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ART. VI.-Life in Russia; or, the Discipline of Despotism. By Edward P. Thompson, Esq. 12mo. pp. 340. London: Smith, Elder, and Co.

THE generality of English readers know little of Russia. Their view of its condition and resources, the state of its population, and the machinery of its government, is exceedingly vague and inaccurate. Until lately, scarcely anything was published respecting it, and the works which have recently appeared are, for the most part, disfigured by prejudices which seriously detract from their value. Rumours,' as Mr. Thompson states, take the place of facts, and in the estimation of the world, Russia is considered as an unapproachable limit, a kind of barrier to the advances of civilized Europe.' Such a state of things is at once discreditable and injurious. In the existing state of Europe, it is of importance that we should be accurately informed respecting an empire, the progress of which has been so extraordinary, and which, at some remote period, may be destined to act an important part in the history of our race. Standing on the limits of Europe, it forms a connecting link between the eastern and the western world; unites within itself the opposite extremes of civilization and barbarism, and by its material resources, and the energy and skill with which they are wielded, is evidently disposed to influence the fortunes of other countries. The partial information possessed has given a mystic character to the power of Russia. Enough has been known to awaken apprehension, and fear has in consequence been permitted to operate through the medium of imagination. The promptitude and unsparing severity with which the Russian power has interposed, on various occasions, to accomplish its purpose, have alarmed the statesmen of Europe; while the atrocities of Siberian exile, and the butcheries of Poland, have, in general estimation, invested the autocrat with some of the worst attributes of our nature. Our countrymen are, consequently, disposed to indulge in sweeping and indiscriminate censures, for which apologies may easily be pleaded, but which it is impossible wholly to justify. The reports reaching us from the north of Europe have awakened indignation. We have seen the general result, at least, in its broader and more palpable features; but the more secret mechanism of the catastrophe, the actual condition and spirit of the power by which such misdeeds have been enacted, are only very partially understood. In this state of things

we welcome information from any quarter, and are specially grateful for it when conveyed without pretension, and free from the passions of an excited partizanship. Viewed in this light, Mr. Thompson's volume is most acceptable. It is written in the form of letters, and without assuming to furnish a perfect picture, will be found materially to assist in giving a tolerable idea of the country and its inhabitants, and in forming just opinions of the imperial system of government.'

We are not informed of the object of Mr. Thompson's visit to Russia, nor of the period when it occurred. There are probably good reasons for his silence, but the confidence of our countrymen in the information conveyed, would not have been weakened by more explicitness on these points. The forms and ceremonies which a traveller encounters on entering Russia, are endlessly varied, and ridiculous for their minuteness. To an Englishman they are inexpressibly vexatious, and produce an impression of insecurity, which his subsequent knowledge of the country does not remove. He meets the vigilance of despotism at the threshold of the empire, and is admonished of the suspicions with which his most trifling actions will be viewed. Mr. Thompson experienced his full measure of these annoyances. Being questioned respecting the object of his visit, and giving his usual answer, Un voyage d'agrément,' he was informed, with more truth probably than the replies of Russian officials usually contain, It is not usual for people to return to this country several times on a voyage d'agrément,' and was requested to await the decision of a superior. This, of course, he was compelled to do, and on furnishing the explanation required, was suffered to proceed.

The first appearance of St. Petersburgh, we are informed, 'is more imposing than agreeable; its gilded domes and spires are visible at a considerable distance, glittering under the sun's rays, but the city itself is not discernible till the vessel approaches the quay. There is an entire absence of the bustle which usually characterizes a populous city, and the cold, stately appearance of the houses adds to the chill which the inquisition of the police, and the useless forms of the customhouse authorities, have already produced:

'Vastness and space are the most prominent features in St. Petersburg: the scale on which the buildings are planned, the extreme width of the streets, and the prodigious extent occupied by the squares and public places, weary and bewilder the eye. Elegance and harmony are not obtained, because proportions are not kept; for, however colossal the buildings, the effect is marred, either by distance or by the uncircumscribed space around them. The streets are undeviatingly straight, intersecting each other at right angles; and the three main thorough

fares spread out fan-like from one common centre, of which the Admiralty steeple is the point.

'Most of the houses are built in quadrangles, having a large courtyard in the centre, which is used for stabling and for housing the enormous piles of wood laid in for winter fuel. They have commonstairs like those in Edinburgh, or the inns of court in London, and each floor often contains many separate tenements. They are generally of vast size, of three or four stories high, and accommodate an incredible number of families: one house, for instance, in the Nefskoi Prospectk, where I had to deliver a letter, was occupied by 170 different sets of tenants, and, as there was no register of their names, I found it impossible to execute my commission. The ground-floor facing the street, even in the houses of the highest nobility, is used for shops : but the uniformity of the building is not disturbed by this arrangement; for the windows are not altered to form what are called shop-fronts in England. Indeed, any deviation from the usual form would be impossible, as there would be no means of putting in the double sashes or frames, which are indispensable preservatives against the severity of the cold in winter.

The furniture, paper, and other hangings in the houses are flashy but not substantial, and many little articles which are seen in the meanest lodgings in England, such as window-blinds, bed-curtains, wash-hand stands, &c., are not to be found; but there are mirrors, sofas, lustres, French engravings, and other ornamental things, of ten times the value of those essentials that are wanting. This is typical of the state of things throughout the country; which seeks, by imposing on the eye by external effects, to blind the judgment to the moral and physical characteristics of things beneath the surface. The principle of government and the regulations of society know no other object: and to descend to realities, the glittering and noble-looking edifices, unsubstantial mockeries of Italian splendour rising from an arctic morass, are but so many incrustations of plaster, crumbling under the rigours of winter, and requiring to be renewed and restored again, to cheat the eye with a mask of magnificence.'-pp. 21-23.

The Winter Palace is the most prominent architectural feature of the city, and the Admiralty Square in which it stands, is unequalled in extent, and, according to our author, in inconvenience, throughout Europe. It contains the Senate House, the Isaac's Cathedral, the War Office, the Etat Major, the Admiralty, and two large riding schools, besides other public buildings of large dimensions. One hundred thousand men are manœuvred in it with ease; and so vast is its area, that the buildings are wanting in proportionate magnitude. The famous statue of Peter the Great stands at one extremity of the square, in connexion with which an amusing anecdote is related, which strikingly reminds us of the recklessness of our own seamen :

Some American sailors, who had been making rather too free with the jolly god, sallied forth on a frolicsome cruise, and one of them, not

having the fear of the police before his eyes, climbed over the iron palisade surrounding the statue, and, clambering up the rock, seated himself en croupe behind the Emperor. He was speedily dismounted, and, after a night's confinement, was brought before the divisional officer of police. His case was summarily disposed of, and so heavy a fine inflicted, that he naturally remonstrated. No, no,' said the officer, we can make no abatement: if you will ride with great people, you must pay great people's price.'-pp. 30—31.

The hotels of the capital are distinguished by a total absence of cleanliness and comfort, and several boarding-houses, conducted by English women have in consequence sprung into existence. Those,' says Mr. Thompson, 'kept by Miss Benson, on the English Quay, and by Miss Dee, in the Galerny, are extremely good: the attention and arrangement of those ladies leave nothing to be desired. They are frequented by numbers of English and Americans, and occasionally by travellers of other nations; and, as English is naturally the language used, there is less constraint and reserve, probably, than at other tables in the empire of a public nature.'

The venality of Russian officials is one of the most notorious features of the community. It is a national quality, and 'like a prevailing epidemic, is irresistible. Discovery only brings a share in the spoil, and an unblushing accomplice is added to the scheme of fraud and oppressive wrong.'

'Officials,' remarks our author, of every grade are poorly paid, and they are therefore open to any bribe, undeterred by either delicacy or scruples. The system is too common and universal to create the slightest remark, or to attach disgrace to the recipient: perhaps a little prudence is observed; but still persons, whose salaries are known to be under one hundred pounds a year, openly live at the rate of ten times that amount, derived from sources which are perfectly notorious. Bribery is a weed of such deep root and ancient growth, and sc engrafted with the nature of the people, that neither the commands o the Emperor, nor a tenfold increased stipend, would check it. The Empress Catherine openly espoused it; and it is recorded of her that, on some really honest functionary petitioning for an adition to his pay, which was insufficient for his support, she exclaimed, 'The ass! I have led him to the manger and he refuses to eat.'

'But Russian venality in matters of justice is the most unpardonable feature of the evil. The scales are even here the most appropriate symbols of the Goddess, as significantly implying that the beam preponderates with the weightiest bribe. Is it that the mind retrogrades in the absence of those moral virtues which elevate the character of a people, relaxing its strict discipline from being subject to no controul from popular opinion; or does it intuitively conform to, and assimilate itself with, the order of things around it? A friend of mine being insulted by a droshky driver, ordered the man to take him to the next

police station: there, a short statement, backed by a ten-rouble note, was conclusive, and, without being permitted a defence, the man was taken into the yard and flogged. The punishment is not inflicted with the object of disgracing the man; for that it would be useless to attempt; but its intention and effect, are to keep the spirit of subjection in full and undiminished power.'-p. 38.

Russia, like Austria, boasts of its paternal government, and the people are sufficiently uninformed and servile to please themselves with the delusion. The regulations of authority meet them on every hand. Their most trifling affairs are arranged by the emperor, so that the slightest possible demand is made on their own resources and skill. The exercise of their intellects is reduced to the minimum point. The emperor thinks and orders for them, and the natural consequence is seen in the entire absence of individual action and self-respect. There is no such thing as independence of mind. The human being loses his erectness, and becomes a mere machine, drilled by whatever rules the autocrat may be pleased to appoint. The rigidity of military discipline is maintained throughout the empire; the community is as one vast army, and so strict is the surveillance, so eagle-eyed are the authorities, that the slightest deviation from the prescribed code is visited with instant punishment. One system prevails through all classes, the fruits of which are servility to superiors and tyranny to those beneath.

'Everything is gloomy and silent in Russia; the reciprocal mistrust of the government and the people dispels all mirth. The minds of the people are drilled, and their feelings weighed and measured, as if every pleasure and passion had to answer for their actions to some rigid confessor in the disguise of an agent of police.'

Mr. Thompson mentions a striking anecdote of recent occurrence, in illustration of Russian servility. A club exists at St. Petersburg, bearing the English name, but now composed principally of the native aristocracy. Admission to it is difficult, elections taking place by ballot on the occurrence of a vacancy. The minister of war, Tchernicheff, who is very unpopular, having been proposed, was blackballed by a large majority, which created great consternation amongst the members. It was resolved to take another ballot, which having been done, not a single vote was given against the minister. By such acts as these, worthy,' as our author remarks, of the vassals of a Persian satrap, the Russians rivet their own chains, and strengthen the bonds which their own servility has formed.'

The following brief extract does not exaggerate the case. It is a revolting picture, but its features are unhappily too correct. We should be glad to doubt its truth, but the evidence will not permit our doing so :

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