Page:Account of the dispute between Russia, Sweden & Denmark, and Great Britain.pdf/23

23 had he lived to hear of it, which proved that his arſenals and fleets, as well as thoſe of Sweden, were within the reach of our arms, whether it would have changed his timid mind, is not worth inquiring into. It is more pleaſing to know, that before it was fought, his eldeſt son, Alexander, the preſent emperor, had liberated the Britiſh ſeamen who had been impriſoned by his father, badhad [sic] tranſmitted to our King poſitive aſſurances of his deſire to have the ancient friendly intercourſe between the two countries eſtabliſhed; and as we now ſee the embargoes taken off, and the commercial intercourſe with all the three countries reſumed, we may juſtly conclude peace to be finally ſettled.

CHAP. V.

Character of the Emperor Alexander.

T may not be unpleaſing to the reader that we introduce here the character of the preſent emperor, while he was Grand Duke, as given by an ingenious foreigner, from whoſe works is taken that of Paul.

He inherits from Catharine an elevation of ſentiment and an unalterable equality of temper: a mind and penetrating and an uncommon discretion; but a reſerve and circumſpection unſuitable to his age, and which might be taken for diſſimulation, did  not evidently proceed rather from the delicate ſituation in which he was placed between his father and grandmother, than from his heart, which is naturally  and ingenuous. He inherits his mother’s ſtature and beauty, as well as her mildneſs and benevolence, while in none of his features does he reſemble his father, and he muſt certainly dread him more than him. Paul, conjecturing the intentions of Catharine in favour of this ſon, has always behaved towards him; ſince he discovers in him no reſemblance of character, and no conformity of taſte with