38 
THE GRAND DUKE MICHAEL. 
ceremony ; being performed on one side, by a veteran hero un¬ 
used to court etiquette, presenting a people simple as brave ; 
and accepted on the other, by a prince whose well-known family 
characteristic is urbanity of manners, grounded on graciousness of 
principle. To speak thus of royal personages, is generally, and, 
I must say, often unfairly imputed to flattery. But if a man be 
unsuspected while speaking disparagingly of the great, why is 
he to be doubted when he brings forward a different testimony ? 
— A whole people are allowed to thank Heaven for a good king; 
but if an individual raise his voice with the same sentiment, 
perhaps just before or after the general clamour, he is treated with 
derision as a slave and sycophant. It is strange that these per¬ 
sons do not find out that a party, a populace, may be flattered 
as well as a prince ; and that he alone is base who fears to utter 
the truth, whether it be good or bad, of high or low. The great¬ 
est power does not always dwell with the greatest rank. 
His Imperial Highness spoke of his intended tour the ensuing 
summer, through Germany, Italy, France, and England; and 
in terms so gratifying to an Englishman, that I could not but 
join in the wish with which he honoured me ; that I could 
be in England at that time, to enjoy the impression of its insti¬ 
tutions &c., on a mind so capable of appreciating their value. 
After attending divine service in the great church, and visiting 
the different establishments of the city, all which he contem¬ 
plated with declared approbation of their utility and progress ; the 
prince proceeded to a part of the plain about two miles distant 
from the town, and followed by a numerous cavalcade, reviewed 
the troops. The field consisted of the artillery, the regiment of 
Blatoff, and another fine body of Cossacks, which manoeuvred 
in their desultory, but very effective mode of warfare. A 
