182G.] 



Domestic and Forei»:n. 



411 



posed as to convey a powerful effect, and 

 leave an im])ressi(jn on 'the mind which a 

 more elaborutc production might fail to 

 produce. 



We may be delighted with eloquent and 

 splendid delineations of character ; with the 

 masterly development of great and com- 

 ))licated events, and the reflections on their 

 future effects ; but we question if truth is a 

 gainer by tliis style of histor)', and after tlie 

 excitement arising from the charms of style 

 and the vigorous display of intellect has 

 subsided, we doubt if we do not prefer, for 

 real use, the sirajile and manly details of 

 incidents. 



Tliose who prefer this latter style of his- 

 tory will be pleased with Mr. Lloyd's work. 

 It is by no means badly arninged, and ap- 

 pears to be compiled with great impartiality 

 from authentic documents, and, witiiout any 

 pretensions to information from secret 

 sources, details tlie leading events of the 

 reigiiof Alexander, gives a clear and exten- 

 sive TOtion of the state and jjower of the 

 Russian empire, and contains a fine sum- 

 mary of the mighty arrangements by which 

 the millions of people of various nations 

 were being gradually raised to civilization, 

 and urged on the road which leiids to moral 

 and intellectual refinement. 



We have heard much said of tlie genius of 

 thisdictatorand of that usurper — of Scylla, of 

 .Mahomet, Hyder Ali, Napoleon, and others, 

 — and have somewhat wondered why the 

 world was determined to lavish unbounded 

 praise on such a race. Genius is a dirticult 

 word to define : therefore we will try and 

 give its meaning. lie is a genius who does 

 with facility what another could not accom- 

 j)lish with labour — whose combinations of 

 ideas are made with rapidity and embrace 

 extended views of his subject, and \\lio 

 conveys them to others in language po\Aer- 

 I'ul, correct, and clegiint — or whose combi- 

 nations of thought arc acted on with deci- 

 sion, skill, perseverance, and prudence. 

 The evil genius uses his means and supe- 

 rior power of mind for the gratification of 

 those blasting passions which spread deso- 

 lation aiul degradation around, and only 

 aggrandize himself in the eyes of his sub- 

 dued or fascinated minions : the good genius 

 uses his means and intellectual endowments 

 for the benefit of mankind, and pursues 

 with ardom- and diligence that course, from 

 which will result honour to his God, happi- 

 ness to his people, and glory to himself. 



If there is any truth in these remarks, let 

 them be applied to any one called a genius 

 by the world — and let the test be applied, 

 among the number, to Alexander the Em- 

 peror of Russia. If using unlimited power 

 with moderation — if diligently establishing 

 tiiose institutions which would gradually 

 raise his various nations to freedom from 

 vassalage, and to superiority in general at 

 tainments ; if upholding justice and mercy 

 by the ))romulgation and enforcement of 

 laws ; if increasing the ])Ower, resources. 



and means of defence of his emiiire ; if 

 j)ractising and enforcing economy in tlie 

 ])ublic expenditure ; if protecting talent and 

 worth ; if rewarding patriotism and valour; 

 and if evincing increasing courage and 

 ability as dangers and difficulties increased, 

 are proofs of genius, Alexander may justly 

 claim that title; for he did all this and 

 more, and triumphed over every enemy. 



No mortal can be perfect : but on calmly 

 considering the conduct of this ruler, his 

 mighty power and difficnll profession (for 

 as a monarch's is the highest, so it is the 

 most difficult profession), and all the circum- 

 stances of his reign, where shall we find 

 one who has acted as nobly, as mercifully, 

 as vigorously, as prudently, and witli as 

 much forethought? 



Before an answer is given, let the histori- 

 cal detail of his reign be readand reflected on. 

 Whatever our inclination may be, we can- 

 not indulge in pursuing our remarks, and 

 shall therefore content ourselves by quoting 

 some incidents from the book before us, 

 which will illustrate the character of Alex- 

 ander, and give some idea of the condition 

 of that emjiire to which the thoughts of 

 considerate men must be often turned. 



Of his love of justice, the following is related. 

 It once happened, at the very moment when the 

 Emperor had given the word of command, and the 

 guard on the parade was just on the point of paying 

 him the usual military honours, that a fellow ap- 

 proached him in ragge<l garments, with his hair in 

 <lisorder, and a look of wildness, and gave him a 

 slap on the shoulder. The monarch, who was 

 standing at the time with his face to the militarj- 

 front, turned round instantly, and beholding the 

 wretched object before him, started back at the 

 sight ; and then inquired, with a look of astonish- 

 ment, what he wanted ?— " I have something to 

 say to you, Alexander Pawlowitch," said the stran- 

 ger, in the Russian language. " Say on then," said 

 the emperor, with a smile of encouragement, clap- 

 ping him on the shoulder. A long solemn pause fol- 

 lowed; the military guard stood still, and none 

 ventured, either by word or motion, to disturb the 

 Emperor in this singular interview. The Grand 

 Duke Constantine alone, whose attention had been 

 excited by this unusual interruption, advanced 

 somewhat nearer to his brother. The stranger then 

 related, that he had been a captain in the Russian 

 service, and had been present at the campaigns 

 both in Italy and Switzerland ; but that he had been 

 persecuted by his commanding officer, and so mis- 

 represented to Suwarrow, that the latter had turned 

 him out of the army, without money and without 

 friends, in a foreign country. He had afterwards 

 served as a private soldier in the Russian army ; and 

 beifig severely woimded at Zurich (and here he 

 pulled his rags asunder, and shewed several gun-shot 

 wounds), he had closed his campaign in a French 

 prison. He had now begged all the way to Peters- 

 burgh, to apply to the Emperor himself for justice, 

 and to intreat an inquiry into the reason why he had 

 been degraded from his rank in the army. The 

 Emperor listened with great patience, and then 

 asked, in a significant tone, " If there was no exag- 

 geration in the story he had told?"—" Let me die 

 under the knout," said the officer, " if I shall be 

 found to have uttered one word of falsehood." The 

 Emperor then beckoueil to his brother, and charged 

 him to conduct the strauger to the palace, while he 

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