Great Britain as selected was the country which offered a wider field of observation to a prince desirous of information. The Grand-duke, therefore, visited England in November of that year he landed at Dover, where he was received by the Russian Ambassador, and Colonel Ford, who commanded the Engineers stationed in the town, and who accompanied the Prince round the fortifications of the Castle, on the heights, and through the subterraneous passages of that fortress. His first step on British ground was marked by a proof of liberal disposition. The noise of the cannon which had been firing to celebrate his arrival, according to form, had frightened a horse that was standing in a cart at a short distance from the shore. The animal ran the length of some streets, dragging its heavy load after it, when it fell down and expired. The Grand-duke was passing at the time, and learning, on enquiry, the nature of the accident which had deprived an industrious man of an useful animal, insisted on compensating him with a sum of money far above his loss, of which, observed the Prince, "I am myself the innocent cause." The Grand-duke resided in St. Alban's House, in Stratford-place, where the Austrian Archdukes had been staying a short time before. He was accompanied by General Kutusoff, Baron Nicolay, now Russian Ambassador at Copenhagen, Doctor now Sir William Crichton, and others. Royal carriages and footmen were placed at his disposal: he held levees, received the subjects of his Imperial brother, listened to the complaints, history, and petitions of the supplicants amongst those Russians who happened to be in London in need of assistance, and in all cases relieved them, either with money, or by providing, in concert with the Ambassador, for their return to their native country.

A frequent and mutual intercourse was kept up during

his residence at St. Alban's House, between the Royal Family and himself. The Grand-duke received visits from the Prince Regent and his royal brothers, to whom he gave a grand entertainment on board a Russian frigate, at Woolwich.

He rode out a great deal-visited many of the public establishments frequently accompanied by the late Sir W. Congreve, than whom few people were better able to explain their nature and objects,―mixed freely in society—and acquired a high degree of popularity for his affability and polished manners. After a residence of some weeks, he extended his visits to several parts of England and Scotland, endeavouring to make himself master of those peculiarities which distinguish this above all other nations.

In the following year, he married the present Empress Alexandra Féodorowna, then Princess Charlotta of Prussia, daughter of Frederic William the Third, and of the late Queen, whose name is highly revered in her own country and wherever virtue and an elevated mind are justly valued. With the hallowed reputation of her lamented mother, which preceded her to the country of her husband, the present Empress carried thither her own name, already associated by the public voice with every noble quality that can embellish the fair sex, and more particularly one in so exalted a station. Nature too had been so lavish of her favours on the person of the Empress, that it is impossible to imagine a more striking appearance, or one which, with the handsome countenance of the late Queen of Prussia, and somewhat of that melancholy expression which marks the upper part of the face of her Royal father, unites to a stately majestic carriage so much grace and dignity. Of the many portraits which Mr. Dawe has painted of the Empress, some of which, (particularly the

Of these,

last, in her gala-dress,) possess great merit as pictures, I think the palm is due to that which has been beautifully engraved by Mr. Wright, and which represents her Majesty sitting, playfully entertaining her two eldest children, the hereditary Grand-duke, and the Grand-duchess Maria. The artist seems to have seized, in this instance, not only the lineaments of the face, but those of the mind of his illustrious original. Of this most amiable princess, the Emperor is represented to be dotingly fond, and with her he leads an extremely domesticated life, although surrounded by all the cares of so vast an empire. He is frequently seen abroad with her, without any of that attendant pomp and splendour, which are perhaps necessary pageants with less popular sovereigns; and both are known to devote much parental care to the education of the numerous children with which their union has been blessed. five survive; namely, Alexander Nicholaevitch, the hereditary Grand-duke, born in 1818; Maria Nicholajevna Grand-duchess, born in 1819; Olga Nicholajevna Grandduchess, born in 1822; Alexandra Nicholajevna Grandduchess, born in 1825; and lastly, Constantine Nicholaevitch Grand-duke, who was born in September 1827, a few weeks before our arrival at St. Petersburgh. The hereditary Grand-duke is placed under the superintendance of General Ouschakoff, one of the Aid-decamps-general of the Emperor, assisted by Colonel Mörder, and receives instructions from Monsieur Joukovsky, one of the most distinguished literary characters in Russia. It is remarkable, that the three Grand-duchesses have English nurses attached to their establishment. The hereditary Grand-duke is a very fine-looking child, strongly resembling his father, high spirited, and, it is said, of the most promising disposition. With such a domestic ménage as distinguishes the present Imperial family of

Russia, it is impossible not to expect from the children every thing that is flattering to the prospects of that country, and, we may add, of Europe; for the destinies of all nations must necessarily be more or less interested in the question— who is to wield the resources of that extensive empire. The hereditary Grand-duke, who had been appointed Colonel of a regiment of Hussars from his earliest age, was named by the Emperor, during our stay in the capital, Ataman of all the Cossack troops; on which occasion the Court Gazette published the Imperial rescript, addressed to General Kouteinikoff, commanding those forces, in which the Emperor desires that officer to communicate the nomination "aux braves troupes du Don, qui vous sont confiées, persuadé qu'elles y verront un nouveau gage de la reconnaissance et de la bienveillance que je leur porte pour les services distingués, qu'elles ont rendus à la patrie, et pour leur fidélité au trône sur lequel j'ai lieu de compter d'autant plus, que des le commencement de mon règne, elles ont donnés dans la guerre actuelle contre les Persans, les preuves les plus brillantes de leur dévouement et de leur bravoure." The Emperor also declared his pleasure that the Grand-duke should be considered as chief of the regiment of the Ataman, to be henceforth called the Regiment of Cossacks of his Highness the hereditary Grand-duke. In due time, the felicitations of the Cossack troops stationed in the Oural, and those of the Don, were forwarded to the newly elected Ataman, to which the Grand-duke replied by addressing an appropriate rescript to the respective Generals. The Prince is brought up, both in a domestic and military point of view, in the strictest discipline, and constantly under the eyes of his parents, and the vigilant and intelligent superintendance of the Empress-mother. He frequently walks or drives about town, attended by a companion of about his own

age, who is educated with him, and is the son of a general officer. I have more than once seen him in the severest weather dressed in his simple uniform, accompanied by his playmate, driving a two-horse sledge, with none of the fur trappings which other people deem it necessary to wear as a protection against a cold of several degrees below the freezing point, blooming with health, and full of gaiety, receiving with a pleasing smile the salutations and marks of respect which, when recognised during the rapidity of his course, every class of persons seem delighted in paying to their future Emperor.

At all times the example set by the superior classes in the exercise of parental and domestic duties, in the display of conjugal attachment, and the practice of private virtues, has had a beneficial influence on the other ranks of society. But when such an example is to be met with in the family of the Sovereign, the benefit of its influence over every class of his subjects must be tenfold; and that such is the case in Russia at the present moment, and particularly among the higher circles in St. Petersburgh, I have had frequent opportunities of ascertaining.

Nor is the individual conduct of the Emperor himself without its good effect on the minds of his people. His application to business is most regular. The affairs of the state alone seem to engross his attention, and it is said that he seldom gives an hour to pleasure, which might have been better devoted to the welfare of his subjects. He rises early, and spends some time in transacting military matters. Part of this consists in receiving, as I before stated, Count Diebitch, the chief of the État-Major, who daily waits on his Majesty from seven o'clock till nine, and reports the state of the army during the preceding day, and receives his Majesty's commands. After breakfast he either attends the council, or receives his Ministers daily; each of whom has