340 
most stupid race of human beings, are 
guilty of this promiscuous intercourse, 
So much therefore for the progressive ci- 
vilization of the Russian peasantry. .To 
confess the truth, they alone seem to 
have stood still. The court has become 
more refined, and even the country no- 
bility more on a level with the nobility of 
other kingdoms. Why is it then that 
the peasantry alone have stood still?— 
The question is, unfortunately, answered 
by another point of Mr. Porter’s infor- 
mation-—the Russian peasantry are still 
slaves, and so will remain in despite of 
the good intentious of the court. The 
nobles will not hastily surrender their 
privileges, and the main constituent of 
their wealth. 
PotiticaL Economy.—In a cursory 
view of this nature, it is scarcely possi- 
ble to give a sufficient idea of a subject 
so various. In Political Economy the 
Russian government, for to the govern- 
ment it exciusively belongs, have made 
considerable advances since the reign of 
Catherine. The rejection of the English 
treaty of commerce, and which would 
have been equally rejected, whether 
there had been peace or war, is at once 
a consequence and a proof of’ this sub- 
ject of political economy being under- 
stood. Previous to the accession of the 
Emperor Alexander, the Russians had 
about as much commerce as the Chi- 
nese. They contented themselves merely 
with selling to British merchants and 
agents, resident in the country for that 
purpose. Ail the wholesale trade in the 
empire was in the hands of resident fo- 
reicners. The Russian government and 
people have at length opened their eyes 
to their own interest; and even when 
peace shall return, it will be in vain to 
expect that the former commercial rela- 
tions will be restored. 
The public ferce of the kingdom, its 
maintenance, and its distribution, is a 
main branch of political econorfty. Ac- 
cording to the account of Mr. Porter, 
and indeed according to all othér ac- 
counts, the Russian army was never in 
a better situation than at the present 
period. Toa poor nation, thatis to say, 
» to a nation hick having, fas taxes has 
litile specie at command, it is an object 
of the first importance, that the pay of 
its army should be as cheap as is possi- 
ble. Such is the case with the Russian 
ariny. The following, according to Mr. 
Porter, is the present pay of the Rus- 
sian olficers and soldiers—referring your 
readers, for more detailed information, to 
Foreign Mode. of preparing Coffee. 
[May 1, 
that splendid and useful work, I shall 
conclude: with this extract: _ 
A Colonel, 900 rubles per annum, 
equal to about 100]. English—Lieute- 
nant-Colonel, 680; equal to about 851. 
—Major, 500; equal to about 701.— 
Captain, 415;’ equal to about 60l.—- 
Lieutenant, 300; equal to about 33].— 
Priva ate, 3; equal to about eight shillings 
and sixpence annually. 
ees 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
ea many useful receipts, &c. are 
sometimes found in your miscellany, 
I shall be glad if any of your.correspon- 
dents will be kind enough to give me in- 
formation on the following subject. = 
T have found that spirits Of turpentine 
hot, will remove grease spots from pa- 
per, and hot spirits of wine will also re- 
move, in great measure, the stain left by 
the turpentine. But I have always to 
regret, that a circle round the edges» 
where the turpentine is applied, will 
remain. And if more turpentine be ap- 
plied, it still keeps dissolving the grease, 
and diffusing a larger circumference on 
the paper, which I have never been able 
wholly to discharge. Now I should be 
glad to know, either ef a composition 
which would remove grease spots, with- 
out being liable to the above defect, or 
.of a composition which, (without stain- 
ing the paper) will, on being first applied, 
prevent the turpentine from spreading, 
so as to enlarge the spot upon the paper. 
March, 1809. Your's, &c. 
G.-B. 
a 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
fi answer to the query in your 
Magazine, respecting the  supe- 
rior preparation otf coffee, by the 
Germans, I submit the following pre- 
parations of that beverage as more ge- 
neral upon the Continent, and as, differ- 
ing from the methods pursued by the 
English. In the first place, almost all 
families roast their own coffee, and only 
‘prepare enough for their immediate use, 
by which means it retains a fullness of 
flavour, which is considerably diminished 
in keeping coffee roasted for any length 
oftime. 2dly. The milk used in coffee 
is always made boiling hot, and a greater 
quantity made use of than in England. 
Sdly. It is continued boiling, as long 
as any of the coffee remains on the 
surface. 
4th. The coffee is finally fined by put- 
ting 
