Note 61 — Chapter X · ALEXANDER I, MYSTIC AND HUMANITARIAN
Reading edition
Much earlier, in 1807, the emperor had expressed himself to General Savari upon this question in the following words: “I want to bring the country out of the state of barbarism in which this traffic in men leaves it. I will say more—if civilisation were more advanced, I would abolish this slavery even if it were to cost me my head.”