New-York tribune., 1903-02-01

eX-PreSiGent or the ROnSn pFOVLSlOn2l gOVerr-
ment. she called the Premier to account In enc
angry letter after another. She had In re-
turn no apology or expression OF regret, and re-
venged herself by the assertion that Grey was
weak and easily led II shall continue to culti-
vate Lord Grey, although he bores me not a
little" she writes-just two days after she
dispatches a letter to Grey complaining. Il am
quite annoyed at seeing that you no longer
think OF me-" AS her stay in England ap-
preached it's end the Ambassadress seemed to
grow more and more tart. tn ugh we may Justly
doubt if she really did haul over the Goals" so
many great Ministers these letters imply.
Now and again her absoIutist soul was refreshed
by a conversation with old TaIeyrand, who
must have selected with cynical amusement ths
opinions he offered to her. She remembers that
he is never tired of saying to her: The old gov
ernmelts alone offer repOse and happiness to
individuals. Constitutions fOlliess nations
will have nothing to do with them, because
they have the conservative instinct She ADDS
You would hardly believe what good and sound
doctrine one finds in this disciple Of all forms
of government, in this political roUe, in this
personifcation of all the vices"
To George " and his successor the presence
of the entertaining Russian woman was always
welcome, and she gives in her letters more or
less pfquant details concerning them a visit at
Windsor meant a tete-a-ttte drive Of three hours
with King William who worried her grievoUsly
with a series Of incredibly trivial questions
about Russian court Hfe-~he wanted to know
where the Emperor sits at table, how long the
dinner lasts, il at dessert ices are handed first,
as in England, or whether they are brought
round later-he cannot understand why they
should come at the end" She sends of q
frank epistIe just after Williams accession.
A quaint King. indeedl bon enfant-with
a weak head! At times 1 think he is likely 10
lose it, so great is his pleasure at being king.
He changes everything except what he ought
to change-his Minister. He changes the uni
form of the army and of the navy, he disTnlsse5
his cooks and his French servants He VIII
have none but English The cook business was
the first act of his reign-On the very day OF
the late Kings death. He makes everybody cut
off their mustaches; he stroll5 about the streets
and gossips with the passers-by. He goes to the
Guard-room and shows the officer in command
his ink stained fingers, tells him how many let
ters he has signed, of the audiences he IS gong
to give: talks about the Queen, his wife, and
promises to bring her to the Guard-rocm 70 make
his acquaintance. He displays IeNeI-SA
activity; he is delighted with court cereTEO.le5
and receptions is constantly showing himself
in public occupied all day long in tr1fes, eager
to reform everything at once-in word, he -
In state Of fever1Sh excitement Inc MOP
adores him-he goes about openly, and treats
every one Familiarity
Something of good sense. however. ths
Princess comedies to the King-she applaud5
among other qualities his hatred of new
ideas" Times have changed!
The Emperor eased Princess Lieven'S descent
from greatness by an appointment to a high
post in the Empress's household, the Prince
being at the same time made Governor to the
Tzarewitch- The ex-Ambassadress stayed at
court only year. 1t may be guessed that she
was irked by the change from the Independence.
cOnspicuity and Importance of her English life.
After the death of her two sons she went 70
Paris where she spent most of her remaining
days. There she greatly enjoyed a friendship
with Ciuizot, and still, it is thought, occupied
herself in politics Mr.. Robinson impresses It
upon US that she cared only for human docu-
ments," that books and authors had no interest
for her. that she had a horror of solitude and OF
being bored All this, in truth, may be dIscov-
cred in her letters. which, clever as they are,
sometimes pail in their discussion Of politics and
politicians to the exclusion of everything else
Times have changed, indeed. and most Of al
IN the decline of the absOlutist doctrines SO dear
to this daughter of Russia Steam and elec-
tricity have brought nations closely together
that the dangerous aid of such feminine envoy
IS no longer necessary or desirable. The results
Of Madame de Lievens efforts go far to convince
he historian that there must always be ele-
nents more troublesome than convenient II
such assistance Gait and enthusiasm and il
tuition useful qualities no doubt. but the
judicial temper ranks even these-a fact which