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

a subject's devotion to the czar. 337

It has often been repeated that madness is hereditary in the Imperial Russian family. This i^ flatter-in<7· them. I believe that the madness lies in the nature of the government, and not in the faulty organization of the individuals. Real absolute power must, in the long run, disturb the reason even of the most healthy faculties; despotism blinds both people and sovereign. This truth appears proved, even to demonstration, by the history of Russia. To continue our extracts from Karamsin : we are next to see an ambassador avowing his concurrence in the disgraceful idolatry of tyranny.

" Prince Sougorsky, sent as envoy to the Emperor Maximilian, in 1576, fell ill in travelling through Courland. Out of respect to the Czar, the duke sent a minister several times to inquire after his health. The sick man unceasingly repeated, ' My health is nothing, if only that of my sovereign pros-¡H rs.`` At length the astonished minister asked him, 1 How can you serve such a tyrant with so great a zeal?' 'We Russians,' responded Prince Sougorsky, ' are always devoted to our Czars, be they good or cruel.' In proof of his assertion the sick ambassador related that, a short time before, Ivan had caused one of his nobles to be impaled for a slight fault, and that the unhappy wretch lingered twenty-four hours in excritciating torments, conversing with his wife and children, and repeating incessantly, 'Great God, protect the Czar!' "*

* This devotion of the victim to the tyrant is a species of

fanaticism that seems peculiar to the people of Asia and of

Russia. — Note of Author of Travels.

VOL. II.Q