Secret History of the Court and Government of Russia Under the Emperors Alexander and Nicholas (Volume 1)

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. 1847. Excerpt: ... Too many proper names, perhaps, have already been mingled with our history, and yet we have but cursorily named many men who were destined to be the chief supporters of the new reign, Michael Speranski, Victor Kotchoubei, Michael Woronzow, Hilarion Vassiltchikoff, the brothers Charles and Christopher de Lieven. The progress of events will recall our attention to them, either in the present narrative or in the publications by which it may be followed. For the present, we shall confine ourselves to mentioning a few more appointments, made in favour of men already in possession of the emperor's confidence, or destined afterwards to enjoy it. The cordon bleu, or order of St. Andrew, the highest Russian order, was conferred on Prince Dmitri Galitsin, general of cavalry; and on Count Peter Tolstoi, general of infantry: the formerf was governor-general of Moscow, and was a skilful, enlightened, and prudent ruler, enjoying the highest consideration as a man of established character; the latter, invested at that period with the command of the 5th corps of the army, and He was mentioned in the preceding chapter. He was invested with the Order of St. Andrew in 1826, at the coronation, created count in 1831, prince in 1839, and in 1838 president of the council of the empire. It is said that lie is the one to whose advice the emperor listens most willingly. His brother, Alexis VassilhSvitch Vassiltchikoff, is privy councillor, senator, marshal of the government of Pskoff, &c. t Sec the edict addressed to him by the emperor, in the Petersburg Journal, 1826, No. 31; and the notice of the family of the Galitsin princes in the Notes and Explanations. Prince Dmitri died at Paris, the 8th April, 1844. X Sec Note (30). since created president of the department of milita...