He ruled over sixty million
subjects whose loyalty bordered on worship: he had in arms a
million soldiers, brave and highly trained. In the troubles of
1848 he had stood scornful and secure amid the overthrow of
surrounding thrones; and the entire impact of his vast and well-
organized Empire was subject to his single will; whatever he chose
to do he did. Of stern and unrelenting nature, of active and
widely ranging capacity for business, of gigantic stature and
commanding presence, he inspired almost universal terror; and yet
his friendliness had when he pleased a glow and frankness
irresistible in its charm. Readers of Queen Victoria's early life
will recall the alarm she felt at his sudden proposal to visit
Windsor in 1844, the fascination which his presence exercised on
her when he became her guest. He professed to embody his standard
of conduct in the English word "gentleman"; his ideal of human
grandeur was the character of the Duke of Wellington. It was an
evil destiny that betrayed this high-minded man into crooked ways;
that made England sacrifice the stateliest among her ancient
friends to an ignoble and crime-stained adventurer; that poured out
blood and treasure for no public advantage and with no permanent
result; that first humiliated, then slew with broken heart the man
who had been so great, and who is still regarded by surviving
Russians who knew his inner life and had seen him in his gentle
mood with passionate reverence and affection.
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