e classified as "chief (p. 217)
citizens," which procured for them exemption from poll-tax,
conscription, and corporal punishment. They might take part in the
assessment of real estate, and were eligible to the offices to which
members of the first class were entitled. The same privilege was
extended to all who were entitled to the degree of Master of Arts, and
free-born and qualified artists. It was he who built the first railway
in Russia, by drawing a straight line between Moscow and St.
Petersburg. He also joined the Volga and the Don by a canal. His reign
is also noted for the progress of Russian literature. The works of
Ivan Tourguenief are known throughout the civilized world.

[Illustration: Alexander II] (p. 218)

XXIV--ALEXANDER II, THE LIBERATOR. (p. 219)

Alexander II was thirty-seven years old when he succeeded to the
throne. The war oppressed Russia, and he felt that peace must be
concluded. But Russian diplomacy loves the tortuous path. The first
proclamation of the czar announced that he promised "to accomplish the
plans and desires of our illustrious predecessors, Peter, Catherine,
Alexander the Well-beloved, and our father of imperishable memory." It
was hoped that this would cause the other powers to propose peace, on
account of the expense of the war. Indeed, a conference was proposed
and took place at Vienna, but the demands of the allies were not so
modest as Russia expected; hence the war continued, and with it the
siege of Sebastopol.

The Danube territory was lost to Russia since, on the 2d December
1854, Austria had undertaken to defend it, and Prussia had agreed to
help Austria. But Sebastopol was stubbornly defended. In the latter
part of August 1855, 874 guns vomited death and destruction upon the
doomed city where the Russians lost 18,000 men. The French had dug
fifty miles of trenches during the 366 days of the siege, and 4,100
feet of mines before a single bastion. In one day 70,000 bombs and
shells were fired into the town. On the 8th of September the (p. 220)
assault was ordered, and Sebastopol fell.

Again Russia tried what boasting would effect. Gortchakof declared to
whoever chose to believe him that he would not voluntarily abandon the
country where Saint Vladimir had received baptism, and the official
newspaper announced that the war was now becoming serious, and that
Sebastopol being destroy