to any I had seen in England, though stronger. The linen purchased from the peasants has the additional advantage of being in its genuine state, and is not starched or pressed. The expenses of living at St. Petersburgh may be judged of by what I have already stated, and by the perusal of a short list, annexed to this chapter, of all the necessaries of life and their prices, which I obtained from a lady who has been at the head of a large family for many years in that city, and who is her own house-keeper, as all married ladies should be "who love their lords." Supposing a person to move in the sphere in which the family of the lady in question moves-every luxury as well as convenience and necessary of life, including a close carriage and pair, which such a person might require, and which would cost a sum of fifteen hundred a-year in London,—may, I have been assured, be obtained and enjoyed in quiet, for twenty or twenty-two thousand roubles in St. Petersburgh. A thrifty housekeeper, however, need not, in very severe weather, expose herself to the inconvenience of going to market, for there is a set of people called Rasnostchicks, who regularly attend private houses, bringing daily along with them whatever article of the necessaries of life they judge likely to be required, and generally good as to quality, as well as correct in regard to quantity. These people settle their accounts either monthly or half-yearly with families whom they once know; but short reckonings are the best. It is curious to see how quickly these people, as well as other Russian tradesmen, will cast up their reckoning without either trusting to their memory, or using any pencil, or ink, but by means of the Stchety, which may be considered tangible arithmetic," and consists of a square board having a number of vertical brass wires passing through a as 66 certain number of black and white ivory beads. It is by the peculiar arrangement of these beads, that the first operations of arithmetic are performed cleverly as well as quickly by the St. Petersburgh shopkeepers. A great part of the provisions and other commodities for the St. Petersburgh market, are taken thither by winter and summer carriers, called Izvoschiks, who may be said to form a class of people entirely apart from the rest of the population in many striking respects. The winter carriers generally go in caravans amounting often to one hundred in number, which are called Oboz; I met some of these on my return. Their carts are upon small and very low sledges; and the fares are considerably less than by the more ordinary conveyances, although they carry more weight, and perform their journey more quickly. They generally travel from sixty to eighty versts a-day. The summer carriers' carts, or Teliegas, are upon four wheels, which are of a light construction. The nave of the wheel projects more than a foot, in order to prevent the upsetting of the carriage in the dreadful and deep ruts over which they have sometimes to pass. They carry from twenty to thirty poods of goods, are drawn by a single horse, and go at the rate of from thirty to forty versts a-day. They also travel in caravans consisting of a hundred carts each, one man taking charge of four of them at a time. APPENDIX TO THE PRESENT CHAPTER. PRICE OF PROVISIONS During the Autumn and Winter Season. Bread and Flour. Rye Bread, 1 rouble 30 kopeeks a pood. Bread per pound or otherwise. Three and a half loaves make 1 lb. sold for 28 kopeeks, as good as French bread in London. Flour, (wheaten) the very whitest, 23 roubles for 200 Russian Meat. Beef, 15 kopeeks 1 lb. Russ. Mutton, 25 kopeeks. Lamb, 5 roubles for a whole one. Veal (Archangel is the best and cheapest), 70 to 80 kopeeks a Ib. Russ. Pork, 25 to 30 kopeeks, fresh: a sucking pig, 3 roubles, the frozen much less a good deal eaten in winter. Game and Poultry. Partridges, 80 kopeeks the pair. Black Cock, 24 roubles a pair. Smaller Game-Silktails and Bullfinches, 12 kopeeks a pair. Fowls, from 3 to 4 roubles a pair, very large; frozen, 24 roubles a pair. Geese, 1 rouble each. Turkeys, 3 to 5 roubles; very large indeed. Vegetables, &c. Roots, 14 rouble for 100 carrots. Celery Roots, 14 rouble for 100. Grapes, 14 per lb. Liquids. Best Kvass, per quart, 15 kopeeks. Cream-One bottle, containing one pint and a half, 1 rouble. Milk-One bottle, 30 kopeeks. Oil (Olive), 3 roubles the Provence bottle. Tea, over-land, from 8 to 10 and 20 roubles 1 lb. Russian. Coffee, 45 roubles a pood-or 36 lbs. English. Gallipoli Oil, 30 roubles a pood. Spermaceti Oil, rare, not used. Other necessaries. Butter, 1 rouble a lb.; Salt Butter, 50 kopeeks per lb. Russian. Eggs, sold by tens, at 40 kopeeks (common.) Fresh Eggs, 2 roubles for ten. Salt-Foreign Salt, 2 roubles 80 kopeeks a pood. Wax Candles, best, 60 roubles a pood, or 1s. 4d. a lb. English. Soap, Tallow-Soap, 10 roubles a pood, very good; and white, double that sum. Wood, from 7 to 10 roubles a fathom, 1 archine wide, of archine deep. Washing (generally), 600 roubles a year, for a family of 12. Wages, Carriages, &c. Footman's Wages-from 35 to 40 roubles per month, fed, and no clothes. Wages to Coachman, 40 roubles per month; not fed, and dress given. Wages to Postilion, when 4 horses are kept, 25 roubles per month; not fed. Dvornick, 30 roubles a month: not fed. Maid Servants' Wages-Cook, Lady's-maid, and Laundrymaid, 25 roubles a month. Housemaid and Nurserymaid, 15 roubles. Board Wages, 15 roubles a month. Servants have no fixed apartments, bedding, clothing, sugar, tea, or any thing else provided for them; and even in the best houses they sleep any where, on the stairs, &c. Horses alone, 900 roubles per annum. Hay, 60 kopeeks to 75 per pood. Oats, 7 roubles to 8 roubles a bag, 8 Tchertverik. Straw, 50 kopeeks a pood. A sledge and pair, carriage and coachmen, (wages and board wages included) 250 roubles (ten guineas) per month. A close carriage and four horses, coachman and postilion (wages and board wages included) 450 roubles (eighteen guineas) per month. N. B. A pair of horses, without a carriage or coachman, but kept by the hackneyman, may be hired in the winter for 100 roubles per month. House Rent is high. CHAPTER XVI. PICTURE OF ST. PETERSBURGH. -Extraordi - Still more ex Conversations with eminent and impartial persons, on many important Subjects. PROGRESS OF CIVILIZATION IN RUSSIA. - Parallel with that of England. — JURISPRUDENCE and state of the legal profession in Russia. - Forms of Law, number and character of various Courts. Administration of Justice. Trial by Peers. - Court of Habeas Corpus in St. Petersburgh. — PRISONS, and Prison Discipline. The Town Gaol on the plan of Howard. nary number of prisoners in Russia during 1826 traordinary reduction in the course of a twelvemonth. — Society for improving Prison Discipline.—Commission of General Surveillunce. - Corporeal Punishments. -Whipping in the West Indies. — Flogging in the British Navy. The KNOUT in Russia. — Description of the Instrument. Ceremony of its Application. — The "Cat-o'-nine-tails.". The Rope's-end. — Commission for drawing up new Codes of Laws. - Monsieur SPERANSKY. - Monsieur BALOUHIANSKY. - Capture of Tiflis.- Public Illuminations at St. Petersburgh. Watch houses. Boodoschniks, or military Watchmen.- Proclamation of New Laws. - Iron Pavilions, and Fires in the Street pro bono publico. —State of the POLICE in St. PetersNew Fire Insurance Comburgh. Provisions against Fire. pany. Absence of Beggars.-The MILITARY GOVERNOR-GENERAL Census and Statistics of Russia. The Juof St. Petersburgh. lian versus the Gregorian Calendar, or Old and New Style. — SYSTEM OF SERVAGE in Russia. - Exposé and apparent advantages of that System. Rectification of erroneous ideas on that subject. Mode of recruiting the Army dependent thereon. — Facility of collecting the Public Income founded on that System. — Particulars respecting General Levies.- Corporeal Punishments in the Russian Army. - SUCCESSION to the Throne of Russia in 1825. -Contest of Loyalty and Affection between two Imperial Brothers. The MILITARY REVOLT of the 26th of December.- Death of MILORADOVITCH. Firmness and bravery of NICHOLAS. tected Conspiracy. - Capital Punishment. "MAIS, mon cher Docteur," continued le Procureurwith whom I had been conversing on subjects of great in |