This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884 Excerpt: ...other officials; noble staircases and halls; paintings, statues, tapestry and gilding; then, following my conductor, I entered a large apartment, at one end of which stood a tall noble-looking man in military attire; and I realised that I was in the presence of him whose nod could sway millions and millions of his fellow-creatures--the Emperor of all the Russias--the White Czar Alexander IL The sovereign whose rule stretches from the highest civilization of Europe to the lowest barbarism of Asia. Two years ago when the news of his cruel death reached England, I thought of him as I saw him that day--in the prime of life, tall, commanding and gracious--a man it does one good to look at. Whether--if the whole truth of his great ancestor, Catherine the Second's frailties were known--the blood of a peasant or a king ran in his veins, he looked every inch a ruler of men, a splendid despot. To me he was particularly kind and condescending. His manner set me as much at my ease as it is possible for a man to be in such august company. Lord presented me by name, and after a proper reverence I waited the Czar's commands. He looked at me for a second from his towering height. Then he spoke to me in French, fluently and without much foreign accent: "I am told you wish to go to Siberia?" "With your majesty's gracious permission." "To see a political prisoner. Is that so?" I replied in the affirmative. "It is a long journey for such a purpose." "My business is of the most vital importance, your majesty." "Private importance, I understand from Lord He spoke in a quick, stern way which showed that he admitted of no prevarication. I hastened to assure him of the purely private nature of my desired interview with the crim...