FOOTNOTES:

FOOTNOTES:1Nobleman.2Foreigners.3Get out!—Go out from my presence in disgrace.4“Lord, have mercy upon me.”5A light, sour beverage, made by pouring water upon flour or meal.6Brandy.7Of course this would not be done now. But the scene is given exactly as it occurred.8Alexander’s part in the adventure told above is historically true, even to the smallest particular. The only liberty taken has been that of transferring the scene from the bank of the Wilia to that of the Oka. The story became known in England through a private letter, and the Royal Humane Society sent the Czar a medal—rather a singular “decoration” for a monarch. He “accepted it with a noble and modest simplicity,” and profited by the circumstance to introduce a similar society into his own dominions. For the description of his personal appearance one contemporary authority amongst many may be cited: “Malgré la régularité et la délicatesse de ses traits, l’éclat, la fraîcheur de ses teints, sa beauté frappait moins à la première vue que cet air de bienveillance qui lui captivait tout les cœurs, et du premier mouvement inspirait la confiance.... Il avait l’œil vif, spirituel, et couleur d’un ciel sans nuages; sa vue était un peu courte, mais il possédait le sourire des yeux, si l’on peut appeler ainsi l’expression de son regard bienveillant et doux.... Son front chauve, mais qui donnait à l’ensemble de sa figure quelque chose d’ouvert et de serein, ses cheveux d’un blond doré, arrangés avec soin comme dans les belles têtes des camées ou des médailles antiques, semblaient faits pour recevoir la triple couronne de laurier, de myrte, et d’olivier.”9A kind of cold soup made of kvass, with small pieces of meat in it.10This fable was extensively believed in Russia, and not exclusively by the lower classes.11It is, perhaps, scarcely probable that a man of the character and position of Petrovitch, an “old Muscovite” and aprotégéof Rostopchine, would have appreciated these liberal measures. But Petrovitch is supposed to be unusually thoughtful and enlightened. Upon other points, especially upon the French war, he is made to share the usual sentiments of his class.12Readers of Mr. Browning’s “Dramatic Idylls” will remember “Ivan Ivanovitch.”13Lord, or Sir.14Driver.15His heir would have been the wayward, eccentric Constantine, who, in such a crisis, could not have maintained his position for a month.16De Maistre.17Madame de Stael, “Dix Années d’Exil.”18An eye-witness tells us “how the image of St. Sergius was presented to the young Czar, whose handsome face, surrounded by the old banners in the dimly-lighted church, had a most picturesque effect.” (See the “Memoirs of Madame Junot.”)19All these particulars, as well as those of the meeting in the Hall of the Merchants, are historical.20Elected annually from their own body. His munificent donation was paid the next day.21Madame de Stael.22He fought in the Vendéan War, and was taken prisoner and executed by the Republicans. He said to his judges, “J’ai fait mon devoir; faites votre métier.”23Alexander would not allow the country to be laid waste before the invaders; but government stores were destroyed or carried away, and private individuals voluntarily did the same, to a great extent, with their own possessions.24These outrages, and others yet more revolting, were constantly committed by the French in Russia.25A fact.26The story of Petrovitch is historical. Scarcely anything has been added, and only a few rather improbable details have been omitted.27God the Son.28Her persistence in remaining in the city and her death are historical.29The conversation which follows is given as it was recorded by Michaud himself. All the details in this chapter are historical, without any admixture of fiction.30General Kutusov.31De Maistre.—Sir Robert Wilson, an Englishman, was of great use in this crisis as the friend and counsellor of Alexander.32Another story is told, connecting Alexander’s first acquaintance with the ninety-first psalm with Prince Galitzin, but that given above seems on the whole to be preferable.33A fact.34The ninth of the fourteen official Tchinns, or ranks, recognized by the Russian Government. Each rank in the army has a corresponding grade and title in the civil service.35Any one who has read the letters and proclamations of Count Rostopchine, will be aware that the violence of language attributed to him is very far from being exaggerated.36The Empress Mary, the mother of Alexander, and the Empress Elizabeth, his wife.37De Maistre.38The custom upon such occasions.39The French, during the retreat, formed themselves into little “coteries” of twelve or fifteen. If an outsider tried to join himself to one of these, he was pitilessly driven away to die, sometimes even murdered.40A fact.41Not “earlier than usual,” as the apologists of Napoleon delight in repeating.42A fact.43The survivors in this terrible calamity were usually those who “happened to have about them a little sugar or coffee.”44A fact.45All that is told in this and the succeeding chapter about the ministrations of Alexander to the French prisoners is strictly and circumstantially true. Sir Archibald Alison, who well observes that Alexander terminated “a campaign of unexampled danger and glory by deeds of unprecedented mercy,” had the details from the Emperor’s own physicians, Wylie and Crichton, his assistants in the noble work. There are many other sources of information from which interesting anecdotes may be gleaned. The story of the dying Spaniard is one of these. Alexander not only took care to forward his letter, but sought out all the other Spanish prisoners, clothed them, and sent them home at his own expense. He described his visit to the Convent of St. Basil to a friend in these words:—“I was there in the evening: a single lamp illumined those profound vaults, beneath which piles of corpses had been heaped almost as high as the walls. I cannot express the horror with which I was penetrated when amongst the dead bodies I saw creatures moving who were yet alive.” On his way to Vilna, he took up in his own sledge starving French soldiers whom he met with, and brought them to those whom he could trust to take care of them, leaving money to supply their wants.46Madame de Choiseul-Gouffier.47“Eh, mon Dieu,” s’écria le maréchal, “qui est-ce qui aurait le courage de faire du mal à cet ange?”48The aide-de-camp was Rapatel, a protégé of Moreau, who had attached himself to Alexander out of gratitude for his kindness to the family of his friend and patron.49A distinguished English officer, who was present, says this was the only occasion on which he ever saw Alexander put himself personally forward; he was usually, though only too ready to share the perils of war, careful to leave its glories to his generals. But this was to save life.50He could say all that and more with perfect truth. The conduct of Alexander during the War of Liberation forms a very bright page in his history. He spared no effort to infuse his own courage, energy, and determination into his allies. At the outset, he wished for the chief command of the united armies, a position for which he was well qualified, and to which he possessed every possible claim. But Austrian jealousy interfered: for it must be remembered that Francis of Austria had given his daughter in marriage to Napoleon, so that the infant heir of the common enemy was the grandson of one of the allied sovereigns. Inspired by his cabinet, the Austrian general, Prince Schwartzenberg, opposed the arrangement, and Alexander quietly gave way. He appeased the indignation of the King of Prussia, and reconciled Schwartzenberg with him. He broke up his own enormous armies into auxiliary corps, most of which he placed under the command of his allies; and abandoning the lower ambition of being the nominal head of the confederation, contented himself with being its soul and its inspiring genius. It was he who planned, and urged upon his allies, the march upon Paris that brought the war to a successful termination.51A fact.52Englishmen who were in Paris during 1814 bear testimony to this interesting fact.53“Ses ennemis cessaient de l’être à ses yeux, dès qu’ils étaient malheureux.”—Madame de Choiseul-Gouffier.54He establishedtwo; one in St. Petersburg, and the other in Warsaw.55Domergues, a Frenchman bitterly prejudiced against everything Russian, pronounces this allowance really “munificent” under the circumstances, and says the prisoners were able to live upon it in the greatest comfort.56A well-known form of punishment in Russia. Alexander himself inflicted it upon some personages of the highest rank, for gross acts of peculation and dishonesty.57Alexander always referred to the day of Austerlitz as “his unfortunate day,” and never ceased to mourn the slaughter to which he led his brave army upon that occasion.58A similar act of imperial munificence, performed in a similar way, drew the comment from De Maistre: “En fait d’élégance souveraine, l’Empereur de Russie est un grand artiste.”59It is understood, of course, that Ivan speaks from theRussianpoint of view.60“In Russia every coxcomb is a prince.”61All this, as also the account given at the end of this chapter, is strictly historical.621 John v. 13. The twofold use of the expression “believe on the name of the Son of God” in this passage is instructive.63This story is not true; but it was believed at the time.64“Many a Parisian scoffer, going to hear her in her drawing-room, which was open to all, returned,” says Sainte Beuve, “at least thoroughly subdued by her personal magnetism. Those who seriously believe in the intervention of Providence in the affairs of the world should not judge her too superciliously: 1815 was a decisive epoch, and to religious minds it may well have appeared that the crisis was grave enough to demand a prophet.”65Really given to Madame de Krudener by a child of Stéphanie’s age, at a meeting similar to the one described above.66The Governor of Paris.67“He ‘has the honour of being presented’ to a lady; he ‘begs that they will excuse’ him, etc.; he says, ‘will you permit?’ as well as others. He is right, for he is a true gentleman, which is not quite so easy as some believe.”—De Maistre.68Vie de Madame de Krudener, par M. Eynard.69In the following conversation not only the sentiments but the words given are all those of Alexander himself. It was his habit to pay an occasional evening visit in the manner described above to those whom he esteemed. He was not particular as to their rank (some merchants’ wives had poured out tea for him not unfrequently), but they were always persons noted for piety and good works.70These remarks on the influence of the Bible are taken from the conversations of Alexander with the Lutheran Bishop Eylert.71A fact. Visitors to St. Petersburg during the reign of Alexander bore witness to the admirable condition of these institutions.72“Emancipation is one of his ruling ideas. A great part of the acts of his government bear the impression of it.”—Dupré de St. Maure.73The Russian alphabet; so called because arranged by Bishop Cyril.74By William Penn. At the special desire of Alexander, the Countess Metchersky translated it into Russ.75Kohl.76From a speech made by Alexander at a meeting of the Frankfort Bible Society.77Dissenters.78Let the thoughtful student read the whole passage from which these lines are taken. The story of Arthur, as the Laureate has transfigured and interpreted it for us, sheds a ray of light upon that of Alexander.79This answer was really given by a child of his age, the little son of Madame de Choiseul-Gouffier.80The army which Russia, in common with the other Allied Powers, left in France after the peace of 1815. It was withdrawn in the latter part of 1818.81Words used by Alexander to a young Protestant missionary whom the Englishman, Lewis Way, brought to see him.82Dupré de St. Maure.83“Vie de Madame de Krudener.” Par M. Eynard.84The death of his only child, Sophie Narischkin, a beautiful and most amiable girl, about to be married to one of his aides-de-camp. The whole story is deeply touching.85“His face showed care and sorrow, but the remembrance of these walks, and the acts of benevolence resulting from them, is the most touching of my recollections in Russia,” writes a Frenchman who happened to be at Taganrog at the time.86Life of William Allen.87Nor was it. Alexander died on the 1st of December 1825, Elizabeth on the 16th of the following May.88“He was said to be no solitary example of a broken heart for the loss of Alexander. Many were mentioned both in St. Petersburg and in Moscow; and a Russian assured me that he would venture any wager that if all the deaths from this cause throughout the empire were reckoned together, they would amount to above a hundred.”—Kohl.89“J’aimais à voir partager ma tristesse jusque par les habitans de cette Champagne où Alexandre était entré en vainqueur. Il n’y eut pas un pauvre vigneron d’Epernay ou de Vertus qui ne se fut écrié en apprenant la mort d’Alexandre, ‘Ah, quel malheur; il avait sauvé la France!’ Une paysanne me disait un jour, ‘Hélas, madame, il était aussi aimable qu’il était beau!’”—Madame de Choiseul-Gouffier.

1Nobleman.

2Foreigners.

3Get out!—Go out from my presence in disgrace.

4“Lord, have mercy upon me.”

5A light, sour beverage, made by pouring water upon flour or meal.

6Brandy.

7Of course this would not be done now. But the scene is given exactly as it occurred.

8Alexander’s part in the adventure told above is historically true, even to the smallest particular. The only liberty taken has been that of transferring the scene from the bank of the Wilia to that of the Oka. The story became known in England through a private letter, and the Royal Humane Society sent the Czar a medal—rather a singular “decoration” for a monarch. He “accepted it with a noble and modest simplicity,” and profited by the circumstance to introduce a similar society into his own dominions. For the description of his personal appearance one contemporary authority amongst many may be cited: “Malgré la régularité et la délicatesse de ses traits, l’éclat, la fraîcheur de ses teints, sa beauté frappait moins à la première vue que cet air de bienveillance qui lui captivait tout les cœurs, et du premier mouvement inspirait la confiance.... Il avait l’œil vif, spirituel, et couleur d’un ciel sans nuages; sa vue était un peu courte, mais il possédait le sourire des yeux, si l’on peut appeler ainsi l’expression de son regard bienveillant et doux.... Son front chauve, mais qui donnait à l’ensemble de sa figure quelque chose d’ouvert et de serein, ses cheveux d’un blond doré, arrangés avec soin comme dans les belles têtes des camées ou des médailles antiques, semblaient faits pour recevoir la triple couronne de laurier, de myrte, et d’olivier.”

9A kind of cold soup made of kvass, with small pieces of meat in it.

10This fable was extensively believed in Russia, and not exclusively by the lower classes.

11It is, perhaps, scarcely probable that a man of the character and position of Petrovitch, an “old Muscovite” and aprotégéof Rostopchine, would have appreciated these liberal measures. But Petrovitch is supposed to be unusually thoughtful and enlightened. Upon other points, especially upon the French war, he is made to share the usual sentiments of his class.

12Readers of Mr. Browning’s “Dramatic Idylls” will remember “Ivan Ivanovitch.”

13Lord, or Sir.

14Driver.

15His heir would have been the wayward, eccentric Constantine, who, in such a crisis, could not have maintained his position for a month.

16De Maistre.

17Madame de Stael, “Dix Années d’Exil.”

18An eye-witness tells us “how the image of St. Sergius was presented to the young Czar, whose handsome face, surrounded by the old banners in the dimly-lighted church, had a most picturesque effect.” (See the “Memoirs of Madame Junot.”)

19All these particulars, as well as those of the meeting in the Hall of the Merchants, are historical.

20Elected annually from their own body. His munificent donation was paid the next day.

21Madame de Stael.

22He fought in the Vendéan War, and was taken prisoner and executed by the Republicans. He said to his judges, “J’ai fait mon devoir; faites votre métier.”

23Alexander would not allow the country to be laid waste before the invaders; but government stores were destroyed or carried away, and private individuals voluntarily did the same, to a great extent, with their own possessions.

24These outrages, and others yet more revolting, were constantly committed by the French in Russia.

25A fact.

26The story of Petrovitch is historical. Scarcely anything has been added, and only a few rather improbable details have been omitted.

27God the Son.

28Her persistence in remaining in the city and her death are historical.

29The conversation which follows is given as it was recorded by Michaud himself. All the details in this chapter are historical, without any admixture of fiction.

30General Kutusov.

31De Maistre.—Sir Robert Wilson, an Englishman, was of great use in this crisis as the friend and counsellor of Alexander.

32Another story is told, connecting Alexander’s first acquaintance with the ninety-first psalm with Prince Galitzin, but that given above seems on the whole to be preferable.

33A fact.

34The ninth of the fourteen official Tchinns, or ranks, recognized by the Russian Government. Each rank in the army has a corresponding grade and title in the civil service.

35Any one who has read the letters and proclamations of Count Rostopchine, will be aware that the violence of language attributed to him is very far from being exaggerated.

36The Empress Mary, the mother of Alexander, and the Empress Elizabeth, his wife.

37De Maistre.

38The custom upon such occasions.

39The French, during the retreat, formed themselves into little “coteries” of twelve or fifteen. If an outsider tried to join himself to one of these, he was pitilessly driven away to die, sometimes even murdered.

40A fact.

41Not “earlier than usual,” as the apologists of Napoleon delight in repeating.

42A fact.

43The survivors in this terrible calamity were usually those who “happened to have about them a little sugar or coffee.”

44A fact.

45All that is told in this and the succeeding chapter about the ministrations of Alexander to the French prisoners is strictly and circumstantially true. Sir Archibald Alison, who well observes that Alexander terminated “a campaign of unexampled danger and glory by deeds of unprecedented mercy,” had the details from the Emperor’s own physicians, Wylie and Crichton, his assistants in the noble work. There are many other sources of information from which interesting anecdotes may be gleaned. The story of the dying Spaniard is one of these. Alexander not only took care to forward his letter, but sought out all the other Spanish prisoners, clothed them, and sent them home at his own expense. He described his visit to the Convent of St. Basil to a friend in these words:—“I was there in the evening: a single lamp illumined those profound vaults, beneath which piles of corpses had been heaped almost as high as the walls. I cannot express the horror with which I was penetrated when amongst the dead bodies I saw creatures moving who were yet alive.” On his way to Vilna, he took up in his own sledge starving French soldiers whom he met with, and brought them to those whom he could trust to take care of them, leaving money to supply their wants.

46Madame de Choiseul-Gouffier.

47“Eh, mon Dieu,” s’écria le maréchal, “qui est-ce qui aurait le courage de faire du mal à cet ange?”

48The aide-de-camp was Rapatel, a protégé of Moreau, who had attached himself to Alexander out of gratitude for his kindness to the family of his friend and patron.

49A distinguished English officer, who was present, says this was the only occasion on which he ever saw Alexander put himself personally forward; he was usually, though only too ready to share the perils of war, careful to leave its glories to his generals. But this was to save life.

50He could say all that and more with perfect truth. The conduct of Alexander during the War of Liberation forms a very bright page in his history. He spared no effort to infuse his own courage, energy, and determination into his allies. At the outset, he wished for the chief command of the united armies, a position for which he was well qualified, and to which he possessed every possible claim. But Austrian jealousy interfered: for it must be remembered that Francis of Austria had given his daughter in marriage to Napoleon, so that the infant heir of the common enemy was the grandson of one of the allied sovereigns. Inspired by his cabinet, the Austrian general, Prince Schwartzenberg, opposed the arrangement, and Alexander quietly gave way. He appeased the indignation of the King of Prussia, and reconciled Schwartzenberg with him. He broke up his own enormous armies into auxiliary corps, most of which he placed under the command of his allies; and abandoning the lower ambition of being the nominal head of the confederation, contented himself with being its soul and its inspiring genius. It was he who planned, and urged upon his allies, the march upon Paris that brought the war to a successful termination.

51A fact.

52Englishmen who were in Paris during 1814 bear testimony to this interesting fact.

53“Ses ennemis cessaient de l’être à ses yeux, dès qu’ils étaient malheureux.”—Madame de Choiseul-Gouffier.

54He establishedtwo; one in St. Petersburg, and the other in Warsaw.

55Domergues, a Frenchman bitterly prejudiced against everything Russian, pronounces this allowance really “munificent” under the circumstances, and says the prisoners were able to live upon it in the greatest comfort.

56A well-known form of punishment in Russia. Alexander himself inflicted it upon some personages of the highest rank, for gross acts of peculation and dishonesty.

57Alexander always referred to the day of Austerlitz as “his unfortunate day,” and never ceased to mourn the slaughter to which he led his brave army upon that occasion.

58A similar act of imperial munificence, performed in a similar way, drew the comment from De Maistre: “En fait d’élégance souveraine, l’Empereur de Russie est un grand artiste.”

59It is understood, of course, that Ivan speaks from theRussianpoint of view.

60“In Russia every coxcomb is a prince.”

61All this, as also the account given at the end of this chapter, is strictly historical.

621 John v. 13. The twofold use of the expression “believe on the name of the Son of God” in this passage is instructive.

63This story is not true; but it was believed at the time.

64“Many a Parisian scoffer, going to hear her in her drawing-room, which was open to all, returned,” says Sainte Beuve, “at least thoroughly subdued by her personal magnetism. Those who seriously believe in the intervention of Providence in the affairs of the world should not judge her too superciliously: 1815 was a decisive epoch, and to religious minds it may well have appeared that the crisis was grave enough to demand a prophet.”

65Really given to Madame de Krudener by a child of Stéphanie’s age, at a meeting similar to the one described above.

66The Governor of Paris.

67“He ‘has the honour of being presented’ to a lady; he ‘begs that they will excuse’ him, etc.; he says, ‘will you permit?’ as well as others. He is right, for he is a true gentleman, which is not quite so easy as some believe.”—De Maistre.

68Vie de Madame de Krudener, par M. Eynard.

69In the following conversation not only the sentiments but the words given are all those of Alexander himself. It was his habit to pay an occasional evening visit in the manner described above to those whom he esteemed. He was not particular as to their rank (some merchants’ wives had poured out tea for him not unfrequently), but they were always persons noted for piety and good works.

70These remarks on the influence of the Bible are taken from the conversations of Alexander with the Lutheran Bishop Eylert.

71A fact. Visitors to St. Petersburg during the reign of Alexander bore witness to the admirable condition of these institutions.

72“Emancipation is one of his ruling ideas. A great part of the acts of his government bear the impression of it.”—Dupré de St. Maure.

73The Russian alphabet; so called because arranged by Bishop Cyril.

74By William Penn. At the special desire of Alexander, the Countess Metchersky translated it into Russ.

75Kohl.

76From a speech made by Alexander at a meeting of the Frankfort Bible Society.

77Dissenters.

78Let the thoughtful student read the whole passage from which these lines are taken. The story of Arthur, as the Laureate has transfigured and interpreted it for us, sheds a ray of light upon that of Alexander.

79This answer was really given by a child of his age, the little son of Madame de Choiseul-Gouffier.

80The army which Russia, in common with the other Allied Powers, left in France after the peace of 1815. It was withdrawn in the latter part of 1818.

81Words used by Alexander to a young Protestant missionary whom the Englishman, Lewis Way, brought to see him.

82Dupré de St. Maure.

83“Vie de Madame de Krudener.” Par M. Eynard.

84The death of his only child, Sophie Narischkin, a beautiful and most amiable girl, about to be married to one of his aides-de-camp. The whole story is deeply touching.

85“His face showed care and sorrow, but the remembrance of these walks, and the acts of benevolence resulting from them, is the most touching of my recollections in Russia,” writes a Frenchman who happened to be at Taganrog at the time.

86Life of William Allen.

87Nor was it. Alexander died on the 1st of December 1825, Elizabeth on the 16th of the following May.

88“He was said to be no solitary example of a broken heart for the loss of Alexander. Many were mentioned both in St. Petersburg and in Moscow; and a Russian assured me that he would venture any wager that if all the deaths from this cause throughout the empire were reckoned together, they would amount to above a hundred.”—Kohl.

89“J’aimais à voir partager ma tristesse jusque par les habitans de cette Champagne où Alexandre était entré en vainqueur. Il n’y eut pas un pauvre vigneron d’Epernay ou de Vertus qui ne se fut écrié en apprenant la mort d’Alexandre, ‘Ah, quel malheur; il avait sauvé la France!’ Une paysanne me disait un jour, ‘Hélas, madame, il était aussi aimable qu’il était beau!’”—Madame de Choiseul-Gouffier.

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