The Daughter of an Empress

Four weeks had passed since Biron, Duke of Courland, had commenced his

rule over Russia, as regent, in the name of the infant Emperor Ivan. The

Russian people had with indifference submitted to this new ruler, and

manifested the same subjection to him as to his predecessor. It was all

the same to them whoever sat in godlike splendor upon the magnificent

imperial throne--what care that mass of degraded slaves, who are

crawling in the dust, for the name by which their tyrants are called?

They remain what they are, slaves; and the one upon the throne remains

what he is, their absolute lord and tyrant, who has the right to-day to

scourge them with whips, to-morrow to make them barons and counts, and

perhaps the next day to send them to Siberia, or subject them to the

infliction of the fatal knout. Whoever proclaims himself emperor or

dictator, is greeted by the Russian people, that horde of creeping

slaves, as their lord and master, the supreme disposer of life and

death, while they crawl in the dust at his feet.

They had sworn allegiance to the Regent Biron, as they had to the

Empress Anna; they threw themselves upon the earth when they met him,

they humbly bared their heads when passing his palace; and when the

magnates of the realm, the princes and counts of Russia, in their

proud equipages, discovered the regent's carriage in the distance, they

ordered a halt, descended from their vehicles, and bowed themselves to

the ground before their passing lord. In Russia, all distinctions of

rank cease in the presence of the ruler; there is but one lord, and one

trembling slave, be he prince or beggar, and that lord must be obeyed,

whether he commands a murder or any other crime. The word and will of

the emperor purify and sanctify every act, blessing it and making it

honorable.

Biron was emperor, although he bore only the name of regent; he had the

power and the dominion; the infant nurseling Ivan, the minor emperor,

was but a shadow, a phantom, having the appearance but not the reality

of lordship; he was a thing unworthy of notice; he could make no one

tremble with fear, and therefore it was unnecessary to crawl in the dust

before him.

Homage was paid to the Regent Biron, Duke of Courland; the palace of

Prince Ulrich of Brunswick, and his son, the Emperor Ivan, stood empty

and desolate. No one regarded it, and yet perhaps it was worthy of

regard.

Yet many repaired to this quiet, silent palace, to know whom Biron would

perhaps have given princedoms and millions! But no one was there to

betray them to the regent; they were very silent and very cautious in

the palace of the Prince of Brunswick and his wife the Princess Anna

Leopoldowna.