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

HIS POLITICAL OPINIONS.271

and the position of this country than any of your predecessors/'

" Despotism still exists in Russia: it is the essence of my government, but it accords with the genius of the nation."

" Sire, by stopping Russia on the road of imitation, you are restoring her to herself."

"I love my country, and I believe I understand it. I assure you, that when I feel heartily weary of ail the miseries of the times, I endeavour to forget the rest of Europe by retiring towards the interior of Russia."

"In order to refresh yourself at your fountain-head ? "

" Precisely so. No one is more from his heart a Russian than I am. I am going to say to you what I would not say to another, but I feel that you will comprehend me."

Here the emperor interrupted himself, and looked at me attentively. I continued to Hsten without replying, and he proceeded : —

" I can understand republicanism: it is a plain and straightforward form of government, or, at least, it might be so; I can understand absolute monarchy, for I am myself the head of such an order of things; but I cannot understand a representative monarchy. it is the government of lies, fraud, and corruption ; and I would rather fall back even upon China than ever adopt it."

" Sire, I have always regarded representative government as a compact inevitable in certain communities at certain epochs; but like all other com-