ewspapers, and writers of unusual
ability expressed their patriotic thoughts in prose and poetry. In
1814, the Imperial Library was opened to the public at St. Petersburg.
It contained at that time 242,000 volumes, and about 10,000
manuscripts.

In 1803, Captains Krusenstern and Lisianski made the first Russian
voyage around the world in the _Nadejda_ (the _Hope_), and the _Neva_.
It was on this occasion that Russia entered into relations with the
United States.

XXIII--AN EVENTFUL PERIOD. (p. 208)

Alexander's will came as a surprise upon Nicholas, but Constantine was
loyal to his promise and after a brief but generous contest, Nicholas
was crowned at Moscow. Twenty-three days had elapsed since Alexander's
death, long enough to show that the spirit of unrest had penetrated
into Russia. On the 26th of December there were some disturbances at
Moscow, but they were suppressed without great trouble. The secret
police hunted down the leaders, many of whom were known in art or
literature, but they suffered death. Nicholas, a man of colossal
stature, commanding appearance, iron will, passion for a military
life, of simple and correct habits, was a true champion of the right
divine of kings. He had neither sympathy nor patience with any
movement tending toward greater liberty for the people. Nevertheless
Nicholas was much more popular than Alexander had been, because he was
the type of the Russian czars, who had increased Russia's power and
territory.

Not many days after his coronation, Nicholas became involved in a
quarrel with the Shah of Persia. In vain did the shah call upon Great
Britain for help; the Persians were twice defeated in 1826, and the
Russians were on the road to Teheran when the shah preferred to (p. 209)
save his capital by ceding two provinces, and paying a heavy indemnity
in 1828. The following year, the Russian Minister at Teheran was
murdered, but Persia escaped with a humble apology.

Turkey, too, was made to feel Nicholas' heavy hand; urged by other
powers the sultan submitted to the loss of territory in Asia, which
had been in dispute, and permitted the free passage of Russian vessels
between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. (Convention of Akkerman,
Oct. 8, 1826.) The czar, after this, took up the Greek question, and
entered into an agreement with England and France. In vain did the
sultan offer the plea which had been successful with Alexa