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 their real disposition towards every country but their own, that the character of the people 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 Catharine; 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 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.

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At

(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, v. I. p. 71. Lond. 1796.

(2) ") "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, '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.

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 the dwellERS IN MESOPOTAMIA, AND IN Judea, and IN CAPPADOCIA, IN PONTUS, AND ASIA, PHRYGIA, AND PAMPHYLIA, In "EGYPT, AND in the parts oF LIBYA, ABOUT Cyrene, and STRANGERS "OF ROME, JEWS AND PROSELYTES, CRETES, AND ARABIANS."

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(Addition at the end of the Sixth Chapter, p. 107.

introduced in the Second Edition.)

Indeed we are authorized in maintaining, that wheresoever we direct an inquiry, whether to writers describing the brightest or the most gloomy periods of Russian history, we find the state of society subject to little variety. The leading testimony, even of authors decidedly partial to the country, is by no means favourable to the character of its inhabitants. So long ago as the middle of the last century, when the Baron de Manstein wrote his Memoirs' concerning the interesting æra that elapsed between the beginning of the reign of Peter the Second, and the marriage of the late Empress Catharine with the band whose murder Voltaire found it impossible to methodize, the insecurity of property, the total want of public faith, the ignorance and the rudeness characteristic of the people, were notorious'. De Manstein studiously avoided opprobrious reflection; attributing the depreciating accounts ordinarily given of the natives to the little information strangers, unacquainted with the language,

could

CHAP. VI.

(1) Memoirs of Russia by the Baron De Manstein, a German, who served in the Russian army. He afterwards became a general-officer in the Prussian service. These Memoirs contain a history of Russia from the year 1727 to the year 1744.

(2) See the Advertisement prefixed to this volume.

(3)" They were 'perfectly ignorant of all the rules of good breeding, even of the laws of nations, and of those prerogatives of foreign ministers which are established in the other Courts of Europe."—Supplement to the Memoirs, &c. p. 416. Second Edit. Lond. 1773.

CHAP. VI.

could procure'. It will therefore be curious to adduce the evidence afforded by him, in favour of the representation here made of the Russians; especially after the high character given` to his work by David Hume'. It was during the reign of the Empress Anne, that Valinsky, a minister of the Crown, together with his adherents, fell victims to the displeasure of one of those creatures called favourites. After relating their undeserved fate, and the confiscation of their property, De Manstein observes3; "All the estates of these unfortunate persons were given to others, who did not possess them long. In this manner," says he, "it is, that in Russia, not only money, but even lands, houses, and moveables, circulate quicker than in any other country in Europe. I have seen lands change masters at least thrice in the space of two years." The same author, describing their barbarous finery and want of cleanliness half a century ago, actually delineated a portraiture of the nobles as they appear at the present day*. "The richest coat would be sometimes worn together with the vilest uncombed wig; or you might see a beautiful piece of stuff spoiled by some botcher of a tailor: or, if there was nothing amiss in the dress, the equipage would be deficient. A man richly dressed would come to Court in a miserable coach, drawn by the wretchedest hacks." The same want

of

(1) Supplement to the Memoirs, &c. p. 416.

(2) Hume vouches for his being an eye-witness to most of the incidents related by him; and speaks of the author's candour, good sense, and impartiality.-See Advertisement to the Memoirs signed "David Hume."