Review of Pinhertons Russia. 75 



that they may be separated ; and that although, perhaps, at some period ov 

 other, luxury will follow civilisation, yet that it does follow it, and that 

 often at a very, very considerable distance. 



Civilisation, in its best and broadest sense, is " a gradual advance of the 

 minds and manners of a people, from a state of ignorance and indolence, to 

 a state of knowledge and industry, in all their various ramifications." Such 

 a work must therefore be gradual, — the causes producing it must be inces- 

 sant, — their operation must be universal. In Russia the latter of these 

 rules has been neglected, and the consequence has been, that the nobility 

 and merchants are only partially civilised, because the lower classes are 

 scarcely civilised at all. 



It is said, by those who have studied the Russian character, that its type 

 is a high one, and that there are visible indications of vigour and ability, 

 not inferior to those of any nation. 



The great evidence of the gross superstition which has clogged intellectual 

 improvement in Russia, is to be found in the errors of her church, which, 

 holding doctrines approaching much nearer to her Reformed than to her 

 Roman Catholic brethren, is in practice very low indeed. The great super- 

 stition of the land is image worship. The people have confounded the 

 image with that which it was intended only to represent; — and what did 

 the early idolaters do more ? 



Dr. Pinkerton has devoted a chapter (by far the most interesting in his 

 book), to the personal character of the emperor Alexander, who, according 

 to the accounts given of him from all quarters, seems to have been one of 

 the best, and in some points, one of the ablest monarchs who ever filled a 

 throne. The temperate decision of his sway, rendered still more popular 

 by the suavity of his manner, and the mild spirit of his acts, caused him to 

 be adored by the inhabitants of his vast empire; and have left impressions 

 in favour of unlimited despotism, which all the follies and severities of his 

 successors have not been able to wipe entirely away. The Russian peasant, 

 though superstitious, is still sincere, (p. 335,) and though brave and inde- 

 pendent, still loyal, (p. 315 ;) but with much that is bright and honourable, 

 there is also in the Russian character more that is dark and disgraceful. 

 We have purposely abstained from quotations, to make room for the fol- 

 lowing:— (p. 327.) 



" Men's characters are formed by their education, and by the circumstances in 

 which they arc placed : and where a nation is distinguished by civil freedom, and a 

 Bteady government according to equitable laws, combined with genuine Christian 

 principle and general knowledge, the characteristics of the people will be more or less 

 in harmony with these advantages; they will be found candid in their statements, 

 honourable in their transactions, polite in their manners, and humane in their treat • 

 ment of enemies. Uut the history of all nations teaches, that where despotism, op- 

 pression, intrigue, and injustice, cither sit upon or surround the throne, and occupy 

 the seats of rule and all offices below it, the character of the people is equally moulded 

 according to these evil qualities : cunning and deception take the place of candour 



