The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-01 00:00:00

RUSSIAN CONSCRIPTS.

A foreigner in St. Petersburg informed me that he
had "gone to see the recruits that morning, but there
did not seem to be much patriotism among them ; there
were nothing but sobs and tears to be seen among those
who were pronounced fit for service, whilst the rejected
ones were frantic with delight, and bowed and crossed
themselves with the greatest gratitude. The most dim.
tressing scenes may be seen in the streets, among the
bands of recruits—they, their mothers and sisters, or
wives, all weeping together as they walk along; for the
women, with innate tenderness, accompany them for
many miles out of the town, unwilling, until the very
last moment, to bid the objects of their affection adieu
for ever; whilst the latter, in entering the Russian army,
like the condemned in Dante's "Inferno," leave all hope
behind. Desertions are, of course, extremely frequent ;
and since the commencement of the war they are fifty
times multiplied. if one may judge from the numerous
groups of miserable wretches, heavily chained, met with
almost hourly in the streets of St. Petersburg. lam sure
it was enough to make one's heart ache with sorrow and
irdignation to look on their grief-stricken faces and thin
figures, which seemed as if they had been wandering with
the wolves in the wilderness, to escape from the cruelty of
their fellow-men. Once or twice I met a group even
more horrible than these. Several soldiers with fixed
bayonets were walking on each side of a droshky, on
which was seated one of their comrades, holding in
his arms what was certainly the corpse of some un-
happy deserter who had just received the punishment
for his fault, his head shaking listlessly from side to
sides and his arms hanging straight and rigid, the living
shadow of death on his sharp and painful features, show-
ing that the heavy lash had at last relieved him from
his misery. In looking round on the broad streets of
the capital, and seeing in contrast with so much suffer-
ing and misfortune the gaudy carriages of the nobles,
and their gaily-dressed occupants, who seemed so wholly
busied in the pursuit of pleasure that they could not
spare a single moment to reflect on the unhappiness
of their fellow-creatures. I was often tempted to ask
myself whether, if entreaty were made, as in times of
old, "to spare the city for ten's sake," the domes and
towers of St. Petersburg would still stand to cast
their shadow on the earth ? No one can have any
idea of the effect on the population these continual
conscriptions produce unless he has seen it. When
we were leaving the country we passed through nearly
1,200 vents of Russian and Polish land ; excepting
recruits, we scarcely saw a young man in any of the
villages, There were only very old peasants with the
women and children ; even young lads were drawn
away, and the chausdee, or post-roads, were all being
mended by women and girls.—The Englishwoman in
Russia.

[ADVERTISTIMZNT.]—TIEWAZ IN THZ EAST. —PowsaeuL PAM?
1/SCONNOITRINO GLAGGBS.— SIGHT AND HEARING..—Messrs. S. and
B. Solomon., opticians, 39, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly. Ob-
serve—opposite the York Hotel. Nerdy-constructed Spectacle
Lenses of the greatest transparent power. The valuable advan-
tage derived from this invention is, that vision becoming im-
paired is preserved and strengthened, and very aged
persons are enabled to employ their sight at the most
minute occupation—can see with those lenses of a much less mag-
nifying power—and they do not require the frequent changes
to the dangerous effects of further powerful assistance. Deaf-
ness—New Discovery.—The Organic Vibrator, an extraordi-
nary powerful, small, newly-invented instrument for deafness,
entirely different from all others, to surpass anything of the
kind that has been, or probably ever can be, produced.
Being of the same colour as the skin, is not perceptible ; it
enables deaf persons to hear distinctly at church and at
public assemblies ; the unpleasant sensation of siaging noises
in the ears is entirely removed ; and it affords all the assist-
ance that possibly could be desired. ' By her Majesty's Roya
Letters Patent for valuable and extraordinary improvements
in the most powerful and brilliant Telescopes, Camp, Race-
course, Opera, and Perspective Glasses, to know the distances
of objects viewed through them—of great importance to tho
army, navy, and others. These telescopes possess such extra-
ordinary powers that some 3 inches, with an extra eye-
piece, will show distinctly Jupiter's moons, Saturn's ring,
and the double stars; with the same telescope can be
seen a person'S countenance three miles and a half distant,
and an object from 16 to 20 miles. They are of larger and all
sizes, with increasing powers accordingly ; while their vary-
ing from 4 to 6 inches enab'e us to discover more than the
above and the Georgian, with his 6 satellites, &c.—The Royal
Exhibition, 1851.—Valuable, newly-invented, very small,
powerful waistcoat-pocket glass,the size of a walnut, by which
a person can be seen and known 1 miles distant ; they answer
every purpose on the race-course, and at the opera houses,
country scenery, and ships are clearly seen at 8 to 10 miles
They are invaluable for shooting, deer-stalking, yachting, to
gamekeepers, and tourists. Opera,
race-course,
gentlemen, ,
camp, and perspective glasses, with wonderful
power.-39, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly. Observe—oppo-
site the York Hotel.