Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1854-01-28
The Russian Autocrat,

The Russian Autocrat.
The following extract of letter in the
New York Evening Post, narrates an event
in the life of Nicholas not generally known
It will be interesting to our readers just
now, as in some degree characterizing the
monarch who is about to enkindle the fires
of war, and set Europe in blaze:
Gan historical incident of the deepest in.
terest in the life Of Nicholas, elucidates well
the character of the man. The incident oc.
Cured in 1887, soon after his accession to
power, and may be fresh in the memory Of
many of our readers. Those who are &C
quainted with the history of the country
know that in all times past, the barons Of
Russia have ruled the country-not by legal
power but by force. Their power extended
even to the emperor; and when The CHIEF
of the state became inconvenient to them,
he was unceremoniously put out of the way.
Soon after Nicholas came into power it be.
came apparent to the mobiles, thai they had
man to deal with who was likely to thwart
their plans, and give them trouble in future.
In fact they say right. for Nicholas had de.
termined to break up this domineering pow
er, and forever place veto on its existence;
In short time: conspiracy was entered
into by certain number of leading mobiles
10 take the life of the emperor. To carry
their project into operation. they COM.
menced tampering with the army, and
finally succeeded in buying over, with
money and promises, four regiments, OF
eight hundred men each, with their officers.
| The chief Of the plot was the commander
of these four regiments. A grand review
was to take place on certain day, IN the
presence of the emperor. The four regi-
ments were to be formed into hollow
square,. and when the emperor passed
through them to review them, they were to
fire on. him, and then give battle to the
balance Of the regiments on review, II they
thought fit to attack them. A very simple
plan of murder it was, without comPllca-
| ton. a,t9.+a 3r5.t q r' I'd ss'
@At IL O'clock on the night before this re-
view, man deeply disguised in furs pre-
sented himself at the Office of the grand
chamberlain of the imperial residence, and
demanded to see the emperor. He was IN
formed that the emperor had retired for the
night and could not be seen by any
body. The man took the chamberlain aside
told him he must see the emperor, that 1t
was matter of the greatest importance, a
matter even Of life and death; and after
much expostulation he gained an interview.
The visitor was one of the mobiles engaged
in the conspiracy, whose conscience was
too active. and who had determined to save
the life of his sovereign. He revealed the
entire plot TO the emperor, giving him
proof. of the entire truth of his statements.
The emperor thanked him, promised to re-.
member him 10 future for his devotion. and
gave him directions how to avoid suspicion
OF having betrayed his fellow conspirators.
The emperor then again retired to rest.
THE next day he sent for the principal
officers who were to be in command at the
review and who he knew were fast
friends of his. Quietly and without emo
ton he revealed to these astoaished men
the cold blooded plot which had been con-
cocted against him, and the terrible ven
geance which he intended to wreak. He
then gave them their orders. Without any
show of design, the four revolted regiments
were to be isolated and placed at one side
Of the main body All the other regiments
were TO be provided with ball cartridges. and
the artillery, with one hundred cannon load.
ed with grape shot: were to be drawn up on
the side. next the doomed troops. Every
thing was arranged according to the wishes
of the emperor, without any suspicious, ex.
cept the few persons who were in the secret,
that anything unusual was about to take
place. When the appointed hour for the
review arrived. the emperor, dressed in
grande tenue, as general of division, rode
on to the ground rapidly, followed at some
distance by a brilliant suite. He imme-
diately, and without seeming TO make it a
particular object, rode towards the refractory
companies. Riding up to the nobleman
who stood at their head, and who was the
principal conspirator, he coolly laid his hand
on his shoulder, quickly presented the muz-
zle of a pistol to his face, and without a
word, blew his brains out. He then waved
his hand to the officers in command of the
infantry struck his spurs into his horses
tanks, which quickly bounded to one side,
and the whole Of the hundred cannon OPEN
ed their deadly volley Of grape shot into
the midst Of that devoted boiy of unresist-
ing men. Their cries for mercy were un-
needed, and in few seconds Of time the
whole of these thirty-two hundred men lay
stretched out on the plain. The few who
recovered from their wounds were exiled
into Siberia; and TO this day the numbers Of
those regiments have remained blank in
the Russian army. -s.,.rs.s. sls..sst.f
g By this bold stroke, Nicholas at once
broke up the power of the barons, and he
did more-he fastened himself into the af.
fections Of his people. In nation like that
Of Russia, such stroke as that, by a young
man Of twenty eight was we'll calculated to
give power Of a most durable kind Since
that time the mobiles have shIunk before his
will while the great body of his subjects
have worshipped him. His word is the di-
vine law, and wherever he points, his de-
voted people will follow with unanimity5
and an enthusiasm which was not surpass-.
ed, even in feudal days" 8
WOLVES IN MA1NE-A correspondent Of
the Machias Union says that the accommo-
dation stage and passengers from Rockland
were, few days since, driven back from the
woods near Indian river, and detained over,
night BY large detachment Of wolves
The Brunswick Telegraph relates that, on
Friday last Col. Campbell Of that town, was
chased By pack Of wolves while in the
woods not = half mile from his house.