. The court of Russia in the nineteenth century. was not,according to Schilder, quick at learning drill and detail,and Araktcheyeff saved him from many a disgrace. More-over, the hard-headed soldier of fortune professed a devo-tion and affection which could only flatter the vanity ofthe Grand Duke, from whom, no doubt, the more brutalcharacteristics of this martinet were concealed. Arak-tcheyeff practised a severity which was considered ex-cessive even in those hardy days. Many a poor soldierwas flogged to death by his order, and very frequentlyhe administered the punishment himself. It is sai
. The court of Russia in the nineteenth century. was not,according to Schilder, quick at learning drill and detail,and Araktcheyeff saved him from many a disgrace. More-over, the hard-headed soldier of fortune professed a devo-tion and affection which could only flatter the vanity ofthe Grand Duke, from whom, no doubt, the more brutalcharacteristics of this martinet were concealed. Arak-tcheyeff practised a severity which was considered ex-cessive even in those hardy days. Many a poor soldierwas flogged to death by his order, and very frequentlyhe administered the punishment himself. It is said ofhim that in later life when he ordered his own peasantsor servants to be flogged he would inspect the backs ofthe culprits after punishment to see whether they hadbeen sufficiently lacerated, and woe betide the executionerwho had, in his opinion, failed to do his duty. Inhumanto a degree, deficient absolutely in imagination, and devoidof culture or sympathy with any intellectual movementwhatever, this man was, nevertheless, possessed of two. COUNT ARAKTCHEYEFF FKOM AN ENGRAVING BY OUTKIN FORCES BEHIND THE THRONE 79 sterling virtues,—he was loyal and faithful as a dog, andhis integrity was beyond dispute ; moreover, he had methodand considerable organising ability. His love for Alex-ander was almost fierce, and characterised by a jealousyof any one to whom the Emperor showed the least favourwhich can only be described as ferocious. When Alexander came to the throne he found in powertwo men whom he distrusted and hated, namely. CountPanin, Pauls Chancellor, and Count Pahlen, the militarygovernor of St, Petersburg. These men had tried to makehim their accomplice in the murder of his father, but hadnot succeeded. They at last got him to consent to havinghis father deposed on the ground of the latters madness,and because he was reported to be planning the arrestof his sons and the appointment of the Prince of Wiirtem-berg as heir-apparent. But Pahlen was not a man forhalf-meas
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublisherlondo, bookyear1908
