132 
IMPROVEMENT UNDER 
be borne erect, and the man falls prostrate, — a wretched, use¬ 
less slave. Thus avarice set bounds to its own extortion, by 
damming up the sources whence it flows.” Constant feuds 
amongst the chiefs themselves, rendered desperate by the total 
absence of all law or justice ; the inroads of the Lesghees, and 
bloody wars with the Turks and Persians ; all combined to drive 
the great mass of the people into that state of utter despair, 
which gradually subsides into the sullen contentedness of sloth, 
ignorance, and poverty. This must be the universal situation of 
every country which has been, for any time, under the subjec¬ 
tion, or rather mis-rule, of a ceaseless change of masters ; some 
absolutely barbarians, and others, who have yet to learn the 
science of government from Christian laws : and this was the 
situation of Georgia for a sad succession of times. But, about 
twenty years ago, it was received within the lines of the Russian 
empire; and the happy effects on the minds of the people, in 
feeling themselves under a regular government, secure in its 
natural strength, and dispensing that security to its appendages, 
are already become very apparent. Every encouragement to 
industry is held out to them ; and none has more persuasion 
than the laws, which protect men in the possession of the fruits 
of their labours. The different European governors, who have 
been put at the head of affairs here, since the junction of the 
province with Russia, have done all in their power to conciliate 
both nobles and people, by the administration of an equal jus¬ 
tice, and a gradual amelioration of all those circumstances which 
had so long disorganised, and rendered poor, savage, and 
miserable, all ranks of persons. Being now effectually guarded 
from the inroads of the Lesghees, or the more overwhelming 
incursions of Turks and Persians, the higher orders begin to 
