Imperial courts of France, England, Russia, Prussia, Sardinia, and Austria . upwaids of six feet in height,muscular and well-proportioned, with handsome featin^es. Inhis personal habits he was simple, abstemious, and inde-fatigably industrious. He had a taste for the fine arts, andfor music, and is stated to have composed some militaryairs; but his favorite pursuits were connected with themilitary sciences and military operations. In his politicalprinciples he was professedly despotic. He had been heardto say, Despotism is the very essence of my government,and it suits the genius of my land. T


Imperial courts of France, England, Russia, Prussia, Sardinia, and Austria . upwaids of six feet in height,muscular and well-proportioned, with handsome featin^es. Inhis personal habits he was simple, abstemious, and inde-fatigably industrious. He had a taste for the fine arts, andfor music, and is stated to have composed some militaryairs; but his favorite pursuits were connected with themilitary sciences and military operations. In his politicalprinciples he was professedly despotic. He had been heardto say, Despotism is the very essence of my government,and it suits the genius of my land. The great objects ofhis puljlic life were the increase of the power of Eussiaancf the extension of her territories to the east, west, and 276 THE COURT OF RUSSIA. south, by unscrupulous diplomacy, and when that foiled, bywar. His grand purpose is now known to have been thepossession of Constantinople. By means of that unrivalledmilitary and political position, he trusted to have super-seded the Sultan in his empire, and to have become thedominant power in Europe and ik L- X F, ik m BE m 0 fl, ALEXANDER II, EMPEROR OF RUSSIA. Alexander II., the present Emperor of all the Russias,was the eldest sou of the late Emperor Nicholas and theEmpress Alexandra Feodorowna. This name his motherassumed on her marriage, as it is the custom with females,on marrying into the Imperial family, to change theirnames with their religion, on bemg admitted into theGreek Church; before marriage she was the Princess Fre-derica Louisa Charlotte Wilhelmma, sister of Frederic Wil-liam, King of Prussia. Alexander was bom on the twenty-ninth of April, 1818. He was educated with great care,and entered very early into the military service, in wliich,of course, durmg his fithers lifetune he was invested witha numerous variety of honorary commands, but is said notto have evinced any remarkable military aptitude, thoughby no means destitute of talent and iutelligeuce. On thetwenty-eighth of April, 1841, he


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