Retrospect of Domestic Literature—Voyages and Travels. 677 
sexes, who waded or swam out from the 
bath in great numbers, without any con- 
sideration of delicacy ordecency. From 
motives of gallantry we posted ourselves 
opposite the ladies, the better to ob- 
serve the grace and nymph-like beauty 
of their groupes. To say they did not 
blush would be to belie them; for cer- 
tainly their skins were of the brightest 
pink: but it was a spontaneous glow, 
not the sensitive flush of shame, for they 
look around with all the sang-froid of 
females fully apparelled. And in this 
Eve-ish state, with a wooden pail in one 
hand, and a huge bunch of umbrageous 
birch twigs in the other, they descended 
the steps into the river. This vernal col- 
lection was a very convenient substitute 
for the fig-leaves of Paradise, but that 
ancient and primitive use was not the 
only one to which it was appropriated. 
Being of the size and shape of a broom, 
it was intended for the more coercive 
exercise of creating, while inthe warm 
vapor, a rapid perspiration from the 
pores, by asort of Sancho-like flagella- 
tion on the hide of the fair our foul 
bather. As soon as any of these nymphs 
lost sight of her lower extremities in the 
stream, sbe instantly applied herself with 
no small degree of vigor to pour cold 
wateron the top of her head, by the 
help of the.wooden utensil she had car- 
ried with her into the river; the refresh- 
ing and bracing torrents thus streaming 
over her smoking person, soon brought 
it to a more delicate tint than the boil- 
ing hue with which she had issued from 
the stream. 
“ Picture to yourself nearly a hun- 
dred naked Naiads, flapping, splashing, 
and sporting in the wave with all the 
grace of a shoal of porpoises. No idea 
of exposure ever crossed their minds, 
no thought of shame ever flushed their 
cheeks; but floundering about they en- 
joyed themselves with as much indilffer- 
ence as when standing in all their trim 
array, staring at the gay groupes in the 
summer-garden. Even on the confines 
of their bath, nay, in the very midst of 
it, lusty boors were seen filling their casks 
for the use of the city. So many masses 
of granite would have bee. regarded 
with equal attention by either party. 
With the women bathed many men, 
almost all bearded, or grinning grimly - 
through horrible whiskers and fierce 
mustachios. aH 
“ T know not,” continues the author, 
** how to account for the extraordinary 
and quiet exposure which these ladies 
_by the parties. 
the fashion continues; .and when the - 
‘make of their persons, except we de- 
rive it from the old explanation, wse— 
and that we find able to reconcile the 
most preposterous practices to our minds. 
That the indelicacy does not penetrate to 
their morals, is seen in their conduct. 
She who would not take the trouble to 
hide any part of her person from the 
observer’s eye, would, a few minutes 
afterwards, when she was dressed, resent 
to the highest pitch of indignation any 
kberty taken with her charms.” 
If, however, this practice be sufficient 
to fill civilized readers with disgust, ano- 
ther custom, which demonstrates alike 
the deficiency of law and moral feeling, 
cannot but strike them with horror, 
“ T cannot,” says Mr..Porter, “omit 
mentioning a strange custom which they 
have among them ; one very repugnant 
to nature and to British feelings, even 
shocking to think on. Fathers marry 
their sons to some blooming girl in the 
village at a very early age, and then send 
the young men either to Mosco or St. 
Petersburgh to seek employment ; leaving 
their brides a few days after their mare 
riage to the care of their parents. At the 
expiration of some years,when the son re= 
turns, he finds himself the nominal father 
of several children, the offspring of his 
own parent, who had ceemed it a duty 
thus to supply the place of a husband to 
his young wife. This is done all over 
Russia, and never considered a hardship 
Indeed, so far from it, 
son becomes a resident in his native 
village, if he have a numerous stock 
thus raised to him, he marries them off, 
sends them a packing; and then enjoys 
himself hke a ‘Turk, in his seraglio, among 
their wives.” 
After a residence of upwards of two 
years in Russia, the political rupture be- 
tween that country and Great Britain, in 
consequence of the peace of Tilsit, oc- 
casioned Mr, Porter’s return to his na- 
tive country. He availed himself of 
this opportunity to visit Sweden. Accord= 
ingly, passing through Finland, and crosse 
ing the gulf of Bothnia, the dangers and 
hardships of which passage during the 
winter season are described in a lively 
manner, he proceeded to Stockholm, 
After inspecting the most remarkable 
objects presented by that capital, and 
making some excursions into the cour- 
try, he embarked at Gottenburgh. for 
England. : ; 
These volumes are accompanied with 
upwards of forty engravings, principally 
illustrative 
