character If bis reasoning be small
ard he be incapable Of following out his ideas into theu
rmoe,t consequences his actions must bear the impress
of incompeeptss-he cannot be truly great Such the
case with Nicholas He desires render Russia greater
ard more powtrul than she has been 10 make her
the arber of the desinies of Europe; to play himself
cop.peuous Part in history. But how he's be sought to
.ccompli.h this Having started wrong, he has been
forced during the entire twenty nine years since ne
soelded the throne to govern by terror at home 10 gam
his end, ty charistsnsm abroad These are the two
facts which form the basis of his power in Russia OF
HIS influence every where else. And this not 10 conse
seouence of any original intent on his part but because az
the outet he could take that enlarged view OF things
which oud have led him naturally into the path OF true
,,,s,ps OF great and magnsnimous dess he was inca
rsble He has had no guide but his own wil-has strug
red sperpe,i ally and for he most part successfully with
the o, ucons which have impeded his progress but has
lacked The nta pow necessary to oresee new mped
n. std 10 provide in for the means OF avoiding
tb,m He might have taken advantage OF the strength
AZ vitality Of nation in the full yigor OF YOUTH rendered
II uorerul at home by promoting trade and industry pro
mated its welfare by the construction OF canals ana ROADS
and fpey have brought his 100000 OF sueec" INTO
cndi,ior-ev,n though the emancipation OF large pro
poron Of them vos left question Tor the W
~. directly in the de stnies of the world Bu. he has pur
sred another course His administration during the wnoe
,eop has been volf Mt and with fIod principles Inc
d. ruusiion of oil classes of society the necessary con
s,outrce nation once pregnant with the future no"
nsts of dasarcy mobiles crafty and dishonest junction
aries and miserable peasen.ry which grosns under lhe
burden of an inolete yoke ghened but by the ises'
rrmse Of Gt,ry ard this is 80 remote ana deiu'''e
h.nc os rather precptate and hurry on future cvn
esrvul,iops than act az q support 10 the crown lis
finances being badly administered and the revenue ho
amounting to over sl5oOoOooo at the outside ne In con
slant pecuniary difficulties. His army alone sosof ir0n
$4,000 GOO se50ooOOo annually and yer tne ranks '
never full The sums employed in keeping an imposing
ouae show are for the eyes Of Europe must be
blinded to his real poverty and thus as tine goes on nc
finds hm,ef in the position Of an advensurer who or
poses of speculation has obtained the credit oil
ten times his real amount of available means and now
stands on the point OF being unmaked bad beginning
ard false route have brought Nicholas to this extremity
The skill and shrewdness Of Russian diplomacy &C
ro,edse for the diplomacy Of absolute government
arsy, exeels But this very skill taken in eonneeaon
with The enormous e1pense attending IT, proof Oh my
Mt above that the Car eompeedto blind me eye.
Of the world even at the expense Of the highest nsnon
interests His conduct that Of bankrupt sustaining
credit little longer by costly parties and
balls Every sensible must zee that thus 'Ae %
cannot Iast-he wonder that At the present mage =" q"
iraiiop, ii has continued long and an OOnnisn.
Lsi the rns is not far distant when ths h''%ne's "i
Iu,stn lalassniim vii be fully exposed and 'ne ass
~. tye IiIC Ice Of the eonHpt s!ser u TIC IH'''