2

704 miles.

len things out of our tent and mahof- cessively; the first and third not viofés, and then had the assurance to lently, perhaps not one fifth of the tell us they knew where they were, numbers dying as during the second but would noć return them without year. It was our fortune to see it a present. The breach of their word in its greatest vigour. It is also no has been too often obvious in the less remarkable, that although the course of this journal to require in. plague be ragiog with the utmost stances. I believe them to be in violence at Constantinople, aod on general brave, and faithful, and in the road betwixt that city and Adeed there have been several instan- leppo, they are never under the least ces of their behaving with great gal. apprehension of its reaching Aleppo; lantry in defence of those under but, on the contrary, when they their protection.

hear of its breaking out in Egypt We were marching-3131 hours or Damascus, they are sure of its via from Bussorah to Aleppo, or about siting them that or next year, for

it always holds its course from South N. B. I imagine that the camels to North, and never from N. to S. travelled at the rate of 2 miles per The same observation holds good at hour on an average.

Cyprus, where at this time there are Spent our time very pleasantly vessels constantly arriving from the among our friends at Aleppo; al. coast of Syria with the plague on though the frequency of the burials, board, without ever spreading the which we saw almost constantly pas- infection, although there they use na sing under our windows, gave us precaution against it, (particularly at first) many disagree

The city of Aleppo stands upon able sensations. It is computed that several hills, on the highest of which upwards of sixty thousand people of stands the castle, which has a very the city and suburbs have died of the fine appearance, but being built du. plague since its commencement this ring the crusades, and entirely neglecyear, to the present time; and yet ted for many years by the Turks, is the town has by no means the ap. now falling in ruins very fast, as are pearance of being depopulated, nor also the walls of the town. do the people in general appear to

The city, including the suburbs, be the least apprehensive, or to use is about seven miles in circumany precautions against the surround- ference, and is said to contain be. ing contagion, being almost all, (par. tween three and four hundred thouticularly the lower class of people) sand inhabitants. It is built of a real predestinarians; the better sort kind of stone resembling that found of Turks, however, are by no means near Bath: the houses are but one blind to advantages, which the Franks story high, and all vaulted, on acderive from sequestrating themselves count of the scarcity of timber ; from society and most of them whose however having a number of small business will permit them, now re. domes, as well as windows towards tire to their country houses, or shut the side turned from the street, themselves up in town under various they are sufficiently lighted. The pretences, not being allowed to assign streets are paved, but are alliexceed. the real cause, which would infallibly ingly narrow; and there being no draw upon them the resentment of windows to the houses, and latticed, the populace, as breakers of the law they have a very mean appearof Mahomet. It is remarkable, that

The Bazars * are all covered this dreadful disorder generally at. tacks the same place three years suco

* Market place.

ance.

on are

on the top, and most of them arched, der ihe clouds that rapidly began to which serves at present to facilitate overshadow it, in an act of piety tothe communication between the hou. Words his murdered father, whose ses, the terraces being flat. There remains he removed from the church

a number of very handsome of St. Alexander Nevski, called the mosques in the city, which having in monastery ; and having exhibited general large cupolas, and very high them in great funeral state, the conminarets, give a very grand appears signed them to the sepulchre of Ca. ance to the city from a distance. therine II. in the cathedral of St.

A little rivulet runs near the town Peter and St. Paul. The latter part which serves to supply it in part of this extraordinary transaction has with water, and for the use of a few often induced me to think that Paul gardens, which furnish the inhabitants did not believe that his mother issued with vegetables, and fruits of nearly the order for the assassination of his the same sorts as in Europe, but of father. At this eccentric solemnity, inferior quality ; beyond these gar. he compelled Count Alexey Orloft, dens is the Desart, which surrounds and prince Baratynski, under whose the city on all sides.

hands the unhappy monarch is said to

have perished, to stand on each side Particular account of the ASSASSINA- afterwards to follow it to the tomb

of the body as it lay in state, and TION of the late EMPEROR PAUL.

as the principal mourners. From Carr's Northern Summer.

Not long after this event, his mind A Short time before her demise, began occasionally to display the

,

of Z-, her last favourite, whom she but when his reason was restored, highly esteemed, a declaration of her the hapless emperor never failed to will, addressed to the senate, pur endeavour, with the most affecting porting that Paul should be passed sensibility, to repair the ruin and over in ihe succession, and that the havoc which his delirium had occaGrand Duke Alexarder should mount sioned. The deposed Stanislaus, the vacant throne. As soon as the the broken-hearted king of Poland, favourite was acquainted with the partook alternately of his beneficence sudden death of the Empress, he and severity ; but with what demon. flew to Pavlovsk, abcut thirty-five stration of respect and genuine grief versts from the capital, where Paul did the emperor attend the obsequies occasionally resided, whom he met of this last of the Sarmates.

On on the road ; and, after a short ex. that gloomy occasion, he commandplanation, delivered up to him this ed in person the guards who'assisted important decument. Paul, charmed at the funeral : and uncovering him. with his zeal and loyalty, preserved self, with the most affecting emotions him in all his honours and fortunes, saluted the coffin as it passed. To whilst a general and rapid dispersion, the memory of the hoary and heroic to all points of the compass, instan- Suvaroff, who fell a broken hearted taneously succeeded amongst the victim to the distraction of his impemembers of the male seraglio of the rial master, in periods of agonized Hermitage. The emperor ascended and compunctious reflection, he raisthe throne without difficulty, but a ed a colossal statue of bronze, in the total siranger to his subjects. One vast area behind Benskoi’s palace, of the first measures of his reign dis- opposit to Romanzoff's monument : played, in a very singular nranner, and on the days when he reviewed the native goodness of his heart, un- bis troops there, he used to order

them

was

other age.

had rene

them to march by in open order, wishes, finally and rapidly led to the and face the statue, which, he said overthrow of the emperor.

Under represented one of the greatest and their tuition, a French actress 'bravest generals of his own or any jątroduced on the boards of the

French theatre at Petersburgh, and Notwithstanding the important placed in such situations of allureservice which PZ

ment, that the eye of the emperor dered him, the emperor could never could not but notice her. The ruin separate him, in his mind's eye, from of domestic happiness furnished these the caresses of his mother, and speedi- politicians with the means of their ly became disgusted with him ; spoke success. A French actress was desof him with great asperity to his tioed to estrange the emperor from friends, and at length, converting, his family, and to create a temporary the bounty of Catharine into a rob. and terrible change in the affairs of bery, he denounced him as a defaulter Europe, Madame Chevalier possesto the imperial treasury of half a sed ibat style of face which, without million of rubles; and, convinced of being regularly handsome, was more the justice of the allegation, proceed- sweet, expressive, and captivating, ed, without loss of time, to sequester than the exact symmetry of a finishthe vast estates which belonged to cd beauty. Her person was small him and his two brothers. Driven but delicate, and rather en bon point : to desperation by such conduct, one her manners were of the highest orof the sufferers, the second brother, der, and enchanted every one who one day boldly walked up to the em. approached her. The emperor was peror upon the 'parade, and, with fond of music; Madame Chevalier manly eloquence, represented the in- excelled upon the harp, and sung to justice of his measures. Paul receive it some sweet and crafty verses, comed him without anger, heard him posed by one of her three employers, without interruption, reflected, and and which she herself had set to murestored the property : but the ori. sic; the subject, of which was, the ginal disgust rapidly returning, he martial skill, valour, and generosity, ordered P 2- to reside up of the emperor. She had not spread on his estate, to which he submitted her witcheries long, before an evening foi a considerable time. But the mind was appointed for a private gratificaof the exile was too ardent to en- tion of the musical taste and passion dure seclusion; ambitious, bold, ac;

of the emperor.

This

syren very' tive, and enterprizing, he determined soon became the sole idol of his shat. upon releasing himself from the un- tered mind, which she moved accord. just constraint imposed upon him by ing to the direction of her secret bis sovereign, the delirium of whose principles, until the emperor with. mind now frequently burst forth drew himself from his alliance with with all the fury and desolation of a Austria, recalled Suvaroff and his convulsed volcano. Messrs. Otto, army covered with glory, crowded Sicyes, and Talleyrand, who at that the roads to Siberia with British time formed a diplomatic trio, or subjects, and filled with terror and rather were spies, at the court of consternation the Exchange of the Petersburgh, with the dexterity of British empire. I mean not to enu. talent, and the subtilty of French- merate all the calamities which fol. men, resolved to turn the gathering lowed ; they were too signal not to storm to the advantage of their own be widely known, ton recent not to country, by means, which, extending be well remembered ; and, from their beyond their calculation and their very nature, incontestibly proved the Sept. 1806.

a

aberration of those faculties which whom he was graciously received, and could alone, by their presence, ren- from whose presence he withdrew to der the emperor responsible for all present his fair advocate with the stithe misery, dismay, and ruin, which pulated reward, a magnificent aigrette threatened the very existence of the of diamonds, valued at sixty thousand empire. P-Z_resolved upon rubles. Whatever private pique 2availing hinself of the influence of might have cherished against his imthe fair favourite, to whom he ad- perial master, I believe that it was dressed himself with all the insinua. wholly lost in his review of the detetion of person, manners, wit, and riorated and dreadful condition of the money : having engaged her in his empire, and in those awful measures favour, he made her acquainted with of restoration which were afterwards Count K-, a man who, from having resorted to. Z-gradually and been about the person of Paul in the warily unfolded his mind to Kmenial capacity of a valet, at last ob. who as cautiously entered into his tained a high place in his affection, views, until their confidence was comdistinguished honour, and great wealth. pletely established. The result of The more firmly to bind K - to his their deliberations was, that to save interest, P-Z-- feigned an honour. the empire, it was necessary that the able passion for the daughter of emperor should be removed. They the former, who was, like all the sud-' next prevailed upon Count Pden favourites of fortune, much pleas. the governor of the city, and Count ed at the prospect of an alliance with P-, a very young nobleman, but of a very distinguished family. Count considerable family interest, the son K-and Madame Chevalier conceived of the celebrated general, Count Pmany plans for prevailing upon his P-, who so eminently distinguished majesty to restore Z- to his favour. himself in the Turkish war, and also At length, one evening, when she the prince Y--, and some other perhad tranquillized the mind of the em. sons of great rank and conseqoence. peror, and excited in him an appear. All of these noblemen were actuated ance of gaiety by the vivacity of her by no other motive, than to prevent wit, and some of her most successful the final ruin of tlieir country, and songs, she artfully insinuated that for this purpose they determined to PZ was the most unhappy place in peril their lives and their man alive in being deprived of the fortunes. emperor's favour, and of the power In their conferences, which were of promoting the interests of one of managed with admirable discretion, ihe greatest geniuses that ever mount. it was resolved that Paul should die ; ed the Czarian throne, to whom he and, like Cæsar, it was destined that was most inviolably attached. The he should perish in the ides of March, emperor paused, and expressed some on the festival called Maslaintza. doubt of the truth of the statement ; The emperor, from an aversion he but upon her re assuring him of its had taken to those palaces which sincerity, accompanied by some of formed the favourite" residence of those little blandishments which no Catharine, resolved upon building a woman ever knew how to display palace for himself. The gorgeous with more finished address than Ma- magnificence of Zarsco Zelo, and of dame Chevalier, Paul granted her the winter palace, and all the Oriental petition and recalled to the voluptnousness of the Hermitage, were

2residence, where he flew with the hateful to him ; indeed to such an celerity of a courier, and threw him. elevation had his abhorrence of these self at the feet of the emperor, by places attained, that he had deter

mined

resolved upon

race.

mined to reduce them to the dust. impression, which added fuel to his His fate, which was fast approaching, burning brain, he ordered a secret prevented the accomplishment of stair.case to be constructed, which this irretrievable act of delirium. The leading from his own chamber, passed emperor and his family resided, at under a false stove in the anti-room, the time when the confederacy had and led by a small door to the ter

his removal, in the new palace of St Michael.

It is an

It was the custoni of the emperor enormous quadrangular pile, of red to sleep in an outer apartment next Dutch brick, rising from a massy to the empress's, upon a sopba, in basement of hewn granite ; it stands his regimentals and boots, whilst the at the bottom of the Summer Gara Grand Duke and Duchess, and the dens, and the lofty spire of its Greek rest of the Imperial family, ,were chapel, richly covered with ducat lodged at various distances, in apartgold, rising above the trees, has a ments below the story which he ocbeautiful appearance.

cupied. On the tenth day of March, As Paul was anxious to inhabit 0. S. 1801, the day preceding the this palace as

soon after he was fatal night, whether Paul's apprehen. crowned as possible, the masons, the sion, or anonymous information, sugo carpenters, and various artificers, toil. gested the idea, is not known, but ed with incredible labour by day and conceiving that a storm was ready to by torch-light, under the sultry sun burst upon him, he sent to Count of the summer, and in all the severity P, the governor of the city, one of a polar winter, and in three years of the noblemen who had resolved this enormous and magnificent fabric on his destruction. 6. I am informed was completed. The whole is mvated P," said the emperor,

66 that round, and when the stranger surveys there is a conspiracy on foot against its bastions of granite, and numerous me; do you think it necessary to draw.bridges, he is naturally led to take any precaution ?" The Count, conclude, thal ic was intended for the without betraying the least emotion, last asylum of a prince at war with replied “ Sire, do not suffer such his subjects. Those who have seen apprehensions to baunt your mind ; its massy walls, and the capaciousness if there were any combinations formand variety of its chambers, will ing against your Majesty's person, I easily admit that an act of violence am sure I should be acquainted with might be committed in one room, it." " Then I am satisfied,” said and not be heard by those who occu. the emperor, and the governor with

. py the adjoining one ; and that a

Before Paul retired to iest, massacre might be perpetrated at one he unexpectedly expressed the most end, and not known at the other. tender solicitude for the empress and Paul took possession of this palace his children, kissed them with all as a place of strength, and beheld it the warmth of farewell fonduess, and with rapture, because his imperial remained with them longer than umother had never even seen it. Whilst sual; and after he had visited the his family were here, by every act of centinels at their different posts, he tenderness, endeavouring to soothe retired to his chamber, where he had. the terrible perturbation of his mind, oot long remained, before, under some there were not wanting those who ex- colourable pretext, that satisfied the erted every stratagem to inflame and men, the guard was changed by the increase it. These people were con- officers who had the command for the stantly insinuating, that every brand night, and were engaged in the conwas armed against him. With this federacy. An hussar, whom the em

drew.