RU.^ 



C7U 



Adding the population of tlie newly-acquired 



. ami tho natural Increase in tlio 



did t -rriluri.--, the tutal population was ,--ti- 



in 1805, at 84,- 

 i)0. 



'I'll.- i won no was estimated, in the hud pet for 



.".,811 rubles. PuMic debt, in 



ruble* The Ku^an army, 



nt tho close of the year ISfi.", numbered 805,000 



men. 'J'he fleet, in 1864, consisted of 2G3 



i-s. with 2,095 guns. 



In April, an attempt was made ngainst the 

 '.' tin- Knipcror by a Russian landowner, 

 Karakosoff. Tho would-bo assassin fired a 

 ^-shot at tho Emperor, when tho latter, 

 after a promenade in the summer garden, was 

 cnterir.;: his carriage. A young peasant, who 

 i'd tin' assassin aiming at the Emperor, 

 struck his arm, which caused the bullet to de- 

 viate. Tho culprit was then seized, and the 

 populace was with difficulty prevented from 

 tearing him to pieces. The peasant who saved 

 tho Emperor's life, Ossip Jwanoff, was created 

 a noble. The official investigation into the af- 

 fair terminated in October, when thirty-four per- 

 POUS, compromised by the disclosures at the trial 

 of Karakosoff, were found guilty of high treason 

 by the supreme court. Ischutin, wbowascon- 

 ! of being the founder of the Society of 

 Communists in Russia, and of having incited 

 Karakosoff to attempt the life of the Czar, was 

 condemned to death, and fifteen others were 

 sentenced to exile in Siberia. 



Tho Congress of the United States having 

 voted an address of congratulation to the Czar, 

 on the occasion of his escape from assassination, 

 Mr. Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, was 

 charged by the Government of the United 

 with presenting this vote to the Emperor. 

 His visit to Russia created in that country a 

 general outburst of enthusiasm nt tho friendly 

 relations existing between Russia and the United 

 States. All classes of the population took part 

 in these demonstrations. The most notable 

 event of the festivities which took place in 

 honor of the American commissioners, was a 

 speech by the Russian Minister of Foreign 

 Affairs, Prince Gortchakoff. at a farewell ban- 

 quet, given at St. Petersburg to the American 

 commissioners, on September 13th, in which ho 

 cxprosed his confidence that the good under- 

 standing between North America and Russia 

 would be of permanent duration. The follow- 

 ing are the most important portions of this 

 speech, which produced a deep sensation iu 

 Europe : 



It is said that good reigns constitute white pages 

 in history. This dictum is not absolutely true. If 

 there is a reign all of whose pages abound iu reforms 

 of important scope in the interests of internal organ- 

 ization if there is a reign devoted to the cares of 

 the present in prospect of a grand future, it is that 

 which now unites all the affection and devotion of 

 the country, because we have all the close conviction 

 that every moment of that noble existence is conse- 

 crated with unlimited abnegation to the welfare of 

 our country. I will only cite among these manifold 



works tho grandest of them all that of emancipa- 

 tion. And lull- I demand of our American fiR-nd* 

 tin- permission of a little liberty. The mosagc of 

 Gongreu contains an error, which can only be ez- 

 jd..ini-(l l>y ili.Munc, when it makes mention of en 

 i in my of emancipation. The insensate person to 

 whoflS it makes reference belongs to no nationality. 

 He hud no personal stake in the destinies of the 

 country ; he only represents the blind accident of 

 birtli. In Russia, gentlemen, there exists not a 

 single enemy of emancipation. The classes which 

 owe tlicir liberty to this have hailed it with the samo 

 enthusiasm as that class on which it imposed heavy 

 sacrifices. That is a testimony which our so\ 

 has been the first to bear to the territorial nobility, 

 and I believe that in that circle, which unites intel- 

 ligence and interest, no voice will be raised to con- 

 tradict my words. 1 have no need to dwell on the 

 manifestations of sympathy between the two coun- 

 tries. They break out openly. It is one of the most 

 interesting facts of our epoch a fact which creates 

 between tlie two peoples I will permit myself to say 

 between two continents germs of reciprocal good- 

 will and friendship, which will bear fruit, which 

 create traditions, and which tend to consolidate be- 

 tween them relations based on a true spirit of 

 Christian civilization. This understanding does not 

 rest on geographical proximity. The abyss of sea 

 separates us. No more does it rest on parchment I 

 do not find the trace of a single parchment in the 

 archives of the ministry intrusted to me. It is in- 

 stinctive ; more, I dare call it providential. I felici- 

 tate myself on this understanding. I have faith in 

 its duration. In my political situation all my cares 

 will tend to consolidate it. I say cares, and not 

 efforts, because no efforts are required where there is 

 a spontaneous and reciprocal attraction. Another 

 motive which induces me to proclaim my apprecia- 

 tion of this understanding is that it is neither a 

 menace nor a danger for any one. It is not inspired 

 by anv covetousness, or any secret motive. The 

 A'lmignty has given to the two countries conditions 

 cf existence wnere their grand internal life may suf- 

 fice for them. The United States of America are 

 invulnerable at home. That state of things does not 

 rest only on the fact that the rampart of the ocean 

 guarantees them from European conflicts, but on tho 

 public spirit which reigns there, and on the personal 

 character of its citizens. America can suffer no burin 

 but what it may do itself. We have covered with 

 mourning the sad page of the recent times. We 

 have seen with profound regret the struggle be- 

 tween the brothers of the North and the brothers 

 of the South ; but we have always had faith in the 

 final triumph of the Union, and we hope for tho 

 durable consolidation of it from the efforts of tho 

 actual President, whose system, inspired at once 

 with firmness and moderation, has all our sympa- 

 thies. In this relation, gentlemen, I allow myself to 

 find, also, a certain analogy between the two coun- 

 tries. Russia, by its geographical position, may be 

 drawn into European complications. The cha'nces 

 of war may cause us to submit to reverses. Never- 

 theless, I think that the same invulnerability exists 

 equally in Rusia, and that it will be manifested 

 every time the dignity and honor of the country are 

 eriotttly menaced; for then, as in all the crises of 

 our history, the true power of Russia will make it- 

 self seen. It does not rest only on its territorial 

 extent or on the figure of its population. It results 

 from the close and indissoluble bond which unites 

 the sovereign to the nation, and which places in hia 

 hands all tho material and intellectual forces of the 

 country, as it concentrates on him now all the senti- 

 ments of affection and devotion. 



The Emperor, in acknowledgment of tho 

 American address, sent the following letter to 

 President Johnson: 



