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.'
?i 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
The name of Poland, which presented itself incessantly .to our thoughts, was not once uttered in this singular conversation.
The effect it produced on me was great. I felt myself subdued. The nobleness of sentiment which the
FETE AT THE I>UCHESS OF 0LDENBUEG'S. 273
emperor displayed, and the frankness of his language, seemed to me greatly to temper his omnipotence.
I confess I was dazzled i A man who could, notwithstanding my ideas of independence, make himself forgiven for being absolute monarch of sixty millions of fellow-beings, was, in my eyes, something beyond our eommon nature ; but I distrusted my own admiration. I felt like the citizens among us, who, when surprised by the grace and address of the men of other days are tempted by their good taste to yield to the captivating lure, but their principles resisting, they remain uncomfortably stiff, and endeavour to appear as insensible as possible. It is not in my nature to doubt a man's words at the moment they are addressed -to me. A human being who speaks is to me the organ of Deity: it is only by dint of reflection and experience that I recognise the possibility of design and disguise. This
