THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE COUP D'ETAT.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 843, 29 July 1871, Page 3

THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE COUP D'ETAT.

(From the " Pall Mall Gazette.") M. Davydof has published in the "Russian Archives" a conversation which he had after the outbreak of the Cririiean war with M. Kisselef, Russian Ambassador at Paris at the time of the -coup d'etat. After the Crimean war had been declared, he says he rivet M. Kisselef at Brussels. He expressed his astonishment that M. Kisselef had not succeeded in arranging the difference. M. Kisselef replied that he was sacrificed by the St. Petersburg Government, though it alone had committed the fault. Immediately after the review of Satory and the speech at Difon, he had foreseen the coming of the Empire, and asked for instruction as to his conduct in case of that event. The answer, in which he was told that such an event would not happen so soon, and that he would receive instructions at the right moment, betrayed only animosity and irresolution. The Empire was proclaimed; the other Powers recognised it at once; he alone received not a word from his Government, and had therefore no resource left but to simulate an attack of gout. Nevertheless, he received after some days an invitation to a Ball at the Tuileries. Knowing that Napoleon never did anything without a purpose, he threw off his velvet boots, and went to the ball. "When the Emperor approached the diplomatic body, he withdrew to a distance, still hoping to escape from an embarrassing position. HoWevej% the Emperor came up to him-, and,-after having inquired about the attack of gout, invited him to a window embrasure, where, after ascertaining from M. Kisselef that no instructions as to his recognition by Russia had as yfet arrived, he spoke as follows:

"lam Emperor by the will of God and the French people, but also by mine. lam Emperor because lam very ambitious. Having ascended the throne I am obliged to take some reign for model. The reign of my uncle contains too many faults which were the consequences of his system. It is your Emperor, the Emperor Nicholas, whim I have chosen for my hero, and whom I desire to imitate. For a long time already I have felt admiration and involuntary sympathy for that Sovereign who at present repulses with disgust my plebeian hand, and to whom I offer it not only as to my brother, but as to my model hero. I open my heart to you that you may transmit free my thoughts and my sentiments to your Emperor. England besets me with her offers of alliance, but the alliance repugns me. If I concluded it I should see everywhere the irritated shade of my uncle. Tour Emperor alone could force me into that alliance. I offer to him, honestly and sincerely, a cordial po-

litical alliance ; the world will then be ours ; England will be no more. But for that I want an alliance for life and death. Let him extend his hand to me fraternally, and the destinies of the world will be changed. But if I do not find the alliance of Russia I shall cast myself With an oppressed heart into the amis of England, for I must have an alliance. Transmit textually my Words. When you have received a favourable answer come to me at once, and I shall receive you with joy. The British Ambassador tries to guess our conversation. He is devouring us With his eyes. Soon au revoir.'' On returning homo M. Kisselef found despatches just arrived from St Peteraburgh. They contained the order to declare immediately to M. Drouyn de Lhuys that the Emperor Nicholas recognieed Louis Napoleon as Emperor Napoleon 11., but not as Napoleon 111., and that, owing to his ignorance of Napoleon's future policy, he could not yet address him as "My brother," but would for some time treat him as "My dear friend." M. Kisselef could not bring himself to execute this order, but immediately sent M. Balabine to St. Petersburg to explain personally to Count Nesselrodo all the importance

of Napoleon's communication. A fter some time he received an answer worded thuß : —" The Emperor is very dissatisfied with your conduct. He orders you to call immediately on M. Drouyn de Lhuys, and to communicate to him the preceding despatch. M. Kisselef's narrative terminates as follows:—"I went at once to the French Foreign Office. My face must have betrayed my impressions. M. Drouyn de Lhuys said to me, 'Bad news, M. Kisselef ?' I communicated the first despatch. Tho French Minister of Foreign Affairs observed, ' That is very sad indeed. Wo can bear no grudge to you [personally, but this caprice is so much the more regrettable as it may be fatal to your Government. I shall see the Emperor at once.' Subsequent events opened our eyes, but it was too late. To our detriment the alliance with England has been concluded."