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No. 396, October 24,1857.] THE LBADEE. 1...
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DE QUINCEY'S SKETCHES. S/cetches Critica...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Memoir On The Accession Of Nicholas I. T...
imperial apology , winch is interesting , not so much on account of any authenticity as a record which can be attributed to it as from its disclosure of the style in which Russian emperors desire the world to suppose that they habitually live , the brethren venerating one another as angels , the princesses all holy tears and piety . No instrument could have been found better fitted than the Baron Korff to undertake the task of preparing , under imperial correction , a statement placing the entire series of incidents in a transcendental light . His work , which is now published simultaneously in Russia , England , France , and Germany , is an example of courtly composition . The epithets are so rich and sonorous that we miglit imagine ourselves studying a Moslem recapitulation of the attributes of the Deity . But this is not alL . The volume
contains a new dispensation of European history . While proving the existence in the mind of Alexander I . of an intention to abdicate , JJaron Korff describes that autocrat as « the restorer of legitimate monarchy , and the pacificator of Europe , worn out with glory and greatness . ' * The prince who in early youth liad dreamed of a private life on the banks of the lthine had twice crossed tliat river with the laurel of victory and olive brunch of peace , and had avenged the destruction of Moscow by the preservation of Paris . Russia was blazing with the glory of her monarch ; kneeling Kurope was proclaiming him her saviour , her earthly providence P It appears indisputable , from a curious letter published by Baron Korff , that Alexander had professed during his youth an idea of refusing the crown . He gave some remarkable reasons for this desire . After deeci-ibinjr the confusion of
the empire he said that to restore order and prosperity was " absolutely impossible , not only to a man of ordinary capacities like myself , but even to a man of genius . - . . I shall therefore renounce the responsibility and go and live with ray wife , as a simple private gentleman , on the borders of the Rhine . " This plan he never fulfilled ; he died autocrat of Russia . His successor , in the natural course of events , would have been his brother Constantine , who , as Baron Korff seeks elaborately to prove , entertained a positive aversion to the thought of governing . This , however , was not enough . ' The never-to-be-forgotten' Nicholas himself is brought forward as a third scion of the dynasty to whom the prospect of an imperial crown
was as that of a chasm yawning to engulph him . When the purple was first offered to him itjseemed like a cloud of deepening shadows . It fell out thus , according to the Romanoff recital : In the summer of 1819 the Emperor Alexander dined with the Grand Duke Nicholas and his consort . At first the conversation , although warmed by a tone of intense affection , ran upon indifferent topics , ' when suddenly the Emperor gave it a most unexpected turn . ' Constantine , he said , after entering into certain explanations , had refused to succeed him on the throne . " You are therefore informed beforehand that you are destined at a future period to be invested with the imperial dignity . " ,
The young couple , relates Baron Korff , were struck as with a thunderbolt by this unexpected communication , which was to them , full of terror . Bursting into tears , they were unable to articulate a reply . Alexander ] ' with that angelic kindness and delicacy which distinguished him , ' endeavoured to tranquillize them by remarking that it . might be ten years before the great change took place ; but Nicholas persisted in arguing that he was unfit for the post . ITrom his autograph memorandum , indeed , Baron Korff transcribes : " He felt precisely what a man might feel who , while tranquilly advancing along a level road , amid a lovely landscape , should see suddenly yawning at his ieet a frightful precipice , towards which he should be drawn by the fascination of an overpowering force , so that he could neither go forward nor turn back . " He washe urgeda mere cadeta
, , , brigadier of Guards , a lounger in the antechambers , and how could be dare to assume ' the burden of ruling the most gigantic empire in the world ?' Not once during his long reign , however , did he evince the least inclination of calling in a constitutional body to aid him in sustaining the ' almost insupportable responsibility . ' After this interview the palace revolution was managed with consummate celerity . Constantino , the heir-apparent , put away his first wife , and on the same day was promulgated a Manifest , by which was established and legalized the principle that a member of the imperial family wLo should contract a marriage with a person not possessed of a corresponding dignity , i . e . not belonging to any sovereign or reigning house , cannot communicate to such person the rights which belong to hinfself . Now , this was done in March , 1820 , when it was notorious that
Conetantine was about to marry the Polish Princess Lovitzka : the union took place in the following May , and Nicholas was a , step nearer the throne . Was it at the desire of Constantine , Alexander , or Nicholas , that the Manifest was ordained ? By Baron KoriPs showing , the decree emanated from the Czar , and most persons accustomed to close historical analysis will see m it nothing less than a detail of the intrigue which was working between him and his younger relative for the exclusion of the rightful , though weakminded and easily terrified , claimant to the imperial inheritance . MVhen I expect my brother Nicholas , " said Constantine , "I always feel as if I were to
preparing meet the Emperor himself . " At length , it was arrowed be ^ yecn the negotiators that the Cesareviteh should lormallv renounce ° his privilege , and he wrote , accordingly , an ollieial letter to his ' most gracious sovereign ' ^ ( who amended the phraseology hiinaiilf ) ; the ' most « racious sovereign' . concurred , a rescript was drawn up , legalizing the transfer copies of the document being deposited upon the high altars of St . Petersburg and Moscow . Meanwhile , as a sentence in italics assures us , JNicholas and his wife remained in complete ignorance of what hsid taken place . The third son of the Emperor Paul was always of a secretive disposition
. In due course , Alexander 1 . dying left the throne of all the Russius vacant . Mien ensued a dramatic contest between his brothers , Nicholas ciesinng to take the oath of allegiance to ConsUntine , and Constantino aiynng iNicholas ' moat gracious sovereign . ' The Memoir contains a most cnaractenstie description of the scene enacted at tlio capital when news arrived ot the Emperor ' s sudden death : — a « i « "' I * 1 l " llaco ' Sprees stood clouo to the altar , in the suoristy , from which led and n « ln i ° n * ° * " " tc-cWamljcr - There the Urund-Duko also took up hia stand , S / er ^ T ^ T " ' S ° V XCBaa old vato-de-cftambrc . In tho event of a ncw / cW »« er arriving from 'laganrog , to give him a signal by tapping at this door . Tho
mass was just concluded , and the prayer for the Emparor hardly begun , when the signal was given . The Grand-Duke quietly passed out from the sacristy , and in the library of what had formerly been the apartments of the King of Prussia he found Count Miloradovitch , by the expression of whose face he instantly guessed the terrible news . " C ' est nni , Monseigneur , " said the Count ; " courage maintenant , donnez Fexemple : " and taking him by the arm , he began to lead him out of the room . Oa arriving at the passage which existed behind what was formerly the hall of the Chevalier Guards , the Grand-Duke felt himself on the point of fainting : lie sank into a chair and sent for Ruhl , body-physician to the Empress , without whose presence he was afraid to communicate the news , dreading the possibility of its causing her a stroke of Kuhl arrivedand then all
apoplexy . speedily , they three proceeded . The prayers for the recovery of the Emperor were still going on ; but th . e Empreaa had not failed to perceive the prolonged absence of her son : she was on her kneea , la the cruellest agonies of suspense . On entering the sacristy , the Grand-Duke , without speaking , prostrated himself on the ground . From this gesture the heart of the mother guessed the truth , and a terrible stupor seemed to enchain all her faculties ; she could find neither words nor tears . The Grand-D uke passed through the inclosure of the altar in order to stop the service , and brought back with him her confessor Krimtzkii , holding the crucifix in his hand , and who was in the act of concluding the prayers . It was not till then that the Empress , bowing to the ground before the crucifix , was able to shed the first tear .
Nicholas was conspicuously eager in proclaiming the necessity of at once swearing allegiance to the Czar Constantine . He himself set the example , and hurried to inform , the widowed Empress . " "Nicholas , " she exclaimed , " what have you done ? Do you not know that an act is in existence nominating you as heir-presumptive ? " Says Baron Korff ^ "The Grand-Duke now heard of it for the first time . " The reply of Nicholas was peculiarly ambiguous . "If there be one , it is unknown to rne ; no one knows of it ; but we all know that our master , our legitimate sovereign , successor of the Emperor Alexander , is my brother Constantine ; we have now done our duty , whatever may happen . " How soon , after this speech , did he vent his haughty exclamation , " If I am Emperor only for one hour , I will show myself worthy of being so . "
We must refer to the Alemoir itself for a recapitulation of the incidents -which followed . They must be studied successively in detail . In general , they are very interesting ; but perhaps the most extraordinary point in the volume is the total suppression of all the circumstances connected with , vengeance inflicted by Nicholas , in the first days of his reign , upon the conspirators and military insurgents of the capital , the ' idiots' —to employ imperial language—who dreamed of a Russian constitution . We must find room , however , for one remarkable passage : — Years passed away . At the interviews between his Majesty the Emperor Nicholas
Pavlovitch and the Cesarevitch Constantine , when the conversation fell upon the events which -we have been relating , the Cesarevitch always exhibited evident reluctance to speak on the subject . In 1829 they were travelling together from Zamosc to Lucsz . " 1 hope , " said the Emperor , in a moment of familiar confidence , " that now at least you will render justice to my conduct on that occasion , and to the motives under which I acted , and that you will confess that , under the circumstances in which I was placed , it "was impossible for me to act otherwise . " The Cesarevitch , again endeavoured to change the conversation , and at last said that perhaps he would leave behind him a document in which would be developed his mode of looking at the affair and the reasons of his conduct .
The document itself , described ' a solemn communication , ' is a convincing proof that Constantine was a poor-spirited , feeble man , ashamed of his exclusion from the throne , helpless to avert it , and resolved upon persuading the world that he had taken the initiative in an act of heroic renunciation rather than that he had been subordinated by the vigorous co-operation of . his imperial brothers . The mystery is not dispelled by Baron Korff ' s Memoirs ; but the Memoir is , nevertheless , one of the most extraordinary publications of modern times .
No. 396, October 24,1857.] The Lbadee. 1...
No . 396 , October 24 , 1857 . ] THE LBADEE . 1025
De Quincey's Sketches. S/Cetches Critica...
DE QUINCEY'S SKETCHES . S / cetches Critical and Biographical . By Thomas de Quincey . J . Hogg and Sons . In this volume of his republished writings Mr . De Quincey gives us two elaborate , and four slight papers . The elaborate papers are on ' Whiggism in its relations to Literature , ' and on 4 Homer and the Homeridae' —the former occupied mainly with Dr . Parr , if so rambling an essay can truly be said to be occupied with anything ; the latter discussing the question of Homer ' s authenticity . Neither of these papers is at all to our taste . Mr .
De Quincey , as all his readers know , labours } under the mental affliction of irresistible digression . He cannot keep to the point . He cannot check the quick and hurrying suggestions of his teeming fancy and fertile knowledge . He cannot control his wandering thoughts and make straight for the goal . If he begin aa essay with the express purpose of settling the claims of some poet , an early sentence will seduce him into a discussion of the age of the . Pyramids . He once published an article on Charles Lamb , which iustead of referring to that exquisite humorist , was occupied ( that is , as far aa it ¦ was occupied ) with an account of one of Walter Scott ' s German imitators .
A digressive propensity so tyrannous as this renders Mr . De Quincey ' s writings almost always excellent in proportion to the slightness of the occasion , and inferior in exact proportion to the importance of the occasion . He excels in side glances , suggestions , passages . The digressions are generally the most valuable part of each essay ; a parenthesis becomes the topic . When the original occasion is slight , or indeterminate , tho reader accepts these digressions as so many extra charms ; but when the occasion is important , or determinate , these digressions irritate him . In the volume before us Mr . De Quincey exhibits all his peculiar excellencies when slightly touching on Shelley , Keats , Goldsmith , and Wordsworth ' s poetry ; but in the two long and elaborated essays on Parr and 1 Joiner he is at once frivolous ami fatiguing—he is for ever quitting tho straight path to wandci into the dullest byways . Neither of these essuya was worthy of republication ; i \ ivl they will nuiterinlly retard tho success of this volume .
In the lour slight pupurn , and they are very slight , on Shelley , Goldsmith , Keats , and Wordsworth , wo have Mr . DeQuineey ' d well-known excellencies and peculiarities , which make very agreeable rending and sometimes otter some delicate and suggestive criticism . That on Wordsworth's poetry ia the best . Not , indeed , that we are to suppose it pretends to be a regular
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 24, 1857, page 17, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_24101857/page/17/
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