ictims. Exiles
were called back, and their property was restored to them; justice was
done to all who had been sacrificed to caprices without number. In
fact, a golden era began for Russia. It was impossible to deny this at
witnessing the love, the regard and the enthusiasm of the Russians for
their new Emperor. That enthusiasm was so strong that all esteemed it
the greatest thing to have seen, to have met Alexander. If he went
walking in the Summer Garden of an evening, or if he passed along the
streets of St. Petersburg, the crowd would press about him and call
down blessings upon him, while he, the most benevolent of princes,
would answer all these demonstrations with perfect graciousness. I was
unable to go to Moscow for his coronation, but some people who were
there told me that nothing was ever more moving or more beautiful. The
transports of popular gladness vented themselves all over the city and
in the church. When Alexander placed the diamond crown on the Empress
Elisabeth's head, radiant with beauty, they formed such a lovely pair
as to evoke unbounded acclaim.

In the midst of the universal elation I was myself fortunate enough to
meet the Emperor on one of the St. Petersburg quays a few days after
my arrival. He was on horseback, and although Paul's regulations had
of course been abolished, I had my carriage stopped for the pleasure
of seeing Alexander pass. He rode up to me at once, asked me how I
liked Moscow, and whether the roads had given me any trouble. I
replied that I regretted having been unable to stay long enough in
that glorious city to see all its splendours; as for the roads, I
acknowledged they were abominable. He agreed with me, saying he hoped
to have them mended. Then, after paying me a thousand compliments, he
left me.

Next day Count Strogonoff came to me on the Emperor's behalf, with a
command to paint him at half length, and also on horseback. No sooner
was this news spread than numbers of court people rushed to my house,
asking for a copy of either portrait, they cared not which, so long as
they had one of Alexander. At any other time of my life this would
have been an opportunity to make a fortune, but alas! my physical
condition, to say nothing of the mental sufferings still besetting me,
prohibited me from taking advantage of it. Feeling unfit to work at a
full-length picture, I did a pastel bust-portrait of the Emperor, and
one of the Empress; these I intended to enlarge at Dres