1828.] Dr. Granville’s Travels to St. Petersburgh. AOS 
at the upper part with a gold clasp, and as low down as the loins, where it 
expands in folds, which are gathered together by a rich silk waistband, called 
a Koushak. ‘The tunic reaches to the middle of the leg. The sleeves are tight, 
and at the wrist have a vertical row of gold buttons. Wide trowsers, generally 
of the same, or of some fancy colour, with boots, complete the dress. The 
head in summer is covered with a round hat, low in the crown, and with a 
wide brim, which is curled up side-ways.. The upper part of the crown is 
very large, and the lower part surrounded by a wide band of velvet, buckled 
in front with a gold buckle. In winter, the head-dress is different. Instead 
of a hat, an expanding four-cornered turban, very high, and mostly of rich 
crimson velvet, with a gold band and a rim of fur, is generally worn. To com- 
plete the picture, this important personage wears a bushy beard, of which he 
is exceedingly careful, and his hair is cut square all round level with the eye- 
brows. The postilion’s dress is uniform with that of the coachman.” 
We must now pass on to the actual state of society in this rapidly 
improving capital. As we have hinted in the outset, the worthy doctor's 
views on this matter must be taken cum grano salis, especially when 
(contrary to his usual principles of universal politeness to all who hoi 
*< a certain rank in society”) he indiscreetly places the ladies of some of 
the Russian nobles above those of all other nations. Still there is no 
reason to suppose that such sketches as the following are greatly exag- 
gerated :-— 
“Tt is usual to say of Russian society, that it consists of only two great 
divisions, the Nobles and the Serfs. How far this may be true, in a political 
point of view, it is not the purpose of the present work to discuss. Speaking 
of the accessible society, or, in other words, of the persons of whom good 
society is composed, there can be no doubt, but that as many classes exist in 
St. Petersburgh as in any other large capital in Europe. The families of 
persons holding high situations at Court, the Ministers of State, and Foreign 
Ministers, military officers of high rank having important appointments, or 
being attached to the person of the Emperor, the hereditary nobility not con- 
nected with the Court or the Army may be considered as forming one group, 
of the first or highest class.of society : another group consists of persons who 
are not distinguished by any hereditary title, but who belong to the first four 
classes of nobility, on account of their rank in the civil or military service. 
The superior employés under Government, and the heads of the great Imperial 
establishments or institutions, may be included in this second group. 
“ The mutual intercourse among these various denominations of persons in 
high life, and their families, appeared to me frequent, and distinguished by 
that ease and those elegant manners which characterise the same classes of 
persons in the first capitals of Europe. A foreigner can only judge of them by 
what they appear in the midst of their friends and their guests. On such 
occasions, their deportment is free from hauteur, and their address engaging ; 
what they may be with their inferiors I know not. Much has been said of 
their hospitality, particularly to strangers. As far as I have had an oppor- 
tunity of seeing it, I am free to acknowledge that there is no exaggeration in 
placing it above that of the higher classes in other countries. To persons well 
recommended and properly introduced, be they Russians or foreigners, it is 
unbounded ; neither is it, as elsewhere, limited to a mere matter of form invi- 
tation to a dinner or a soirée, but extends to many friendly offices, and a fre- 
quent repetition of kindness. With regard to the ladies of this class of society, 
it is the least to say, that in point of mamners, politeness, and unaffected 
dignity of deportment, they yield to none of the most distinguished of the fair 
sex in other countries in Europe. Nay, constituted as society is at this moment 
in other capitals, it is impossible not to admit, that in regard to accomplish- 
ments, and the more solid advantages of education, some of the Russian ladies 
of rank are superior to those of other nations. There are few indeed among 
them, who do not speak with equal apa French, German, and English, 
3 
