RUSSIA. 



their inftitution. They are as follow, St. Andrew, St. 

 Catharine, St. Alexander Neftsky, St. George, Vladimir, 

 St. Anne of Holitein. See each refpe&ively. 



Of the imperial colleges, inflituted for the government of 

 the Ruffian empire, our limits will allo>v our mention only of 

 the two principal and fupreme, v/s. the "Directing Senate," 

 and the " Holy Synod." The former was conitituted by 

 Peter I., who raifed it to the rank of the fupreme or highelt 

 college of the empire. In 1 763 the late emprefs new- 

 modelled it, caufingitto confilt of fix departments, four at 

 Petersburg and two at Mofcow. This fupreme imperial col- 

 lege, ityled by the emprefs the fancluary of the laws, can 

 illue orders to any other imperial college, and receive re- 

 ports from them (the fyuod excepted) , it publiihes the 

 laws and edicts received from the monarch, and provides fir 

 their execution ; returns a decifive anfwer to the queltions 

 fent in by the courts or governors in doubtful cafes ; ap- 

 points to many confiderable polls in the viceroyalties ; ad- 

 vances, in the name of the fovereign, meritorious civil 

 officers to higher rank, and is the highelt tribunal to which 

 appeal can be made, for none can either appeal from its de- 

 crees nor complain of them ; but any one who is diffa- 

 tisfied with its fentence has no other refource than to pre- 

 fent his petition to the cabinet. The fecond fupreme col- 

 lege is the " Holy Directing Synod," which is the highelt 

 fpiritual court of the Ruffo-Greek church. In 1789 this 

 college confuted of one metropolitan, one archbilhop, one 

 bilhop, one proto-pope (the imperial confeffor), one archi- 

 mandrite, one proto-pope (of the feculars), one upper 

 procurcur, one chief fecretary, one executor, three fecre- 

 taries, one protocolilt, and one itaff-lurgeon ; the abfent 

 members were one metropolitan, two archbilhops, and one 

 bifhop. At the fynodal comptoir at Mofcow, at that time, 

 were one metropolitan, one arch-prieit of the fecular clergy, 

 one procureur, and one fecretary. In the fpiritual com- 

 miffion, one metropolitan, one archbilhop, one privy-coun- 

 fellor, and one fecretary, have their feats. Under the au- 

 thority of the fynod are all prelates, confiflories, cccle- 

 fiaftics, churches, religious book?, &c. For the other 

 fubordinate imperial colleges, we refer to Mr. Tooke's ac- 

 count of them ; as well as for other particulars relating to 

 the laws, the conftitutiou of the Ruffian government, and 

 the condition of the Ruffian fubjetts. On this latter topic 

 we fhall feledt and fubjoin a few particulars. 



The nobleman, generally fpeaking, pays no tax for any 

 part of his land which he occupies himfelf, nor even for his 

 moveable property. It he pofiefu no male vallals, his fields, 

 forefts, mines, mills, fiflierics, &c. which he occupies with 

 free or hired labourers, are as exempt from taxation as his 

 perlon ; but, on the other hand, the nobleman who has 

 vaffals mult furnilh recruits out of them. The clergy, in 

 regard to their perfor.s, are likewife exempt from taxes. 

 Their ftipends, which confilt in money, and in the country 

 of corn and pieces of land, arc railed by them free of all 

 deductions. Placemen, and officers of the crown, &c. pay 

 no annual tax on their falaries. Literary men, who are not 

 enrolled in any guild, and who, befides their learned pro- 

 feffion, a. physicians, lawyers, &C. arc not engaged in trade, 

 are entirely exempt from taxes ; and this is alio the cafe 

 with artills, Sec. People who live folely on the inteiell of 

 their capital, and do not inferibe themlclvcs in any guild, 

 however large their income may be, pay no tax upon it what- 

 ever. All inhabitants of towns poflefs their immoveable 

 property free of all taxation. As for 1 1 j»- great body of the 

 yeomanry or country-folk, their real ncceuarics arc fubject 

 to no taxes, becaufe in all Raffia there is no fucli thing as 

 eicife ; and in general the taxes arc not opprcllivc. That 



both the nobility and burghers live in affluence is manifelt 

 from the luxury that every where prevails. The Ruffian 

 boor, even the vaflal of the nobleman, lives very decently 

 in his houfe, has a fufficiency of wholefome food, is neatly 

 drefled, puts commonly two or three dithes on his table, and 

 even accumulates a trifling capital, though, as it is not fe- 

 cured to him, and may be taken from him, he frequently 

 buries it in the ground. In fome villages the boors difplay 

 even an opulence. Among the very numerous nobility 

 many poflefs fortunes of 100,000 or 500,000 rubles, and 

 fomctimes more ; and the generality may have a fortune of 

 between 30,000 and 100,000 rubles. In no country are the 

 learned profeifions fo well provided for as in fome provinces 

 of Ruilia, particularly Livonia and Etthonia. The preacher, 

 even in the fmalleft country-paltorate, lives on a footing no 

 lefs brilliant than the general fuperintendant in many of the 

 provinces of Germany. Although his ltipend is fmall, yet 

 his prefents for the difcharge of his official duties from 

 noblemen and burghers are numerous and large. His daily 

 table is fupplied with leveral dimes ; he has men fervants and 

 maid fervants ; he is commonly the friend and confidant of 

 the noblemen of his parifh, and his houfe is the place of 

 their ufual refort. The cafe is fimilar with regard to law- 

 advocates, phyficians, furgeons, and private tutors. On 

 account of the flourifhing ftate of commerce i.i the maritime 

 towns, there are many merchants who poflefs capitals of 

 fome hundred thoufands of rubles. The condition of the 

 boors is far from being contemptible and wretched. The 

 Coflacks generally enjoy not only the neceflaries but the 

 accommodations and comforts of life. In the parts about 

 the Oon, eafe and affluence are every where feen ; and the 

 Coflacks of the Ural pafs their time in idlenefs and yet in 

 plenty from the riches obtained by means of the productive 

 iifheries on that river. Upon the whole, the writer now 

 cited obferves, that the moderate taxes, the cheap living, 

 the excellent and numerous products, the contentednefs of 

 the people, and the good regulations adopted through the 

 empire, afford to every one who conduits himfelf well in 

 his Hate of life, fufficient means for acquiring a compe- 

 tency. The majority of the Rulfian fubjefts fare better 111 

 their way than the great multitudes in France, Germany, 

 Sweden, and feveral other countries. 



The focial ftate of the inhabitants of the Ruffian empire 

 is capable of great melioration, and productive of much 

 actual comfort, from the opportunities that arc afforded them 

 for active and indultnous exertions. The objects ol the 

 chace, in the molt northern and t allern parts of Ruilia, and 

 particularly on the iflands between Kamtfchatka and Ame- 

 rica, and alfo in the governments ot Tobolfk, Perm, Ufa, 

 Viietka, Archangel, OlonetZ, Vologda, and fome others, 

 afford both an amufnig and lucrative employment. The 

 chace, for the fake of furs, is of primary importance 

 in its relation to foreign commerce. The moll valuable of 

 all the animals that are fought for their Ik in is the 

 " fable," the (kin fervingas a Itandard to the tribute, which 

 is paid to the crown by the Siberian nation ol hunters. This 

 animal is found in Aliatic Ruilia, from the Aleutan iflandt 

 and from Kamtfchatka to the diftricts ol the Petfchora and 

 ot the Kama. The fined fables come from Yakutfk and 

 Nertfcliinlk ] and among thefe are likewife, though rarely, 

 yellow, and very feldom, « lute tables. The Kamtfchatka 

 fables are the largell of all. As the fable is become fearer, 

 the crown accepts of the fkins of loxe., martins, lquirrcls, 

 and tifh-oltcrs, from the inhabitants ot "Siberia, inltead ol 

 the fable. Eallern Siberia, and particularly Kamtfchatka, 

 abound moll in beautiful foxes. To the other objects oi 

 chace for the furs, we mull add the bear, the wolf, tin- I \ n\ . 



the 



