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

APPENDIX.357

many arbitrary acts, how many frauds, has he not witnessed in those vast establishments ! Nothing, however, has been able to induce him to break silence, and to proclaim to Europe these glaring abuses.

Before permitting him to return to France, the Emperor Alexander met him one day during a visit to some provincial college. After addressing to him some gracious words on his long expressed desire to quit Russia, he at last gave him the permission, with even some money for the journey. M. Girard has a gentle countenance, which no doubt pleased the emperor. The unhappy prisoner, who had previously escaped death by a miracle, thus ended his ten years' captivity. He quitted the country of his tormentors and gaolers, loudly repeating the praises of the Russians, and protesting his gratitude for the hospitality he had received from them.

" You have not published any thing ? " I said to him, after having attentively listened to his narration.

" It was my intention to have related all that I witnessed," he answered ; " but, not being known. I should have found neither publisher nor readers."

" Truth will always eventually make its own way," I replied. " I do not like to say anything against that country," continued M. Girard, " the Emperor was so kind to me."

" Yes; but remember it is very easy to appear kind in Russia."

■' On giving me my passport, they recommended to me discretion."

Such is the influence of a ten years' residence in- that country upon the mind of a man born in France, brave, and true-hearted. After such an instance, it is easy to conceive what the moral sentiment must be which is transmitted among the native Russians from generation to generation.

In the montlTof February, 1842, I was at Milan, where I met i\I. Grassini, who informed me that in 1812, while serving in the army of the Viceroy of Italy, he had been made prisoner during the retreat, in the neighbourhood of Smolensk. He afterwards passed two years in the interior of Russia. The following is our dialogue. I copy it with scrupulous exactness, for I took notes of it the same day.