1803.] © Anecdotes of the Emperor Alexander I. et 
vied in the arms of the nurfe, while each 
of the other four, to whorh their deceafed 
parent had at oncé’acted the part of a 
mother, a preceptrefs, and afriend, held 
a corner of the pall. 
Millot, a female artift, has executed a 
fine burft of Joly, after a mafk modelled 
on her face, a few minutes fubfequent to 
her death ; and it is allowed to exhibit an 
admirable refemblance. She is repre- 
fented in the coffume of Nicole, in the 
Femmes Savanies. 
The celebrated French poet, Lebrun, 
has written the two following lines for 
the bafe, which allude to her early death, 
and the circumftance of ceafing to exift, 
while yet in the full exercife of all her ta- 
feats : 
s< Eteinte dans fa fleur cette atrice accomplie, 
S¢ Pour la premiere fois a fait pleurer Tha- 
ie 2? 
aa 
ANECDOTES of the prefent EMPEROR 
of RUSSIA, ALEXANDER I. 
USTICE and clemency are in all cafes 
the faireft and firmeft pillars of the 
throne ; and the prince, who, like Alexan- 
der the Firft, aés uniformly upon this 
principle, may reft fecurely upon the af- 
_fe&tions of his people. The: {hort period 
ef his adminiftration bas ‘been diftin- 
guifhed already by the nobleft attions; 
asa proof of which we have only to per- 
ufe his excellent ediéts, which are fo full 
of humanity, affability, clemency, and 
juftice; and efpecially his ordinance by 
which he has granted an unlimited free- 
dom from informers and fpies. He 
wifhes his people to be informed and en 
lightened, and hates, therefore, every 
{pecies of controul. He is perfuaded in- 
deed that a fupreme governor is as ne- 
ceflary to an enlightened nation, as it is 
to a people in ignorance and error; but 
Re knows that the former will venerate its 
fovereign with a thoufand times more af- 
feétion than the latter. He knows that 
the beft adminiftration of a ftate, can 
only advance in a parallel] direétion with 
the beft progrefs of found reafon. Let 
his imperial letter be attentively perufed, 
which he lately wrote to one of his gran- 
dees, and which is one of the faireft jewels 
of his crown. In what humane and pa- 
ternal language does he there exprefs him- 
felf on the degradation and flavith mifery 
under which the Ruffian peafantry for the 
moft part groan. He detetfts the idea of hu- 
man creatures being bought and fold in the 
manner of cattle ; and is engaged ferioufly 
m making fuch arrangements as may fet 
bounds to fuch abufes for the future: 
To himfelf, befides the occupation of 
government, he allows fo few pleafures 
or amufements, that the Emperor might 
- be taken for a private perfon. Of the 
fimpleft appearance, and generally clad in 
the ftricteit ftyle of military uniform, he 
is feen almoft every day on the parade, 
and receives the petitions of fuppliants 
himfelf, or gives orders to his adjutant 
for that purpofe. With the greate!t affa- 
bility, and a pleafing fmile, he falutes 
every one*that comes in his way, and 
gives audience to each of them himfelf, 
He then takes an airing on horfeback, at- 
tended only by a fingle fervant ; and when 
he meets with any of thofe perfons whom 
he formerly knew when Grand Duke, he 
enters immediately into familiar conver- 
fation, and talks of paft circumftances in 
the moft engaging manner. Even thofe 
who are entire {trangers to him, however 
difagreeable their fubje&ts of converfation, 
and at times highly improper and imper- 
tinent, are frequently heard by him with 
the utmoft compofure, of which the twe 
following are ftriking examples. 
A young woman, of German extrac- 
tion, waited once for the Emperor on the 
fairs, by which he was accultomed to go 
down to the parade. When the monarch 
appeared, fhe met him on the fteps with 
thefe words in her mouth—* Pleafe your 
Majefty, I have fomething to fay to you.” 
©¢ What is it??? demanded the Emperor, 
and remained ftanding with all his at- 
tendants. ‘* I wiih to be married; but I 
have no fortune; if you would graciovfly 
give me a dowry—™” ‘*Ah, my girl, 
(anfwered the Monarch) were I to give 
dowries to all the young women in Pe- 
terfburgh, where do you think I fheuld 
find money?’ The girl, however, by 
his order, received a prefent of fifty rou- 
bles, 
On another oceafion, at the very mo- 
ment when the Emperor had given the 
word of command, and the guard on the 
parade was juft on the point of paying 
him the ufual military honours, a fellow 
approached him with ragged garments, 
with his hair in diforder, and a look of 
wildnefs, and gave him a flap on the 
fhoulder. The Monarch, who was 
ftanding at that time with his face oppo- 
fite to the military front, turned round, 
immediately, and, beholding the raga- 
mufin, ftarted at the fight, and then afked 
him, with a lock of aftonifhment, what 
he wanted. ‘‘ I have fomething to fay to 
you, Alexander Paulowitz,”” aniwered the 
dtranger, inthe Ruffian language. “Say 
on 
