He also cites a passage, in the Notes, from a French work of celebrity, to prove, with reference to " w, that l'hospitalité des Russes paroît ici is tout son jour." Another extract from Lord Royston's Letters will shew, that the same characteristic of the inhabitants was observed by his Lordship; although, as he expressly declares, it did not alter his "general opinion" of the people. It is taken from a Letter to the Right Honourable Charles Yorke, dated Moscow, May 5th, 1807. "Notwithstanding all the pleasure I promise myself from my tour, I shall be sorry to leave Moscow: the hospitality of the people is very great; and it is unpleasant to be always forming new and agreeable acquaintance, with the expectation of shortly leaving them, and the probability of never seeing them again. On leaving Petersburg, notwithstanding my general opinion, I felt very strongly how painful it is, to quit, for ever, a place in which we have resided for some time; and believe it was solely that feeling which caused me to return thither from Moscow."

Indeed it may be urged, that even those Authors who endeavour to present a favourable view of the Russian people, and who strain every

effort to accomplish the undertaking, are continually betraying the hidden reality. Their pages, like embroidered vestnt upon the priests of Moscow, disclose, with every gust that separates them, the rags and wretchedness they were intended to conceal'. Nor is it only in those periods of Russian history when hostility threw off the veil, and enabled other nations to observe the real disposition of the people towards every country but their own, that their character has been thus manifested. It is alike displayed in peace or war; in circumstances of seeming civilization, or of acknowledged barbarism; in the reign of PETER, or of CATHERINE; under the tyranny of PAUL, or the mild government of ALEXANDER. These are facts, indeed, which a traveller may withhold: he may say, with Fontenelle," If I had my hand full of truths, I would not suffer one of them to escape; or, like Voltaire, he may wait "until he has leisure to methodize

(1) You can hardly imagine any thing more showy than the appearance of the priests of these churches on their festival days. But if the wind should chance to blow aside the sacred vestment, you would probably feel a degree of disgust not easily described, at seeing shoes and stockings, and breeches, and shirt, of the coarsest materials, generally ragged, and always dirty, appearing from under robes of the most superb and costly embroidery." Letters from Scandinavia, vol. I. p.71. Lond. 1796.

events," prior to their communication: but if he expect credit to be given, when he tells the theme of praise, when all that "is lovely and of good report" claims its due regard, it is not from such philosophy, that he can hope for its acquirement',

At all events, the subject, as far as the author is concerned, shall now rest. Another portion of his Travels, describing objects of a more pleasing nature, diverts his attention from Scythian wilds and from all their fur-clad tribes; from uniformity of scenery and of disposition, to regions highly diversified, and to human-nature under every circumstance of character; from wide and barren plains, to varied territories "flowing with milk and honey;" from rivers, and lakes, and stagnant waters, to seas traversed by "men out of every nation under heaven; “PARTHIANS, AND MEDES, AND ELAMITES, AND 66 THE DWELLERS IN MESOPOTAMIA, AND IN

(1) "Even the Author of the History of CHARLES XII. of PETER I. and of the age of Louis XIV. was of opinion, that it was of greater importance to say what is useful than what is true; as if what was false could ever be useful! In a Letter to Count Schuvalof, he says, 6 Until I have leisure to methodize the terrible event of the death of the Tsarevitch, I have begun another work.' Is this the language of a philosophical historian?" Mem. of the Court of Petersburg, p.81.

"JUDEA, AND IN CAPPADOCIA, IN PONTUS, AND "ASIA, PHRYGIA, AND PAMPHYLIA, IN EGYPT,

AND IN THE PARTS OF LYBIA, ABOUT CYRENE,

66 AND STRANGERS OF ROME, JEWS AND PROS"ELYTES, CRETES, AND ARABIANS."