THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA AT KISCHENEFF.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5077, 2 July 1877, Page 3

THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA AT KISCHENEFF.

(From the special correspondent of the Daily News.) Kihotikseff, April 25. The Emperor of Russia passed through Kischeneff on Monday morning, but -without stopping, as ho was on his way to Ungheni, on the Roumanian frontier, where the railway crosses the Pi-uth, and where a considerable portion of the army was quartered, impatiently awaiting the signal to advance. He reviewed the troops, addressed them in very nearly tho same language as the manifesto, which was only read tho i next day, and then returned to Kischeneff, where he arrived at 12 o’clock at night, and whore an enthusiastic reception awaited him. As the next day was tho anniversary s of the death of tho Czarewitch, his eldest /on, it was thought that, as he never [receives visits fm that day nor transacts any business,-the review would not be held and the manifestc .would not bo read. , Tues'’ tho 2'lth. ’ %d already been fixed U er. a’ ’ a, morning news soon be hold after all, ■ilation of Kis- ' arrow, filthy, "ter, across the slopes •t of tho iew was on a - 1 tho 'he

up tlie slope. It was a beautiful sunny morning, and tho bright colors of the uniforms, tiie glitter of thousands of bayonets flashing in the sunshine, and the broad blaze of light reflected from a long lino of polished fieldpieces, and all set in a frame of brilliant green that covered the surrounding hills, made a beautiful and striking picture. It was all tho more impressive that this was no mere holiday review arranged for show, but a review which everybody knew was the prelude to war. These uniforms new so bright and freshiooking would soon be soiled with mud .and dust, blackened and begrimed with the smoke of powder, and bespattered with blood. And those guns, with their bran-new look, whose voices had never yet been heard, would soon be speaking in tones of thunder, and their fiery throats vomiting destruction and death. A review under such circumstances is a more solemn sight than a review ordinarily is ; and so the great crowds of people who had assembled to witness it seemed to feel. The troops were already under arms by 9 o'clock, and they stood there in long lines and masses, never moving in the slightest, motionless as statues, and as silent too, for an hour and a half, until the arrival of the Emperor. There was something strangely impressive and awful in this prolonged silence and immobility. The crowds looking upon the serried lines so silent and motionless, became themselves silent, and gazed with wonder and awe. Those masses of men, and horses and cannon, with the power of causing such a hideous uproar as to make the very earth tremble, were now so still and silent that they seemed to be petrified by some mighty spell, and they inspired in the crowd a feeling of vague dread. There was none of tho laughing, or joking, or chaff of which one usually hears so much in a crowd assembled for a holiday sight. They spoke to each other in hushed voices, and every face wore a serious earnest look. Nor was the silence broken upon the arrival of the Emperor. The crowd only swayed and opened a passage, taking off their hats ns he passed, and not till he mounted his horse, and, accompanied by his brother the Grand Luke, Nicholas, and followed by an immense staff of more thap a hundred officers, began to ride slowly along the lines, was the silence hi oken by of music and cheers.

The review proper lasted nearly an hour, and was over about half-past 11. Then, when the music ceased there was silence again, the soldiers took off their caps, and their example was followed by the crowd. The voice of one man was heard, it was that of the Bishop of Kischeneff. reciting a grand military mass. This lasted about threequarters of an hour, during which time everybody, spectators as well as soldiers, remained uncovered, with composed but expectant faces. Finally this came to an end, and then an anxious murmur ran through the crowd. If the manifesto were to be launched, if war were to he declared, now was the moment when it would be done. In fact, the long-ex-pected, long-hoped for moment had come. There was a dead silence for an instant, during which I could hear the ticking of my watch; then a clear strong voice broke the stillness. It was not the voice of the Emperor, but of the Bishop of Kischeneff, who was reading the manifesto; and, strange to say, he had not read more than half-way throught it, when sobs were heard, and people looking about to see whence they proceeded, perceived that they were from the Emperor Alexander, and that ho was weeping like a child. It had been the pride and glory of his reign that it was one of peace; it had been bis boast and his hope that he would finish it without war ; and now, in spite of everything he had done to avoid it, the step was at last taken, and a war was declared, the consequences of which no man.can foT»q<When they saw how much 1 u.e ‘ was affected by it, there was dry eye within the range of the voice ; but no sooner had he finished than there went up a wild and universal shout, such as I never heard before, and scarcely expect to ever hear again. It was a 'shout of exultation, of triumph, and of relief, as though a great weight of suspense were lifted from the heart of the multitude. It spread through the army with the rapidity of sound itself, and was-instantly taken up by the crowd outside, and repeated over and over again, until the very sky was full of it. The soldiers tossed their caps high in the air, and caught them on their bayonets, and twirled them round and round, shouting and yelling as though they would burst their throats.- This continued for several minutes, and when" silence was again- restored the Bishop of Kischeneff addressed the army. His discourse was very effective and telling, and was received very much in the same way as the manifesto itself, with shouts and cheers. Then the ordre du jour of the Grand Duke Nicholas, comfnander-in-chie£ of this army, was read to every battalion, squadron, and battery. The Emperor and his staff retired, and work for the day was over,