255. ALEXANDER OF RUSSIA, Character of.—
A more virtuous man. I believe,
does not exist, nor one who is more enthusiastically
devoted to better the condition of
mankind. He will probably, one day, fall a
victim to it, as a monarch of that principle
does not suit a Russian noblesse. He is not
of the very first order of understanding, but
he is of a high one. He has taken a peculiar
affection to this country and its government,
of which he has given me public as well as
personal proofs. Our nation being, like his,
habitually neutral, our interests as to neutral
rights, and our sentiments agree. And whenever
conferences for peace shall take place, we
are assured of a friend in him. In fact, although
in questions of restitution he will be
with England, in those of neutral rights he
will be with Bonaparte, and with every other
power in the world except England; and I do
presume that England will never have peace
until she subscribes to a just code of marine
law. I am confident that Russia (while her
present monarch lives) is the most cordially
friendly to us of any power on earth, will go
furthest to serve us, and is most worthy of
conciliation.—
To William Duane. Washington ed. v, 140.
Ford ed., ix, 120.
(W.
June. 1807)
