MOSCOW. 
93 
is made to translate ‘ Tom Jones ,' ‘ The Vicar cnAV. 
of Wakefield; or any of our inimitable original ■ — ' 
pictures of English manners, the effect is ridi- 
culous beyond description. Squire Western 
becomes a French Philosopher, and Goldsmiths 
Primrose a Fleur cle Lis. 
Books of real literary reputation are not to Libraries^ 
be obtained either in the shops of Petersburg or 
of Moscow. Productions of other days, which 
from their importance in science have become 
rare, are never to be found. Costly and 
frivolous volumes, sumptuously bound, and 
gorgeously decorated, constitute the precious 
part of a library, in Russian estimation. Gaudy 
French, editions, of Fontenelle, of Marmontel, of 
Italian sonneteers, with English folios of but- 
terflies, shells, and flowers ; editions by Bas- 
kerville, Bensley, and Bulmer, with hot-pressed 
and wire-wove paper ; in short, the toys rather 
than the instruments of science, attract the 
notice of all the Russian amateurs. A mag- 
nificent library in Russia will be found to con- 
tain very little of useful literature. In vain, 
among their stately collections, smelling like 
a tannery of the leather which bears their name, 
may we seek for classic authors, historians, 
lawgivers, and poets. A copy of the Encyclo- 
pedia, indeed, placed more for ostentation than 
