, 1889-02-07
An Extraordinary Imperial Challenge

In the days of imperial and enter
national alliances, and international
congresses, the instability of imper~
ial minds recalls the eccentricities of
the Emperor Paul of Russia, for some
while known to fame as 1.-The mag
unanimous ally" When uniting with
Austria and England to suppress the
revolutionary and regicide principles
then being propagandized at the
point of French bayonets, the Gar
was hailed as a deliverer from the
tyranny of oppression, and as the re-
storer of deposed sovereigns. But
the brilliant successes which at first
attended the allied armies, were ex,
changed for reverses; the valiant Su-
warrow, unsupported by reinforce
ments, had to retire before Massena,
and this occurring at the same time
as the abortive British expedition to
Holland, in which Russian troops
were cooperating, the combined
notifications exasperated Paul to q
point of frenzy He declared that
disasters were the result of conspir-
acy, that he had been betrayed by
the perfidy of the ministers of Wen
ma and London, and he publicly in
suited the ambassadors of his late al
lie4 at his ieUee. Bonaparte, with as.
tute diplomacy, tiattered the Emper-
er's vanity, and returned all the
Russian prisoners, we'll armed and
newly clad. The capture of Malta
by the English added to his furry,
the Emperor Paul having chosen to
constitute himself grand-master of
the Knights of that order.
For while, while the Powers
We're still struggling with France,
the Gear appeared disposed to OBJ
serve neutrality between the belli-
gerents, until suddenly the attention
of Europe was aroused by the fol-
lowing proclamation in the Court
Gazette of st. Petersburg:
"Tne Emperor of Russia, finding
the Powers of Europe cannot agree
among themselves, and being desir-
GUS to put an end to war which has
desolated it for eleven years, intends
to poiEt out spot, to which he will
invite all the other Sovereigns to re-
PAIR to
FIGHT IN SINGLE COMBAT.
Bringing with them as seconds and
esquires, their most enlightened
ministers and able generals, such as
Thurgat, Pitt, Bernstaff, etc, and
the Emperor himself purposes being
attended by Generals Count PahIen
and kutsoff" The favor OF Knight
errantry seemed revived, but It was
confined to St Petersburg; no royal
champions came forward to break
lance with the imperial challenger.
The cartel, which his brother soy.
ereigns refused, was taken up by car
icaturlsts; one, whose name l have
now forgotten, simply represented
the iil-favored and unfortunate Gar,
with slight exaggeration, in his
habit As he lived" and trampling on
the torn treaties, with the significant
motto Mems turpis co pore turpi;"
while RCwlandson, with less sever
ity, pictured the anticipated scene of
the first encounter. Single combat
in MoorfieIds, or Magnanimous Paul,
o" The mad Emperor is traVestied
as Russian bear armed with a.
sword, tempered "a la Suarrow," aud
a shield inscribed Swallow all. Or
Pitt, and not his royal master, is fig
ured as the English champion: the
minister is in mail, and is jauntiiy
encountering his adversary with
sword tempered IA Ii, Nelson" The
Emperor's second is reading a par
ody OF PauPs extraordinary cartel
"Be 1t known to all men, that my
the most magnanimous, most
puIssaht, most powerful, and Won
derful Great Bear of the north, be-
ing in his sound and sober senses, |
challenges the whole world to single |
combat, and commences his first trial
of skill here, in Moorfield, after
which 1t is his intention to pursue
his travels and visit every court of