1802: ] 
gy, went to meet the Saint four leagues 
from the capital, and pronounced a prayer 
and thankfgiving in celebration of the 
happy event. He accompanied the Ge 
neral to the capital, where the image was 
conduéted in triumph to the cathedral, in 
prefence of above fifteen tnhoufand people ; 
prayers were there repeated, and Heaven 
was befought to pour its bleffings on the 
monarch, whofe fage laws promifed dura- 
ble happinefs, and on the governor, whofe 
virtues and love of juftice have obtained 
the confidence and efteem of the nation, 
On the 12th of April (old ftyle), the oath 
of fidelity to the Emperor was taken with 
great pomp, in prefence of the com- 
mander in chief and his fuite: it was pro- 
nounced in ail the churches, by the diffe- 
rent nations, fuch as the Grufinians, 
Greeks, Armenians, Tartars, &c. The 
zeal and enthufiafm with which they feve- 
rally took the oath is a proof of their at- 
tachment to the new government.” 
Among other traits which evince the 
benevolence of Alexander, is the eftablith- 
ment of an adminiftration for ameliorating 
the condition of the poor in Peterfburgh. 
The following letter, written by the Em- 
peror, on the 28th of May, 1802, to the 
Chamberlain Wittoftoff, Prefident of the 
Commiffion created to that effect, is 
equally a proof of a philanthropic difpo- 
fition and a fagacious mind : 
«© Mr. Chamberlain Wittoftoff, The 
manner in which alms are diftributed to 
the poor only ferves to increafe their num- 
ber. The old man, broken down with 
years, does not find his repofe affured ; 
the youth, pining with mifery, is not re- 
ftored to health; and the infant, who 
might become the fupport of the ftate, is not 
reicued from death or vice. The idle and 
importunate beggar often feizes from the 
hand of beneficence what wasdeftined for the 
father of a family, overwhelmed with de- 
{pair, and groaning on his couch. SBene- 
ficence does not confit in being moved by 
the often deceitful afpeét of diftrefs, but 
in vifiting the unfortunate at their places 
“of refidence ; in thefe zbodes of affliction 
‘and tears, we mult feek to mitigate their 
misfortunes by words of confolation, by 
falutary-advice, in fhort, by every phyfical 
and moral means. In this true charity 
confiits. The poffibility of accomplithing 
this meritorious work is demonftrated by 
the experience of feveral enlightened peo- 
ple, particularly of Hamburgh, where a 
fociety of virtuous and peaceable citizens, 
without any view of perfonal intereft, 
and without expectation of reward, have, 
for the confolation of fuffering humanity, 
‘Monrury Mas. No. 93: 
Review of the Political State of Nations. 
St] 
for fifteen years acquitted themfelves of 
the facred duty of relieving their neigh- 
bour in the moft ufeful aud moft efficacious 
manner. 
‘¢ Withing to follow this example, I 
fhall name a commiffion, compofed of 
three members, who will name unani- 
moufly a fourth; the four will name a 
fifth, and fo on to nine; the nine mem- 
bers will name others to the number of 
feventeen. You will lay your plan before 
that commiffion, in order that it may ex- 
amine in what points and how it is to be 
carried into execution. To fhew what 
ftrong claims the victims of misfortune 
have on my heart, I take under my imme- 
diate and particular protection, not only 
the benevolent fociety eftablifhing in this 
capital, but all thofe, which, after its ex- 
ample, will undoubtedly be formed for 
the relief of our neighbour, in a nation 
fo dear to me, on which nature has be- 
ftowed fo many treafures, and which it has 
gifted with all the virtues, and particu~ 
larly with an all-celeftial generofity. I 
entruft to your efpecial care the admi- 
niftration of this public charity, that you 
may attend to it, and communicate to 
me directly all the reports which relate 
to the inftitution.”’ 
The anecdotes related of the Emperor 
Alexander, during his late journey ta 
Meme], do him honour. It is remarkable, 
that at his levies and entertainments he 
received with equal amenity the refpeét- 
able citizens and the nobles. At Riga 
and other places through which he paffed, 
he gave orders, that, if the dithes for 
which he might afk were not at hand, no 
trouble fhould be taken to procure them, 
but that others fhould be fubftituted ia 
their place. He travelled with a very. 
fmall retinue. To conclude :—Theen- 
deavours of this monarch to diminifh 
taxes, to ameliorate the condition of the 
peafants, to facilitate commerce, and to 
diffufe knowledge throughout his domi- 
nions, open a profpeét of happinefs hi- 
therto unknown to the inhabitants of the 
Ruffian Empire. 
Prussta.—The fubje&ts of Pruffia are 
now enjoying the fruits of the neutrality 
of their government. For this happy po- 
fition, they are indebted to the wifdom and 
moderation of a monarch, who, although in 
thevigour of age,iond of a military life,and 
fkilled in militarytatics, has preterred the 
good of his people, to the renown of 
vidtory and the acquifition of dominion. 
In the Pruffian territories, we hear of 
no increafe of taxes, no complaints of op- 
prefiion. 
Re All 
