1884.] 



For the Monthly Magazine. 



SKETCHES of RUSSIA, hy an ENGLISH 



MERCHANT, Written during sixteen 



years' RESIDENCE. 



NO people have trealed government, 

 as a subject, with a freedom equal 

 to our own. Though few are more wor- 

 thy to employ attention, in many coun- 

 tries men dare not speak their minds 

 concerning it. It is a proof tliat we 

 enjoy some little portion of political 

 liberty; and it would be happy for tiie 

 world, if the right pf venting their re- 

 flections were adopted in all states, as 

 applicable at all times. Many of the 

 regulations which our writers have intro- 

 duced and proposed, on various impor- 

 tant points, have been reiluced to prac- 

 tice. Our authors, indeed, occasionally 

 give an account of other governments, 

 characterising the manner of each, and, 

 in short, are bold to say what would not 

 be given, or would not appear, elsewhere. 



The plans of government in Russia 

 hinge, almost universally, on the temper 

 of its governors, and those invesled with 

 authority. They may, therefore, be 

 justly deemed tyrannical, in a variety of 

 instances. We have a very sinking 

 representation of this in the wretched- 

 ness of those over whom the Emperor 

 Paul domineered. Catharine II. had 

 cherished illiberal and unjust preju- 

 dices against her son, so as to keep him 

 in a slate of separation from the court, 

 and in total ignorance of state allairs. 

 In fact he was severed, not only from 

 the being who gave him birth, but from 

 all the common felicities of life. Peril 

 Was in his atlachment, and to have a 

 friend was furnishing a victim. Catha- 

 rine so pressed and pierced the delicate 

 mind of her son, that she subverted it. 



Not long after his accession, Paul 

 began to display fearful symptoms of 

 distraction ; but, when his reason was 

 restored, he would often repair the ruin 

 he had occasioned. The public mea- 

 sures, however, which he resorted to 

 sunk the em|)irc into a deteriorated and 

 dreadful condilion. Previous to his ap- 

 jiroaehing late, the disordcisof the stale 

 were constantly increasing, and the 

 linglish merchants could not escape 

 from the evils in which he was involving 

 the commonwealth. In its application 

 to that trading interest, the ensuing 

 particulars are partly adapted; and 

 will also introduce varied views of the 

 internal police; of Russia. 



In August 1800, the Emperor Paul 

 laid on his first embargo. The master 

 of police then waited on the English 



Monthly Mao. No, 393. 



Skttches of Modern Russia. 295 



houses, requesting that one person from 

 each would attend the military governor, 

 General Swclehin, at six in the morning. 

 When met in the hall, Mr. J. Cayley 

 explained to the others, that the Empress 

 Catharine had convened a similar meet- 

 ing, on occasion of some misunderstand- 

 ing with the British government ; but 

 no interruption was given to business, 

 on an assurance that the resident Eng- 

 lish would not interfere in politics. At 

 nine o'clock the governor appeared, in 

 full uniform, ribbons, stars, sword, &c. 

 and enquired if there was a representa- 

 tive from every house. Being answered 

 in the affirmative, " Gentlemen, (said 

 he,) the Emperor Paul last night issued 

 an order to lay an embargo on all Eng- 

 lish ships at Cronstadt. I am also 

 directed to seal up your counting-houses 

 and warehouses, and to have from each 

 of you, in writing, an account of your 

 capitaland property." Each looked at 

 the other, and at first no one replied ; at 

 length Mr. Woguclin broke silence, 

 and said, " General, the house I belong 

 to has been establislied in this country 

 since the year 1740. From the length 

 of time, and extent of our transactions, 

 it is impossible to remember and write 

 down what you desire ; but, if you will 

 allow us twenty-four hours, and not seal 

 up our counting-houses, we will bring 

 you a tolerably correct statement. We 

 are in debt to several hundred Russian 

 merchants, and there are as many in 

 debt to us." The general then said, 

 " My respect for your character is such, 

 that though a soldier, and bound to 

 obey orders, I will take it on myself, at 

 all hazards, to grant you the time re- 

 quired. You must, however, pledge 

 your honour, that nothing shall be taken 

 away from your counting and ware- 

 houses." Mr. Warre spoke, in the 

 name of the rest, agreeing to the gene- 

 ral's demand; and so we were dismissed. 

 This embargo lasted eight days 5 at the 

 end of which our statements were re- 

 stored: it was in consequence of our 

 taking possession of Malta. A number 

 of shijjs, and a vast deal of property, had 

 been thus temporarily sequestrated. 



In about two months more, a second 

 embargo was laid on our ships at Cron- 

 stadt; and the military governor, Van- 

 derpalin, sealed up our counting-houses, 

 &,c. in the night. The captains and 

 crews were conducted as prisoners up 

 the country. Betwixt the two embar- 

 goes, the English merchants had been 

 called on to contribute certain sums, as 

 an indemnification for some Russian 

 vessels that hud been seized, conveying 

 2 Q military 



