f character, and purposely dressed my name in terror. I desire, and
it is my duty to desire, that my name should protect our frontier
more effectually than lines and fortresses--that a single word of
mine should be, to the Asiatics, more certain, more inevitable, than
death. The European may be reasoned with: he is influenced by
conscience, touched by kindness, attached by pardon, won by
benefits; but to the Asiatic all this is an infallible proof of
weakness; and to him I--even from motives of philanthropy--have
shown myself unmitigably severe. A single execution preserves a
hundred Russians from destruction, and deters a thousand Mussulmans
from treason. Evstafii Ivanovitch, many will not believe my words,
because each conceals the cruelty of his nature, and his secret
revengefulness, under excuses of necessity--each says, with a
pretence of feeling, 'Really I wish from my heart to pardon,
but be judges yourselves--can I? What, after this, are laws--what
is the general welfare?' All this I never say; in my eyes no tear
is seen when I sign a sentence of death: but my heart bleeds."

Alexei Petrovitch was touched; he walked agitatedly several times up
and down the tent; then seated himself, and continued--"Never, in
spite of all this, never has it been so difficult to me to punish as
this day. He who, like me, has lived much among the Asiatics, ceases
to trust in Lavater, and places no more confidence in a handsome
face than in a letter of recommendation; but the look, the expression,
the demeanour of this Ammalat, have produced on me an unusual
impression. I am sorry for him."

"A generous heart," said I, "is a better oracle than reason."

"The heart of a conscientious man, my dear friend, ought to be under
the command of reason. I certainly _can_ pardon Ammalat, but I
_ought_ to punish him. Daghestan is still filled with the enemies
of Russia, notwithstanding their assurances of submission; even
Tarki is ready to revolt at the first movement in the mountains: we
must rivet their chains by punishment, and show the Tartars that no
birth can screen the guilty--that all are equal in the sight of the
Russian law. If I pardon Ammalat, all his relations will begin to
boast that Yermoloff is afraid of the Shamkhal." I remarked, that
indulgence shown to so extensive a clan would have a good effect on
the country--in particular the Shamkhal.

"The Shamkhal is an Asiatic," interrupted Alexei Petrovitch;
"he would be delight