Produced by David Widger
Being Secret Letters from a Gentleman at Paris to a Nobleman in London
By Lewis Goldsmith
PARIS, October, 1805.
MY LORD:—Though loudly complained of by the Cabinet of St. Cloud, theCabinet of St. Petersburg has conducted itself in these critical timeswith prudence without weakness, and with firmness without obstinacy. Inits connections with our Government it has never lost sight of its owndignity, and, therefore, never endured without resentment thoseimpertinent innovations in the etiquette of our Court, and in the mannerand language of our Emperor to the representatives of legitimateSovereigns. Had similar becoming sentiments directed the councils of allother Princes and the behaviour of their Ambassadors here, spiritedremonstrances might have moderated the pretensions or passions of upstartvanity, while a forbearance and silence, equally impolitic and shameful,have augmented insolence by flattering the pride of an insupportable andoutrageous ambition.
The Emperor of Russia would not have been so well represented here, hadhe not been so wisely served and advised in his council chamber at St.Petersburg. Ignorance and folly commonly select fools for their agents,while genius and capacity employ men of their own mould, and of their owncast. It is a remarkable truth that, notwithstanding the frequentrevolutions in Russia, since the death of Peter the First the ministerialhelm has always been in able hands; the progressive and uninterruptedincrease of the real and relative power of the Russian Empire evinces thereality of this assertion.
The Russian Chancellor, Count Alexander Woronzoff, may be justly calledthe chief of political veterans, whether his talents or long services areconsidered. Catherine II., though a voluptuous Princess, was a greatSovereign, and a competent judge of merit; and it was her unbiased choicethat seated Count Woronzoff, while yet young, in her councils. Thoughthe intrigues of favourites have sometimes removed him, he always retiredwith the esteem of his Sovereign, and was recalled without caballing orcringing to return. He is admired by all who have the honour ofapproaching him, as much for his obliging condescension as for his greatinformation. No petty views, no petty caprices, no petty vengeances findroom in his generous bosom. He is known to have conferred benefactions,not only on his enemies, but on those who, at the very time, weremeditating his destruction. His opinion is that a patriotic Ministershould regard no others as his enemies but those conspiring against theircountry, and acknowledge no friends or favourites incapable of wellserving the State. Prince de Z———— waited on him one day, and, afterhesitating some time, began to compliment him on his liberal sentiments,and concluded by asking the place of a governor for his cousin, with whomhe had reason to suppose the Count much offended. "I am happy," said HisExcellency, "to oblige you, and to do my duty at the same time. Here isa libel he wrote against me, and presented to the Empress, who graciouslyhas communicated it to me, in answer to my recommendation of himyesterday to the place you ask for him to-day. Read what I have writtenon the libel, and you will be convinced that it will not be my fault ifhe is not to-day a governor." In two hours afterwards the nomination wasannounced to Prince de Z————, who was himself at the head of a cabalagainst the Minister. In any country such an act would have beenlaudable, but