Storms

The series of trials, both public and domestic, which now approached, was ushered in bj the inundation and threatened destruction of the city. Peter the Great, it is well known, chose the site of his capital more with reference to his political and commercial designs than from regard to the comfort of its future inhabitants. A position fifty miles below the largest lake in Europe, at the head of a magnificent gulf, and commanding communications with the Eastern and Western hemispheres, was not to be reiected because it was so soft that the foundations of palaces required to be as deep as the walls were high, and so low as to be in no part twenty feet higher than the surrounding waters. The imperial determination so far prevailed, that one of the most imposing cities of the world now rests on the quivering surface of those marshy islets; but a higher law 5*

is said perpetually to hold over it the possibility of a complete submergence. Whenever it shall happen that a powerful west wind shall blow during the fortnight which witnesses the breaking up of the ice, the waters of the Gulf of Finland, it is affirmed, will meet the current from Lake Ladoga, and, rising together, they will roll over the city, and involve its four hundred thousand inhabitants in a fate not less terrible than that of Herculaneum and Pompeii. Such a combination of circumstances may, of course, never occur; but even the modified form of it, which must now be noticed, brought consequences sufficiently dreadful. In the middle of November, 1824, a gale of unusual violence swept through the British Channel, the North Sea, and the Baltic, and, passing up the Gulf of Finland, reached St. Petersburg on the 19th of that month. Trees which had stood every winter-blast, from the foundation of the city, were levelled with the ground, and the iron roof of the Bible House was “rolled up like a sheet of paper, and carried into the air.” This peril of the wind brought the greater peril of the waters.

“On Thursday night,” writes Mr. Knill to Mr. Alers Hankey, on the 23d November,” the wind was high, and the waters rose very much, BO that guns were fired to warn the inhabitants of those apartments which were nearly on a level with the river. The next morning the guns fired again, as the waters had greatly increased. About ten A. M. some of the streets near the Neva were beginning to be covered; but the people would not believe that the waters could rise much higher, forty-seven years having rolled away since the city was inundated. By half-past ten it was too late to attempt the removal of any property, and all the people were thrown into confusion. Those who could run, ran; and those who could not, cried for deliverance from immedidiate death. In some instances assistance reached the sufferers; but in many more they were suffocated in the flood.

“By two p. M. the city presented a scene the most awful that can be conceived. Every place was deserted. There was nothing visible that had life, and the streets were occupied by ships, and boats, and watch-houses, and float-STORMS.

ing trees, and even coffins from the cemeteries, with property of various kinds. Several entire villages were carried away, with the exception of a cottage here and there to make known where they once stood.

“The havoc which has been made among the poor surpasses anything that I have ever heard of in modern times. Many thousands were hurried in a moment to meet their Judge. This is the most affecting part of the story; for the loss to the commercial world, though great, and the miseries among the trades-people, though pressing, may all be remedied; but those who are gone!!! those who are gone!!! May I never lose the impression which I now feel of the value of the soul and the necessity of redemption through Jesus Christ, as well as the importance of making every sermon to abound with those particular truths which are calculated to lead men to Christ, and to be ready to depart! Oh, what would I have given for an angel’s voice, and an eagle’s wings, to flee and tell the drowning peasants of the Lamb of God! but now it is over.”

About noon, the wind, though it did not abate in force, by God’s merciful appointment, shifted a few points, and the city was saved from complete destruction. By two o’clock the waters had decreased several inches, and by six it was possible to walk in the streets. Next morning, those who had been driven from their dwellings, and were still alive, returned to witness the desolation, to seek for traces of lost friends, and to save the remnants of their property.

“I am happy to know,” Mr. Knill continues” that many of my dear people were much engaged in prayer during the dreadful hours, and some of them were made inexpressibly happy in the prospect of death and eternity. It is very delightful to see that a great spirit of love and sympathy is manifested towards the sufferers. Almost every family that has comfortable lodgings has taken another family, or part of a family, to share its comforts, or in some other way to alleviate its sorrows. Dear Mr. Mortimer, the Moravian minister, has suffered a good deal. He and his family are for the present residing with me. The Moravians have often succoured others, and I felt very

thaukful, and considered it a great privilege, to afford him a little temporary accommodation. There is reason to fear that, as the winter is begun, the wet rooms will remain cold and damp, and produce much sickness. A subscription is begun, which I have no doubt will be very liberally supported.”

The misery, indeed, which followed the flood was much greater than that which had been experienced during its prevalence. Thousands had been driven from their homes without food or clothing, and instant exertions were necessary to prevent wide-spread starvation. The Russians, who are a compassionate people, threw themselves with energy into the work of mercy; and it was a tribute as honourable to them as to the foreigner whom they trusted, that some of the most influential nobles and gentlemen placed themselves under the leadership of Mr. John Venning. When the news of his measures reached the Imperial family, they, also, sent him liberal pecuniary support; the Grand Duke Michael putting into hij hands £1000 sterling. Arakcheyeff, the foe of evangelism, demanded that those fundi should be placed at the disposal of government; but Venning boldly declined obedience, and, after relieving the wants of the sufferers with unimpeachable integrity and discretion, he proposed that the balance of the fund should be augmented, and applied to the establishment of a permanent House of Refuge, which, to this day, opens its gates to the afflicted and the destitute.

Th« gloom of the closing year was not relieved by the events of the spring: the first cloud which darkened the pastor’s house drew near.

Journal. — “March 10, 1825. — Keturned, and found my dear wife and child in perfect health. My lovely Julia met me at the door, and congratulated me. I sat down at my writing-desk to prepare letters for England. At half-past two the babe became very uneasy, and would not be quieted. Her dear mother attempted various ways to quiet her, but all was unavailing.”

The account is continued in a note to Mr. and Mrs. Parkinson, dated March 17, 1825: The delight which you appeared to take in

our beloved Julia causes me to take up my pen, and with a trembling hand, to inform you that last Wednesday, between four and five in the afternoon, she left the abodes of mortals to join the spirits of the just.... When I saw that death was rapidly approaching, I sat at her feet, and my dear Sarah at her side, while Mrs. Yenning was kneeling near her head. There we called upon God to support us, and help us to bear the shock. Gracious and merciful has He been in this trying hour; blessed for ever be His name. She expired a few hours before the first anniversary of her birth. We had been fondly anticipating the pleasure of the society of a few of our friends to commemorate the interesting event; and little did we expect, instead, to have her laid in her coffin, and nearly all our acquaintances coming to sympathize with us.’’

Journal. —” March 12. — The dear babe is laid out in my study. Oh that the circumstance may be attended with the most salutary effects on my mind, on my studies, on my prayers, on my sermons! Thus may the death of my darling be overruled for great good to the parents and children of my little flock!

“March 14. — Rose this morning at five, and repaired to my dearest Julia. After I had kissed her sweet forehead, and her clay-cold purple lips, I took her dear hand in mine; and my soul at this moment received unspeakable comfort. For, I thought, this hand will never be lifted up against God — this heart will never indulge a thought contrary to His holy will — this silent tongue will never utter a word of rebellion — nor shall the little feet ever be found in the broad road that leads to death! I cannot describe how happy I felt at the thought of this, while the tears rolled down my cheek with all the tender emotion of a fond father. I thanked God, and took courage, and hastening to my wife, related to her how the Lord had comforted me. She also was greatly consoled; and we prayed together for the Lord to help us through the day. Ah! it was a day never to be forgotten; and to make our grief complete, neither of our dear brothers, Paterson and Henderson, being confined to their chambers, could come to help us,

and pray with us, or bury the babe. Thanks be to God, I was enabled to do this also. A few friends came, and I read the 90th Psalm, prayed for a blessing to follow from it, and then took the body to the grave in the Smolenskoi burying-ground. It was truly astonishing to see how the Lord supported both myself and the dear mother on the way, and at the grave. We committed the dear little body to the dust, in full assurance that it shall rise again all triumphant and all glorious. (1 Cor. XV. 42.) Tears have since been our meat day and night, but they are sometimes tears of tenderness — sometimes of sorrow — sometimes of gratitude. Oh, what a precious gospel is our gospel! What life and immortality are brought to light by it! Without it we should not know what would become of little children, or what will become of ourselves. But, blessed be God, we have a sure word of proph-. ecy, to which we do well to take heed!

“March 15. — Lord’s day morning. Preached my dearest Julia’s funeral sermon from * Be ye ready also.’ It was a very solemn morning. What a mercy it will be if some one -be enabled to say in truth: ‘From the death of Julia Knill I date my spiritual life!’ August 10. — My prayer has been answered; dear M. H. has told me this day that this sermon was blessed to her soul, and brought her to give up herself to the Lord. Thus, my God and Father has given us another daughter. September 23, 1827. — Mr. D. told me he also was impressed by this sermon. — How good are all His ways!”

To the young friend to whom he communicated this first domestic sorrow, and who was maintaining a Christian profession in an ungenial atmosphere, he wrote, at this time, in the following strain:” We were much delighted to hear of the decided conduct of Mr..

No doubt it will become known here; and I hope that grace will be given him to act with the same decision at St. Petersburg, that he may become a truly good man, and a great blessing. He has a talent for communication; and if his heart be warm in the things of God, he will speak to the advantage of some, and the confutation of others. Your being in Moscow has no doubt been a blessing to him, and

we ought to hope and expect that it will prove a blessing to many. Great wisdom and purityshould be sought after by you from the source of all, and God will give it you if you seek Him. I see and feel how much I need this, and so will you. The more public our profession of religion becomes, the more need there is of an increase of grace, that it may correspond with that profession. A star may set, and few observe it, but if the sun be eclipsed, it is seen and conversed about by all the people in the nation; so a Christian, in some obscure corner, may pass on calmly with low attainments in religion; but if he fills a conspicuous station, many eyes are upon him, and many ears are waiting to hear something evil of him. You were known before now, but

since your return both you and Mr. will

be considered more decided than ever. I pray God that He may give you a large share of every heavenly grace, and make your house the gate of heaven to many!”

The shadows of the year deepened as it approached its close. The Emperor, although maintaining, as it has been intimated, the most friendly relations to the men who sought the religious good of the people, had permitted the influence of the priesthood to obstruct their plans. The removal of Prince Galitzin from the presidency of the Bible Society, and the substitution of the new metropolitan, Seraphim, was a marked, and, as it proved, a fatal concession to their malice. The meetings of its committee became infrequent; and the doctrine was at length announced from the chair, that the undirected reading of the Bible was fraught with danger, both moral and political. These omens were rendered more alarming by the increasing disinclination of Alexander to public business. His nervous system appeared to be shattered, and his mind depressed. He spent much time in retirement, and devoted himself to religious duties with an ardour which some pronounced superstitious. In the early part of the autumn, the Empress, who was in delicate health, was advised to reside during the winter in the south of Russia, and the Emperor willingly seized the opportunity of withdrawing from the publicity of the capital by joining her at Taganrog.

While there, his depression was fearfully increased by the intelligence of a latent conspiracy in the army. The energy requisite to grapple with this difficulty no longer remained to him; and not perceiving that the disaffection was directed rather against the unprincipled men whom his declining force had suffered to rise into power than against himself, he exclaimed, as if heart-stricken, “They have not known me.” A cold caught during a rapid tour in the Crimea, acting on his enfeebled condition, produced typhus fever, under which he sank on the 19th of November. The event produced unfeigned grief in St. Petersburg, for the monarch was sincerely beloved by his people, and by none so much as by those who had the best opportunities of studying his private character. Mr. Knill’s note, on the morning when the fact became known, expressed the real feeling of thousands: —

JouEXAL. — “November 27, 1825, Friday. — This morning I was informed that His Imperial Majesty the Emperor Alexander was very ill, and that the family had been praying for him. It was painful intelligence, but left hope that we should soon hear of his restoration. I went to the school, then called on a friend who was very much distressed at hearing the report, and before I reached home I learned that it was certain the beloved monarch was no more. I saw the soldiers marching from the palace, whither they had been to take the oath of allegiance to the Emperor Constantino. The whole city seemed to be impressed with the awful and solemn scene. Every person I met seemed to feel that a friend was gone. Oh, what a day was this I How unexpected — how sudden was the removal of this much-revered and greatly-beloved Emperor! Lord, sanctify this awful stroke. Support the bereaved widow, and fill her soul with peace and consolation, and may the honoured and distressed mother find in Thee a comforter. Lord, have mercy on me and my dear little congregation. Incline the heart of the Emperor Constantino towards us, and let none be permitted to disturb or distress us. May we be assisted to walk in the most exemplary manner, so as to fear God, honour the king, love the brotherhood, and do good unto all men. Amen.”

It is well known that Constantine did not ascend the throne; but it is not necessary to the elucidation of this memoir to do more than glance at the fact. It was at his own urgent entreaty that Alexander, three years before his death, executed a document releasing him from the responsibilities of that position, and passing them downwards to Nicholas, his younger brother. This paper was deposited in three separate places, and its contents were not divulged to more than two or three persons, of whom one was Alexander’s most trusted friend, Galitzin. Nicholas, either unacquainted with it, or desiring to establish his claim on a firmer basis, went instantly, on hearing of the Emperor’s death, to take the oath to Constantine. Galitzin met him on the way to the altar, and mentioned the fact; but he would not listen. He swore allegiance to his brother, and was followed in the deed by the ministers and the army. The consequences of this precipitancy were instantly foreseen, and occasioned deep anxiety. When Constantine, then in Poland, transmitted his absolute refusal to act, and the army was required immediately to transfer their fealty to another sovereign, the leaders of the conspiracy saw that their hour was come. They issued orders to the troops to keep the oath which they had already taken, and thus adroitly seized the sentiment of loyalty to do the work of sedition. AVhen, on the morning appointed for taking the second oath, the soldiery poured into the city, Nicholas rode up to them, and saluted them with cordial frankness; but they refused to return the compliment, and doggedly marched past with the muzzle of their guns depressed. Dr. Paterson witnessed this from the window of Count Lieven’s mansion. “It was,” says he, “an awfully critical moment. I could not help pitying the Emperor, who appeared pale and dejected, but behaved well through the trying scene. The horse were ordered to ’ charge, but the mutineers at once formed into squares, and held them at defiance; and on retreating to their former position fired some shots after them, by which several were wounded, and some killed, among whom were some of the chief ofiScers.”*

*” The Book for Every Land: the Autobiography of

Night drew on before extreme measures were permitted, but the artillery were then commanded to open fire, and the irsurgent ranks were broken. “I had left the city,” says Mr. Knill, “in the morning with my family, when all was quiet. But as we returned at night, we saw large heaps of something piled up on the great square. Many soldiers were standing about, and the usual thoroughfares were shut up. On inquiry, we found that the heaps, among which we had been passing, were dead bodies — that the soldiers had revolted — that the governor, Miloradovitch, had been slain — that a dreadful day had passed in the city, and that still greater troubles were expected. We felt that our situation was very awful, but God took care of us. In the night, the Place was cleared of the dead, the bodies having been put through large holes in the ice into the deep and peaceful river.”

For the first few months of his reign, the Emperor was too much engrossed with measures for the extinction of the conspiracy, and

John Paterson, D.D. Edited by TV. L. Alexander, D.D. London, 1857.” the rectification of the general disorder to which puplic affairs had been reduced by the misrule of Arakcheyeff, to give any indication of his policy relative to religious institutions. But when the ofi&cial representatives of all public bodies were invited to the funeral of the deceased Emperor, those of the society which he regarded as the chief gem of his dominions were omitted — a circumstance which was regarded as significant of a design to permit it quietly to subside into oblivion. It was not till 13th February, 1826, that the obsequies were observed; and when Mr. Knill, under that date, writes in his Journal —” On returning from the grand and solemn procession, conveying a very affecting view of human greatness, a few of us met at the Bible House, and united in prayer to God for grace to live more and more to His glory,’’ — he reveals the thoughtful and expectant posture of the little band.

It may be true, that imprudent oratory in England alarmed some faithful adherents of the Greek Church, and even that, in some places, conspirators had met under the guise of

a Bible Society Committee; but the tide had risen and rushed on, independently of such accidental auxiliaries. More than half a million of copies of the New Testament, in the mother tongue of the people, could not have found their way to all parts of the empire without producing effects unpleasant to the Church authorities; and no human instrument, but the will of the reigning prince, could have held the opposition in check. The new Emperor had not, like his predecessor, fathomed the deep springs of this enmity, and could not have foreseen the consequences of his own decisions. When told by Galitzin that the priesthood wished the conductors of the Bible Society to quit Russia because they were heretics, he exclaimed that he could not “endure such bigotry,” and afterwards treated them in a manner which proved his words to be sincere. It was, therefore, probably more from an excessive desire of having everything, as he conceived, in its right department, than from any defined hostility to the diffusion of the Scriptures, that he transferred all the operations of the society to the “superintendence of the Holy Synod.”

But this he did in a ukase, dated 15th August, 1826, and by that act closed a fountain of life which, except to the small degree hereafter to be related, has not been re-opened to the present moment.