Retrofpee? of Domeftie Literature.—=Political Economy. 
formity to their ancient barbarian fu- 
perftitions was the introduétion of 
Chriftianity itfelf ; for Vladimir, dif- 
daining the ordinary modes of receiv- 
ing miffionaries and making converts, 
obtained priefts for the propagation of 
the new faith by the fiege and capture 
of the city anciently called Theodofia, 
now Kaffa. The powerful and uni- 
form tendency, however, of Chriftian- 
ity to improve the morals of thofe who 
honeftly embrace it, marks this period 
not merely as the zra of Ruffian Chrift- 
ianity, but as the commencement of 
Ruffian civilization. The third revo- 
lution is that of the invafion, conqueft, 
and tribute of the Tartars: a revolu- 
tion to be ranked among the moft dif- 
graceful, grievous, and , intolerable, 
which are to be found in the hiftory of 
the world! It prefents fuch a vatt 
theatre of horrors,” fays Mr. Card, 
** fuch a tragical uniformity of havoc 
and murder as might ferve to obliterate 
the memory of all former devaftations. 
Ruffia for the fpace of two hundred 
years (from an early period of the thir- 
teenth tothe middle of the fifteenth 
century) proftrated herfelf at the feet 
of this invincible hoft of oppreffors ; 
while its wretched inhabitants, during 
this ignominious period, were over- 
fhadowed in hopelefs flavery and pro- 
found ignorance. The unexpected in- 
vafion of thefe defperate enemies plun- 
ged them again into the moft lamenta- 
ble barbarif{m, out of which they were 
jut beginning to rife by the benign 
and civilizing influence of Chriftianity. 
The three fucceeding fections (4, 5, 
and 6) are devoted to the narrative of 
the gradual emancipation of Ruifia 
from the galling yoke of the Tartars, 
under the reign of Ivan III. Vaffilie- 
vitz ; Vaffili IV. Ivanovitz ; and Ivan 
1V. Vaflijivitz, furnamed, by the Ruf- 
fians, the Terrible, by toreignerg, the 
Tyrant. This comprifes an interefting 
period of one hundred and twenty 
years; from 1462 to 1582. Having 
brought his narrative to this period, 
the author reviews, at the clofe of his 
fixth feétion, the internal itate of Ruf- 
fra; and traces ‘‘the dawnings of 
{cience and literature which were to 
thine with fach glory on the revolutions 
of Peter the Great, and the fecond Ca- 
_therine.” The events to which the ge- 
neral improvement of Ruffia is attri- 
buted are the conqueft of Siberia, the 
Code of Ivan, the progrefs of commerce, 
which familiarized the people with the 
manners of other nations, and the con- 
fequent introduction of the arts. The 
607 | 
feventh feGion gives a full and intereft- 
ing account of ‘*the extinction of 
the houfe of Rurik, the ufurpation 
of Boris and Demetrius, and the efta- 
blifhment of the houfe of Romanof.”” 
The laft revolution, comprifed in 
the eighth fection of this work, is the 
“accefhon Of Peter the Great.” ) Phe 
martial achievements of this celebrated 
character have been repeated by fuch 
a variety of hiftorians, that Mr. Card 
has contented himfelf with flightly 
touching upon the military and naval 
events of his reign, and has rather cho- 
fento contemplate him in the fhades of 
his private life, and in his more amia- 
ble character of Jegiflator and reformer 
of his country; which glorious titles, 
obferves Mr. Card, he juftly claims 
from his works, his genius, and his 
judgment. 
The information contained in this 
volume is fo induftrioufly feleéted, fo 
judicioufly arranged, and fo impar- 
tially related, that we fincerely hope 
Mr.Card will be prompted by the encon- 
ragement it meets with, to perform his 
promife, that, fhould the public opinion 
prove aufpicious to his prefent attempt, 
he would add the modern revolution 
of the fecond Catharine, as the latt link 
of the chain. 
POLITICAL ECONOMY. 
Mr. Frafer has publifhed ‘* 4 Letter 
to the Speaker of the Houfe of Commons ; 
containing an Inquiry into the moft effec- 
tual Means of the Improvement of the 
Coafis and Weftern Iles of Scotland, and 
the Extenfion of the Fifberies,’ a fabject 
which certainly has not obtained that 
attention which its importance de- 
mands. 
The immediate obje&t of this ad- 
drefs to Mr. Abbot is to invite the le- 
giflature to adopt a more enlightened © 
and liberal mode of conduét with re- 
gard to the inhabitants of the High- 
lands and Weltern Ifles of Scotland, 
who are reftrained by the prefent falt- 
duties from reaping any benefit from 
the feas, although they abound in fifh, 
which would fupply their own wants, 
and furnifh an important article of 
commerce. It is faid that 25,000 neos 
ple are likely to leave thefe countries 
in the courfe of the prefent year in 
order to tran{port themfelves to Ame- 
rica; the difpofition to emigration ine 
deed is fo prevalent as to threaten, in 
fome parts, a complete depopulation } 
*¢ It is not to the want of fertility in 
the foil, it is not to the difadvantage of 
climate, it is not from the want of 
; fubliftence 
