METALLURGY, TO 



of the proprietors, but in the first place for the satisfaction 

 of the claims of the Government, under the control of a 

 .iinittee of Tutelage, or so called "Tutor;" and the 

 has been that many of them have become Govern- 

 ment works.' 



Of these works I may state, as is stated by Barry, that 

 they are, or were, of a character peculiar to the country, 

 and such as are not to be met with elsewhere. 



: Many of the establishments extend their operations 

 over a space containing from three-quarters of a million 

 10 a million and a-half English acres ; and erect their 

 works here and there where a favourable site exists, thus 

 forming little principalities containing numerous villages, 

 which are entirely supported by che labour of the mines; 

 and in the olden times the " Barrin " lived in almost princely 

 style in a palace surrounded by highly ornamental gar- 

 dens and extensive parks, laid out with the most excellent 

 taste. In his gardens were hot-houses, vineries, and 

 orange-houses, erected at great expense. Frequently he 

 had a private theatre of his own, a band of music in con- 

 stant attendance ; and I know of at least one of the iron- 

 masters of the last generation, who supported a company of 

 actors and actresses, collected from among his own mujiks, 

 whom he sent to St. Petersburg and Moscow to be educated 

 expressly for his own stage. Such a man, in the days of 

 serfdom, had all the state and authority of a monarch, 

 enjoying unlimited and irresponsible power among his 

 servile dependents. Of course, the condition of these last 

 was regulated by the character or caprice of the master : 

 some were cruel ; but, on the other hand, some governed 

 their people with a kindness and discretion wonderful to 

 think of in men brought up as they had been/ 



Connected with this development of metallurgical and 

 manufacturing operations by DemidofF and Botachoff, 

 occurred the development of mining operations in the 

 Urals. 



