Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

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spirits, and inexpressible regret for the weakness I had exhibited. A thousand unpleasant presentiments connected with my journey assailed me, and, as they weighed anchor, I covered my eyes in a fit of stupid .despair. The instant the paddles began to turn, a revolution, as sudden and complete as it was inexplicable, took place in my frame: the pains and shivering disappeared, my mind resumed its usual powers, and I found myself suddenly in perfect health. This change appeared to me so singular, that I cannot resist recording it, though at the risk perhaps of not being believed.

Among the passengers on board the steamer I observed an elderly man, whose immensely swollen legs could hardly support his corpulent frame. His head, well set between his large shoulders, had a noble cast: it was a portrait of Louis XVI.

I soon learnt that he was the Russian Prince

К, a descendant of the conquering Varegues, and

therefore one of the most ancient of the Russian nobility.

As I observed him, supported by his secretary, and moving with difficulty towards a seat, I could not help saying to myself, here is a sorry travelling companion ; but on hearing his name, which I well knew by reputation, I reproached myself for this incorrigible mania of judging by appearances.

As soon as seated, the old gentleman, the expression of whose face was shrewd, although noble and sincere, addressed me by name.

Apostrophised tl·ms suddenly, I rose without replying. The prince continued in that truly aristo-

70DEFINITIONS OF NOBILITY.

cratic tone, the perfect simplicity of which excludes all idea of ceremony : —

' You, who have seen almost all Europe, will, I am sure, be of my opinion.'

' On what subject, my prince?'

' On England. I was saying to Prince,

here,' indicating with his finger, and without further presentation, the individual with whom he was talking, ' that there is no noblesse anions the English. They have titles and offices; but the idea which we attach to a real order of nobility, distinguished by characteristics which can neither be purchased nor conferred, is unknown to them. A monarch may create a prince; education, circumstances, genius, virtue, may make a hero ; but none of these things are sufficient to constitute a nobleman.'

' Prince,' I replied, i( a noblesse, in that meaning of the word which was once understood in France, and in which you and I, I believe, understand it at present, has become a fiction, and was perhaps always one. Yon remind me of the observation of M. de Lauraguais, who said, on returning from an assembly of the marshals of France, ' we were twelve dukes and peers, but I was the only gentleman.' '

if He said the truth,' replied the prince. ' On the Continent, the gentleman alone is considered as noble*, because in countries where nobility is still something-real, it is inherent in the blood, and not in fortune, favour, talent, or avocation ; it is the produce of history ; and, as in physics, the period for the formation of certain metals appears to have ceased, so in communities the period for the creation of noble families

* Gentilhomme, i. e. person of ancient family. — Trans.

ENGLISH NOBILITY.

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has ceased also. It is this of which the English are ignorant.'

' It is true,' I answered, ' that though still preserving much feudal pride, they have lost the spirit of feudal institutions. In England, chivalry has ceded to industry, which has readily consented to take Tip its abode in a baronial constitution, on condition that the ancient privileges attached to names should be placed within reach of newly founded families.

' By this social revolution, the result of a succession of political changes, hereditary rights are no longer attached to a class, but are transferred to individuals, to offices, and to estates. Formerly the warrior ennobled the land that he won ; now it is the possession of the land which constitutes the noble; and what is called a nobility in England, appears to me to be nothing more than a class that is rich enough to pay for wearing a certain dress. This monied aristoeracv differs, no doubt, very greatly from the aristocracy of blood. Rank that has been bought, is an evidence of the intelligence and activity of the man ; rank that has been inherited is an evidence of the favour of Providence. *

' The confusion of ideas respecting the two kinds of aristocracy, that of money and that of birth, is such in England, that the descendants of a family, whose name belongs to the history of the country, if they happen to be poor and are without title, will tell you

they are not noble; while my Lord(grandson of

a tailor), forms, as member of the house of peers, a part of the high aristocracy of the land.'

* Atteste la faveur de la Providence

72ENGLISH NOBILITY.

'I knew that we should agree,' replied the prince, with a graceful gravity that is peculiar to him.

Struck witli this easy manner of making acquaintance, I began to examine the countryman of the Prince

К, Prince D, the celebrity of whose name

had already attracted my attention. I beheld a man still young: his complexion wore a leaden hue; a quiet patient expression was visible in his eye ; but his forehead was full, his figure tall, and throughout his person there was a regularity which accorded with the coldness of his manners, and the harmony produced by which was not unpleasing.

Prince К, who never tired of conversation

continued: —

' To prove to you that the English notions of nobility differ from ours, I will relate a little anecdote which will perhaps amuse you.

(i In 1814 I attended the Emperor Alexander on his visit to London. At that time his majesty honoured me with much confidence, which procured for me many marks of kindness on the part of the Prince of Wales, then regent. This prince took me aside one day, and said to me, ? I should like to do something that would be agreeable to the emperor. He appears to have a great regard for the physician who accompanies him; could I confer on this person any favour that would please your master?'

' ( You could, sir,' I replied.

' ' What, then, should it be ?'

' < Nobility.'

' On the morrow the doctor was made a knight. The emperor took pains to ascertain the nature of the distinction which thus constituted his physician a