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

fight with him. This person was a Frenchman, and, unfortunately, his brother-in-law ; his name was M. de Antes. A duel in Russia is a serious affair, the more so, because, instead of according, as among us, with ideas and customs in opposition to laws, it militates against all preconceived notions : this nation is more oriental than chivalrous. Duelling is illegal here as elsewhere, but, besides this, it is less supported by public opinion than in other lands. M. de Antes did all he could to avoid the difficulty. Urged vehemently by the unhappy husband, he refused him satisfaction, though in a manner that was dignified: but notwithstanding this, he continued his assiduities. Pouskine became almost mad. The constant presence of the man whose death he wished, appeared to him a permanent insult, and in order to rid himself of him, he acted in a way that made a duel inevitable. The two brothers-in-law7 fought, and M. de Antes killed Pouskine. The man whom public opinion accused, triumphed ; and the injured husband, the national poet, the innocent party, fell.

" This death excited public indignation. Pouskine, the Russian poet, par excellence, the author of the finest odes in the language, the glory of the country, the restorer of Slavonian poetry, in short, the pride of the age, the hope of the future, to fall by the hand of a Frenchman ! this was an event that roused public passion to the highest pitch. Petersburg, Moscow, the whole empire was in excitement. The emperor, who knows the Russians better than any man in Russia, took care to join in the public affliction. He ordered a service to be performed, and I am not pure that he did not carry his pious affectation so far