Washington sentinel., 1855-03-18

WHICH ulS DTOtucT udu lOuuucICus 1uSdLldUlc
ambition, traditional thirst for conquest, hur-
ried him into wars. The taxes rose again.
Discomfort revived. Secret societies were
formed. Instructions broke out in various
provinces. Then Poland crushed under the
iron heel of Constantine, made q feeble effort
to rear its head. The club of Nicholas bat
tered it to the earth. Efectually to prevent
future complaints, whole provinces were depo-
pulated.
The vengeance of Nicholas was pitiless
Every one remembers the horrible treatment to
which the insurgents were subjected. Poland
was Incorporated with Russia, and became a
province Of the empire.
The retrograde movement was now in full
vigor Secret police-the constant weapon Of
despotism-swarmed in the cities. In his anx-
iety to keep down the people, Nicholas lost
sight of the villainies of the functionaries. Cor
ruption was never more universal. Restraints
were placed on foreign travel and Russian
subjects were forbidden to. publish anything
abroad. Fresh levies swelled the army to
monstrous extent. With revenue not exceed
ing 100000, 900, one million of men were kept
under arms. How anything was left for those
who werenot soldiers is mystery. 1t is almost
a wonder how wthe judges and other public func-
tionaries could contrive to steal as they did.
huOWItuSt was piOoCIiDcu. III tue quaint
words of a verse quoted by a recent writer:
He said 10 the mind,
Go into darkness
And signed il;
Be il 30,
Gear Nikolai.
But in truth he could do no less There is
no compromise possible between despotism and
intelligence. Nicholas had to choose between
crushing out every spark of intellect and free
dom, and abandoning his throne. He choose
the former. The domestic virtues which marked
the whole OF his career show that he was not
bad man, as Paul and the Peters were. His
immense labors for the codifcation of the Rus
sian law prove that he desired the good of his
country. Even his implacable and cruel re-
sentiment at the delinquencies Of corrupt off.
GERS argues sincere interest in the popular
welfare.
From all that we have said about Nicholas,
il can be seen that one general idea regulated
his policy. Struck BY the evils which has been
left him by his brother Alexander, he deter.
mined TO take in all things the contrary course
to that which had been adopted by his prede-
cessor. Alexander inclined toward liberal
ideas. Nicholas showed himself anti-liberal to
an excess.
When the poet Pouchkin died, mourning
was universal throughout Russia, the Emperor
!! himself taking part in it. A young man. ex.
cited by the glorious regrets which this death
caused, wrote an ode in honor OF the deceased
poet, and in which he held out to himself some
hopes Of becoming, at a future day, one Of the
ornaments Of Russian literature. The Gar
could not look with favorable eye upon this
audacious young man, who coveted glory in
country where it belonged to the sovereign
alone, and the worshipper of the MUSES. was
sent to calm the ardor Of his imagination be-
meath the climate Of Tobolsk. He came back
at the end Of three years, sick and entirely dis
gusted with poetic glory. Alexander used to
effect to pay no particular attention to the ma
tional language and customs, and did not con-
ceal his partiality for foreigners. Nicholas was
fanatic in behalf OF the customs, language
and religion Of Russia.
Ofthe external policy of Nicholas's reign and
Of the wars in which he engaged, il is not our
intention in this brief sketch TO speak. They
belong more properly to the domain Of his.
tory.
The firmly established reputation Of the late
Gear as handsome man, imposes on us the
obligation Of giving his portrait Several
writer's have undertaken this task, but none
among them has acquitted himself so ably as
the Prince Peter Kolofski, for which reason we
quote him in preference
"Nicholas," he writes, "has the noblest face
have ever seen in my life. The habitual expires.
sion of his physiognomy has a certain severity
which is far from putting the beholder at his
ease. His smile is smile OF complaisance,
and not the result Of gayety or abandon.
There is something approaching the prodigious
in this princes manner Of existence. He
speaks with vivacity, with simplicity, and the
most perfect propriety; all he says is full Of
point and meaning-no idle pleasantry-not a
word out Of its place. There is nothing in the
tone OF his voice or the arrangement of his
phrases that indicates baughtiness or dissimu-
lation, and yet you feel that his heart is
closed.n
The personal habits Of the Emperor were
marked by the most feverish activity. He
would ride, walk, superintend sham fght,
and hold review, all in the same day. He
travelled necessarily, passed over at least one
thousand five hundred leagues every season,
and wore down the strength Of all who were
attached to his person.
The suddenness Of his end was TO be- ex-
pected either from political causes, as has fire.
quently been predicted or from sheer physical
exhaustion. No frame could long resist the
unnatural amount Of exertion, both mental and
bodily, TO which this extraordinary man sub
iected himself. He was in his seth year at the
date of his death.
The Czar is succeeded by his eldest son.
Alexander Cesarevitch, Hereditary Grand Duke
He was born on the 29th April, 1918, and mar
ried in April, l84l, Maria, daughter Of the late
Grand Duke Louis III. Of Hesse, by whom he
has four sons.