station in society. It is, above all, in the organization of the universities, considered as the objects of principal importance, and which form the last link in the chain of instruction, that every attention has been sedulously paid to insure the attainment of this great desideratum. Many professors of celebrity, whom the suppression of some of the universities in Germany had deprived of employment, have been invited to Russia; others, who chose to withdraw from the theatre of war, have obtained a distinguished reception. These learned persons are interested in the success of the undertaking by the most powerful motives. An honourable rank in society, and emoluments sufficient to support that rank, are assigned to them;— they are at liberty to devote a portion of their time to giving private lessons, which are of course lucrative in proportion to the zeal and activity of the tuition. Their apprehensions respecting the fate of their families, in case of their own deaths, are anticipated by liberal concessions in favour of their widows and children. Lastly-the universities are rendered perfectly independent of the civil authorities by having exclusively to themselves the direction of their internal police, to which is added the censorship of all books printed within their limits, provided they conform to the decree on that subject of the 4th July, 1804.

An examination of the decree in question will show that the Russian government has neglected nothing, in order to do away, all those restrictions of the press, which might shackle the progress of literature, and of rational liberty. Some indirect measures of coercion, others of encouragement, were thought indispensable to deter the ignorant from exercising offices of distinction, and to facilitate their being obtained by men of talent and merit. Subsequent regulations to this effect, have secured considerable advantages to those individuals who, after having successfully followed all the courses of instruction, and undergone an examination in one of the universities, choose to devote themselves to civil employments. On the other hand, all those who hold subaltern appointments in the different offices of administration are obliged, until they have attained the rank of counsellors of state, to produce with every promotion in their different grades, an attestation from one of the universities, that they have finished the studies necessary to qualify them for the proper fulfilment of the post, for which they are candidates.

Such are, in substance, the most remarkable dispositions of the general system of public instruction in the Russian empire. They have all been carried into effect, as regards the

universities, the gymnasia and the district schools.-There yet remains much to be done with respect to the parish schools, the number of which will be prodigious, when the general plan (contemplating one at least for every two parishes,) shall be carried into complete execution. But this branch, important as it is, from its immediate influence upon the great mass of the nation, presents fewer difficulties than the schools of a higher order; inasmuch as it embraces only the elements of education. The masters will be principally chosen from among the students of the ecclesiastical seminaries.

The organization of which we have been giving some account, did not, it is true, exist when Dr. Clarke travelled in Russia; but his book made its appearance several years afterwards, and he must have been acquainted with the great changes which had been effected, in every part of the administration of the empire-changes which have rendered the superficial sketch he has traced, still more open to the charge of misrepresentation, than it would otherwise have been.

We have hitherto spoken only of what the government has done to enlighten the nation;-enough, we believe, to exculpate it from the accusation advanced by Dr. Clarke, of being actuated by views absolutely contrary to this benevolent intention. In the short lapse of time which comprehends the whole history of the introduction of letters into Russia, there may indeed be found some intervals of stagnation;-but every thing considered, it cannot be denied that the spirit of the Russian government has, in general, been particularly favourable to the advancement of public instruction. We have yet to say a few words of the share every class of inhabitants, or more properly the whole nation, has taken in this honourable work. On this subject we experience a sentiment of pride (why should we disguise it?) which amply rewards us for the pain we have felt, in investigating the calumnies of a Clarke, and dwelling on the partiality of his eulogists. We defy them to produce an example of any other nation engaging with more earnestness, to advance the success of a great and liberal enterprise.

The facts we are about to lay before our readers are recorded in the official gazettes of St. Petersburgh. They will also be found in "Storch's Periodical Journal," for 1803, 1804, 1805, and 1806.

The counsellor of state, Paul Demidoff, bestowed, in 1803, the following gratuities on the different universities of the empire:

Towards establishing an university at Yaroslaf in lieu of the gymnasium which was designed for that city,

certain villages belonging to him, in the government of the same name, with 3758 peasants,-producing a revenue of 25,000 roubles. Moreover, a capital of 100,000 roubles, (to which he has since added 20,000 more,) to be expended in improving the buildings intended for this object by government. To the university of Moscow,-the sum of 100,000 rou bles, his library, and his cabinet of coins and medals, as well as his collection of minerals-the whole estimated at 250,000 roubles.

To the universities intended to be founded at Kief and Tobolsk, the sum of 100,000 roubles, to be put out at legal interest in the public funds, until these universities are opened for the admission of students.

The Emperor has caused a medal to be struck in honour of this distinguished act of patriotism.-Count Ilia Besborodko offered in 1805, for the purpose of founding an Athenæum for the higher sciences, at Nejine, (his birth-place, a small town in Lesser Russia,) the sum of 210,000 roubles in cash. He has, besides, secured to this school a perpetual income of 15,000 roubles in landed estate, and has given an extensive piece of ground situated in the town, together with a considerable quantity of building materials.

Colonel Prince Ourousof has presented to the university of Moscow his valuable mineralogical collection (mentioned in Dr. Clarke's Travels, page 112).

The privy-counsellor Soudienko gave in 1804 the sum of 40,000 roubles, towards the foundation of secondary schools in Lesser Russia;-another sum of 15,000 roubles was offered for the same object by M. Kotshoubey, marshal of the noblesse of Pultawa.

The noblesse of the government of Charkoff have subscribed, for the founding of an university of that name, the sum of 400,000 roubles, payable in six years by annual instalments from the 1st September 1802. The burghers and merchants of the different towns in that government have engaged to pay, for the purpose above mentioned, annually, 10,000 roubles for ten years.

The noblesse of the government of Ekaterinoslaf have subscribed in favour of the university of Charkoff the sum of 110,000 roubles, payable in ten years;-obliging themselves at the same time by a solemn engagement, to furnish this money out of their actual revenues, and without imposing any addition whatever, for this purpose, to the taxes paid by their serfs.

The noblesse of the government of Pensa engaged in 1803,

to pay an annual and perpetual rent of 2250 roubles, to be applied to the support of the gymnasium at Pensa;-this rent is derived from a capital vested in the public funds bearing interest at five per cent. Another capital of 90,000 roubles was subscribed for in the same place, for the foundation of a military school.

A gentleman of small fortune, living in retirement on his estate, Mr. Zacharine,-presented to the gymnasium of Pensa his library, consisting of 1500 volumes, all in the Russian language. This modest offering is not unworthy of being re

corded.

The noblesse of the government of Tver abandoned in favour of the military schools a capital of 200,000 roubles, which had been collected for the construction of barracks.

The subscriptions made among the nobles of the government of Toula, for the foundation of schools, amounted to 86,000 roubles, from the 1st September 1801, to the 1st February 1804. Those in the government of Smolensk for the year 1803, produced 77,000 roubles.

The merchants of Ghiazk, (a district-town of the latter government), have engaged to furnish in the course of forty years, a capital of 100,000 roubles, to found a school of commerce in that place; and to pay, until that sum shall have accumulated, 2500 roubles annually.

In 1804 the merchants of Moscow established in that metropolis, at their own expense, a school of commerce, endowed with an annual revenue of 15,000 roubles, besides a first payment of 50,000 roubles, which was given for the expenses of the original establishment, &c. &c.

These instances of patriotism, with the exception of the two cited first, are taken at random from a multitude of similar examples, which were successively made public by government. We can assure our readers that the same zeal was manifested in all parts of the empire,-without excepting any, however distant. We might extend the list of these voluntary contributions; but those already mentioned will suffice, we believe, to give an idea of the state of society, and of the national character in Russia, widely differing from that which Dr. Clarke has endeavoured to inspire. It will at least be seen, that a just sense of what was deficient, in relation to public instruction in that empire, was universally entertained, and was met by a corresponding disposition to apply the proper remedies. Before a nation has reached this point, it must previously have made no inconsiderable progress in the career of civilization.

Dr. Clarke, having laid down the proposition, that the Rus

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 perfection, 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.