Morning journal and courier., 1881-03-26
The First of the Murdered Czars.

Thrilling Story Of the Fate of Alex
 ander's Grandfather-The Tragedy,
 with its Causes and Sequel, Graphical
 ly Told by a Bpench Statesman.
 In the ssHistoiry du Consu1at ct de PEm- pire' by the late M. Thiers the story of the assassination of Paul l., the grandfather of the czar who now lies murdered in St. Peters burg, is dramatically told follows:
 At St. Petersburg, the spectacle of an in- sane prince on the throne gave rise to the most sinister projects. ...
 Count Pahlen had served in the Russian army with distinction, and possessed a com manding person, concealed beneath the rough and smoetimes familiar manner of soldier, a deep and acute mind. He was endowed with singular audacity and an imperturbable pres ence of mind. As governor of St. Peters burg, and entrusted with the police of the empire and admitted into all great affairs of state, he was really the principal parsonage in Russian government. He held decided political opinions respecting the public policy of Russia, and many actions of his govern ment were regarded by him as incorporate.
 In fact, he was Russian such as existed in the days of Peter 4he Great. Being per suaded that everything was hastening towards ruin unless the reign of Paul were curtailed and having conceived alarm for himself per- sonally, he formed resolution and communi- cated it to Count Panim, the vice-chancellor and the head of foreign affairs who coincid- ed with Count Pahlen in the view that it was necessary to terminate the existing state of things Count Pahlen took upon himself the execution of the terrible project upon which they had resolved. The heir to the throne was the Grand Duke Alexander, a prince who gave promise of superior qualities and who appeared easy to be led. He it was whom Count Pahlen desired to raise to the throne by sadden catastrophe. To do this 1t was necessary to have some understanding with the heir, the grand duke, and obtain his concurrence. Count Pahlen communicated his scheme to the heir.
 Alexander, after passionate outburst. yielded by degrees before the fresh proofs of the danger to which Paul exposed the affairs of the country, and even the imperial family itself, by his arrogant pride, which he ex hibited before the first consul and other rul- CTS.
 As condition of his acquiescence Alexan- der exacted a solemn oath from Count Pahlen that no attempt against Paurs life should be made, and the count swore to everything re- quired.
 The requisite actors in the scene yet re- mained to be provided and the brothers Sou bow, upstarts raised by the favor of Catha- rine, were chosen as the chief instruments of the plot Plato Soubow was supple and reck- less, while his brother, Nicholas, WAS re- markable only for great personal stsength and well fitted to play subordinate part. Many other accomplices were engaged and brought to St. Petersburg under various pre- tences and kept in ignorance of their real duty. The one other individual summoned was Gen eral Bennington, Hanoverian, in the Russian service, who lived in retirement, dreading Paul's anger, which he had incurred. The general was initiated into the plot no further than the project of disposing of the em- peror.
 day was fixed for the execution of the project when regiment of Semenourk, de- voted to Alexander, should be on duty at the Palace Michael. They were obliged to wait. Paul's malady made rapid progress and be- One day Paul addressed Pahlen in these I sigular terms: ''Were you at St. Peters l burg in 1762 ?'' (The year of the assassina- ton of Pauls father. s'Yes,"' answered Pahlen quite coolly sT was" 'sWhat part