The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-10-17
Count ShOuyalOf.


of April, 1866. that st. Petersburg was
startled by the news of an attempt to
assassinate the Gar. The criminal, n
student named Karakosoff. was arrested,
but all efforts on the part of the police
to draw from him any details of the
plot. or the names of his accomplices,
or his own name. or to unravel the
mystery for themselves, were vain.
The Gar was enrsged. Though he had
done everything to diminish, If not
destroy. the efficiency of the secret
police. he now punished its chief by
dismissal from office.
1t will be remembered that, in order
to control his unruly subjects, Peter the
Great instituted the secret inquisi-
ton, supreme tribunal over all po
litical offences in Russia. The EN-
peror Paul the First abolished the in
stitution, although neither he nor his
son could wholly dispense with its SER
vices; but the Emperor Nicholas, who
was determined that mot mouse
should stir in Russia without his knowl-
edge" re-established the secret police
in all essentials under the innocent
name of the Third Division the
chief Of which was, next to the Gar,
the most powerful man in all Russia.
On Alexander's accession to the throne,
this darling institution of despotism re-
ceivel severe blow. The new Gar
was liberal; he surrounded himself
with a liberal, independent, and ener-
getic ministry, and as he had person
ally, when he was grand duke, had GER
tain very unpleasant experiences of the
omniscieuce OF the secret police, he
placed the power into the hands of II
good-natured military dandy, Prince
Wassily Dolgoruki.
Not satisfied with thus manning the
efficiency of the terrible system, Alex
ander totally discouraged Its officers by
throwing some OF their reports into the
waste basket and dismissing spies who
proved too active.
Naturally, Prince Dolgoruki lost
credit. his minions became careless, and
thus it happened that in 1866 the plot
eliminating in karakosotTs murderous
attempt on the Cars life, could be
formed IN the heart of Moscow unde
tected. But it was no easy matter to
choose a successor to the Prince DolgO-
ruki when he was deposed.
The Office of adjutant-general, whence
ministers were supplied, and which
during Nicholas's reign had been filled
only with elderly men whose services
had commended them. had, during Al
exander's reign, declined. Ii was at
this critical iuncture that Count Shou-
valoit. then governorgeneral of 1.-Two
MIA and Courland, and recently APP
pointed acknowledgement, had come to
St. Petersburg to receive the insignia
Of his new Office, and upon him fell the
emperors choice as the successor Of
Prince DolPoruki.
Peter Andrejevitsch Shouvalof was
then only tLirty-eight years Of age.
He had manifested conspicuous admin
istratlve talents In managing the diff
cult German provinces, and previous to
his becoming their governor he had rem
dereI valuable services as a member of
the police department. He was married
TO court favorite. the widow of Count
Orlotf Damydof, by which alliance he
had become a man Of rank and acquired
a reputation for blameless conduct, a
high sense of honor, and remarkable
elegance Of manners and address
He was a son of the popular Grand
Marshal, Count Andrei, and was
brought up at court in intimate associa-
ton with the imperial family. In spite
of all these powerful considerations to
account for the emperor's choice, it was
a surprise 10 all st. Petersburg that so
youug and comparatively inexperienced
a man as Count Shouvalotf should be
made chief of the Third Division, and
therefore second in power only to the
Gar ,. self. But on the very first
day of lis appointment Count Shouva-
loh justified, 10y fine Instance of per
.isteuce and patience, the honor the
Gar had done him.
In the room Of karako-otf were fouud
the torn and scattered fragments Of o
document which. 1t was believed, would
reveal all that was necessary to clear
up the dark plot. Count Shouvalotf
had these fragments placed on glass. so
that they could be readily examined on
both sides, and by a patient placing and
replacing Of them succeeded in forming
the correct adjustment; and the secret
was thus laid bare, including the name
of Karakosoff. which the latter had so
resolutely withheld.
From being liberal, and a supporter
of Pan-SlsvistIc ideas, Count Shouva'