[ io6 ] 
tunately for our poor exiles, Mr. Ver- 
nezobre propofed to the merchant to 
let 
Liturgy ufed in the Ruffian churches, which were 
neither underftood by the priefts, nor by the people; 
thefe he changed for others of the fame fignification, 
but more modern and intelligible. 
A great number of priefts, efpecially about 
Archangel and in Siberia, with one Jacob at their 
head, protefted againft this alteration of the ex- 
preflions, which they confidered as the grcateft crime 
againft religion. They obftinately perfifted in re- 
taining the old words, which according to them had 
been fanctified by a long feries of ages, and could 
not be changed without great impiety. They there- 
fore diffented in certain articles from the Ruffian 
church, and afferted, that they alone maintained 
the old and pure religion. However, many of the 
moft learned and fenfible Ruffians have affured me,' 
that thefc articles only relate to matters of little 
confequence. Thus, as an outward mark of their 
profeffion, they make the fignof the crofs, by join- 
ing the thumb and the two laft fingers of the right 
hand, holding up the index and middle linger. The 
Ruffians, on the contrary, ioin the thumb with 
the index and the middle linger, and pvc!« the 
two laft fingers down into t'.e palms of their 
hand:;. 
I hem 
