he article deals with the judicial reform of 1864. Its contemporaries and later researchers called it the most consistent among all «great reforms». That consistency which brought about the complete liquidation of the old, in all respects abominable system and emergence of the new system which was, no doubt, by far more attractive one is demonstrated by the author on rich and diversified material. In a no less convincing manner the author demonstrates the paradox created in Russia by the autocracy which carried out the liberal reforms. The new courts as well as other institutions established in the course of reforms could not find a room within framework of the autocratic and bureaucratic system and permanently compromised and, moreover, destroyed the old judicial system. In result the power had inevitably either to change itself in spirit of the reforms it initiated making itself more liberal or to distort the new court and impose its will on the new court, zemstva (local self-government bodies) etc. The czarist government opted for precisely the second way.

The author deals with one of the most intriguing episodes in the «Holy troop» activities: the attempt P.P.Shuvalov, a leader of this organization which was created as the elite’s response to the murder of Tsar Alexander II in 1881, to subject a part of the Russian emigration to his influence by virtue of false, fake newsapapers, liberal «Vol'noie slovo» and ultra-revolutionary «Pravda». The author analyzes the complicated relationshps of Shuvalov and his agents with their «clients» abroad, in particular, with M.P.Dragomanov, and tells the story of the conflict between Shuvalov and his opponents in the highest circles, particularly with G.P.Sudeikin, the «genius of criminal investigation», who succeeded in taking personal advantage of Shuvalov’s enterprise.

The author deals with the phenomenon of the 19th century Russian raznochinetz intelligentsia, i. e., intellectuals who did not belong to the gentry. The author examines the very term «intelligentsia», analyses the emergence of this peculiar social and spiritual community and emphasizes the stubborn unwillingness to accept the realities of the Russian life as the peculiar and rigid propensity of the intelligentsia. According to the author, permanent «apostasy», alienation of the intelligentsia from the Russian reality was the principal cause for its confrontation with the authorities. The author focuses on the most vivid manifestation of this confrontation in the 19th century: the revolutionary narodniks' uncompromising struggle which led to assassination of Alexander II. The author considers a possible alternative (so called «small deeds») and concludes that peaceful positive activities were incompatible with mentality of the intelligentsia which was doomed to «the eternal fight».

The article deals with one of the most tragic events of Nicolas II reign. Khodynka disaster became a menacing warning, but the power did not derive any benefit from the event. The coronation celebrations of 1896 lost any sense. Instead of spiritual unification of the power and the people a monstrous massive self-destruction occurred. One could say that it was a fatal concurrence of circumstances, but it has developed in a prophesy, in a kind of a regularity of history.