, 1908-08-08

in 1855, and he took an active share in the
peace negotiations both here and in Paris.
His Government were so we'll satisfied with
the e~xertions of the youthful diplomatist, to
which they attributed IN a great degree some
important concessions made to Russia in the
determination of the few frontiers after tne
war. that promotion and responsible employ.
ment speedily followed He was nominated
diplomatic adviser to GENERAL MURAvIEFF, at
that time Governor of Eastern Siberia. With
a sure insight he penetrated the situation i'm
Picking, and the advantages which a cool,
resolute, and not too scrupulous diplomatist
might obtain from t for his country. The
treaty of Algun, which he induced China to-
ratify in 1853, handed over to Russia the.
Amur province, with it's manifold resources,
both natural and political. The advance Of
the English and French troops upon the cap
ital and the sack of the summer Palace in
1860 reduced the Chinese Government to @
state of conscious helplessness. The willy
diplomatist, who was now Russian Minister
in the Imperial city, saw his opportunity, and
used it with audacity. The allies Quilted
Picking on November 5, after the signature
of the Convention by which China ratified
the Treaty of Tien-tsin and agreed to the
payment of an indemnity tP the beiligerants.
On November IA she bigned a treaty
with Russia by which she granted to-
including the magnldoeasz Of Viadi-
vostok; IGNArIEFF, it is safd, had actu-
ally succeeded in persuading her that she
owed this token of gratitude to Russia
because Russia had induced the allies to
withdraw their forces from Picking.
In 1864, COUNT IGNATIEFF entered upon
what was 10 be the not less fatefHl scene Of
his European activities. He was sent to
Constantiaople, first Us Minister, and after
wards as Ambassador, and he remained
there until the war with Russia had becoms
certain. Ia he Near East, as in the Far
East, he conceived great designs. It was
the oOject 81 lis nn!.<v fa- many years TO
bring the Christian nationaIities ii Ia Bal
kun peninsula, and more especially the Bull
garlans, under the hegemOny of Russia. 1t
can hardly be doubted that he desired to
provoke q war between his country and
Turkey. The zeal with which he champion.
ed the Bulgarians and the Bosnians, and the
resistance which he offered to the policy of
M1DHAT PAsHA, did much to bring it about.
When the fortune of arms had pronounced
decisively for Russia it was TGNAr1EFF who
frtmed the treaty which was to bestow upon
her in full measure the fruits of victory. He
was the real author of the Treaty Of San
Stefano, by which he hoped to secure for
Russia in the Near East gains even moro
splendid than those which he had won for
her in Manchuria. But this time Europe
realized what the attainment of his ambi-
tions would mean. The revision at Berlin
of the conditions which he had sought to
impose upon the vanquished led to his re-
tirement from active life.
He was to emerge once more for o short
space at the beginning of a new reign. When
LoR1s MELIKoFF resigned, ALEXANDER III.
made him Minister Of the Interior. But
his tenure of office was not successful. He
advocated the convocation of q "Zemsky
Sobor,' or National Assembly of the old
Russian type, The proposal can hardly
have commended itself 10 a Sovereign of
ALExANDER's temperament. or to the judg-
ment Of NJ. PoBIEDoNosTzEFF whose power
was rapidly rising. IGNArIEFF was an in
different administrator and allowed the
affairs of his department to get into confu-
sion, and he finally retired in 1892. He
was a man of some remarkable aud snowy
gifts, but he seems to have lacked the sense
Of sober Judgment which is Indispensable
in a stateman. He was too often swayed
by his vivid Imagination, and he suffered
that faculty to deceive himself, as be sought
to dazzle others by it.-ZJmes, is July