DEATH OP THE CZAR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 292, 14 March 1881, Page 1

DEATH OP THE CZAR.

Our telegrams to-day contain the intelligence of the death of the Czar of Russia, by the explosion of a bombshell. The telegram is dated St Petersburg, March 13th. The following is a short account of the early life of a man who, during hia latter career, cieated so much ill-feeling amongst so many of his subjects as to cause sedition and hatred to combine against him, and resulted in taking his life after repeated trials ; “ Alexander 11, the present Emperor of Russia, was born on April 29th, 1818, He was carefully educated by his father Nicholas, who manifested intense delight with'the manifestations of ‘ true Russian spirit ’in his son. At 16 years old, he was declared of age, made Commandant of the Lancers of the Guard, Hetman of Cossacks, first aide-de-camp of the Emperor, and was subjected to a rigid military life of parade, manceuvering, and reviewing, which seriously impaired his health. He married in 1841 Princess Maria, daughter of the Grand Duke of Darmstadt. He then applied himself to his duties as Chancellor of the University of Finland andso insinuated himself into the affection of the Finns, that their love of independence was weakened. He founded a chair of Finnish language and literature, and defrayed the expenses of remote explorations under Cygnoeus, Wallin and Castren. In 1859 he visited Southern Russia, Nicolaief, Sebastapol, Tifles, Erivan, <fec. It is said he entirely disapproved of the Crimean War. On his accession to the throne in 1855 he had two parties to conciliate, viz : —The old Muscovite party —whc were blindly zealous for war—and the more peaceable and intelligent portion of the nation. Ho pursued a course calculated to encourage both, and spoke of adhering to the policy of his ‘ illustrious ancestors,’ and at the same time concluded peace. He had always ruled with a rod of iron, and had a desire to rid internal admiris tration of its impurities and severely punished some of his functionaries as a warning to the rest. Of late years, this has been most severe, and caused the many attempts which have been taken to put an end to his life. In 185 G he granted to all Polish exiles who wove willing to express repentance for the past, permission to return home to Poland. By a ukase in 1861 he emancipated 23,000,000 serfs. In 1865 he established election representative assemblies in the Provinces. He carried on war against the Ameer of Bokhara in 1866, and in 1873 against the Khan of Khiva. In 1879 war was carried on successfully against Turkey, and all Europe was in a great state of excitement. Other troubles followed, and last, but not least, the Nihilist plots, which no doubt have caused hia destruction. His end, by many, will be regarded as just what might be expected in such an unhappy country.”