tricts into which the governments are divided; and a parochial school in every parish of a district. In many of these, and in those belonging to the government of St. Petersburgh and to the capital in particular, the Lancasterian system has been long adopted with success. All these schools are gratuitous.

Hitherto, as I have been informed, the Russian language had been neglected; but a great change is certainly taking place in this respect. The foundation of the Imperial Russian Academy, although not of a recent date, must be admitted to have influenced in some degree this reformation. That institution, which resembles the La Crusca, or the Academie Française, consists of members, some of whom have salaries, and whose particular province is to promote the study of the native language, to purify it of all foreign idioms and words, to superintend the compilation of accurate grammars and dictionaries, and by their own example in the publication of appropriate essays and memoirs, to improve and polish the style of Russian composition. By researches into the history of the Russian language, its origin, and provincial peculiarities, they also endeavour to enlarge its sphere, and by that means its power and influence. An instance of the earnest desire existing in the highest quarter, as well as on the part of the upper classes, to improve, and also to render more familiar the use of their native language, may be found in the encouragement given to Professor Greitsch, the author of a new Russian Grammar, the first part of which has lately appeared under the immediate patronage of the Emperor, and of which report speaks highly. A second equally strong proof of the wish of that Monarch to see the Russian language more universally adopted, is afforded by the recent regulations respecting the public lectures to be held at the University, and which in future are to be delivered

in the language of the country, and not in German, as had hitherto been the case, most of the Professors being Germans, or from the Germano-Russian Provinces. The President, Monsieur Ouvaroff, of whom I have already made honourable mention, and who filled at one time the office of Curator of public Instruction, has set the example to other writers and heads of Departments of both writing and speaking on all public occasions in the purest Russian, instead of the French language, which was before commonly employed. But to their celebrated historian, Karamsin, the Russians are indebted for the first model of classic prose written in their native language, and to be found in his much-esteemed history of Russia.

A new plan of elementary instruction for the whole Empire, and for the schools of the two capitals in particular, is now preparing for those establishments which are immediately under the Crown. This subject appears in a particular manner to have arrested the attention of the reigning Emperor, who has visited personally, and without any attendant, most of the Imperial Institutions, in order to make himself acquainted with their existing condition. New elementary works are ordered to be composed by select Professors for the various branches of public instruction. Much, of course, in such a plan, will depend on the choice made of those who are to be engaged in it. St. Petersburgh is by no means deficient in able men, although their reputation may not have reached other European latitudes; and the selections already made from them, in addition to the personal character of the Sovereign, are a guarantee of the liberal spirit which will doubtlessly preside over the new system of public education. Professor Greitsch, the author of the Grammaire raisonnée, has been appointed to prepare

a course of lectures on the Russian language, for the use of the primary and parochial schools.

In addition to these improvements, it should be stated that the Russians have adopted the French and German plan of connecting, with the University, schools, whose sole object is to provide teachers capable of disseminating in a successful manner the benefits of instruction. This is as it should be. The Ecoles Normales of France, and Pedagogic Schools of Germany, have produced excellent results. So will those attached to the University of St. Petersburgh.

I have already stated in its proper place what are the sentiments of the present Sovereign on the subject of education. The patronage which his Majesty proposes to extend to all the public institutions which have some branch of education for their object, proves the earnestness and liberality of those intentions. It has been stated, and truly stated, that an absolute Sovereign, who promotes the diffusion of knowledge among his subjects, and devises the best means of raising them higher and higher in the ranks of intellectual nations, confers on them a boon which is even more precious than the adaptation of political institutions called liberal. This proposition needs scarcely any demonstration; for that Monarch who accords such a benefit, cannot again take it away from his people; whereas he may do so with facility in regard to the latter concession.

The mere enumeration of the public Establishments existing in St. Petersburgh, intended for the diffusion of knowledge in all its branches, of which I took notice during my stay in that capital, will alone be sufficient to convey an idea of the attention paid to education in that city.

For the civil part of the population, we find as before stated-an University-an Academy of Literature—an Oriental Institute for the study and cultivation of Oriental Asiatic languages *-a School for the Deaf and Dumb, on the plan of Mons. Sicard, placed under the immediate protection of the Empress Mother-an Academy of Medicine -a Mining School; an École de Commerce; an Institut Forestier; and others. For the benefit of the Army-a School for the Subalterns of the Guard; another for the Children of Soldiers; and another for the Orphans of the Military; two Cadet Corps; one of Pages; an Artillery School; another for the Engineers; an Institute of Roads and Communications; and, for the use of the Navy, besides the Schools of Elementary Education, a Naval Academy, and an Institute of Naval Architecture. All that relates to the establishments for the education of the clergy, has been already mentioned, so that we have here sufficient evidence that public education is not neglected in St. Pe

Though this institution has only existed five years, yet it has already produced some good results. A young student, educated at that establishment, Mons. Botianoff, has published a Russian translation of those curious Arabic poems, which were composed before the appearance of Mahomet, and are preserved suspended in the temple of Mecca, from which circumstance they have received the general name of Moallaca. I had the good fortune of forming the acquaintance of Baron Schöling, who is a perfect Orientalo-mane, and a most amiable as well as erudite person. This gentleman studies Chinese all day with a Russian monk, who passed ten years in China, and spends the best part of his fortune in the purchase of Chinese books, of which he has already a very valuable collection, amounting to 2,000. He is thoroughly acquainted with most of the European modern languages; a gentleman full of mirth and pleasing anecdote, and very much répandu in the best society. After my lecture, which he did me the honour of attending, I had a long conversation with him on the subject of the Asiatic establishment above-mentioned, from which he seemed to anticipate excellent results.

tersburgh. Now some persons have said-" This is all very well on paper, and we know that the Russians are fond of having it supposed that they have more institutions for the instruction of the people than other nations; but these are names, and names only, without any substance." The answer which I would give to such assertions, is this: I have had ocular demonstration of the existence of all these establishments in some way or another, and they appeared to me not only to be at work at present in good earnest, each according to its own object, but to have been so for many years past. I may be mistaken; but Europe will not be long before it sees the happy results of such a system to Russia.

On the subject of domestic or private education, as I cannot speak from my own experience, I shall therefore say nothing. I understand, however, that the number of private teachers and tutors in St. Petersburgh is very considerable, and that a great many foreigners profess to teach Latin and the modern foreign languages, without being qualified for the task. Private teachers are known under the name of Outchitel. Their terms are exceedingly moderate, and they are in general Swiss or Germans. By way of utilising my time, as the French say, I engaged one of the latter to give me a lesson of two hours in his native language, at six o'clock every morning, during my stay in St. Petersburgh; and for this service he asked me the moderate sum of thirty roubles a week.

Though so much attention has been paid to the education of the male part of the population, that of the female portion has certainly not been neglected. In regard to the superior classes of society, to which my observations must for the present be confined, the desire of having them properly educated, led, about thirty or forty years ago, to the foundation of two great institutions in St. Petersburgh, for the education of young ladies.