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sian nation have only a talent for imitation, acquits himself in the proof, with his accustomed ability. The facts, by which he supports his opinion, are either absolutely false, or prove the reverse of what he intended. For instance, the story of a Russian, who, without ever having seen a theatre, became an actor superior to any in Europe, must have been invented to amuse the Doctor's credulity;-but if true, it would certainly manifest more than a mere talent of imitation in the individual. However disposed we may be to avail ourselves of similar mistakes, respect for truth obliges us to acknowledge, that no such phenomenon ever was known in Russia. The Russian stage has produced several actors, who have acquired, in their own country, considerable celebrity, the justness of which has been confirmed by the applause of strangers; but we pretend not to compare them, with the great models of perfec tion, who have appeared on the French, English, and German stages.

We are not as positive respecting the account of the picture of Dietrici, of which, according to our traveller, a copy so perfect was finished, that it was impossible to distinguish it from the original. Supposing the story true, we think that here also, Dr. Clarke could not have advanced a fact less favourable to his general hypothesis. The talent of imitation in painting, carried to such perfection, necessarily pre-supposes that degree of maturity in the art, which, in the history of all nations, immediately precedes the development of the genius of invention; and we must be allowed to think, that more than the mere instinct of imitation, in the Russian artist, was requisite, to enable him, by the excellence with which he copied a painting of merit, to deceive the eye of experienced connoisseurs. We regret, for the credit of our countrymen, that the conclusion drawn by us is supported in the premises, by no better authority than that of Dr. Clarke.

Here we have occasion to remark, how little this writer deserves the praise of the Edinburgh Reviewers, when they say that "he has very great merit in having generally avoided the vice of most travellers-that of publishing what may injure individuals." In order to authenticate the story of the fraud about the picture by Dietrici, he adduces the testimony of two Italian architects, Guarenghi and Camporesi;-he even makes the latter entertain him with other equally surprising anecdotes of the state of the fine arts in Russia. Both these gentlemen have been for many years established in that country, and enjoy the consideration which every where attends distinguished talents.

-They have always been the objects of the special protection of government, and have been loaded with its favours,-particularly Mr. Guarenghi, who resides at St. Petersburgh, where he is noticed by the court, and has occasionally the honour of being admitted into the private society of the reigning Emperor. Admitting that these artists did really communicate to Dr. Clarke the information he states, (which, begging his pardon, we think very doubtful,) was it delicate in him to expose them to the just reprehension of a people, by whom they had been treated with so much kindness?

Dr. Clarke thinks that "under the present form of government in Russia, it is not probable the fine arts will ever flourish." The form of government, the vices of the nation in general, and the ill treatment of the serfs, are the circumstances on which he founds his opinion. It may be well to remark on this subject, that among civilized nations, those which enjoy a free form of government, are by no means the most advanced in the fine arts. They flourish not in Great Britain-neither is it in their cultivation, that the North Americans have displayed the success which marks their progress in the useful arts. Few are the Englishmen distinguished by their skill in painting, sculpture, architecture and music; while on the other hand, it would be no easy task to enumerate the crowd of artists, who in other countries, have acquired celebrity in every branch of the liberal arts. Indeed to the freedom of government which characterises Great Britain and the United States, may very probably be attributed their deficiency in this respect. The national genius is directed, by the influence of political institutions upon the habits and occupations of men, towards those serious studies in which reason has a greater share than imagination.-Obliged to occupy themselves with public affairs, they devote their leisure and meditations to pursuits which may qualify them for public life, and open for them the avenues to power and distinction.-In the view of such men the useful arts will always predominate over the others. Bacon and Locke had published their immortal writings,-Newton had made his wonderful discoveries, the great principles of legislation, on which the fabric of the British constitution reposes, were established, long before the pencils of Reynolds and of West had taught Europe, that England could produce painters of ability.

In the countries, where the government was purely monarchical, the fine arts attained to great perfection, before any progress had been made in the sciences of legislation, of poli

tical economy and of civil jurisprudence. May we not therefore conclude, that the deficiency of the Russians in this respect is not to be attributed to their form of government? and can it be doubted that with us, as was the case in France and in Italy, the splendor and magnificence of the court will produce the same effect, of encouraging the advancement of the liberal arts, and exciting the emulation of the opulent nobles in patronising them? This indeed has already happened, and to prove it we need only invoke the testimony, of the many other travellers from various countries, who have surveyed St. Petersburgh and Moscow, with less precipitation than Dr. Clarke. The general aspect of these capitals, the number of fine edifices they contain, the collections of paintings and statues both public and private, with which they abound, are sufficient proofs of the enlightened taste which prevails in their decoration. The book before us itself confirms our assertion; for though the author met at Moscow with a prince who was a dealer in minerals, pictures, &c., and who offered all his museum for sale, he makes us, in his eighth chapter, acquainted with seven or eight other noblemen who apply their precious collections to the most valuable uses.

Russia, without having produced artists to rival those of the first rank in other parts of the world, is not destitute of some who do honour to their country. The sculptors Korlossky and Martos, the painters Levitzky and Egoroff, the engravers Stchedrine and Koshkine may be unknown in London, but they are not so at Rome, and at Paris. The first whose name we have here mentioned, designed and executed the monument to Souvoroff at St. Petersburgh;-and the second, that which is to be erected at Nishney-Novgorod to the memory of prince Pojarskay and the merchant Minine, who in 1612 expelled the Poles from Moscow.-The magnificent church consecrated to the holy virgin of Casan, which has lately been finished at St. Petersburgh, was constructed from the designs, and under the direction, of a young architect formerly a slave of count Alexander Strogonoff. In this beautiful specimen of modern architecture, which is ranked immediately after the cathedrals of St. Peter at Rome, and of St. Paul at London, by intelligent connoisseurs, every thing, even the smallest ornament, is the work of Russian artists; the genius and workmanship of foreigners were rigidly excluded, as if a presentiment had been entertained that a day would come, when such proofs might be useful, to repel the groundless assertions of foreign travellers.Another serf, named Alexandroff, vassal to count Scheresnetoff, gained in three successive years, the first VOL. III.

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prize of painting distributed annually, by the academy of fine arts at St. Petersburgh, of which he was a pupil; he obtained his freedom and was sent to Italy in 1804, at the expense of the academy.

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Dr. Clarke visited the booksellers' shops at Moscow. Without possessing the slightest acquaintance with the Russian language, and without making any of the necessary inquiries relative to Russian literature, he announces in the tone of a man qualified to decide, that "books of real, literary reputation are not to be obtained either in Petersburgh or Moscow."-Had he taken the trouble of opening the catalogue which we are told by himself fills an 8vo. volume of two hundred pages, (p. 55.) he would there have found the writings of Bacon, Hume, Adam Smith, Bentham, Filangieri, Montesquieu, &c. It is to be presumed that these books are read, since they are sold. Persons acquainted with the two capitals of Russia, must know that the commerce of books is in those cities very lucrative, and that the booksellers who deal in Russian books, generally enrich themselves faster, than those who sell books in other languages. We will not deny that bad novels are numerous in their collections, but where is this not the case? Do we not see, even in England, the splendor of the edition, frequently supply the want of intrinsic merit, in the productions which daily issue from the press?

Russian literature is yet in its infancy, and the number of original authors inconsiderable. That there should be even so many must excite surprise, when we reflect how lately the dawn of science broke upon the nation, and count the obstacles which they had to surmount, in a country so little prepared for their reception. There, as every where else, poetry led the way in the progress of the national literature.-Among the Russian poets are some who would do honour to any country: Lomonoroff and Derjavine in lyric verse, Choraskoff in epics, Soumarakoff in tragedy, Kniagnine in comedy, Dmitriest and many others in inferior departments. With better guides, Dr. Clarke might without difficulty have obtained this information.-Even the History of Russia, by Mr. Levesque, first published in 1781, would have furnished him with ideas on the subject widely differing from those he appears to entertain. We grant that Frenchmen, Englishmen, Germans, or Italians will find nothing in our authors particularly remarkable, but we nevertheless believe, that they will offer a satisfactory result, to the observer of the progress of the human mind, who calculates the epochs and

weighs the circumstances, which have favoured or retarded the advancement of learning.

"In the class of the nobles," says Dr. Clarke, "the women are far superior to the men: they are mild, affectionate, often well informed, beautiful, and highly accomplished; while the men are destitute of every qualification which might render them, in the eyes of their female companions, objects of admiration." (p. 61, 62.)-Nothing is wanting to complete the contrast between the sexes, if we look back to what Dr. Clarke says of the men (p. 28). All the virtues are on one side, all the vices on the other. This is certainly the first time that it has ever entered the head of a philosopher, to draw a character of a whole people, which admits of no resemblance between the two sexes, and makes them in a manner of two distinct species. But surprise gives way to indignation, when we find this singular proposition made the foundation, of a picture of matrimonial life in Russia, so improbable and so disgusting in its details, that it can have been conceived only by a disposition eminently inclined to evil. There is a degree of depravation which a virtuous mind finds it difficult to credit, although proofs be given of its existence;-but, without adducing any proofs whatever, Dr. Clarke has published his account,and since he has had the boldness to declare, that his assertions will not be contradicted in Russia, we will endeavour to expose their falsehood.

In the first place, it is absolutely untrue, that in Russia young ladies are confined in convents, until they are provided with husbands; and we defy Dr. Clarke to cite a single instance, where a marriage has been contracted, without a previous acquaintance between the parties. If what he has said be true, his residence at Moscow must render it easy for him to produce the examples we ask for;-but our readers shall judge, by a sketch of the system of female education in our country, how ill informed this author is on the subject.

The daughters of opulent nobles are educated at home, and are introduced into society, at the age of sixteen or seventeen years. Those of less wealthy parents in the classes of nobles or citizens, generally receive a public education, in the establishments destined for this purpose, and which are under the auspices of the Empress-mother, both at St. Petersburgh and Moscow. Young ladies are admitted into these institutions at nine years of age, and leave them at eighteen. If Dr. Clarke had deigned, in imitation of many other travellers, who have visited Russia with dispositions less hostile than his, to cast an eye on these establishments, he would have found there, the nur

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