Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-09
siORNY'S MEMOIRS,
Information From Russia for the Emperor
Napoleon III.


Information From Russia for the Emperor
Napoleon III.
Paris Dispatch to the London Daily News.
The correspondence of the late Due de Morny
with the Emperor Napoleon will appear tomor-
row at Deatu's under the title of ''Une Ambas-
SADIE en- Rus5ie A." 1. was not intended to be
stored in foreign office archives and was writ
ten for the emperor only. One sees in it a
clover, shallow. hipPant man of elastic mind
and without principle of conduct. He often
writes in q cynical strain, and the style IS clear,
alert gossipy and readable. He evidently
makes it his object to hold the attention Of tho
emperor by being amusing, and addresses that
sovereign in the rather familiar terms of "Mon
bon empereur."
The duke, then Count Morny, was sent as
ambassador to the court Of Russia toward the
close of the Crimean war, which was still going
on when he arrived. He and Prince
Gortschakoff became at once officially engaged
in preparing the basis of the peace which was
soon after signed. NJ. de Morny at once became
a Iiussophilc. 1t is only just to him to say that
he remained one for the rest of his life and
kept the Polish question in 1862 from being
made European one through the efforts of the
French Catholics. His account CT his recep-
ton by the imperial family is interesting.
He says: "My good emperor. l wished to
write at leisure, but this condition is an i'm
possible one in this whirl of fetes, ceremonies.
balls, reviews, visits. &c. The Russians under
stand the art Of getting up fetes. They might
learn good deal from US, but We might also
initiate them with advantage, were it only in
their way of Lighting 10000 wax candles in five
minutes by means of q thread which unltes ell
the wicks The members of the imperial fam
ily are remarkable for their easy, gracious and
exquisitely polite manners. They go to great
trouble 10 be nice with foreigners. but they do
not receive nearly so many of them as We do.
If we treated as well all the strangers we re-
ceiye we should be obliged to make our own
people eat a. the servants hall. The army is
fine one. The emperor and grand dukes
attend TO it energetically and with intelligence.
If the basis IS sound it must be q prodigious
force to WELD. but individual intuition is
wanted The officers are all gentlemanly and
polite. speaking French and German and rid
ing well. Their zeal is stimulated by thou
sand different sorts Of rewards. Generals and
coionels are fattered by variety of distinc-
tions. Nothing in this way is neglected. The
mobiles are no longer boyards. Serfdom is
more a term than fact. except in remote
country estates. A solution of this question is
earnestly sought for The emperor. every one
says, treats me better than any ambassador
was ever treated before.
No member of the imperial family ever
meets me without asking what news have to
give of your majesty and the empress, in whom
they show deep interest. The words sym
patty for France are so oft repeated as to
affect ones nerves. The wind blows in French
direction. Must repel the advances made me-
receive them coldly, or be open to them and
promote good relations? 1t Is for your majesty
to decide. / have had several conversations
with Prince Gortschakoff. He is clever and
lively, parades his independence and can speak
as freely as he pleases. He says he is in Office
to make his system succeed, and assures me
that the emperor has adopted it. This is his
program: Russia should have never quarreled
with France, her true ally, for thousand rea-
sons that he enumerates. France is great
and well-governed nation, and he admires
Prince Gortschakoff was very kindly treated,
he says, by Queen Hortense. He keeps little
talisman she gave him in Italy.
The Emperor Alexander as grand duke did
not approve the policy Of the Emperor Nicho-
las He understands that a Napoleon is re-
quired to bring the French nation into a wider
sphere Of action and he thinks the two en-
perors may enter into close friendly relations
without giving umbrage to England. Prince
Gortschakoff does not object to accept our
present situation and to being on very good
terms with us and with England, but will keep
on bad terms with Austria. 1 have asked for
nothing and promised nothing and have not
let my head be turned by the extraordinary
splendor and distinction with which am re-
ceiyed. The French are now given the place
is better to accept this courtesy as it is offered
and TO prefer the friendship of Russia to that
OF Germany, who at bottom detests us Place
at the feet OF the empress the expression of nv
devotion Does she wish for Siberian foxskins!
l have heard that you are in good health and
that Plomberes has done you a world OF good.
This rejoices my heart But what a long time
have had to be away from you! For this
reason allow me to embrace you heartily"
Morny also gives. in The form of a dialogue,
long conversation between himself and the late
car. who expressed stronger belief in the 10y
atty. good sense and moderation of Napoleon
Ill than OF his partner, Lord Palmerston. He
feared the latter would play ugly tricks on the
emperor in regard to Naples and that his agents
would foment revolution in Italy. The policy
OF Palmerston was to revolutiorize that ccun-
try. The car did not see how France could
follow Palmerston at Naples. She had no right
to interfere in the home policy Of any indie
pendent sovereign. Russia was on all sides re-
preached for suffering the independence OF the
King OF Naples to be disregarded, and it cost
the car a great effort not to take his part.
Alexander ii spoke with a bitterness which
cOEtrasted with his gentle disposition of Aus
trials ingra.itude and perhdy. Ho described to
De Morny the personal appeal made by the
Emperor Francis Joseph to the Emperor Mich
olas to cave his throne and the chivalrous i'm
pulse on which the latter acted.