Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

58GERMAN STATESMAN.

there is between a grande route* and a chaussee, Once leave the chaussée, and you go back three centuries.

This road had, however, been recommended to me

by the minister Dcat Berlin, and in a manner

that was rather amusing : — " What road would yon advise me to take in coing to Lubcek?" I asked him.

" They are all bad," replied the diplomatist; " but I advise you to take that of Sehwerin."

" My carriage," I replied, " is light, and if it should break down I shall miss the packet. If you know a bette*i· route I will take it, even if it be longer."

" All I can say," replied he in an official tone, ík is, that I have recommended the same to Monseig-neur — (the nephew of his sovereign); you cannot do better than follow him."

" The carriages of princes," I replied, " are perhaps as privileged as their persons. Princes have iron frames, and I would not wish to live for one day as they live the whole year."

No reply was deigned to these words, which I should have thought very innocent if they had not appeared seditious to the German man of office.

This grave and prudent person, distressed at the excess of my audacity, left me the moment he could without too palpable abruptness. There are certain Germans who arc born subjects; they are courtiers before they become men. I cannot help laughing at their obsequious politeness, though preferring it

* The " grandes routes " may be considered as meaning the old, wide, and unimproved roads of the country ; the chaussées are the more recently cut roads, which are generally raised, drained, and kept in good repair. — Trans.