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COXE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIA. 791
2. The fecond argument is drawn from the conduét of Mirovitch on the death of
Ivan, during his trial, and at the place of execution. In regard to his behaviour on
the death of Ivan, it is objected, that, inftead of attempting to make any refiftance, he
calmly, and of his own accord, delivered himfelf a prifoner. ‘To this it may be an-
{wered, that he had founded all his hopes of fuccefs on obtaining poffeflion of Ivan’s
perfon; the moment, therefore, that thofe hopes were fruftrated by the death of the
Prince, his fate was decided. He had great difficulty in perfuading the foldiers to
make the fecond attack, when the Prince was alive ; what afliftance, therefore, could
be expected. from them when they knew that he was dead? They had no other obs
ject than to releafe Ivan, and had even been unwillingly hurried on to favour that at-
tempt.. Could Mirovitch fuppofe that they would defperately aflift him in attacking the
officers, and in forcing an efcape? And indeed whither could he efcape? He could
neither conceal himfelf in the fortrefs; nor could he eafily withdraw from the ifland.
He had, therefore, no other alternative than felf-deftruction, or an immediate furrender.
His preference of a furrender may be attributed to impulfe of the moment, or rather
perhaps to the cool intrepidity of his character. He had ventured his life and fortunes
upon one rifk of extreme hazard; and when that failed him, he knew and was prepared
for the worft; and fullenly refigned himfelf to his fate. But after all, it istoo much to
expect that we fhould juftify the condu& of an enthufiaft, in the moment of difappoint-
ment and defpair, on the principles of found judgment and deliberate reafon*.
His daring infolence before the committee, and his calm indifference at the place of
execution, are, it is alleged, not to be accounted for, but on the fuppofition that he
either endeavoured to prevent the idea of collufion, or becaufe he was fecure of pardon.
It is furmifed, therefore, that he was only to lay down his head on the block, and a
reprieve was:to be ready at the place of execution. ‘To this I briefly anfwer, that it is
not to be conceived by what promifes a man could poflibly be perfuaded to hazard
himfelf in fo critical a-ftate. What could induce him to rifk his life under a momen-
tary ftroke, to be given or fufpended by a power interefted in his deftruction? For the
dead betray nothing ; and his death would preclude all difcovery of fo infamous a tran-
faction.. And thefe f{trange fuppofitions are advanced, as if no rebel was ever un-
pofe that the murder was committed intentionally; ball-cartridges could not have been withheld from a
motive of humanity.
* I cannot in this place avoid) citing a paflage from an anonymous author, who fuppofes a coléufion
between Mirovitch and the court: ‘¢ Apres un fi noble exploit Meflrs. Wlafief et Tchekin jettent le
corps du Prince affaffiné devant-la porte; ct par un effet miraculeux Mirovitz, gui ne connoifjoit alors le
Prince Ivan que de nom, le reconnoit dans ce moment pour fon Empereur non objtant le brouillard épais.? A
ftrange objection ! as if, becaufe Mirovitch was not acquainted with the perfon of Ivan, he fhould not know,
or at leaft believe, the dead body to be his, when the guards cried eut, ‘* Here is your Emperor!’? Could
he conceive they had murdered an innocent perfon, merely with the view of deluding him? And were not
the doors of the apartment thrown open, and he at full liberty to fearch and {fatisfy himfelf ? Another
paflage from the fame author muft be mentioned for its glaring falfity : “ Le coup inattendu le frappa
tellement, qu’il temoigne fon repentir et fon affition a toute fa troupe, fe rend prifonnier ; et de toute fa
garde qui étoit complice du.méme crime, lui feul qui en eft le chef of arreté, et lui feul en eft puni? : The reader
will be able to judge whether the foldiers who aflifted Mirovitch were equally guilty with him; and whe-
ther he was the on/y perfon arrefted, and the only perfon punifhed. ‘The author of the above malevolent
paragraph did not know, perhaps, that, by the laws of Ruffia, capital penalties are feldom infliéted ; or
that the accomplices of Mirovitch-were feverely punifhed. We may remind him, that even in the rebellion
of Pugatchef, that impoftor and four of his principal confederates were the only perfons who fuffered death;
the other rebels were knooted and condemned to hard labour and imprifonment. The caufe mutt be very
bad indeed, when its defenders have recourfe to fuch frivolous objeCtions, and fuch glaring falfehoods,
See Pieces concernant la Mort du Prince ivan.
I daunted |
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