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sery in which are formed, those women who excited his admiration. In that which is entitled the School of the Order of St. Catherine at Moscow, two hundred young ladies receive at the public expense a finished education, such as their parents even in affluent circumstances, could not find the means of procuring for them. More than seven hundred others, taken from the class of nobles as well as of citizens, are educated in similar academies at St. Petersburgh. These have of convents nothing but the name, and, in their organization, will bear a comparison with any thing of the same kind throughout Europe. In all probability, Dr. Clarke must have heard of these houses of education;-but the hatred which he indulged for all that was Russian, stimulated his gloomy imagination to transform them into so many prisons or convents, in which the young Russian ladies wear out their infancy in tiresome seclusion, until the caprice or interest of their unnatural parents calls them forth to experience the horrors of a tyrannical marriage.

Our traveller has not thought proper to communicate any scandalous anecdotes, to corroborate his opinion of the contempt, in which the matrimonial tie is held among the Russians. His delicacy revolts at wounding the sensibility of individuals, whom the recital might affect. We sincerely congratulate him on his momentary return to feelings of decency;-but what stories could he have retailed, which might not readily be matched, in the scandalous chronicles of other countries? Anecdotes make us acquainted with individuals, and nothing mores-it would be absurd to generalize the consequences drawn from them, as he appears to do. The manners of a nation present themselves under so many different aspects, that the most judicious observer may easily be deceived, and mistake for a general rule, what is, in truth, only an exception. Moreover, to appreciate them with equity, requires not only more time and attention than this gentleman has bestowed on the subject, but also moral qualifications, incompatible with the splenetic humour which betrays itself through his writings. The existence of connexions, of which gallantry is the cement, is impossible where the moral dispositions of the sexes are in direct opposition. If such ever took place, one of two consequences would have been inevitable: either the men would have communicated to the women their vices and their ferocity,—or the latter would have softened the habits, and polished the manners of the other sex. In either case, the general character of the nation would have assumed an uniform physiognomy.

The exiles in Siberia are not as unhappy, Dr. Clarke in

forms us (p. 65.), as is generally imagined in England. “Tobolsk is admirably adapted to the Russian taste,”—and a Russian nobleman "has no particular attachment to his country; none of that maladie du pays, which sickens the soul of an Englishman in banishment;"-to him "the sentence of exile can hardly imply banishment." We are unacquainted with the measure of sufferings endured by the convicts in Botany-Bay; --but we agree with Dr. Clarke, when he observes, that those banished to Tobolsk, find there the conveniences of life, and many alleviations of their melancholy existence. To the details he communicates about the capital of Siberia (evidently copied from Chappe's Travels), we will add, that independently of its being a much more agreeable place of residence, than could reasonably be expected, that city contains means of instruction and amusement, calculated to add considerably to the consolation of the exiles.-Among these are a gymnasium, several other schools, a literary society, and a permanent theatre. The government contemplates founding there a university, (as we mentioned in a former page,) to which a present of 100,000 roubles was appropriated in 1803, by Mr. Demidoff

We are by no means of opinion, that, in this instance, the penal code of Russia is defective. We think the banishment of criminals, infinitely preferable to the punishment of death inflicted for petty crimes in some parts of Europe. Banishment to Siberia, whatever Dr. Clarke may say, is however to a Russian nobleman, the greatest chastisement which can be inflicted on him, and is considered as the most deplorable of misfortunes. Of this we have a proof in the occurrence (p. 66.) which he himself witnessed, on the occasion of the subgovernor's being exiled from Moscow. "The whole city flocked "to take leave of him-dangerous as such a testimony of their "affection might prove." This generous trait by which the account is terminated, shows, that the most noble sentiments are not, as he has in so many places insinuated, strangers to the hearts of Russians even of obscure rank.

A prince Troubetzroy, turned dealer in minerals, &c. (mentioned in p. 67,) does really exist at Moscow, and is known there only by that circumstance. Hence may be estimated the sort of consideration he enjoys, and the singularity of the example; but it is palpably false, that "in the palaces of the "nobles there is not one of their owners unwilling to sell any "picture he possesses." On this subject we content ourselves with observing, that the finest collections are at St. Petersburgh, and not at Moscow; and shameless as is Dr. Clarke, he would perhaps have abstained from this illiberal assertion, if

he had known that the galleries in question, are owned by the Strogonoffs, the Besborodkos, the Beleselskys, and other noblemen of that rank.

We now come at last to the offensive passage before adverted to, in which the author resuming his ordinary rhetorical figures, concludes his picture of Russian manners in the following words:" It is a fact too notorious to admit dispute, that "from the emperor to the meanest slave, throughout the vast empire of all the Russias, including all its princes, nobles, "priests, and peasants, there exists not a single individual in a "thousand, whose body is destitute of vermin." (p. 71.)

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We deign not to answer seriously such chaste effusions of eloquence. It will suffice to advert to what this same writer says, on the subject of the baths, so common in Russia. "In England they are considered only as articles of luxury; yet "throughout the vast empire of Russia, through all Lapland, "Finland, Sweden, and Norway, there is no cottage so poor, no "hut so destitute, but it possesses its vapour-bath; in which all "its inhabitants, every Saturday at least, and every day in cases "of sickness, experience comfort and salubrity." (p. 117.) Thus, refuting his own declarations, he informs us that the Russians in spite of the vermin which devour them, are once a week at least, more cleanly than the inhabitants generally of other countries.

"They" (the Russians) consider the English as a mercenary "nation, and generally hate them, because they fear them, or "court them if they want their support." (p. 73.) This paragraph is intended to excite in England the same hatred for our countrymen, that is betrayed in every page of Dr. Clarke's book. If nations hate, because they fear each other, why does he not instruct us, in what respect, Russia can ever have cause to dread the enmity of England? Has not experience suffici ently demonstrated her perfect security? If we seek the motive of this hatred in the opinions entertained of England, by the Russians, here again Dr. Clarke furnishes us with the strongest objection to the existence of such a sentiment-for, turning to page 70, we find: "They" (the Russian nobles) "entertain "extravagant notions of the wealth and happiness of Englishmen; and they have good reason to do so; since whatever they possess useful or estimable comes to them from England. "Books, maps, prints, furniture, clothing, hardware of all "kinds, horses, carriages, hats, leather, medicine, almost every "article of convenience, comfort, or luxury, must be derived "from England, or it is of no estimation." This statement is undoubtedly exaggerated, but yet there is much truth in it.

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We leave Dr. Clarke to explain, how hatred and predilection can be cherished at the same time towards the same object. After all, if he found in Russia some manifestations of dislike to his countrymen, we will desire him to seek the cause, in that spirit of pride and insolence, which English travellers carry abroad with them, and in their propensity to wound the feelings of other nations.

Fortunately for humanity, it is not in the power of any single individual to inspire hatred between countries;-if it were, Dr. Clarke might lay claim to the horrible distinction. There can be none better qualified to excite feelings of ill will. We trust, however, that justly indignant as our countrymen must be when they peruse his libel, they will content themselves with despising the slanderer, without involving the country which gave him birth, in the same reprobation.

We cannot omit making a few remarks upon the story of the hat belonging to Mr. Cripps, which is represented to have been stolen by some Russian nobles. Let us not be misunderstood. God forbid we should for a moment admit the possibility of the fact! We notice it, only to display the depravity of this writer, in advancing so serious an accusation on such frivolous grounds. This impudent charge rests upon the testimony of tavern-servants-and is intended to establish the belief, that young men of family, and rich enough to possess English race-horses, could descend to such an act of meanness for the purpose of procuring a London-made hat, which is to be converted into a jockey-cap! The co-incidence of circumstances which accompanies the discovery of the thief, is no less wonderful than the act itself. The doctor and his friend make an excursion in the environs of Moscow; a young nobleman rides up to the side of their carriage, mounted on an English racer, and habited like a Newmarket jockey-(a dress severely prohibited at that time)-a gust of wind carries off his capMr. Cripps, with unaccountable civility, descends from his carriage to recover for its owner, the unlucky cap, which he finds to be no other than his own hat metamorphosed,-and all this without any attempt on the part of the thief, to prevent a discovery so alarming to him, especially as he had forgotten to efface the name of the hatter, and that of Mr. Cripps on the lining! Obliged to reconcile all these absurdities, before we can acquit Dr. Clarke of having asserted a falsehood, we shall be pardoned for thinking that he has done so,—and has invented a tale as full of improbabilities, as it is offensive to the inhabitants of Moscow.

We shall notice the visit to the archbishop of Moscow, only

because we find in the account of the conversation with that prelate (p. 121.), additional instances of the breach of confidence, which has already called for our animadversion. Archbishop Plato is one of those by whom the traveller and his companion were most cordially received, and whom they ought consequently to abstain from compromitting;-but we find that Dr. Clarke, though he does not honour him by defaming his person, puts into his mouth discourses calculated to injure him, not only with his government, but even with his best friends. There is surely more than indiscretion, in what he is made to say of his own brother, "who translated all his "sermons from the English,"-and of the empress Catherine, his benefactress, whom the archbishop has quite the air of ridiculing, when he speaks of her being so vain of her correspondence with Voltaire. Should Dr. Clarke's book ever get to Moscow,-(and we believe that it will, precisely because it is a libel,)-the venerable prelate will not be flattered with the figure he makes in it. Whether he have held or not the discourses attributed to him, he will feel regret, at having received the visit of such an individual, who calumniates his hosts, even when wishing to speak of them advantageously.

The state of the peasantry is a subject which he has not failed to seize upon, in order to scatter his accustomed favours upon our country. Among other ridiculous exaggerations we read, (p. 137.) the following." The only property a Russian "nobleman allows his peasant to possess, is the food he cannot, or will not, eat himself; the bark of trees, chaff and other re"fuse" and "you find the poor labourer, surrounded by "riches, and yet dying of hunger"-" Extensive pastures co"vered with cattle, afford no milk to him.'

The editors of the Quarterly Review have anticipated the answers we should have made to a great part of these rhapsodies. Their remarks (p. 120. vol. iv.) must have satisfied all those, whose judgment is not swayed by party spirit.—An English officer, the respectability of whose character is as distinguished as his exemplary valour, has also had the generosity to take part in the controversy, and to defend our countrymen. His testimony as an eye-witness, and the respectable authority with which he supports it, justifies the hope, that his efforts will be efficacious, in repelling the shafts of calumny. Dr. Clarke himself appears to acknowledge, that he has grossly disfigured the truth, since he has thought proper to subjoin to his own performance, a long extract from the manuscript journal of Mr. Heber, in which the condition of the Russian peasantry is very differently represented. The information

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