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

proofs of ferocity, must assuredly have been known by his people. Suddenly, either to amuse himself by testing the long-suffering of the Russians, or under the influence of Christian remorse (for he affected a respect for holy things: and hypocrisy itself may at times feel a sentiment of devotion, since grace, that manna of the soul, will at intervals fall upon the blackest hearts, until death shall have consummated their reprobation): whether, then, under the influence of Christian penitence, fear, caprice, lassitude, or artifice, he one day laid down his sceptre, or rather his axe, and cast his crown upon the earth. Then, and then only, during the whole eourse of his long reign, did the empire rise; the nation, menaced with deliverance, started from its sleep; the Russians, until then dumb witnesses, passive instruments of so many horrors, recovered their voice; and that voice of a people, which pretends to be the voice of God, was suddenly lifted up to deplore the loss of such a tyrant! Perhaps they doubted his good faith, and feared his vengeance in case of their accepting his feigned abdication; it may be their love for the prince had its source in the terror inspired by the tyrant. The Russians have refined upon fear by giving it love for a mask.

Moscow was menaced by invasion (the penitent had well chosen his time); anarchy was feared; in other words, the Russians foresaw they should be no longer able to protect themselves from liberty,— they would be exposed .to think and to will by and for themselves — to show themselves men, and what was worse, citizens. The prospect that would have given happiness to any other people, drove these to despair. p 5