PRINCE GORTSCHAKOFF.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3653, 30 March 1883, Page 4

PRINCE GORTSCHAKOFF.

Our cables recently announce the death of this famous Russian statesman, of whom "Alciiof the Timo" says:—Gortschakoif, Alexander Aliehaclowitsch, statesman, and cousinof the celebrated general who defended Scbastopol, was born iv 1795, and educated at the Lyceum of Zarskoe-Selo. He commenced his diplomatic life at the Congresses of Lavbaoh and A'eroua, in the capacity of attache to Count Nesselrode ; was secrotary to the Eussian embassy in London iv 182-1, chan/e d'affaires to the court of Tuscany m 1830, and was attached for the first time, in 1832, to the legation at Vienna, where the death of his superior, the Russian ambassador, iravchim great influence. Iv 1811 he was sent on a mission to Stuttgard, where he neirotiated the marriage of the Grand Duchess Olu-a, of Russia, with tho Prince Royal of AVurtemberg. During the events of 18 18-9 Prince Gortschnkoff maintained a dignified neutrality ; but it is rumoured that in"l 850 he exercised some influence in procuring the abdication of the Emperor Ferdinand I. in favour of his nephew, Francis Joseph. During the dispute respecting the Eastern question, the Prince was anibassadar at Vienna. At his instance the Russian Government accepted the four points which formed the basis of the Conference of Paris in IS.jCI, and he w:is recalled to St. Petersburg in that year to replace Nesselrode as Alinistcr for Foreign Affairs. A proclamation of his, very hostile to the AA'estern "Powers, during the Sicilian and Neapolitan revolution, excited much attention, uuil his policy during the Polish insurrection of 18(13 has been freely commented upon. In October 1870, while Paris was being besieged by the Germans, Prince Gortschakoif issued a circular to the representatives of Russia abroad, announcing the resolution of the Emperor to bu no longer controlled by the treaty of 1850, so far as it limited his* rights of sovereignty in the Black Sea. This led to the Conference held in London in 1871, when the treaty was modified so as to satisfy tho demands of Russia. In recognition of his services on this occasion Prince Gortschakoff was accredited with the rank of Highness. He was one of the Russian plenipotentiaries at the Congress of Realm in 1878.