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

NO MIDDLE CLASS IN EUSSIA.13

may use, seem to me as poisoners; and the more elevated and powerful they are, the more are they culpable.

Such are the sentiments which prevented my enjoying, yesterday, a spectacle which, notwithstanding, my eyes admired. It was beautiful, magnificent, singular, novel — but it appeared deceptive: this idea sufficed to deprive it of all real splendour. The passion for truth, which in the present day pervades the hearts of Frenchmen, is still unknown in Russia.

After all, what is this crowd, whose respectful familiarity in presence of its sovereign has been so much extolled in Europe ? Do not deceive yourselves: these are the slaves of slaves. The oreat lords send to the fete of the empress chosen peasa'nts, who, it is pretended, arrive by chance. This elite of the serfs is joined by the most respectable and best known tradespeople, for it is necessary to have a few men with beards to satisfy the old-fashioned Russians. Such is, in reality, the people whose excellent disposition has been held up as an example to other people by the sovereigns of Russia from the time of the Empress Elizabeth. It is, I believe, from her reign that this kind of fete dates. At present the Emperor Nicholas, notwithstanding his iron character, his admirable rectitude of intention, and the authority with which his public and private virtues invest him, could not perhaps abolish the usage. It is therefore true that, even under governments the most absolute in appearance, circumstances are stronger than men.

Nothing is so perilous for a man, however elevated