296 



Sketches of Modern Ruttia. 



[May 1, 



military stoics to Holland. A secomJ 

 lime they were ordered to subscribe for 

 a similar purpose ; when Mr. Warre, 

 liaviiig invited them all to supper, pro- 

 cured eighteen roubles per man ; and, 

 finding he could get no more, sent tlie 

 sum in to the governor. Previous to the 

 last embargo, the English had managed 

 to get away almost all their ships and 

 j)roperty, and to be indebted lor the 

 cargoes; so but little property was left. 

 It was the same at Alexander's em- 

 bargo: on these oceasions a Liquidation 

 Office was appointed to receive and pay 

 in all debts. 



In Paul's time we were obliged to 

 wear cocked hats, coats and waistcoats 

 will) one row of buttons, knee-buckles 

 and shoc-bueklcs, high military boots, 

 and to appear military, after the old 

 Prussian fashion. Many individuals 

 were abused and Hogged, for not having 

 their wearing apparel regulated accord- 

 ing to order. Mr. J. Barnes was driving 

 jiast the parade, at a considerable dis- 

 tance from it; and, not making a stop, 

 the emperor sent a hussar alter him, 

 when himself, the driver, and horses, 

 were taken to the Guard-house. They 

 remained one night in confinement; but 

 the ollicer of the guard, with whom Mr. 

 B. was acquainted, assuring the em- 

 peror, that Mr. B. was short-sighted, 

 and driving the sledge himself, the driver 

 standing behind him, an order was given 

 for his liberation. It was accompanied 

 with a charge, never, at his peril, to be 

 out of his house again w ithout his spec- 

 tacles. 



Paul's liorso stumbling, in winter, 

 opposite the house of M. UstcolT, he 

 was sent for, and the emperor said, 

 "Should my horse ever stumble here 

 again, you shall be buried alive on the 

 spot." Hereupon the road was soon 

 levelled and smoothed. A Russian no- 

 bleman had his tongue cut out for 

 writing and repeating some verses re- 

 flecting on three of the Czars, including 

 the then reigning Emperor. Two 

 English riders were knouted, and sent 

 to Siberia, for speakin;,- polities at a 

 French coffee-house, in Million street. 

 Two officers of the guards were inclosed 

 in a box, and sent to Siberia, for being 

 civil, at a court ball, to the Princess 

 Gagarin. General Strandman, gover- 

 nor of Tobolsk, found that one of them 

 liad been dead some weeks, and slank. 

 There were two small holes in the box, 

 by which they were fed, and enabled to 

 ease the calls of nature. 



All the advantages enjoyed amongst 



men under the prolection of religion and 

 the laws, were here snatched away by 

 the licentious conduct of the highest 

 class. Around of opprobrium will ever 

 encircle the name of Constant ine, and a 

 reader would fatigue himself to find an 

 excess of despicable barbarism parallel 

 to that »ie plus ultra of debauchery 

 which I could here record. Constan- 

 tine ordered a whole company of guards 

 to violate a female, who rctused to be 

 his concubine, in his presence. When 

 taken to the door of her own house, she 

 went into the kitchen, lay down, and 

 died. Dr. Wylie, on viewing the body, 

 said he had never witnessed so horrid a 

 spectacle. An officer on the parade, 

 bring struck by Constautine, took out 

 his pistol, and shot himself dead on the 

 si)ot. 



Paul once passing me at a distance, I 

 did not see him, though I saw others 

 take off their cocked-hats; Releoff, 

 police- master, rode up to mc, vocifo- 

 rating, " Take oft' your hat immediately, 

 or I will take it off with the skin and 

 hair." Many were taken up, and flog- 

 ged, for trifling things; such as having 

 strings itistea*! of knee-buckles. Sailors 

 who had round hats had them cut into 

 triangles, or sewed up as cocked hats. 



There were other atrocious deeds, 

 which could hardly be credited were 

 they not notorious. The following in- 

 cident will not render Alexander abject 

 in the eyes of the intelligent and worthy, 

 though some may deem it making an 

 improper use of his power. The gar- 

 dener at the Palace of Sarsko had neg- 

 lected doing something which he had 

 twice been told to do: Alexander 

 ordered him to be taken up by a field 

 yager, in a close carriage, and driven 

 about for some hours. The poor fellow 

 thought he was on the road to Siberia ; 

 but, when set down, he was merely 

 cautioned to mind better, another time, 

 what was said to him. A second case, 

 in regard to the public, is on the side of 

 reason, and falls within its empire. Mr. 

 Blush, head gardener at Sarska, had 

 been desired by Alexander to keep 

 clean a certain private walk; but, failing 

 so to do, he pleaded in excuse his want 

 of money. Alexander sent him several 

 thousand roubles ; but, the order being 

 still neglected, M. B. was turned out, 

 and it was not till after seme years that 

 he was re-instated. 



In the following act, which our laws 

 would brand with infamy, though cus- 

 tom has banished it from Russian 

 society, .\lexander appears to have dis- 

 graced 



