The week in Russia has been occupied with the conveyance
of the late Czar's body from Livadia to St. Petersburg, with a long halt at Moscow. The pageant at the ancient capital was a most tedious but most stately one, the shoals of grandees in costume, the crowds of officers in uniform, the hundreds of priests in their pontificals, and the reverence of the huge masses of people, who knelt, sang, or prostrated themselves with the fervour of genuine belief, creating scenes at once impressive and magnificent. The funeral, at which all Europe and Asia will be represented, takes place on Monday, and it is stated that it will be followed on the 23rd inst. by the Czar's marriage to the Princess Alix. The Czar will not live in Gatsohina, but in the Winter Palace, St. Petersburg, and he has, it is stated, already commenced the active duties of government. A proclamation to Finland guaranteeing the Constitution, is accepted, a little hastily perhaps, as evidence that the policy of Rassifying everything by force has been abandoned, and many vague expectations are expressed as to the Liberal intentions of Nicholas II. There is no basis for any of them as yet, though there seems to be ground for believing that Prince Lobanoff, hitherto Ambassador at Vienna, said to be a moderate and experienced man, will be appointed Chancellor of the Empire.
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