482 
and a company has in consequence 
been formed in Livonia, for the pur- 
pose of introducing Merino sheep into 
that district. 
But I yet owe the reader a descrip- 
tion of one of these contract meetings, 
and I will take that of Kiev as a spe- 
cimen. The exchange, or contract 
house, as it is called, is the centre of 
all the business that is done there. 
Here people of all conditions are 
crowding during the day, to transact 
their affairs ; and it is here also where, 
in the evening, they meet to partake 
of the amusements afforded to them by 
balls, concerts, plays, &c., that are given 
for their relaxation. Near the entrance 
stands a military guard, and at the 
door a porter to keep away the mob. 
The principal hall is on the ground 
floor, and it is large enough to contain 
3000 persons. The walls of this apart- 
ment are lined with hardware, plate, 
&c. Two rows of pillars are surrounded 
with shelves, containing books, ambre, 
&c. The window and door-frames are 
hung with legal publications, for there 
are no newspapers at Kiev. The court- 
house and other public rooms adjoin 
this hall. The upper rooms are destin- 
-ed for public amusements, sales, &c. 
In short, the building entirely resem- 
bles, during the contract season, the 
Palais-Royal at Paris, except that it 
is more crowded. The sight of. the 
humerous groups, conversing loudly on 
the most multifarious affairs, is. truly 
amusing. 
A court of justice, the highest in 
civil matters, and from whose deci- 
sions there is no appeal, meets twice 
every day, during the whole period, 
attended by a double number of officers. 
It decides on all mercantile affairs: in- 
stanter, and its decisions are executed 
without delay. . A debtor, who misses 
the term of payment, is arrested as 
soon as a complaint’ is lodged against 
him. I will not fatigue my readers 
with the details of Polish laws : there 
is, however, one thing ‘so peculiar in 
the jurisdiction of Poland, in case of 
bankruptcy, that I cannot pass it over. 
The effects of the debtor are not sold 
for the general benefit of the creditors, 
as is done every where else, but his 
landed property is divided among them 
according to their respective demands ; 
a practice which, as may be supposed, 
creates very great inconveniences, and 
is often attended by ludicrous circum- 
stances. The Jews always meet here 
in great numbers, and try to make the 
Féte at Petersburg. 
best of a bargain. The theatrical per- 
formances alluded to are given in Polish 
for the benefit of the country people, 
and in Russian for that of the. inhabi- 
tants of the town. But there is some~ 
thing very peculiar in the Ukrain dia- 
lect of this language, which seems 
greatly to displease the Russians, who 
pretend that they hardly understand 
it. A large clock. on the stage, which 
indicates by very loud strokes the slow, 
march of time, seems to be a needless 
piece of furniture in this place. The 
concerts, however, are of the first class; 
and have been honoured by a Catalani, 
Romberg, and, lately, by the famous 
violin player, Lipinsky. At the balls, 
the genuine Polanaise is still occa- 
sionally performed by superannuated 
dowagers, and mustachioed Sarmatians, 
in all its originality. The young people, 
however, prefer the Masurka, and the 
Cracow quadrille. . Kiey is famous for 
the beauty of its females. VGN 
—<ae 4 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
Granp Ferre, &c. at Prrerspurcn. 
Extract of a Letter from Petersburgh, 
August 9, O. S., 1825. 
JUST take up my pen to give you 
a short account of my arrival at 
Petersburgh. On our way we landed 
at Elsineur, and, waiting upon the Bri- 
tish Consul, one of his sons accom- 
panied us to’ the burial-place of Ham- 
let. His tomb is situated in the centre 
of a garden. Elsineur is an old town, 
very roughly paved ; but it still has its. 
charms: it is twenty miles from Co- 
penhagen. We saw ‘the royal mail- 
coach, in. shape like an old square 
washing-tray, set out for the capital ; 
the principal’ part of the harness is 
made of rope. Passing near Copen- 
hagen, we had a complete view of that 
eity, and also of the spot where the 
British army landed when they be- 
sieged the Danish capital. Cronstadt 
is an island, about two or three 
miles in diameter, and about 
twenty from Petersburgh. Between 
these places the Hvlm is but shallow, 
and only fit for vessels that draw but 
little water. Here is a large pier, and 
a inole for the convenience of taking in 
goods, from vessels that arrive from 
Petersburgh, and a large dock-yard for 
building men-of-war, many of which are 
laid up here in ordinary. This port 
suffered severely in the inundation of 
November last; I think there are still 
about twenty sail, which were then 
lifted up, lying dry, and in sucha staté 
as 
