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

Russians are shaped in the same mould as those of the people of antiquity : among them every thing reminds us of the Old Testament; their hopes, their tortures, are great like their empire.

There, nothing has any limits, — neither griefs, nor rewards, nor sacrifices, nor hopes: the power of such a people may become enormous, but they will purchase it at the price which the nations of Asia pay for the stability of their governments—the price of happiness.

Russia sees in Europe a prey which our dissensions will sooner or later yield to it: she foments anarchy among us in the hope of profiting by a corruption which she favours because it is favourable to her views : it is the history of Poland recommencing on a larger scale. For many years past Paris has read revolutionary journals paid by Russia. " Europe,'1 they say at Petersburg, " is following the road that Poland took; she is enervating herself by a vain liberalism, whilst we continue powerful precisely because we are not free: let us be patient under the yoke ; others shall some day pay for our shame."

The views that I reveal here may appear chimerical to minds engrossed with other matters; their truth will be recognised by every man initiated in the march of European affairs, and in the secrets of cabinets, during the last twenty years. They furnish a key to many a mystery; they explain also, without another word, the extreme importance which thoughtful men, grave both by character and position, attach to the being viewed by strangers only on the favourable side. If the Russians were, as they pretend, the supporters of order and legitimacy, would they make use of men, and, what is worse, of means which are revolutionary ?

VOL. III.Q