Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-07-27


eral government; and our own State govern
ment comes in for share of their deep curses
If Governor Pease wishes to preserve his Rio
Grande popularity, whatever that be, he vii
have to call out Texas rangers. @
The Emperor Nicholas.
George M. Dallas, late Vice President Of the
United States, and minister to Russia, thus
sketches the Czar
3No admitted merit no length of service, nc
elevation of rank can avert the blow with which
he is ever ready to strike the culpable or dis
loyal. 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 private then detected in fault He
has been known, on the instant of discovering
remissness or inattention, to tear of, with his
own hands, the epaulettes and decorations OF a
veteran and tavorite officer. There revels in
his temperament what may be called a dash OF
romance, which, set off by q form of great ele-
gance and muscular strength, gives to his ac-
ton grace, vivacity and interest. When repre-
senting the imperial chief, his details OF gran
deur and magni6cenee may be truly and orr.
entally gorgeous-his audiences, banquets and
festivals are as imposing and dramatic as those
in the Arabian Nights; yet often from them ne
breaks abruptly away, travels through his king
dom, unknown and unobserved, gaining, per.
haps, admission to the palace OF some sove-
reign, under fictitious name, or, as mendi.
cant by the wayside, claims the charity OF his em-
press or, it may be, as an awkward captain of
q steamer, affects to run down a lubbering cap
tain of small craft on the Baltic; and while
thus supposed to be running over the empire,
alarms his ministers by suddenly presenting
himself amongst them.
A few years ago an American frigate, alike
celebrated for the beauty other proportions,
the solidity of her form, and quickness of sail
ing, entered the harbor of Cronstadt. Her ar
rival was at once communicated to Nicholas,
and before the anchor was fairly down, one OF
his richly ornamented steamers was observed
approaching across the wide bay. The steamer
stopped at about one hundred yards distance
from the frigate, and dazzling group OF Off
GERS were seen to enter barge, the course OF
which was Immediately directed towards the
ship. Acting as cockswain to his barge, and
setting himself at the stern, appeared con-
spieuous figure, with a small white cap, encir-
cled by red band, and attired in single
breasted, dark brown frock coat, the attire cor
responding with the individuals, subordinate
capacity, and presenting a singular contrast to
the epanlettes and other fnery of those under
whose orders he seemed stationed, Always
prepared to receive such visitors, our naval
commander met them at the gangway, and
gave them cordial welcome
Among them was the vice-chancellor of the
empire, the minister Of marine, and a number
of admirals and general officers, who went
"aftr in the cabin of the commodore, whilst
their coxswain, as if conscious that he must
look ont for himself walked "forward," and
mingled carelessy with the common sailors.
AS he examined the battery and scrutinized the
bulwarks, asking now and then some questions,
the hardy tars, trained to discern the air and
tone of real authority, instinctiyely touched
their tarpauln hats, and, winking knowingly
to each other, whispered their conviction, that
it was "the old boy himself" This suspicion
circulated with rapidity throughout the frigate,
but no one deemed it decorous, by the slightest
word or look, to intimate its existence to him
who thought himself as he wished to be, abso-
lutely unrecognized. After inspecting this
proud specimen of our naval architecture and
armament, the splendid cavalcade re-entered
the 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 sa-
lutte. The suspected coxswain was then OBJ
served alone, and, leaning on the wheel of the
steamer, as the man-ofwar's heavy cannon
Numbered from her ports. He remained silent
and stationary until, at the sound of the TWEEN
ty, second gun, he started with surprise, gather.
ed his officers around him, and, after he had
explained to them that the cute Yankee"
had seen through the disguise, he issued his or
ders for the resumption Of his true character;
signals were Immediately noticed to be ex.
changed with the surrounding forts, and ten or
twelve 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 answering salutes. When those ceased, |
the flag of the Union slowly descended, and
Nicholas proclaimed his real presence BY
hosting in its stead the standard of his house,
the dark double-headed eagle, on a yellow
ground, whose presence, as if by magic, awoke |
the cannon both on the shore and the bay, pro- |
ducing the deafening roar of 1000 guns.
The selfcon6dence which leads to theseeccen-
trio movements characterizes the department Of |
the sovereign everywhere and at all times.
Our fancies are always apt to imagine him |
always moving in state, and hedging himself
around with guards and attendants, with all |
The show and pomp of the appurtenances Of
tyranny. Such is not the case. Why, the |
elected citizen, the king of France, with pow
ers expressly defined and restricted, feels safe |
only within his palace walls, or surrounded by
his soldiers, whilst Nicholas, the unrestricted |
and irresponsible despot, maintains, in all his
intercourse with his people, the freedom and
carelessness Of unimportant privacy. He is
seen at all hours in small, single-horse sleigh,
IN an open carriage, on horseback or on foot,
and undistinguished, except
BY those familiar with his general personal ap.
pearance or physiognomy; strangers often,
unaware Of his presence, pass him without
respect"
The MCDoNoGH EsTATE.-The New Or
cans Delta says that numerous inquiries have
been addressed to it of late, as to the actual
tate of the affairs nf the McDnnnrh success.