anxious expectation for the proffered act of grace, and uncon scious of the impending danger, they were suddenly surrounded by bands of soldiers, who, regardless of the sanctity of the place, and deaf to the voice of humanity, dragged the flower of the young men from the altars of their God, from the bosoms of their parents, and the enjoyment of all that was most dear to them in life; and moreover butchered, without any distinction of age, sex, or condition, those that attempted, by intercession or force, to soften the hearts or avert the deadly weapons of their remorseless assassins. In the parishes where those atrocities were perpetrated, no less than 700 unoffending and defenceless individuals have fallen victims to the relentless fury of monsters in a human form."

APPENDIX.

THE

No. I.

HE following document is inserted to prove the remarkable fact, that during a period when England was not at war with Russia, two English Gentlemen, accredited by their Government, and bearing with them recommendatory letters from the English Secretary of State, were detained prisoners in that country, contrary to the laws observed between civilized nations.

It is an answer, from the Governor of Moscow, to their petition for a passport to return to England; after every application to the Emperor, by means of their Minister at Petersburg, had failed of effect; given verbally and literally.

"Le Comte Soltijcof est mortifié qui'l ne peut pas contenter Messieurs Cripps et Clarke, en leurs procurant la permission de sortir hors des frontiéres, par la raison que ça ne dépend que de SA MAJESTÉ L'EMPEREUR même. Ce qui concerne l'envoi de la lettre au Ministre d'Angleterre

à Petersbourg, ces Messieurs la peuvent faire remettre par la poste, et elle sera rendue en toute sureté."

TRANSLATION.

"Count Soltijcof is concerned that he cannot gratify Messrs. Cripps and Clarke in obtaining permission for them to pass the frontiers, since that depends solely on his Majesty the Emperor. As to the conveyance of the letter addressed to the English Minister at Petersburg, those Gentlemen may send it by the post, and it will be delivered in perfect safety."

As a comment upon this curious communication, it may be necessary to add, concerning the pretended security of letters entrusted to the post in Russia, that few of them ever reached their destination; they were all opened and read by the police; and often destroyed, or sent back to their authors. We had, at that time, no other means of intercourse with our Minister, than by sending a messenger the whole way from Moscow to Petersburg; a distance nearly equal to five hundred miles; and it was in this manner we obtained his instructions for attempting an escape by the southern frontier.

THE present water communication between the Volga and the Baltic, having the Canals of Vyshney Voloshok for its point of separation and reservoir, dates its origin from the year 1711. One part of the reservoirs, sluices, &c. at this place, serves to improve the navigation of the Tveret; and the other, to render the passage of the craft, over the Borovitsky Falls (in the Msta), less dangerous. This part of Inland Navigation is brought to all the state of perfection it is capable of; except finishing the Cut from Vilievsky, for an extraordinary supply of water, in time of drought, out of the Lake Velia. This Canal was begun in 1779, but soon abandoned. In 1797, the work was again resumed. In 1798, an extraordinary drought prevailed, and exhausted the reservoirs of Vyshney Voloshok to that degree, that the vessels bound to St. Petersburg

The Canals
Voloshok.

of Vyshney

Vilievsky
Canal.

Novogorodsky Canal.

were in danger of being totally stopped'; which circumstance was a convincing proof of the absolute necessity to complete this Cut from the Lake Velia'. But, as the sole object of this undertaking was the mere supply of water to Vyshney Voloshok, after leaving of which the barks were exposed to new danger, in passing the Cataracts of Borovitsky, and in navigating the Lake Ilmen (which not only subjects them to loss of time in watching for favourable weather, but to imminent risk of the total loss of capital, and many lives, from the natural turbulency of this water), the merchants frequenting this track voluntarily proposed paying a toll of ten roubles for each vessel, to make a passage practicable round the Ilmen leading from the Msta direct to the Volchof. The plan was adopted, on examination, in 1775; but the work not begun till. 1797, under the denomination of the Novogorodsky Canal'. In 1800, the spring caravan, taking advantage of the high water, usually prevalent at that season, effected a passage through this canal with ease, though not yet

(1) To extricate the caravans, cost 20,000 roubles.

(2) For this purpose, 18,000 roubles were appropriated.

(3) 250,000 roubles were assigned for this work. The toll collected, produced 50,000 roubles; and the whole sum of 300,000 roubles is already expended.