ft 



for which they worked with two horses, three days 

 in a week. It would be easy to give instances of 

 more various rates of duty work, and of the quantity 

 of land which is appropriated for its performance. 

 Some are of a luxurious and of a ludicrous kind. I 

 was told that the inhabitants of two whole villages, 

 near a princely domain, hold their lands on condition 

 of employing a certain number of days in each week, 

 in cleaning the walks, and keeping in good order the 

 pleasure grounds, which surround the vast castle of 

 their benevolent and hospitable lord. 



In general, this Peasantry is in a condition of 

 great distress, and involved in debt to their lord. 

 They are no longer slaves, or adstricti gleb<r. By 

 the constitution promulgated in 1791, they were de- 

 clared free, and that part of the Constitution suffered 

 no alteration under the dominion of the Russians and 

 Prussians ; was confirmed when the king of Saxony 

 became Sovereign; and was again assured in 1815, 

 when the Emperor of Russia was enthroned as King 

 of Poland. 



The practical effects of the privileges thus granted 

 have hitherto been very inconsiderable. The pea- 

 sants can leave their land, but must first acquit the 

 pecuniary demands of their lords. Few are able to 

 do this, as most of them are in arrears. The lords 

 must supply them with their oxen, in case one dies ; 

 their plough and other implements must be furnished 

 to them by him ; and in years of scarcity they be- 

 come involved in debt, for the requisite subsistence 

 of themselves and their cattle. This, together with 

 local attachments, and the habit of respect for their 

 feudal Superior, has, in general, prevented the pea- 

 sants from wandering away from the houses of their 

 fathers, and from the protection of their chief. It 

 thus rarely happens that the peasants quit the estates 

 on which they have been born ; and the instances 

 that do occur, are chieflv to be attributed to the em- 



