running backwards and forwards with beds and mattresses, pillows and bed-linen, shoobs and baggage. Many of the beds and mattresses had no inviting appearance.

There is a still more curious account of a Russian fête given in 1820, by General N- on occasion of his oldest son's birth-day. This entertainment was prolonged for two, three, or four days, according as the guests shewed an inclination to remain or to depart. About one hun dred of them assembled, and the conduct of the entertainment, and the difficulty of accommodating them, is described in the following terms by our author:

The festival-day was occupied with a splendid dinner, card-parties, and a ball, which was followed by a masquerade. Those of the nobility who had been provident enough to bring beds with them, were pretty comfortably situated, although many of them lay on the floor for want of bed-steads. Some who had speculated on the chance of finding beds, especially those of high rank, got such as the house could muster, and what contented thein. But some individuals of lower rank, who had made no provision, although all the beds of the servants were put in requisition, came but badly off; they reposed on chairs, or on benches, or on the floor, enveloped in shoobs, or under whatever kind of covering they could procure. I made a morning visit about eleven o'clock on the following day, to

one of the houses in which were lodged

some of my male acquaintances, and others whom I had treated as patients. The scene, even after a number of years travelling and residence in Russia, struck me forcibly. The hall and the drawingroom were literally a barracks-sofas, divans, and chairs put together, covered with beds and their fatigued or lazy tenants formed the scenery of the first apartment; in the latter, was arranged a sleeping-place, upon the floor, for half-adozen noblemen, with beds, pillows, shoobs, great-coats, &c. The possessors of this den, wrapped up in splendid silk night-gowns, some lying down, some sitting up in bed, some drinking coffee and tea, and smoking tobacco, amidst mephitic air, and surrounded by chamber utensils, and other disagreeable trumpery, formed a curious motley association.

By way of set-off to the defects of the Russian character, we are assured that they are hospitable, and much

given to charity; and the author gives various examples of the exercise of those virtues. On the other hand, deception is stated to be the characteristic of all ranks, and seve ral anecdotes are told in proof of this. We have no doubt that this vice is as common as our author declares it to be; but we much fear that there is no nation in which we will not find many adepts at dissi

mulation.

Our author, however,

gives a curious example of the deceptions which were practised on the Empress Catherine, in the course of her peregrinations through her dominions, and which, great as the disposition may be, in every country, to flatter princes, by presenting them, in all cases, with the bright side of the picture, were in this case carried heard of. Her Majesty made a joura greater length than we ever before ney to the Crimea in 1787, and her progress was a continual triumph through a populous country, covered with villages, and flocks and herds, and presenting the aspect of univer sal plenty. Now, all this, our author tells us, was absolutely got up for the occasion, in order to persuade her Majesty, over what a fertile country she had the happiness to reign. The roads over which she travelled were repaired on purpose; and portable villages, erected in the morning for a mere passing show, and destroying day, like creations on some new ed in the evening, arose, the followspot, where the Imperial cavalcade was to stop. Cattle were driven to the banks of the Volga, or to the line of roads where Catherine was to pass; and peasants were obliged to quit their houses, and to inhabit for a day the ephemeral cottages which were provided for them. Such are the deceptions which are practised on Sovereigns. The whole world seems united in a tacit conspiracy to deceive and to flatter them; and need we wonder, after this, that they com mit errors? In like manner, when the Emperor Alexander visited Moscow, many ruined houses were plasnificent exterior appearance, while tered and painted, and had a magthey presented a complete interior vacuity. It is astonishing to what an extent those deceptions are carried in Russia. Mr Lyall gives an account

of an hospital for the sick and infirm, which was absolutely got rp for show, and replenished with sick patients, in order to be looked at. General Araktcheef, who is attached to the person of the Emperor, was sent to inspect this hospital, and we have the following curious account of the farce which took place:

Early in the morning of the day appointed for General Araktcheef's arrival, above a dozen of people, men and women, were employed in washing, and cleaning, and arranging the hospital; the kitchenstove was lighted, and the kitchen itself stored with good provisions, under the

care of an excellent cook. The beds were

made up, and black boards were placed against the walls over the heads of the

beds, upon which were written, with chalk, the names and age of the patients, the technical and the Russian appellations of their diseases, the date of their admission, and the diet allowed them, as is always the case in the public hospitals in Russia. All was thus arranged, but there were no sick, except three or four invalids in the village. In the transforming empire of Russia, however, this was of no consequence. The women who had washed the hospital, and a number of patients, males and females, who were ordered to repair to it, in obedience to their lord's command, disrobed and washed themselves, put on the dresses provided for pa. tients, got into bed, and feigned sickness. After an elegant dinner, the host conducted General Araktcheef, and a number of other visitors, to the hospital, where

they were received by a clerk in the lobby,

with its report-books in his hand, which he showed to his Excellence. No physician being stationed there at the time, the apothecary assumed his name and office; and, as the party paced the wards, gave all necessary explanation respecting the diseases of the patients: his assistant then brought in a basket full of medicines, vials, powders, ointments, plasters, &c. which he distributed to each, adding, according to the circumstances of the case, “This is a mixture for thy fever," "These herbs are for thy cough," &c. &c. A plateful of excellent soup, with a piece of black and white bread, and a bottle of kaska, were now presented in succession, that General Araktcheef might be able to judge of the manner in which the sick were fed. He was highly pleased, it is said, with the institution, and took his departure. He had not been gone above a few minutes, when all the patient-actors started from their beds, threw off their robes, and being highly amused, laughed

heartily, and then bent their way home, and wished for a repetition of the farce, as they had had an excellent day's provisions, and so the hospital was left dreary and void.

The prying curiosity of the Russians exceeds all bounds. They pry into the affairs of others with an eagerness which baffles all precautions, and a stranger is startled with the most impertinent and unexpected questions, as to his connections, his family, property, his his revenues, and his most sacred affairs. They are indefatigable in petty inquiries of this nature, and generally persist until they extort some illicit intelligence from the objects of their importunity; and, rather than suffer any disappointment, they will apply to servants, to lackies, coachmen, or any one from whom they can procure any clandestine information. When a stranger resides in any Russian family, the master or mistress is acquainted with all his motions, through inquiries made at servants. In noblemen's families, spies are employed to watch the motions of the visitors, and to bring back accounts to their masters of all that they can spy out and retail of their conduct and conversation.

In addition to those disagreeable qualities of the Russians, Mr Lyall enumerates their want of uprightness and sincerity. These virtues, he adds, are rare among them. He comments at considerable length on Dr Clarke's high character of the Russian women, who, he informs us, are unduly exalted, as the men are under-rated by this traveller. According to his account, the wives of the Russian merchants are lazy; careless of domestic duties, and of their children, whom they commit to servants; fond of indolence and sleep, and occasionally addicted to drinking. This last vice, held so disgraceful in this country, is little thought of in Russia. When a Russian woman is intoxicated, she betakes herself to her bed, which is placed, in many cases, over the oven, and there, from the influence of the liquor and the heat, she falls fast asleep. The husband, when he returns home from his affairs, is no way shocked, but asks, in a laughing manner, if she is tipsy? to which she replies, in a tone of

complaint, "No, I have a headache;" and there is no more about the matter. Chastity cannot, according to our author, be reckoned a prevailing virtue among the Russian women, though there may, no doubt, be some families among whom are found purity and delicacy of character. Nor is there much regard paid to delicacy in the conversation of the women; on the contrary, there is no reserve among them on points of female delicacy: they hold conversations with men, which, as our author assures us, exceed all belief. He relates some strange anecdotes in confirmation of this censure, and they certainly evince a state of indelicacy and grossness of which, in this country, we can have little conception.

Mr Lyall gives an interesting account of the state of literature among the Russians, and of its gradual progress. The press is, no doubt, in a most fettered state, under the thraldom of a corrupt censorship; but the thirst for knowledge is increasing throughout the empire; and, under all the restraints and precautions of despotism, it is still making its way, and will, in time, pave the way for a greater state of political freedom. There are numerous Journals and Newspapers, of different descriptions, published in Petersburgh and other parts; and numerous universities, aca. demies, public and private schools, are actively at work in disseminating instruction. Some of the Journals are much read, especially those which treat of the politics of the day. Some of the noblemen, also, have estab lished Lancastrian-schools, for the instruction of the peasantry. Over a great part of this great empire, those institutions are thus scattering the seeds of knowledge, which, in due time, will spring up into a plentiful harvest of political improve ment. An enlightened people cannot be long compressed within the bonds of slavery. The human mind becomes more sensitive by improve ment,-it kindles, as it were, into a higher temperature, and, like the heated atmosphere, acquires an expansive force, which bursts through all the restraints and barriers within which it was before peaceably confined. The Russians, at present, are not sensible of the disadvantages of

their condition; they do not feel the full weight of their misery; but as they acquire knowledge, their eyes will be opened to see their abject state, and the full rigour of their bondage;-and then will take place the mighty conflict between public opinion and the despotic powers of the state. Happy, if, in that awful crisis, the rulers of this country, profiting by the fatal example of other nations, shall quietly adapt their Government to the improving spirit of the age, and thus prevent that shock between power and opinion, under which the most stable institutions, being moved from their basis, all the ancient relations of the state may be, for a time, dissolved. It will be happy for Russia, if, when that crisis of her destiny arrives, she possesses wise and considerate rulers, who will have the prudence to yield to the irresistible storm of the national will, by which tyranny will then be hurled from the throne. In that case, a compromise may be effected; there will be some chance for a peaceable and orderly reform of abuses, and anarchy and misrule may be avoided. At present, Russia is ruled by very different counsels; and her Emperor seems engaged in the benevolent scheme of preserving, not only his own people in ignorance, and in a happy destitution of all political rights, but of forcing, at the point of the sword, chains and darkness upon all other countries.

The priests in Russia are in a very degraded state. The higher clergy are, some of them, men of talents and information; but the lower clergy are devoid both of learning and morality. The soldiers are now all instructed to read; and such part of them as have been in the more civilized parts of Europe, have brought back improved notions, and a taste for the blessings of civil liberty. The merchants are chiefly intent on making money, and they have little time to think of any thing else. They have no intelligence, and less honesty. In the bargaining-shops at Moscow, they ask always about four or five times the value for every article they have to dispose of; and they are not ashamed to practise every sort of fraud and dishonourable evasion in selling their goods. Their utmost

ingenuity is exerted in giving damaged goods a fair appearance,-in defrauding, in measure and in weight, in an imperceptible manner,-in slip ping bad goods among the better, that have been bought, and ordered home.

"

When a Russian is detected cheating, he shows no mark of shame; he laughs, adding, " that he did not intend it; or it was a mistake;" and sometimes openly confessing it, says, "that it is his business to sell as high as he can, and that it is yours to buy as cheap as you can.' The bargaining-shops present the most refined scene of deception and roguery. "A set of sharpers," says our author, "whose very countenances are indicative of their profession, assemble there every day, and, with their flattery, lies, oaths, and villany, deceive the public to an enormous amount, while they fill their own pockets."

Such is the character given of the merchants, and, with regard to the state of the peasantry, our author has, as usual, a controversy with Dr Clarke, whose description of their degraded condition he considers, with reason, to be greatly exaggerated. According to his own account, the peasantry, being all slaves, are entirely at the mercy of their masters; and they must just take such treatment as they choose to give them. It happens, accordingly, that some are well treated, while others suffer cruel bondage and oppression, from the rigour or rapacity of their lords. Those who are dissipated or extravagant, and are pressed for money, have immediate recourse to exactions from their slaves, whose taxes they augment, and whom they often plunder of all they possess-and in this case there is no remedy. There are no tribunals, in this land of slavery, for a refuge to the oppressed. The Russian noble has the peasantry, who are all slaves, completely at his mercy, and on the accident of whose character their lot entirely depends.

The selfish and interested dispositions of the Russians, which are so conspicuous in the transactions of private life, give rise to the most infamous venality and corruption in all the departments of the public business; even in courts of justice, bri

bery is the great agent; and in all other branches of the civil administration, it is the avowed dependance of the public officers for eking out their inadequate salaries. Our author's remarks on this subject are strikingly just and considerate. All the emoluments, he informs us, of the great functionaries of the crown, are inadequate to maintain their rank. They must accordingly resort to indirect means for supplying the deficiency, and what they receive under the name of presents, is not so much, according to Mr Lyall, a bribe to betray their duty, as a compensation for performing it; an illegal compensation, no doubt, altogether discretionary, and necessarily leading to the grossest exactions and abuses, and ultimately to a neglect of duty, and to a betraying of all public trusts. The internal administration of the empire must be in a state of great neglect, for, according to our author, it does not appear that the salaries of public officers have been much increased since the reign of Peter the Great, while, during that period, the rouble has been repeatedly lowered in its value; so that the salaries of public officers have rather been diminished than increased; although the expence of living has, in the mean time, been greatly augmented. The cause, then, of the universal bribery which now pervades, like a plague, every branch of the public management, is obvious; and it does not so much imply any moral degradation of the people, though it certainly does not tend to exalt them, as bad arrangements in the domestic administration of the country. In Russia, bribery is the common mode of transacting public business; and until the wages of iniquity be paid, every thing stands still. "It is a fact, (says our author,) that orators who are clothed in scarlet, and covered with embroidery, who ride in their carriages and four, and who live in the highest style, will condescend to receive a twenty-five rouble, or, as some say, even a ten rouble note, as a bribe; and in the most simple affairs, the process is protracted till the fee be paid. In the Senate, Justice may be truly said to be "put up to auction, and sold to the highest bidder." Some leading men in Russia have,

at different times, set themselves to correct this abuse. But it is so deeply rooted in the whole system of public business, that it will not be easily eradicated. To such a reform, a general improvement of morals would be a necessary prelude. In this country, direct corruption, and, more especially, judicial bribery, is held in such abhorrence, that it would not be tolerated. It would bring whoever practised it into universal contempt. In an enlightened community, such as that of Britain, in which a high sense of honour and rectitude is so generally diffused, so gross an abuse would be hooted down by universal consent. We have laws, to be sure, against bribery; but it is manners which afford the sure antidote to such an evil; while, on the other hand, it takes root and flour ishes in the congenial soil of Russian manners. It is here, then, that the remedy must begin; but a reform in the manners of a people must be a work of time, and must slowly arise from the diffusion of knowledge, and of political improvement.

We have some curious details about Moscow, and the rebuilding of the city, which appears to be going on at a great rate. There is also some discussion of the question, of who were the authors of the conflagration in 1812? The Russians are anxious to fix the stain of this dread ful act on the invading army. But from all the evidence that has ever

appeared on this subject, and from the plain consideration that it was the interest of the French rather to preserve than to destroy the city, there is no doubt that its destruction was an act of the Russian Government; it was an act, too, which was praised at the time, in the most unbounded strain, for magnanimity and self-devotion; and there is no doubt, that if the authors of the conflagration were those who suffered by it, it was an act of self-devotion. But, on the other hand, if this was not the case,-if the real instigators of the conflagration were beyond the reach of the flames,-if it neither brought peril to their persons or properties, we cannot see that they discovered any magnanimity in devoting others to destruction for their own safety. The burning of Moscow may have been, even in this case, a necessary act; but it certainly evinced neither self-devotion nor magnanimity, and therefore does not deserve all the high-flown eulogiums which it has called forth. The author's sketch of the military colonies of Russia contains some curious and interesting information; but this article has already extended so far, that we must defer any consideration of it to our next Number.

We cannot conclude without adding, that the work is embellished with a number of coloured plates, which are highly finished, and beautiful.