$44 Progress of the Arts, Ke. 
through the remainder of their voyage, 
by singing, with much simplicity aud 
ease, several of their national airs: The 
strains are wild, and possess many plea- 
sing and melancholy passages, yet the 
whole bore a strong tone of melancholy 
and abruptness. Such indeed is the 
general character of these northern 
songs. I think that the monotony which 
dwells so iong upon the ear, with one or 
- two plaintive notes, is the cause of their 
deep melancholy impression. I have. 
remarked this effect in old Scottish Ja- 
ments, and also in the wid dirges of the 
Irish peasantry. : 
With respect to the « church- 
music, ‘there is something peculiarly: 
impressive in the,whole of the church 
service. In the boors we see a 
simple and devout ardour; they pray 
and cross themseivesywith an earnestness 
which is peculiarly gratifying. It is im- 
possible in seeing them, not to conceive 
the most favourable sentiments of them; 
for however ignorant they. may be in 
other réspects, when once they know the 
nature of the Almighty Being, and are 
sensible of standing in his omniscient 
presence, a salutary awe fills their mind, 
and integrity 1s the naturai growth, as 
the corn is from the ground m which the 
seed is sown. ‘The church-music is fine, 
has much simplicity, and is all vocal. 
Those who chant are not seen, which 
gives a more charming effect to their 
voices. The most’ celebrated church in 
Petersburyh, for fine singing, 1s the Mal- 
tese chapel, and there it is of the most 
exquisite melody.” ‘ 
Mr. Porter likewise gives a similar 
description of the music of the opera and 
theatres; but it might be deemed un- 
pardonable to give such length of ex- 
tract. It will perhaps be thought that 
I have already availed myself too libe-. 
rally of this gentleman’s confirmatory 
observations. But it must be remem- 
bered, that we live in days when au- 
thority goes farther than reasoning. 
Vhe Russians of the present day, 
equally exccl in the danee. According 
to Mr. Porter, they fall not a whit beuind 
the French, except that they have more 
‘personal modesty. This latter quality, 
mdeed, as far as it. respects any delicacy 
of personal display, is confined to the. 
higher ranks; fora Russtan woman of the 
lower order, according to Mr, Ker Por- 
ter, has no idea that there is any part of 
her person, which it is required t@keep 
from the eye of her lover, or even of 
‘a stranger. : 
-gradua! influence of exainple. 
tr the Russian Empire, [May 1, 
Liss ‘ ‘ 
Manners.—The Russian manners have 
undergone a considerable change since 
the reign of Catherine. That Empress, 
by her encouragement of foreigners, aad 
particularly of Frenchmen, at her court, 
had introduced a politeness and refine- 
ment, which had totally eradicated alt 
traces of the ancient Russian barbarity. 
Peter the Great attempted in vain to 
change some part of the national habits 
of his subjects, but Catherine succeeded. 
The post of distinction’ was, that Peter 
attempted it by edict; Catherine, by the 
The one 
wished to compel, the other seduced. 
Catherine, therefore, left her court and 
nation perfectly European; she formed 
them to pleasure, and through pleasure 
to refinement. | ‘ 
In any enquiry into the manners.of the 
people, the subject naturally distributes 
itself into four points ; the manners of the 
court, of. ¢he nobility, of the middle class, 
and of the peasantry. 
The present manners of the court of 
Russia, are perfectly those of every other 
court in Europe: whatever remained of 
the ancient barbarism, has worn away ; 
and under the present emperor, the 
court of Petersburgh is at once magnifi- 
cent and refined. The accounts of Mr. 
Porter upon this head, must give every 
one avery high idea of the progressive 
civilization of Russian manners; so Jate 
as the last years of the Empress Cathe- 
rine,the most avowed profligacy, the most 
gross and open licentiousness disgraced 
a court professing itself Christian; and the 
Empress herself, notwithstanding her 
French manners, was frequently in out- 
rageous oppesition against all the forms 
of civilized life and refined manners. 
Potemkin and the Orlovs, in ‘the nudst 
of their magnificence, had a brutality 
and a barbarism, which seemed only 
suitable to a nation just fresh from the 
woods. All this has now passed away, 
and Petersburgh has become what Paris 
was before the revolution. 
The manners of the nobility who are - 
not .constantly appended to the court,’ 
have still something ef their original cha- 
racter. ‘* The nobles,” says Mr. Porter, 
“deem no~ profession honourable, but 
arms. The study of the arts and sci- 
ences is left to slaves, or at best to slaves - 
made frees The Russian nobility,” how- 
ever, continues Mr. P. “‘arecharacterized 
by a noble frankness, which remids one 
of the ancient barons of Europe. They 
want nothing of the more substantial 
social qualities; they are hospitable to a 
proverb, 
