The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-04-20
NICHOLAS, THE UNITED STATES,
ENGLAND AND FRANCE.

ENGLAND AND FRANCE.
The New Orleans Bee publishes the fol-
lowing passage from letter, addressed TO an
eminent foreigner, now in that city, by Rus
sian friend residing in st. Petersburg. The
Bee says, it may be regarded as entirely au.
thentic. The views Of the dying Gar in re-
gard to America, and the future of England
and France, will not fail to arrest the atten-
ton of the reader:
ST. PETERSBURG, Feb, 1856.
Before my letter reaches you, you will
probably have received intelligence of loss
that will spread gloomy veil over all Russia;
for the death of such man is blow that
not only strikes his own country, but resounds
from the shores of the whole world. In my
last letter, | did not dare openly declare what
we were expecting from day to day, for we
were unwilling to accustom our hearts to an
idea which our minds were incapable of con-
ceiving. The last days of our Gar are n
whole century in the history of Russia, and
will never be forgotten by those who wit
messed them. Do not imagine that he was
exasperated with his foes. Quite the con-
trary! lmpartially, like prophet, he gazed
upon the present situation Of the different
European powers, and predicted the future
with the accuracy of one who looks far be-
yond the present.
England" said he, "has reached her cul-
minatlng point, either for life or DEATH
There is no middle path for her TO pursue
One thing alone may save her, and that is a
free confession, not only by the government,
but by the whole aristOcracy, made to the
people, that they have been abused from first
to last, that the Crown is unable any longer
to maintain its power, and that the people
must rise and unite together as one man, to
save the honor and preserve the independence
of the country. A candid acknowledgment
of the truth may even now save England, il
her corrupt aristocracy can be brought to the
stool Of confession. France on the contrary,
can maintain herself only by fasehood and
deception. The Emperor may proclaim TO
his subjects that he governs and influences
the affairs of all Europe, that not shot can
be fired without his permission, and that
France is the first power in Europe; but q
single shock, one speech of n demagogue
may overthrow him and darken the star of
Napoleon forever. | have offered him my
hand, the hand of reconciliation; but he has
refused it. He wishes to avenge Moscow
upon me, and st. Helena upon England
ShOrt.sighted man, who seeks to avengs the
sins of the fathers upon their children! As
for Germany, Austria and Prussia. they would
not now exist, if had not saved them, when
they crouched TT my feet six years ago, they
think to strengthen themselves in the mighty
struggle between the other nations of Eu-
rope. But they never have been and never
will be more than secondary powers, satraps
holding authority by the clemency Of my
House, or by permission of the Western
Powers Yet one consolation is left TO me in
the midst of all this ingrati.ude and villiany
and that is the silent sympathy of that high
hearted people on tho other side of the At
lantic, the only hearts, in which | hear an
echo of my struggles against united Europe.
Never have forgotten the smallest kindness
shown to me by the least of my subjects; let
my children never forget what we owe to
America, aud if ever an hour of danger dark
ems around the Union, let her find faithful
ally in my family"
These words may be of interest to you, my
friends, because you are now living amongst
the Americans; and mention them, knowing
that your sympathies have bound YOU TO a
foreign land nearly half acentnry. One learns
to recognize his true friends in the hour of
danger, and you may rely upon it that as long
rs Romanoff sits on Russia's throne, the
American States will never need a friend
The above (says the Bee) is faithful and
almost literal translation from the letter
which is written in German, by one of the
mobiles of Courland, residing in st. Peters
burg. From the source whence we received
it, we have no hesitation in guarantying its
authenticity.