viser in every subject,through the different media of publick discussion. The chief of a popular government is the president of a well-ordered mechanism, and has little more to do than to watch over the regularity of its movements, and to provide for the maintenance of its integrity and activity; while an autocrat is himself the machine, if that can be rightly so termed, which is subject to no prescribed law of action, and of which the principles are altogether uncertain. Hence, if a despotick monarch be of à character distinguished by moral and intellectual excellence, his sway may have some advantages, in unity of counsel and promptitude of execution, over the administration of a constitutional chief. Happily, however, for mankind, the value and efficacy of government are not to be estimated by the exception, but by the rule: for one Titus, there are twenty Domitians; and were the proportion reversed, there would be more lost, on the despotick system, in stability, strength, and energy, than might be gained in less essential qualities of security and power.

From all, then, that we have ever heard of the Emperor Alexander, he appears to have been a striking instance of the incompetency of excellent dispositions and fair abilities to struggle with the inherent difficulties of an arbitrary government. We have not the smallest doubt of the purity of his intentions, nor of the sincerity of his earlier exertions in behalf of his degraded people. Had he been a free agent, or had he possessed that higher order of faculty and determination which would have enabled him to "trample upon impossibilities," we have assurance that his plans for the intellectual, moral, and political advancement of his people would have been triumphantly followed up, and that he would never have yielded to the

fatal influences which suspended his career of glory. Nor were his deficiencies adequately supplied by his choice of a minister, although that choice reflected the highest honour on the motives and feelings that prompted it. The spirit of the amiable and excellent Gallitzin seems to have been better suited to the offices of that warm and sacred friendship which, as he never abused, so he never lost, than to the mastery of a turbulent nobility, a ferocious soldiery, a people ignorant and shackled, and, from those very circumstances, requiring the incessant vigilance of a jealous police. The following illustrations of Alexander's affectionate feelings are, we suppose, authentick; but, even if otherwise, they speak strongly in favour of the monarch respecting whom such anecdotes are circulated with acceptance.

"From his earliest years, he was remarkable for his respect and attachment to the persons entrusted with his education, and for his exemplary conduct towhich truly deserved the name of filial wards his mother, the Empress Maria, piety, being in him a feeling next akin to religion, a holy flame which burnt with unvarying splendour from his childhood to his grave. So entirely innate with abhorrence, and, when the occasion in him was this feeling, that he beheld served, marked by his serious displeasure, any violation of the Divine precept,

Honour thy mother;' and it was but a few months before his death, that a young prince, who had treated his mother with disrespect, received orders to reside only in Moscow, under the special superintendence of Prince Golyzin, the military governor-general, and of the guardians appointed for him, who were at the same

time commanded to take the administration of his property into their hands. He not only treated his tutors with respect while under their care, but continued through life to give them proofs of his tikoff he showed unabated veneration gratitude and affection. For Count Solduring his life, and in 1818, followed his corpse, on foot and bareheaded, to the grave. Of his regard for Colonel Laharpe, many instances are recorded, of which the following may find a place here.

"His attachment to Laharpe was rather filial than that of a pupil; his greatest de

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light was in his society, and he would cling round his neck in the most affectionate embraces, by which frequently his clothes were covered with powder. 'See, my dear prince,' Laharpe would say, what a figure you have made your self.' 'Oh, never mind it,' Alexander replied; no one will blame me for carrying away all I can from my dear preceptor.' One day he went to visit Laharpe, as was his custom, alone; the porter was a new servant, and did not know him; he asked his name, and was answered Alexander, The porter then led him into the servants' hall, told him his master was at his studies, and could not be disturbed for an hour. The servants' homely meal was prepared, and the prince was invited to partake of it, which he did without affectation. When the hour was expired, the porter informed Laharpe that a young man of the name of Alexander had been waiting some time, and wanted to see him. Show him in.' But what was Laharpe's surprise to see his pupil! He wished to apologize; but Alexander, placing his finger on his lips, said, 'My dear tutor, do not mention it; an hour to you is worth a day to me; and besides, I have had a hearty breakfast with your Servants, which I should have lost, had I been admitted when I came.' The poor porter's feelings may be better imagined than described; but Alexander, laughing, said, 'I like you the better for it, you are an honest servant, and there are a hundred rubles to convince you that I think

SO."

6

"When he was at Paris in 1814, he paid a visit to the wife of M. Laharpe. As she remained standing, he said to her, 'You are much altered, madam.' 'Sire,' she replied, 'I, like others, have suffered from circumstances.'-'You mistake me; I mean that you do not sit down, as you used to do, by your husband's pupil, and chat familiarly with him.'" pp. xv-xix.

Mr. Lloyd justly remarks, that a relish for the simple beauties of nature" is a highly favourable testimony to character; and he states that Alexander had much of this feeling. The instance, however, which he gives, can hardly be considered as in point. The view from Richmond Hill," which the emperor considered as "the most lovely that he had ever beheld," betrays in its peculiar richness too much of the presence of man, to exemplify "the simple, the soothing, and the amiable scenes of na

ture." Of the Tsar's active humanity, too much cannot be said. The well-known event which obtained for him the gold medal of our Royal Humane Society, is of too sertion here; but in these duties common notoriety to justify its inAlexander was never deficient. The police-officer who saved, at the hazard of his own life, the rash individual who was sinking in the half-frozen Neva, was applauded, rewarded, and promoted on the spot, by his benevolent sovereign. The sufferers from the dreadful inundations in Germany, were relieved by his abundant contributions; and when a similar disaster befel St. Petersburg, in November, 1824, he visited, in person, the scenes of misery, and while his open hand distributed the necessary relief, his presence and his language were yet more grateful to the feelings of the afflicted, than his liberal alms.

"It once happened, at the very moment when the emperor had given the word of command, and the guard on the parade was just on the point of paying him the usual military honours, that a fellow approached him in ragged garments, with his hair in disorder, and a look of wildder. The monarch, who was standing ness, and gave him a slap on the shoulfront, turned round instantly, and be at the time with his face to the military holding the wretched object before him, started back at the sight; and then in quired, with a look of astonishment, what he wanted? I have something to say to you, Alexander Pawlowitsch,' said the stranger, in the Russian language. 'Say on then,' said the emperor, with a smile of encouragement, clapping him on the shoulder. A long solemn pause followed; ventured, either by word or motion, to the military guard stood still; and none disturb the emperor in this singular in

terview. The Grand Duke Constantine alone, whose attention had been excited by this unusual interruption, advanced

somewhat nearer to his brother. The

stranger then related, that he had been a captain in the Russian service, and had

been present at the campaigns, both in Italy and Switzerland; but that he had been persecuted by his commanding offi

cer, and so misrepresented to Suwarrow, that the latter had turned him out of the

son.

army, without money and without friends, in a foreign country. He had afterwards served as a private soldier in the Russian army; and being severely wounded at Zurich, (and here he pulled his rags asunder, and showed several gun-shot wounds,) he had closed his campaign in a French priHe had now begged all the way to Petersburg, to apply to the emperor himself for justice, and to intreat an inquiry into the reason why he had been degraded from his rank in the army. The emperor listened with great patience, and then asked, in a significant tone, 'If there was no exaggeration in the story he had told?' 'Let me die under the knout,' said the officer, if I shall be found to have uttered one word of falsehood.' The emperor then beckoned to his brother, and charged him to conduct the stranger to the palace, while he turned round to the expecting crowd. The commanding officer who had behaved so harshly, though of a good family, and a prince in rank, was very severely reprimanded; while the brave warrior, whom he had unjustly persecuted, was reinstated in his former post, and besides, had a considerable present from the emperor." pp. xxvi-xxix. Alexander seems to have possessed the rare talent of conferring favours with a grace which enhanced their value. When he sent a valuable jewel to Kutusoff, after the campaign of 1812, it was taken from the imperial crown, and the vacancy thus occasioned, was supplied by a small gold plate, on which the name of that officer was inscribed. After the attack on Montmartre, in which Count Langeron distinguished himself, dining with a party of which that general made one, he addressed him as follows:-"I have paid a second visit to Montmartre, where I found a parcel directed to you." On the count's replying, that he had lost nothing,-"Oh! I am not mistaken; see here!" The contents were the valuable insignia of a Russian order.

"The hackney-coachmen in St. Petersburg do not much like to drive officers, and seldom let them get out without their having paid them before-hand, or leaving something in pledge. They do not object to letting other persons get out whenever they choose, and will even wait hours for them. Alexander, who

was generally dressed in a very plain uniform and a grey mantle, was walking one day on the English quay, when suddenly it began to rain very fast, and he would not step into a house. He accordingly seated himself in the first droschke he found, and ordered the coachman to drive to the Winter Palace. As he passed by the Senate House, the guard was called under arms, and the drums beat. The coachman looked, and said he supposed the emperor was riding by the Guard House. You will see him very soon,' replied Alexander.

me.

"They at last arrived at the Winter Palace, and Alexander, who had no money about him, ordered him to stop till he sent his fare down. 'No,' replied he, 'you must leave me something in pledge; the officers have so many times deceived So you must leave me your man. tle.' Alexander acquiesced, and left it with him. He directly sent down one of his footmen with five and twenty rubles, to give them to the coachman, to say that he had driven the emperor, and to bring him the mantle. The footman did so; when, instead of the coachman's being glad at the honour and the present, he laughed, and said: 'Do you think that I am so stupid; the mantle is worth more than twenty-five rubles; who knows what you mean? perhaps you want to steal it; no, that wont do, and unless the gentleman whom I have driven, comes himself, I shall not part with it.' Alexander had almost been obliged to go down himself, had not his chief coachman happened to come by, who confirmed what the footman had said. The poor coachman was now almost out of his wits for joy." pp. xxxi-xxxiii.

One more of these anecdotes and we must desist.

"The High Chamberlain N** received ful star of the order of St. Andrew, set of the Emperor Alexander a most beautiround with diamonds, which was valued at 30,000 rubles. Being in pecuniary distress he pawned it; soon after this, there was a grand entertainment at court, where N** could not appear without this star. What embarrassment! Money was wanted, and the pawnbroker an inexorable man, would not part with the star for a quarter of an hour, unless it were properly redeemed. Now there was nobody that could help him out of this dilemma, but the emperor's groom of the bedchamber, who had in his possession two beautiful diamond stars, belonging to the emperor, one of which was but lately finished, and had cost 60,000 rubles. The high chamberlain accordingly had re

course to him, and after many protesta tions, the gentleman was persuaded by incessant entreaty, and promises of returning it safe to him again after the entertainment, to entrust it to him. N** accordingly made his appearance at court with this star. Alexander soon perceived in the four large diamonds at the corners of the star, a great likeness with his own new star. He fixed his eyes several times on N**, and at last said, 'I am very much astonished to find you have a star which has a great likeness with one I have just received from the jeweller.' N**, quite embarrassed, replied only by unmeaning compliments and bows. The emperor, more and more struck with the great resemblance, at last said to him, 'I do not know what to say, but I must tell you plainly, that I almost believe that it is my star, the likeness is so very remarkable.' N** at last humbly confessed how it happened, and offered to undergo any punishment, but only begged that he would have mercy upon the poor gentleman of the bed-chamber, who had suffered himself to be persuaded. Never mind,' replied the generous Alexander; the crime is not so great that I cannot forgive it. But I cannot myself wear it any more. I must therefore make you a present of it, on condition that I shall in future be safe from such appropriations.' pp. xxxiii.

-XXXV.

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We scarcely know whether to consider his knowledge of the conspiracy against his father as a blot upon the fame of Alexander. The capricious dispositions of Paul amounted nearly to insanity, and were throwing every thing into a state of confusion and danger. It was believed, at least it was affirmed, that he had determined on the imprisonment of his wife and his sons Alexander and Constantine; and a determination was formed, with the privity of the elder, to anticipate this purpose by putting him under restraint. When Alexander found that, instead of that doubtful measure, the conspirators had made all sure, by going the length of assassination, his grief and horror are said to have been extreme. The particular circumstances of this event are, however, imperfectly known, and Mr. Lloyd has given two different statements; one exceedingly and

interestingly minute, and consequently the less likely to be true. It is singular enough, that these narrations should contradict each other on one of the leading points. The common story ascribes the fatal deed to Benningsen, who, when the others were relenting at the prayers and tears of the miserable victim, aware that to recede was to sign their own death-warrant, animated them to resolution, and used his own sash as the instrument of destruction. The other version describes Benningsen as leaving the room to obtain a light, and on his return finding the emperor dead.

We do not deem ourselves authorized to enter into a detailed examination of the history of so relected, with praiseworthy dilicent a reign. Mr. Lloyd has colgence, all, probably, that is to be known at the present moment; and his volume will be found valuable as a spirited sketch of one important section in the annals of Europe; but there is much still to be known, before a decided opinion can be formed on many particulars connected with the reign of Alexander. It is difficult, perhaps without further evidence impossible, to account for the discrepancy between the liberal feelings which adorned its commencement, and the narrow policy which clouded its closing scenes. Was he driven from his better impulses by the murmurs of his nobles, or cajoled into compliance with the mean and Machiavelian system of Metternich? We cannot answer this; but we are quite disposed to adopt the solution which shall be most favourable to a character which had many excellencies, counterbalanced, we fear, by some weaknesses.

Alexander's reign was characterized by events which exhibited him advantageously, though he had little share in their successful termination. Napoleon was conquered, not by arms, but by stress of weather, and by his own unusual

hesitation.

Had he left Moscow a weak earlier, or, better still, had he halted at Smolensko, Russia was at his feet, and her Tsar his vassal. In the subsequent scenes, the bravery of Alexander, his courteous manners, his prepossessing person, his mental accomplishments, gave him advantages which went further, perhaps, for the moment, than military skill or political sagacity.

To his own country, his reign has been productive of many benefits. The advancement of learning, the abolition of personal slavery, the improved internal administration, the encouragement of manufactures, which have distinguished the government during his sovereignty, are measures which may

be fairly ascribed to him as their enlightened originator and promoter; and we trust that, notwithstanding the unfavourable aspect of actual circumstances, a calm and deliberate view of the real interests of Russia may prompt his successor to urge on, with increased energy, the liberal plans which distinguished the earlier years of his brother's government.

After what we have already said, it can scarcely be necessary for us to add our recommendation of Mr. Lloyd's acceptable memoirs. A well-executed lithographick portrait is prefixed, and a plan of Taganrog occurs in the course of the volume.

In a paper by Sir H. Davy, in the last part of the Philosophical Transactions, it is mentioned, that, independently of the chemical, there is a mechanical wear of the copper of vessels in sailing, which, on the most exposed part of the ship, and in the most rapid course, bears a relation to it of nearly 2 to 4.55. As the result of actual experiment, as to the electro-chemical means of preserving the copper sheathing of vessels, he concludes that the proportion of protecting metal should be from 1-90th to 1.70th.

The largest steam vessel ever built in England, was lately launched from Limehouse. She is called the Shannon, of 550 tons burden, and is intended to convey passengers and goods from London to Dublin, in seventy-two hours, calling at Mar. gate, Dover, Portsmouth, and Falmouth, for passengers.

In France it has been strongly urged by M. de la Place, that all the nations of Europe, instead of referring their calculations of longitude to the meridian of their principal observatory, should have some common meridian; which would introduce into the geography of the world the same uniformity that exists in its almanacks and in its arithmetick. M. de la Place recommended the Peak of Teneriffe, or Mont Blanc, as a suitable meridian.

A fresco painting has been discovered at Pompeii, representing an eruption of

Vesuvius, and several processions at the fout of the mountain. If this picture be correctly drawn, the site of Naples was formerly much more elevated than at present, and the Somma did not exist, or rather formed a part of Vesuvius.

There are now no fewer than three

newspapers published in the capital of New South Wales. The files of these journals contain reports of meetings of agricultural societies, of proceedings of courts of law, pastoral charges to the clergy; discussions, political and literary; long columns of advertisements; in short, all the characteristics of an English newspaper, in a spot in the Antipodes, a few years ago tenanted only by a few naked savages. The Archdeacon's charge to the clergy of New South Wales states, that "the offspring of this colony has not its equal either for morals or quickness of apprehension." He states further, that they have the royal commands for the establishment of parochial lending libraries, and that "three distinct libraries have been sent out by his Britannick Majesty, together with a donation of one hundred pounds, independent of the church plate to each of the churches."-Ch. Obs.

American Porcelain.-The Porcelain manufactory at Jersey City, established about eight months since, is now going on with a fair prospect of success. The materials both for the body of the article and for the glazing are all found