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Revolutionary Societies in Russia . While the Court of Russia has been active , by its adrice and assistance to the governments of other countries , in keeping down the efforts of liberalism , it would appear , from papers which we have been perusing with considerable interest , that many of its own subjects
had imbibed from southern campaigns the spirit of change , and that the liberals , which it was exerting itself to restrain in other countries , were , in return , doing their best to find it work at home . We have before us an official pamphlet , published by the Russian Court , containing the Report of a Commission of
Inquiry into Seditious Societies , appointed in consequence of the military disturbances that took place after the death of Alexander , and at the accession of Nicholas . This Report is accompanied by the official accounts of the subsequent trial and of the sentences of 121 persons , almost all of them officers , and some of considerable rank .
In December 1825 , it is well known that some regiments , on the oaths to Nicholas being tendered , manifested a strong spirit of resistance , probably ( as was thought ) from a suspicion as to the " late Emperor ' s death * or as to the mode 'in which Conatantine ' s resignation was brouglit about . This tumult was soon suppressed , and , in consequence of information said to be then received as to
the existence Of secret societies of a treasonable or revolutionary nature , a commission of iuquiry was appointed . This commission proceeded by the interrogation of the parties seized , and from their accounts each of the other , and often rather contradictory , the Report is drawn up . It forms a pamphlet of 124 pages , digested and published in German , by the government , with such a view of the circumstances as it deemed
convenient to circulate among the people . We confess It is not easy to deduce a very intelligible or probable story out of the circumstances here detailed , many of which are singular , and some riot very consistent with others . The outline pf the tale is , that after the return of the Russian armies from their French campaign , considerable restlessness and de-
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sire of change in the political institutions of the country were manifested * With the view of promoting a reform , secret sor cieties were , it is alleged , formed , several of which appear to have soon expired . The first of them do not seem to have had for their object more than an improvement
in the laws , and in the administration of justice , the promotion of philanthropic institutions and schools , particularly on the Lancastrian plan ; the publication of liberal books and journals , and ( as is asserted ) at a later period , the limiting of the despotic power of the monarch by the establishment of representative bodies . To these schemes it seems to have
been at first expected ( or , at least , it is stated that it was held out to the members ) , that the Emperor was likely to accede voluntarily . No explicit information is any where given ( and , of course , this did not suit the object of the Report ) as to the precise evils complained of by the Reformers , the co-operation
expected from the people , the arguments for the intended changes , or , in fact , as I *) any thing which can enable us to form an accurate opinion with regard to the honesty or fair dealing of these societies , or of the Government towards them , if it be true that Alexander , to any extent , encouraged their views .
But it is stated , and repeated in every page , that the , personal murder , sometimes only of the Emperor , and sometimes of the whole royal family , soqji became the constantly avowed object of the members of these various societies , which sprung up one after another under different names and different leaders , and
finally seem to have , consisted of three divisions , " the Northern Society , " " the Southern , " and " the United Sclavonians . " Discussions , it is stated , were held in these societies , which spread over various districts from Poland to Petersburg and Moscow , as to the best government to be chosen . It was proposed in some to restore all annexed countries to
independence , to let even the Jews make their way for the Holy Land , and to devote the energies of all to patriotic exertions for the welfare of their " father-land . " Next arose discussions as to the form of a new government . Some , it is affirmed , were for a limited monarchy ; others quoted
the baneful consequences of retaining the royal f amily , as had been done in'Spain . They were for a republic like the United States , and they anxiously poughfc for a president , who , they said ; must be a Washington , not a Buonaparte . < j $ tit whatever was aatd or done about other things , the report always takes care * to « et-forth
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Intelligence . ~^ Foreign . 147
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zine ; Polish Miscellany ; Polish Library ; Warsaw Miscellany ; Masovian Journal ; Warsaw Evening Paper ; Corresponding Gazette ; Warsaw Gazette ; Warsaw IVionitor ; Warsaw Courier ; Polish Gazette ; The Lute ; and The Ceres , Agricultural Journal .
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RUSSIA .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1827, page 147, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1793/page/67/
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