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

LAW OF KINDNESS.69

minded of a world better than the present world. How can they be made to believe in God, if they are not to know what is pardon ? Prudence is only virtuous when it does not exclude a higher virtue. If the emperor has not in his heart more clemency than he displays in his policy, I pity Russia; if his sentiments are superior to his acts, I pity the emperor.

The Russians, when amiable, have a fascination in their manners whose spell we feel in spite of every prejudice ; first, without observing it, and afterwards, without being able to throw it off. To define such an influence would be to explain the power of imagination. The charm forms an imperious, though secret attraction, — a sovereign power vested in the innate grace of the Slavonians, that gift of grace which, in society, can supply the want of all other gifts, and the want of which, nothing can supply.

Imagine the defunct French politeness again restored to life, and become really all that it appeared —ima2fine the most agreeable and unstudied com-plaisance — an involuntary, not an accµiired, absence of egotism — an ingenuity in good taste — a pleasant carelessness of choice—an aristocratic elegance without hauteur—an easiness without impertinence—the instinct of superiority tempered by the security

which accompanies rank: but I am wrong in

attempting to delineate with too finely drawn strokes; these are delicacies in the shading which must be felt. AVe may divine them, but wc must avoid attempting to fix by words their too elusive forms. Let it suffice that all these, and many other graces, are found in the manners and conversation of the really elegant Russians, and more frequently, more com-