384 



Condition of Russian Peasantry. 



and 122,000 sheep, but this estimate is thought to be under 

 the mark. 



The numbers of stock owners ot the principal foreign 

 nationalities are given as follows : — Spaniards, 3,065 ; 

 Brazilians, 2,472 ; Italians, 1,499; French, 637 ; Argentines, 

 216; and English, 106. Uruguayans themselves number 

 14,442, out of a total of 22,674 stock owners. It is probable 

 that persons of foreign parentage born in the country are 

 included amongst Uruguayans. British proprietors are most 

 numerous in the Departments of Colonia, Soriano, Paysandu, 

 and Rio Negro, where the best land is found. 



Condition of the Russian Peasantry. 



During the forty years which have elapsed since the 

 emancipation of the Russian peasantry from serfdom, the 

 Government have done much to ameliorate the condition of 

 the agricultural classes, yet the condition of the peasantry 

 throughout the Empire still causes serious apprehension. 



Since 1861, the year of the emancipation, the Government 

 have expended on nearly 90,000 village communes the sum 

 of ^95,000,000 for the redemption of land from proprietors, 

 and 90,000,000 acres were thus acquired by these communes. 

 The arrears of the redemption tax have from time to time 

 been remitted, but they have nevertheless continued to grow 

 daring the last decade until at the present time they amount 

 to no less than ^11,000,000. In addition to the relief given 

 in respect of this tax, the Government have either entirely 

 abolished or partially remitted a number of other burdens ; 

 but che benefits thus conferred on the peasantry have to a 

 great extent been neutralised by the imposition of increased 

 indirect exactions, which bear heavily upon the rural popula- 

 tion. Other causes of the growing impoverishment of the 

 peasantry of European Russia are, as some think, the com- 

 munal system of land tenure; the insufficient area of the 

 allotments ; and the unenlightened condition of the agricul- 

 tural classes of Russia proper, which prevents them from 

 utilising their land in a manner more profitable and less 

 exhaustive than that at present adopted. 



{Foreign Office Report Annual Scric. 2,7oS.l 



