RUSSIA. 



Russia. Journals, besides the Transaction* of the Academy of 

 "~'^* Sciences, of the Free Economical Society, and of the 

 Society of Belles Lettn-s. In these journals, almost 

 every subject is treated of with respect to arts and sci- 

 ences and general literature, especially history, statis- 

 tics, geography, ani ] natural history. With respect to 

 politics, only such information is made known to the 

 public as the government, through its organs the cen- 

 sors, may please. While we lament the fettered state 

 of the press, we cannot but remark the advance of 

 mind to which the above list of periodical bears tes- 

 timony. 



The number of universities, of academies, of gymna- 

 <sia, of public schools, of private schools, of Bible So- 

 cieties, and of other similar institutions in Russia, taken 

 collectively, and in connection with the above facts, 

 shows that a mighty engine is at work in the civiliza- 

 tion of that empire. No doubt many difficulties op- 

 pose themselves there, to the wonted effects of such in- 

 stitutions in a free country ; yet their number must 

 have a considerable influence toward the civilization of 

 at least a part of the population. The adoption of the 

 Lancasterian system of education will also have a pow- 

 erful effect. It is put in practice in the army, among 

 the Kozaks, and even by some of the noblemen among 

 their slaves. The imperial army, amounting to a mil- 

 lion of men, when better educated, as they are scat- 

 tered over the Russian dominions, cannot fail to have 

 much influence upon the manners, and to tend to the 

 illumination of the people. When it is also kept in 

 mind, that the number of officers of that army amount 

 to above fifty thousand ; that many of them have re- 

 ceived a good education, have served during the last 

 campaigns, and have carried back to their country some 

 of the learning, of the usages, and of the liberal opi- 

 nions of other nations, it seems but natural to argue 

 such an advance of civilization of the people, as may 

 tend gradually to loosen the shackles, if not to break 

 asunder the chains of despotism, and to the attainment 

 of a higher rank in the intellectual world. 



The arts of printing and engraving are making great 

 strides in the north, and daily furnish specimens which 

 would do honour to any nation. Bookbinding is also 

 arrived at much perfection. The art of making paper 

 is likewise astonishingly improved of late years. So 

 that all the agents and materials for the composi- 

 tion and publication of books are now abundant in 

 Russia ; and even the number of authors, translators, 

 and compilers, is become superabundant. The number 

 of printing presses employed in each of the capitals is 

 considerable, and engraving is likewise encouraged. 

 Some of the engravers are natives, and others are fo- 

 reigners. At the imperial Depot de Cartes, at Peters- 

 burgh, scores of young soldiers are daily employed in 

 engraving maps and plans of every part of the Russian 

 empire, many of whom have made great progress. In 

 this magnificent institution, these maps, executed in 

 the most detailed, accurate, and beautiful manner, are 

 sold at very moderate prices. It is truly a depot ; for 

 it contains immense collections of maps, indeed of every 

 thing that can be procured with regard to the geogra- 

 phy of the world ; and it is supported in an imperial 

 manner by the Emperor Alexander. 



ARTS AND SCIENCES. 



The arts and sciences were chiefly introduced into 

 Russia after the ascent of Peter the Great to the throne, 

 and have ever since continued to flourish to a certain 

 extent. Their sphere of influence, however, is iu a 



Arts and 

 sciencet. 



great degree confined to the universities and academic*, 

 at which both the professors and the pupil* are neceo s ^^"" fc * / 

 sarily supported by the crown ; the government being 

 despotic, and the mass of the population slaves. By 

 the laudable efforts and valuable publication* of nu- 

 merous public bodies toward* genera) improvement, 

 much ha* been done, but still more remain* to be ac- 

 complished. With the gradual advance of Russia in 

 civilization, no doubt the art* and science* will make a 

 simultaneous progression, and, after a lapse of time, 

 become generally cultivated, as in the more enlightened 

 states of Europe. 



EDUCATION. 



The system of education in Russia is domestic or Education, 

 public. The rich, and even many of the poor noble*, 

 have foreign teacher*, males and females, in their fa* 

 milies, as Germans, French, Italians, English, &c. but 

 it is rather unfortunate, that a vast number of these in- 

 structors have been formerly employed in the lower 

 capacities of life, while but a few of them have received 

 a good and polite education. Of course, though the 

 pupils may acquire a facility in speaking language*, 

 they seldom have the best models of manners, of cha- 

 racter, or of learning, for imitation. 



The public education of the Russian nobles is at the 

 pensions, or boarding-schools, of which some are under 

 the patronage of the crown or of the universities, while 

 the greater part are conducted by private individual*. 

 Most of the public seminaries have a magnificent and 

 imposing appearance, and their syllabuses convey ex- 

 alted ideas of their utility, which are rartiy realized. 

 Dr. Lyall has given a minute account of some of them, as 

 well as of the universities, and of the general course of 

 instruction, to which we refer the curious reader. We 

 may briefly state, that the plans of instruction seem 

 excellent on paper, and, with a few changes dictated 

 by necessity, are such as might be adopted for the edu- 

 cation of youth in any country. The greatest part of 

 the private boarding-schools are liable to the same 

 objections as the public ones, few of them being ably 

 and well conducted. Scarcely any of the nobles enter 

 the universities, on account of a foolish idea, that such 

 institutions are only the sanctuaries of education for 

 those who are afterwards, in some way or other, to gain 

 their bread by their talents or learning. This is too 

 pleheian an association, therefore, for a Russian noble- 

 man to be connected with. A few of the better in- 

 structed and more liberal minded individuals notwith- 

 standing attend the public lectures of the professors, 

 and no doubt in time this practice will become general. 



ARCHITECTURE. 



Dr. Lyall ; s quarto contains an essay on the origin -A rchitte- 

 and progress of architecture in Russia, from which we tuie * 

 shall select a few general remarks, especially as the 

 study of the science has been of late so much cultivated 

 by the learned in our island. This author treats in 

 succession of, 1st, The style of primitive architecture, (if 

 worthy of the name,) shown in the construction of the 

 wooden houses of the Russians, before the taste and 

 ornaments of Greece were known, or at least were 

 adopted for their embellishment. 2d, The style of 

 civil architecture, which has prevailed since the intro- 

 duction of Christianity, arts, and sciences into Russia. 

 3d, The style of ecclesiastical, or sacred architecture, 

 from the same era. 



1 . lindc Architecture The first style of architec- Rod* archi. 

 ture, or rather of building* in Russia, is. the most sim- 



