Eye-witnesses have informed me that his form seemed to dilate and grow more lofty and commanding at caeh step that he made in advancing towards the mutineers. Taeiturn, melancholy, and absorbed in trifles as he had appeared during his youth, he became a hero the moment he was a monarch. The contrary is usually the ease—and princes promise more than they perform.
This prince is, on the throne, as perfectly in Iris
268DESCRIPTION OF ТПЕ
proper sphere as a great actor would be on the boards. His attitude before the rebel-guard was so imposing, that while he harangued the troops one of the conspirators, it is said, advanced four times towards him with the intention of killing him, and four times his courage failed, like that of the Cumbrian's before Ma·rius.
An absurd falsehood was the instrument that the conspirators had employed to incite the army to this outbreak. They had spread a report that Nicholas had usurped the crown of his brother Constantine, who was, they said, on his way to Petersburg, to defend his rights by force of arms. The means through which they had induced the rebels to cry under the palace windows in favour of the Constitution, was by persuading them that this word Constitution was the name of the wife of Constantine. It was therefore an idea, of duty whieh actuated the soldiers, who believed the emperor an usurper, and who could only be led into rebellion by a fraud. The fact is, that Constantine had refused the crown through weakness: he dreaded being poisoned. God knows, and there are perhaps some men who know also, if his abdication saved him from the peril whieh he thus expected to avoid.
It was then in support of legitimacy that the deceived soldiers revolted against their legitimate sovereign. People remarked that, during the whole time the emperor remained among the troops, he did not once put his horse in rapid motion, but though so calm, he was very pale. He was putting his power to the test, and the success of the proof assured, him of the future obedience of his people.
EMPEROR OF RUSSIA.269
Such a man cannot be judged by the standard applied to ordinary characters. His grave and агг-thoritative voice — his magnetic and piercing look, which is often cold and fixed rather through the habit of suppressing his passions than of dissimulating his thoughts, for he is frank—his superb forehead—his features, which are those of an Apollo or a Jupiter—his immovable, imposing, and imperious expression — his figure, more noble than easy, more monumental than human, exercise upon all who approach his person a power which is irresistible. He becomes master of the wills of others, because it is seen that he is master of his own.
The following is what I have retained of the remainder of our conversation: —
" The insurrection thus appeased, your majesty must have entered the palace with feelings very different to those under which it was left; not only the tln`one, but the admiration of the world, and the sympathy of all lofty minds being, by this event, assured to your majesty."
" I did not thus view it: what I then did has been too much praised."
The emperor did not tell me that on his return he found his wife afflieted with a nervous trembling of the head, of which she has never been entirely cured. This convulsive motion is scarcely visible ; indeed, on some days, when calm and in good health, the empress is entirely free from it: but whenever she is suffering, either mentally or physically, the evil returns and augments. This noblewoman must have fearfully struggled with the inquietude occasioned by her husband's daring exposure of himself to the assassin's N 3
270 CONVERSATION WITH THE ЕМГЕПОЕ.
blow. On his return, she embraced him without speaking; but the emperor, after having soothed her, felt himself grow weak, and tln`ew himself into the arms of one of his most faithful servants, exclaiming — " "What a commencement of a rei<m ! "
оО
I publish these details, because it is well they should be known, in order to teach the obscure to envy less the fortune of the great.
Whatever apparent inequality legislation may have established in the different conditions of civilised men, the equity of Providence justifies itself by maintaining a secret equality, which nothing can alter or disturb. This is done by the ageney of mental evils, which generally increase in the same ratio that physical evils diminish. There is less injustice in the world than the founders and legislators of nations have endeavoured to produce, or than the vulgar imagine they perceive: the laws of nature are more equitable than the laws of man.
These reflections passed rapidly through my mind as I conversed with the emperor, producing in me a sentiment which he would, I believe, have been rather surprised to learn that he had inspired — it was that of indescribable pity. I took care to conceal the emotion, and continued:
"I can truly say, sire, that one of the chief motives of my curiosity in visiting Kussia was the desire of approaching a prince who exercises such power over men."
" The Russians are amiable; but he should render himself worthy who would govern such a people."
¢í Your majesty has better appreciated the wants
HIS POLITICAL OPINIONS.271
and the position of this country than any of your predecessors/'
" Despotism still exists in Russia: it is the essence of my government, but it accords with the genius of the nation."
" Sire, by stopping Russia on the road of imitation, you are restoring her to herself."
"I love my country, and I believe I understand it. I assure you, that when I feel heartily weary of ail the miseries of the times, I endeavour to forget the rest of Europe by retiring towards the interior of Russia."
"In order to refresh yourself at your fountain-head ? "
" Precisely so. No one is more from his heart a Russian than I am. I am going to say to you what I would not say to another, but I feel that you will comprehend me."
Here the emperor interrupted himself, and looked at me attentively. I continued to Hsten without replying, and he proceeded : —
" I can understand republicanism: it is a plain and straightforward form of government, or, at least, it might be so; I can understand absolute monarchy, for I am myself the head of such an order of things; but I cannot understand a representative monarchy. it is the government of lies, fraud, and corruption ; and I would rather fall back even upon China than ever adopt it."
" Sire, I have always regarded representative government as a compact inevitable in certain communities at certain epochs; but like all other com-
272 SINCERITY OF THE EMPEllQIl's LANGUAGE.
pacts, it does not solve questions — it only adjourns difficulties."
The emperor seemed to say, Go on. I continued r
" It is a truce signed between democracy and monarchy, under the auspices of two very mean tyrants, fear and interest; and it is prolonged by that pride of intellect which takes pleasure in talking, and that popular vanity which satisfies itself on words. In short, it is the aristocracy of oratory, substituted for the aristocracy of birth : it is the government of the lawyers."
" Sir, you speak the truth," said the emperor, pressing my hand: " I have been a representative sovereign *, and the world knows what it has cost me not to have been willing to submit to the exigencies of this infamous government (I quote literally). To buy votes, to corrupt consciences, to seduce some in order to deceive others ; all those means I disdained, as degrading those who obey as much as those who command, and I have dearly paid the penalty of my straightforwardness; but, God be praised, I have done for ever with this detestable political machine. I shall never more be a constitutional king. I have too much need of saying all that I think ever to consent to reign over any people by means of stratagem and intrigue."