Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-12-23

less, or otherwise.
New THEORY OF THE DEAru OF THE
EMPEROR NIcuoLAs.-IIow did the En-
peror Nicholas die? OF what did he die
These are questions which one asks when
rejecting upon the premature and wholly
unexpected end of that remarkable man.
There are two very different replies to these
questions. The following is what is assert
ed publicly:
"Afier the annihilation of Poland and
the crushing of Hungary, the Emperor
Nicholas was convinced that nothing in Eu-
rope could resist him. He was impaliently
awaiting news from the Crimea firmly con.
WINGED that he should hear Of the destruc-
ton of the English and French armies. A
courier is announced. The Emperor, with
confident smile on his lips, bids them en-
ter. The courier, exhausted by journey
of three thousand wersts, offers the dis
patch TO his Majesty. WELL says the En-
peror, I'VE have beaten them, suppose.
Will your Majesty please to read ? SAYS
the courier. WAS the day doubtful!' Read
sire Answer me, sir; / will read afier-
wards Sire, we have been beatcn.'-
Where? AT the Alma The Emperor
became livid and started up. You lie !!
said he. The courier bowed. Read, sire,
Nicholas opened the dispatch and read it.
1t was the battle. Menschikof revealed
all T! The French and the English had been
victorious. The Emperor fell back in his
easy chair as though both his legs had been
A ~, ri q Ia
news of the battle OF Inkermann. The
man, whom nothing had been able TO resist,
now experiences not only double resist
ance, but double defeat. He could not
bear this double reverse. From that mo
ment his health became dcranged, and he
sank under The weight of this annihlation
of his greatness. He died on the 18th Of
February, 1855.
Such is the generally received account.
i he borrowing Is what is asserted privately.
The effect of these two pieces of intelli-
gence had not been less terrible than as
above described, but the athletic constitution
of the emperor would have borne up against
it, Nevertheless he took an exalted and
terribly heroic SO says Dumas part. He
resolved to die ! Should he retrace his
footsteps and abandon his policy, he would
have to give the lie to a reign Of thirty
years. Should he persist in carrying on
the war, he would ruin Russia. But what
he could not ask for without loss of honor,
viz: peace, his successor might. He there
fore, by pressing solicitation, obtained from
his physician, who had previously resisted
for two months, dose of poison strong
enough to kill him, but yet weak enough to
allow him to live few hours after having
taken it. Dumas should have said after
he had been weak enough TO take it. The
physician, like wise man, left St. Peters
burgh on the 18th Of February, having OBJ
taned from the Emperor a declaration in
writing which made him safe at all points.
On the morning of the 18th The Emperor
swallowed the poison, after which he sent
for the G. Duke Alexander, (new Empcr
or) and told him all. The latter would
have cried out for help, but the Emperor
prevented him by an order so positive that,
as son and a subject, he could not disobey
his father and his sovereign. Then the
Emperor explained TO him in detail the mo-
tives which had induced him to take this
heroic step. The young prince, broken
hearted, the tears streaming from his eyes,
his uiterance choked by sobs, listened to the
dreadful narrative on his knees, and clasped
his hands, exclaiming, My father My
fatherr The Emperor would not allow
him 10 quit his side until he had obtained
from him a solemn promise to let death take
lis course without attempting to stop it..
But the instant the young prince was out
of the room his filial love triumphed over
his fidelity TO his word. and he summoned
the whole of the royal family and also three
physicians. The latter arrived too late.
The Emperor, after a not very violent ago
ny, expired at 20 minutes past IL, noon, on
the 18th Of February. 1855. AT the same
instant Russia changed not only her master,
but her policy. If this last version be the
correct one, why not proclaim it aloud
1t might be less Christian but more glorious
than his whole life.
ALEXANDER DUMAS"