Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-01-24
RUSSIAN. N.MAeNANInIIrY.


r mand of the English war steamer Tigel
e when she stranded near ODESSA and wa
: captured BY the Russians. has published /
S the English papers. an exceedingly inter
|, estiug narrative of the circumstance of til
wreck, and of the captivity of the. GREY
aud their treatment in Russia. Itis writ
ten by Lieub. Royer, who succeeded t
the command on the death of Captain
Gifard. 1t is particularly interestin.
from the picture which it draws of th,
liberality and magnanimity with which
these prisoners we're treated iu Russia
and the favorable account of the high -brec
courtesy and generosity of Russian func
tionaries, whom the common opinion o
this country classes with semi.barbarians
The utmost kindness and attention was
Exhibited towards the officers and crew,
and Lieut.. Roger says that the only diff
6cuities experienced were by the multi
plicity of orders,i some ofthem conflicting
with each other and all springing out oi
the anxietyto alleviate the condition oftha
! prisoners. The Lieutenant was sent 10
st. Petersburg. where he was treated
more like welcome guest than pris:
oner. His interview with the Sultan re-
suited in his unconditional release from
captivity. It was done with so much
grace and good humor that we make a
long extract:
The Emperor was standing in the mid.
die ofthe room, dressed in the plain dark
blue uniform of general-in- -chiet, and
wore white enamelled cross. at the but
ton-hole on his chest. This, believe,
was the cross of the Order of ST. George,
an honor conferred only on persons who
have rendered important services to their
country. I imagine that his Imperial
Majesty has not yet assumed the decors-
lion of the highest class of the Order,
as is worn by such men as Paskicwich,
| Wironzoff, &C., and which was described
to ME as ditterentin size from that worn
by the Emperor. l expected to see fine
tall man, but was not prepared to find his
Imperial Majesty SO much superior to,the
generality OF men in height and appear
ance. He did not look more than City,
nor were there any signs of care on his
counteuance, at least not more than one
sees in every man OF his age. His features
were fine and regular, his head bald
in the centre, and his eye expressive
OF mildness, quite in accordance with his
words. l was aware that his Majesty was
acquainted with both English and French,
aud hoped that he would address mo in
my native tongue.
AS bowed and stepped forward he
addressed me as % Monsieur 10 Lieut.. -
and inquired after my health, whether 1
had got rid of my fever, and how and
where'I caught it. He asked me about
the loss of the Tiger, and inquired why We
had not anchored, being 80 near the land.
l replied that the fog was very thick, and
that by our reckoning we were some dis
tance from land when the vessel struck.
He asked me il [ was married, made some
kind inquiries respecting the family Of fmy
late captain, and informed me that Mrs.
Clifford had gone to Odessa TO Join her
husband, not having heard of his death.
His Imperial Majesty then said it had been
his intention togrant the captain his lib.
cry, but rs that was now impossible, he
would extend the grace to me, rs tie
next in commHnd. and asked me how
should like to 90 home. was quite Ia
ken aback By this announcement, ms al
though had been told at Odessa that |
| ShOulN nave my EOSItyp SLlIl = uNI uOL Hu-
ticipate that it would be granted so soon
AMI 50 freely. l was therefore unpre.
pared to answer the questions as to my
intended route. and said that really had
not thought Of it upon which his lmpc.
rial Majesty burst into a 6t Of laughter,
mu h amused at my surprise and embar.
rassmen', and said Aitez done penzes 9
{ go and think aboutit, and let me know
this evening through the Minister of War
what road you would like to take" lie
then bowed me out of the room, turning
10 the Prince. to whom he made some re.
mark in Russian. and the latter followed
me.
The whole of this narrative Of Lieut.
Roger shows the Emperor and his family
and the commanding officers on the coast
of the Black Sea in very favorable light
The treatment of the prisoners was deli
cate and generous in the highest degree
1t is a surprise to read Of such chiyalrou
department among the " unciyilized" ser
wants of the " Russian Bear"
The RUss1AX TRooPs AND THEIR HABrrs