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i9i6] IMPRESSIONS OF MY VISIT 405
are of undeniable interest. His excellent and impartial
history of the reign of the Emperor Alexander I. is the
work of a true historian, and was very well received
abroad. Nicolas Mikhailovitch was a sincere and faithful
friend to France; he had some intimate friends among
French contemporary historians.
The Grand-Duke received me in his magnificent
study filled with a precious collection of
portraits-historical miniatures. What has now become of this
superb collection? Our conversation naturally turned
on the political questions of the day. My august host
did not restrain his criticism. He was of opinion that
we were making for a revolution which would probably
not break out while the war lasted, but certainly
immediately after the conclusion of peace. "Alexander III.
did not like me very much ; Nicolas II., although full of
kindness for me as a private individual, has a holy
horror of my ideas. Nevertheless, I have served them
faithfully, and I am always ready to serve the Emperor;
only I cannot conceal from him that first and foremost
I have duties towards my country and the Russian
people."
The impression I received from the ten or twelve
days spent in Petrograd was frankly bad. Public
displeasure could not be hidden. In drawing-rooms, in
the offices of journalists, politicians, scientists, there was
violent criticism of the last appointments, the actions of
the Government, the perennial conflict in the very
bosom of the Council of Ministers between M. Sazonoff,
Krivocheine, Count Ignatieff, General Polivanoff on one
side, and Sturmer, Trepoff, Prince Schakhovskoy,
protagonists of the reactionary party, on the other. Count
Kokovtzoff, whom I made a point of calling on, predicted
the worst calamities. Others were less pessimistic, but
they anxiously wondered how far the blindness of the
unfortunate Emperor would go; they all pitied him;
but his weakness was the subject of the bitterest
criticism.
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