The Nevada Democrat., 1856-11-12
The Coronation OF the Car.

The following Deautiful description Oh the
scene in the Church of the Assumption at the
Coronation of the Czar is from the pen of viii
liam Russell, the Irishraan, the special CORES
pondent of the London Times:
The Empress Dowager and the Imperial fami-
ly have already entered the church and taken
their places on the platform round the thrones.
Amid the ringing of bells and the shouts of the
popuace the young Emperor and his bride
reach the entrance of the church. And now
they detach themselves from the crowd of Off
cials about them, and passing along the gor-
geous screen that separates the chancel from
the church, they fall on their knees before the
images of the saints, kiss with fervent rever-
ence the sacred relics, and they offer up silent
prayers to heaven. Let the perfect grace and
earnestness with which the young Empress per-
forms these acts be noted. She is richly attlred
in q white robe, studded with the finest Jewels,
but her head is adorned only by her own luxu-
RANT hair, without single ornament Her right
hand is unglCved, and with this she crosses her
self as she performs her religious offices, not
mechanically, as if going through part of pre-
scrbed ceremony but fervently, religiously,
and with the grace of perfect womanhood AND
now the Emperor, followed by his bride. mounts
the platform of the throne, and repeats from
book delivered to him by the Archbishop of
Moscow the confession of his Christian faith
|
bishop and suddenly the choir, which has hith-
erto preserved silence, bursts out in psalms and
praise to God, and the holy building vibrates
with the ring of their harmonious voices. There
is no note of organ or sound of other instru-
ment The signers admirably organized and
chanting with astonishing power and precision
need no support; the plaintive soprano voices
of the boys rise clear and distinct above the
deep tones of the rich basses, and the sustained
ho, at,1 off autrl
the holy building. But already the imperial
mantle of silver aud ermne, richly studded with
gems, is in the hands of the Archbishop, who
proceeds to clasp it round the shoulders Of his
Majesty.
Next follows the great crown, which is placed
by the same hands on the imperial head, rever-
emily bent to receive it, and the sceptre and
globe are then delivered to his Majesty, who,
Invested with these royal insignia, seats himself
on the throne. The Empress now approaches
with meek yet digniied air, and falls on her
knees before the Emperor. His Majesty, lifting
the crown from his own head, touches with it
that of the Empress, and again seats 1t on his
own brows. A lesser crown is then brought,
which the Emperor places Oh the head of the
Empress, where it is properly adjusted by the
Mistress of the Robes and his Majesty, having
invested his bride with the imperial mantle,
draws her towards him, and tenderly embraces
family, with the foreign princes, to approach
and congratulate their Majcsties, 'and nothing
can be more touching than the spectacle, from
the evident earneetness with which embraces
(Which are, indeed, the expression Of the deep
and cordial love which binds in one common
bond of tenderness all the members of the impe-
rial family are received and returned OH for
touch of nature whicS IN axes all the world KIM
How electric is its ELECT Here, in the midst of a
ceremony necessarily stitf and formal, there is
suddenly, on the part of the principal perfor-
mers, general outburst of natural feeling; and
mark its eflect-there is scarcely dry eye
among the immense masses crowded in the
church, while the feeble frame of the Empress
Mother totters with outstretched arms towards
, the imperial son, and passionately clasps and
holds him in q long embrace; and tears and
smiles ming together as the little grand dukes
are seen TO Chamber up to the side of their ia-
ther and uncle, who has to stoop low in order
to reach the little faces which asked to be kissed
But the most important and solemn part of
the ceremony has now to he performed and
there is a general Stiffness in the church as the
Emperor descends from his throne and proceeds
to the entrance of the chancel. He is met there
by the Archbishop of Moscow, who holds in his
hands the sacred vessel which contains the holy
oil. Stretching forth his right hand the ven
cradle father takes golden branch, with which,
having dipped it in the consecrated oil, he
anoints the forehead, cyelids, nostrils, ears,
hands and breast of the Emperor, pronouncing
the solemn words" Impressi0 doni Spiritus
Sanct," The act is done, and Russian eyes
look with awe upon the anointed of God, the
delegate of His power, the high priest Of His
church, at once Emperor and Patriarch, conse-
Grated and installed in his high temporal and
spiritual Office A salvo of cannons the bray
of trumpets, the roll of drums, announce the
completion of the sacred act to the ears of those
who are without the church and cannot witness
it. Meanwhile the Empress comes forward and
is in like manner anointed by the Archbishop,
but on the forehead only. Then the Emperor
and Empress, the one on the right the other on
the left of the Archbishops of Moscow, st. Peters
burg, aud Novgorod, receive the holy sacra-
ment to the Emperor, and the chosen servant
privileged by heaven, it is minstered in the
two kinds; the Empress receiving only the sac
ramental bread, which is partaken of by all
members of the Russian church. Once more
the choir burst out in full jubilant chorus, and
their Majesties once more mount the platform
of the throne, and stand erect, while the mass
is ntoned by the priests, and the responses are
chantcd by the the choir. The holy service
being concluded, the Emperor steps from the
throne, bows right and left to the great dgni-
taries of the state, to the prelates to the repre-
| sentatives of foreign powers, and then leaves
the church by the northern gate, accompanied
by bis splendid retinue. and followed short
distance by the Empress.
AN ABDUcTIoN.-Th st. Louis Lqtelligmcer,
of the 25th September, tells the following story: