BOn the subject of individual exploits, I have here perhaps been somewhat too diffuse; if so, my only exculpation is the satisfaction I experience in making known to the world the glorious achievements of my fellow-countrymen, when their authenticity, as in the, present case, is founded not upon the hollow pretensions of would-be heroes, vaunted and bruited forth by subservient tools and artful intriguers, but upon actually accomplished facts and talents, proved and undisputed.
As I have just mentioned, indirectly, the Duke of Wellington's glorious name, a name which not only in the present age, but also in future ages, will always be dear to every British heart, and will not cease to excite the admiration of the world, it may not be amiss to give a sketch of a misunderstanding which took place between his son, the Marquis of Douro, and the present Russian emperor Nicholas.
Some years ago, the Marquis of Douro visited Russia, for the purpose of enjoying the pleasure of wild bear hunting. Just as he was returning from the Russian dominions, where he had been most hospitably received, having heard that there was to be a review of 100,000 Russian and Prussian combined troops at Kalisz, in Western Poland, he stopped in that town.
The emperor of Russia and the king of Prussia were present at this review; and the former, wishing to oblige all the foreign officers there present, invited them, collectively, to dine at the imperial table. Douro, in consideration of his title, his connections, and in his quaHty of a British nobleman, recommendations fully appreciated abroad, had the place d'honneur assigned him, and was seated at the right of the emperor. It was remarked, the first and second day, that the emperor conversed freely with all the foreign officers present at his table, but never addressed one single word to his British guest. The Marquis of Douro, who is un homme eoeille and who has the reputation of possessing strong perceptive powers, was somewhat piqued at this apparent slight on the part of his imperial entertainer; and gave hints, indirectly, to General Count Bekendorf, the chief I aide-de-camp of the emperor Nicholas, that it seemed to him as though he must, in some way or other, have incurred the displeasure of his imperial majesty; but that he was wholly at a loss to know in what manner he could have deserved the emperor's anger. General Bekendorf immediately answered, that the emperor of Russia, his master, who rules over fifty millions of men, and who was always anxious to discharge faithfully the duty imposed on him by Providence, was at times absent and pre-occupied in his mind, and might consequently appear careless about his guests; though nothing in reality might be farther from his intention; that his obliging disposition towards all foreigners, without exception, who did not meddle with politics in Russia, was so well known and fully acknowledged that it needed no comment; that he was sure that the next day his imperial majesty would redeem his unintentional neglect, and would not fail to open to the noble marquis the large stock of his knowledge and the hidden treasures of his ever entertaining conversation: a mark of attention to which the marquis was fully entitled, not only by his birth, but by his amiabihty, numerous qualities, and unblemished character.
The next day Douro was again present at the imperial table. The emperor never once looked at him; entered into a long conversation with a person seated at the right of the marquis, but never addressed one single word to the latter; it was even remarked, that whenever the emperor accidentally turned his head towards Douro, the imperial features momentarily assumed that icy coldness and stern forbiddingness of expression, peculiar to the morose character which is often attributed to him.
After the dinner, Douro again mentioned to General Bekendorf that he was now quite sure that the emperor was seriously angry with him; but that of the existence of any probable cause of offence on his part, or of the reason for his having thus incurred the displeasure of his imperial majesty, he, the marquis, was as completely ignorant, as of the hour and manner of his own death.