Russian Memories

's Kindness—He is Snubbed by an Ingenue—The Emperor's Desire for an Alliance with England—Prince Gortschakoff's

on, M. de Verneuil and Count Alexander Keyserling were appointed by their respective Governments to make a joint expedition and, as a result of their labours, wrote a book entitled The Geology of Russia in Europe and the Urals, which was published by the British Museum in 1845, in two volumes. This was indeed a promising b

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ance of power," cries one; "Immediate danger," shouts the other; "Traditional policy," exclaims the third. But all these appeals might as well not have been made. The "newly-discovered fact" has been known to Russians for years, although clever Westerns have only just found it out. It is indeed only natural that we should know it first, for it relates to our Emperor. Europe has learned to feel that there is once more an Emperor Nicholas on the Russian throne, and that in Alexander III even the most imperious of

r coffin. There were no followers, but the young driver, almost a child, was sobbing bitterly, and

ough a new torrent of tears. "He was a bl

procession became a strange sight. Strange, but fine—paternal, showing once more the link between the great autocrat and his people—a link based

ole, and full of zeal, I did my best—which, alas! turned out to be my very worst—I bowed so deeply that suddenly all became confused and I fell over backwards against a pillar. A horrified glance from mother—the roof with its painted flowers and Cupids—misery and bewilderment! But all this lasted only a second. The dear Emperor rushed to me, seized my trembling hands,

us to hope to find the same resolute devotion to his country

nt ball to greet Their Majesties. Naturally the young girls all longed to be presented on this occasion. One amongst them was exceedingly beautiful and attracti

I say?" enquired the E

ly, "I hear, but I do not listen!"

ld here," he said, "most amusing and innocent. Make her your Maid of Honour." This was done. By her position she was quite entitled to this distinction,

would form a solid guarantee of peace to the world. It was his desire to cement the alliance that led him to make those overtures to Sir Hen

What I have told you before, I say again; it was intended that the two countries should be upon terms of close amity; and I feel sure that this will continue to be the case; and I repeat that it is very essential that the t

other occasion, "as a friend and as a gentleman. [The Emperor little knew how the confidence he placed in the "gentleman"

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only reason why the memory of the Emperor Nicholas I is ever grateful to those who labour for the Anglo-Russian Alliance. Nor is it the only one why I recall these suggestive passages just now. Some people invoke the prejudice of the past to poison the friendship

ia and England, the friends of the Porte, have taken more T

ime, of Constantinople, he offered to make an engagement not to establish himself there as possessor, not even if circumstances compelled him to undertake a temporary occupation of the city.

was fought—thousands of innocent people killed, millions of money spent on both sides—and with no actual result. Does anything remain of the famous Treaty of Paris? I remember having onc

put my name to that document, but I spent a good part of my life in tearing it

er, not to support elements opposed to our Church and our nationality. In fact, it is an easy, negative part she has to play. Instead of this, in Beaconsfield'

ir nationality. The Slavs incorporated with Germany have been thoroughly Germanised. Austria is not so clever as her master, but she successfully introduces the {96} Roman Catholic pro

fer to belong to Austria?" Though a child, I was horrified to see the despair of his face. "Oh," cried he, "Austria is even worse than Turkey. Turkey kills the body—Aust

ir, which ought to be left to us to settle. The Slavs awoke England's sympathies only when it was though

be so useful as an ally? We have common enemies in Asia. Fancy the power represented by two great Christian countries

or the bringing together {97} of England and Russia, but whatever I have

stion; and it seems to be certain that at this time (the eve of the Turkish war of 1853), even in his most angry moments, he inte

n of the Crimea

e testimony of an Englishman, and one wh

by the Emperor Nicholas I to the English Ambassa

ur hands a Sick Man, a very Sick Man. It will be, I tell you frankly, a great misfortune if one of these days he should slip away from us, especially before all necessary arrangements are made. If the Turkish Empire falls, it falls to rise no more; and I put it you, therefor

n dying than the Emperor thought, but he

s been described as bearing "the stamp

s conduct in regard to Hungary. He was always essentially upright a

a story I have heard which I do

ords before the Reichstag, no one listening to him with more attention than Bismarck himself. When at last the deputy concluded, confident of his own triumph, Bismarck exclaimed: "I should hardly have expec