Each age has its peculiar social and political panaceas.  One generation puts its trust in religion, another in philanthropy, a third in written constitutions, a fourth in universal suffrage, a fifth in popular education.  In the Epoch of the Restoration, as it is called, the favourite panacea all over the Continent was secret political association.  Very soon after the overthrow of Napoleon the peoples who had risen in arms to obtain political independence discovered that they had merely changed masters.  The Princes reconstructed Europe according to their own convenience, without paying much attention to patriotic aspirations, and forgot their promises of liberal institutions as soon as they were again firmly seated on their thrones.  This was naturally for many a bitter deception.  The young generation, excluded from all share in political life and gagged by the stringent police supervision, sought to realise its political aspirations by means of secret societies, resembling more or less the Masonic brotherhoods.  There were the Burschenschaften in Germany; the Union, and the “Aide toi et le ciel t’aidera,” in France; the Order of the Hammer in Spain; the Carbonari in Italy; and the Hetairai in Greece.  In Russia the young nobles followed the prevailing fashion.  Secret societies were formed, and in December, 1825, an attempt was made to raise a military insurrection in St. Petersburg, for the purpose of deposing the Imperial family and proclaiming a republic; but the attempt failed, and the vague Utopian dreams of the romantic would-be reformers were swept away by grape-shot.

This “December catastrophe,” still vividly remembered, was for the society of St. Petersburg like the giving way of the floor in a crowded ball-room.  But a moment before, all had been animated, careless, and happy; now consternation was depicted on every face.  The salons, that but yesterday had been ringing with lively discussions on morals, aesthetics, politics, and theology, were now silent and deserted.  Many of those who had been wont to lead the causeries had been removed to the cells of the fortress, and those who had not been arrested trembled for themselves or their friends; for nearly all had of late dabbled more or less in the theory and practice of revolution.  The announcement that five of the conspirators had been condemned to the gallows and the others sentenced to transportation did not tend to calm the consternation.  Society was like a discomfited child, who, amidst the delight and excitement of letting off fireworks, has had its fingers severely burnt.