The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-20 00:00:00

lAN CAMP,

THE RESOURCES OF RUSSIA

(From the Examiner. )
A nation, no doubt, requires a large territory and a
numerous population in order to be powerful; but a
country by no means abounds in resources in proportion
to the extent of its territory, or even to the number of
its inhabitants. Far more depends on the nature and
character of both. The Russian Empire is supposed to
have an area of above two millions of square miles. In
other words it is about ten times the extent of France,
and twenty times that of the British Islands. But the
greater part of this vast empire, and all that comprehends
its essential strength, the proper Russian nation, is situ-
ated in a rigorous climate. The averageof the thermome-
ter at St. Petersburg throughout the year is only 37
degrees, or five degrees above the freeezing point,
and at Moscow, the cradle of the Russian nation, it
is but two degrees higher. In this portion of the
empire the harbours are ice-bound for half the year. The
larger portion of the surface of Russia consists of lakes,
swamps, steppes, with sandy deserts as unproductive as
those of Arabia, and fit only to be wandered over
by pastoral nations. No portion of it is tropical
or quasi-tropical. It produces no coal worth naming,
and much even of its culinary salt is imported, or
brought vast distances from some of its recently-acquired
conquests to the south. Much of it is destitute of tim-
ber—much, even, of potable water. It is a country of
oases in a huge desert and under inclement sky.
The Russian population is said to amount to about 60
millions, or to be twice as numerous as that of France.
Its effectual strength, however, consists only of that por-
tion of it which speaks the Russian language, and this is
stated to include two-thirds of the whole, or about
4.0,000,000 But again, of the entire population it is un-
derstood that two-thirds are serfs, that is, bondsmen or
slaves, the property of the state or of the nobles, and
bought and sold with the land like the sheep and oxen
that are reared on it. 'We must go at least as far back as
the Norman conquest—perhaps even as far as the Saxon
Heptarchy—to find anything comparable to this either
in our own country or in France. The rest of the
population of the empire that are not of the Russian na-
tion consists of conquered people, like the Poles, of
whose country military occupation only is held ; or of
rude tribes, still in the same state of society ae when
they were ruled and led by Attila, Gengis, and Timour,
Whether the Russian be destined to attain a degree of
civilisation equal to that of the more advanced nations
of Europe, time alone can show ; but meanwhile it is
certain that in the 25 centuries of the authentic history
of man, no high civilisation has ever sprang up in a
country so ungenial.
The repulsive character of its soil and climate is suffi-
ciently attested by the smallness of its relative popula-
tion. The whole empire gives little more than 30 in-
habitants to the square mile, which is about one-tenth
part of that of France or England. The nine circles
embracing the Imperial capital of St. Petersburg give no
more than 35 to the square mile, and the 11 which include
holy Moscow give only 130, which is scarcely equal to
the population of the poorest counties of Scotland or
Wales. Let it be remembered that Russia is nut a
new country like North America, of a couple of centu-
ries' growth, but one as early inhabited as Greece or
Italy.
The resources of Russia may be tested by the extent
of its revenue. This, in 1849, amounted to 24,794,7351.
To form a just notion of it, we must compare it not with
the revenue of Imperial Britain, but with that of a de-
pendency of Britain. It is the same, then, or nearly so,
as our Indian revenue ; and this small Russian revenue
(for such it assuredly is, considering that some 50,000,000
of the contributors claim to be Europeans) is the fund
from which is paid the civil establishments, the vast
army, and the expensive and useless navy of Russia ; as
well as a public debt which before the war was
63,000,0001., and of which the annual interest could not
well be less than 3,001,0001., or close on 1-Bth of the
entire revenue. Some of the items of taxation are curi-
ous and characteristic, such as a capitation tax on the
bondsmen of the nobles ; the same on the bondsmen of
the crown ; a tax on the capital of merchants, and "the
brandy monopoly." This last, exclusive of the customs
duty on imported potables, yielded in 1849 the suns' of
9,774.167/., or near two-fifths of the whole revenue. For
inebriety, therefore, the bondsmen would seem to beat
some freemen hollow, for our own corresponding tax
does not form above a seventh part of our whole public
income.
The external commerce of Russia is surely paltry for
so vast a territory and so great a population. In 1852,
and now of course it is a great deal smaller, the exports
amounted to just 17,982,0521. ; which is less than one-
fifth part of our own in the same year, with a good deal
less than half the population. But Russia, it is pre-
tended, is independent of foreign trade. It can live
without it, forsooth, as if it were no better than China
or Japan. This is not true, and the large export for so
poor a people as that just quoted is a proof that it is not
true--:to say nothing of a sum of near 5,000,0001. incus-
torn duties received by the State from this foreign trade,
a sum exceeding one-fifth part of the ,entire public in-
come. Quite true no doubt it is, that the great bulk of
the Russian population lives poorly and consumes no fo-
reign produce ; but this does not apply to nobles, the
priesthood, the merchants, and the tradesmen, who cer-
tainly do consume foreign produce, and these are said to
number 4,000,000. The nobility, or owners of serfs, may
indeed be said to exist by the foreign trade, for the sum
of near eighteen millions of foreign exports consists of
the produce of their estates. Not a foot of the Russi7 a
territory produces tea, coffee, sugar, cotton, indigo,
hardly even wine. All are imported, and for the most
part from the very countries with which Russia is now at
war.
A sketch of Russian resources would be imperfect
without reference to the character of a Russian army.
The rank and file of that army is composed of bonds-
men, and considering that it is so, its bravery is wonder-
ful. Nothing equal to it has been known since the days
of Spartacus. The courage of the Russians, however,
is chiefly passive. Like their own earthworks, they
stand much battering. When they have assaulted,
even under the most favourable circumstances, they
have been invariably routed, or severely punished.
They fight beat behind walls, which gives them the
confidence that intelligence and self-reliance confer on
the soldiers of civilised nations. But this is not a
virtue peculiar to the Russians, for it belongs equally
to all naturally
Afghans, and Ra .brave men, such as Turks, Arabs,
jpoots. If Sebastopol was valiantly
defended, Silistria and Kars, the conditions of defence
and assault, being more unfavourable to their garrisons,
were even more so. Religious fanaticism also, long ex-
tinct with the civilised nations of Europe, contributes
materially to stimulate the courage of the Russians ; and
in this respect, and in the belief of their being predes-
tined conquerors, they bear no inconsiderable resem-
blance to the early Arabs, only substituting a succession
of Czars for Mahomet and the Caliphs. Moreover, the
Russians have the additional Christian stimulant of
I brandy, forbidden to the followers of Islam. Upon the
whole, the character of the Russian soldiery was never
better described in a few words than by one of their own
officers taken prisoner in the Crimea, when he said of
them, " If our men knew as well how to fight as they do
how to die, they would be the first troops in the world."
But notwithstanding the very plain evidences we have
recounted of essential Russian poverty, a few fanciful
people would have us believe that the resources of Rus-
sia are not only great but inexhaustible. The Czar, they
say, can command the whole resources of his empire ;
but the same thing may be said of the Khan or K hive,
or of the King of Bokhara, or of any other eastern despot,
and all the resources may be a very small affair. It is
a rack revenue, after the true Asiatic pattern, and in-
capable of expansion when there is need. There is nc-
thing for it in a case of emergency but to borrow abroad,
since there is no one at home to lead. Already the
treasury is exhausted, and its master begs in vain for a
loan in all the money markets of Europe. Three hun-
dred thousand adult serfs, whom it has taken years to
discipline, have perished since the commencement of the
war. Valuing these only at the price of an American
slave, or 1001., the clear loss, and one that is irreparable,
amounts to 30,000,0001. One conscription in rapid
succession follows another, and yet it is insisted that
Russia is inexhaustible.
Some very simple people are also of opinion that the
Czar may continue the war indefinitely by the issue of an
inconvertible paper currency. The Czar may no doubt
issue paper money to his heart's content, and alter at
his pleasure the denomination in which wealth is ex-
pressed, but he cannot increase the wealth of his empire
by such means, any more than lie can
issue oncon-
vertible paper money he may cheat his cred better cators, his
troops, and his establishments, but nothingn
come of it. Every month of war diminishes his slender
resources, and increases his expenditure. The genius,
rules character,
overis and
essentially
resources ofA thesa no a j
wo rhi yu of
f istnhdbeupti
hal anothereshte
bwbeart fhoer
expensive a
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telt eu nr
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government

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MANSION-HOUSE.- FORGERY OF RUSSIAN BANK
NOTES,—Abialtara Rosenberg and Simon Barner,subjects
of Russia, were brought before Alderman Wlre, in the
custody of George Scott and Daniel May, the detective
officers, charged " with having, knowingly and feloni-
ously, and without lawful excuse, had in their posses-
sion a certain copper plate, upon which were engraved
and made parts of certain notes for the payment of
moneys uf a certain foreign prince or state, that i, to
say, the Emperor of all the Russias, against the peace,

&c.
Daniel May (detective) said—On Saturday, the 17th
inst., about four o'clock in the afternoon, I saw the two
prisoners go to Mr. Smith's, in Westmoreland-buildings,
Aldersgate-street. They went in, and came out together
in about ten minutes, and went down Aldersgate--treet,
towards the end of Cheapside. I followed them, in com-
pany with Scott, my brother officer, who had joined me
in Aldersgate-street. At the end of Cheapside I went
up to Rosenburg, and told him I was an officer, and I
should take him in custody upon the charge of having
plates in his posses-don for the purpose of printing and
forging Russian Bank notes. Scott spoke to Barnet, the
other prisoner, at the same time. I took from the breast
of Rosenburg, underneath his coat, the copper plate I
now produce, called the " back plate." Rosenburg said
he was doing it for a gentleman, who was on London-
bridge, and was then waiting there. I said to him what
did you do with the other plate you got yesterday, to
which he replied that the gentleman who was on Lon-
don-bridge had got it. I took him then to the station-
house, and searched him, and found upon bins 3/. 75.,
two keys, and a purse. I have been watching the two
prisoners from the 20th of October until Saturday. I had
seen the two prisoners on the Friday befoi e go into Smith's
premises, and they left in about a quarter of an hour ;
and I saw Barnet then with something in a paper, and
they wenttogether along Aldersgate•street, and separated
at the end of Cheapside. Rosenburg went up Cheapside,
and whilst in Cheapside he went to a window and undid
the paper, and looked at the border plate produced, and
I looked over his shoulder and distinctly saw him exa-
mining it under a light, and then he wrapped it up again,
' and took it to No. 4, Shorter-street, Wellclose-square,
where Rosenburg gate his address after his apprehen-

sion.
Cross-examined by Rosenburg--I took the plate from
under your coat. I did not go to London-bridge with
you, because I saw the other officer (Scott) take the bor-
der plate from the other prisoner, and I heard Scott say,
" You have not been on to London-bridge, for I followed
you direct from Shorter-street." You told me the gen-
tleman on London-bridge had it.
Mr. W. H. Smith, engraver and printer, of No. 4,
Westmoreland-buildings, Aldersgate-street, said I
know the prisoners from their coming to my house. On
the 15th of October Barnet came alone, and gave his
name as Mr. Charles, and asked me whether I could
engrave him a label. I said "Yes." He then took me
outside to my own window and showed me an impres-
sion of machine ruling which was exhibited there, and
asked me if I could do him one something like it. I
said yes, if he brought me a copy. He then left'me, and
the following morning he called alone and left me
the paper produced by the officer, and I told him he
must leave it with me a few hours till I got the price,
and I then took it and made inquiries, and he called
again, at five o'clock, and I told him it must remain till
next morning as I had not been able to ascertain the
Flee. He called the next day at about three o'clock in
the afternoon, and I had ascertained the price both of
the machine ruling, plate, and the border plate, and I
informed him that it would be about 121. for the two
p'ates. I asked him about the body of the note, and he
said he could not give me an order for that, as there
were English letters to go in there, and he said the gen-
tleman would not give so much as the 121. for the two
plates, and he would see the gentleman and let me know.
I kept the note (having made a communication to the
police, and acting under their direction). On Monday,
the 22d October, Barnet called again and bated rue
down in the price, and I undertook to do the work for
91. 95., and he went and fetched me 21. on account, and
gave me the order. He called about two days after-
wards alone, and asked me how I was going on with it,
and when it was likely the work would be finished. I
told him I could not say exactly, but it would be four or
five days before he could see one plate. He kept calling
almost every day to see how I got on with it. On the
31st of October the two prisoners called together, and
Barnet told me the gentleman had sent another party,
not believing that he (Barnet) had put the plates in
hand, and would not pay any more money till that party
(Rosenburg) saw that it was all right. I told them it
was in hand, and I wanted some money to go on with,
and then Rosenberg gave me 21. and I said I would try
and get one of the plates done by Saturday, and they
then left me. Rosenburg took part in the conversation,
and gave instructions to me how to go on. On Satur-
day Barnet called alone, and I told him it was not done
but it would be about the middle of next week, and he
called again on the following Tuesday. I told him then
I could not tell when it would be done as I had not
seen the party who was engraving it, and the 9th of
November Barnet called again, and I gave him the plate
called the back plate. He waited from 4 o'clock in the
afternoon till after 11 o'clock at night for it. He then
paid me 21. more, and the next morning he called again
and gave me another 11., and told me to get on with the
border plate. He asked me when it would be done. I
told him about Tuesday or Wednesday, and he called
on Tuesday, the 13th, with the other prisoner. I told
them I did not think it would be done before Friday, as
it was a more difficult job than we thought ft would be ;
and on Friday, the 16th of November, both the pri-
soners called. I told them I had not got it yet, and
they must wait or call again, but I got the plate about
4 o'clock, or a little after, and they both looked at it
(the border plate), and took it away, and they left me
the other plate, which I had previously given to them,
as I was to have the printing. They paid me 21. 95., and
an extra 9s. 6d. beoause it was a difficult job. I told
them they ought to give me 10s. extra, but they said
they would only give 9s. 6d. Before they went away
they asked me to get them the copy back, and I pro-
mised to do so, and they came together on Saturday
last, and I took the into the counting-house and save
them the copy produced and the plate, as they wished
the gentleman to look at them first, and they gave me
an order to go on with the printing of the under plate,
and also 108. to buy the paper. They then took the
plates and copy away, and were to see me at,s o'clock,
but I did not see anything more of them till they were
in custody at this court. The two plates and the paper
copy produced are those which I so delivered to the
prisoners.
Cross-examined by Rosenburg—You told me if I
engraved one black letter inside that the whole plate
would be spoiled.
The prisoners were then remanded.
Mr. Hodgson, the superintendent of the City police,
who has had the conducting of the whole affair, was
present during the investigation. No solicitor appeared
for the prosecution.
Ann Smith, was charged before Mr. Alderman Wire.
Henry Taylor, who appeared to be about 11 years of
age, said—On Saturday evening, a little after 9 o'clock,
I saw the prisoner take three handkerchiefs which were
hanging at the door of a shop in Bishopsgate-street, and
I told a policeman. -
The prisoner was taken into custody by an officer,
with the property in her possession.
She was sent to prison for seven days.
William West, a person of respectable appearance,
was charged with having stolen a fowl from the stall of
Mr. Brooks, of Leadenhall-market. The prisoner had
been observed prowling about the market, and bad been
turned away before. He had on a coat, the pockets of
which were spread all over the breadth of it.
George Johnson said—l have known the prisoner
these 30 years, and an excellent man be is.
The prisoner had been watched in consequence of a
suspicion about him, and was distinctly seen to slip the
fowl into his pocket.
Alderman Wire fined the prisoner 51., and in default
of the payment of the penalty sentenced him to impri-
sonment for two months.

BOW-STREET.—Elizabeth Pigot, who stood re-
manded on a charge of forging and presenting, at Messrs.
Coutts' bank, in the Strand, an order for the payment of
501., was brought before Mr. Hall for final examination.
Mr. Robert Twin, a clerk at the prosecutors' bank,
stated, that on the Tuesday or Wednesday preceding her
apprehension, the prisoner presented to him the letter,
produced, addressed to Mrs. Elizabeth Pigot, and bear-
ine• the signatures of Mr. J. Grant, Mr. Edward Bere,
Mr. J. C. Wyld, and Mr. H. B. Pigot, as trustees to
that lady. The prisoner said that she was Mre. Eliza-
beth Pigot, and she wished to draw some money on ac-
count. He referred to the books, but finding she had
no authority to draw, he told her she must have an
order from the trustees. The letter was in an envelope,
which appeared to have been redirected.
Mr. Englebach repeated his former evidence as to the
presentation by prisoner, on Monday, the 12th inst., of
the order purporting to be signed by the trustees, whose
names had no doubt been copied from the letter.
Mr. Henry Beecher Pigot deposed that he was one of
the trustees of Mrs. Elizabeth Pigot. The trustees kept
an account with Messrs. Coutts. Witness's name was
attached to the document produced, but it was not i,
his handwriting. He knew the handwriting of two of
the other trustees, and neither the order nor the signa-
tures were written by them. The prisoner was quite
unknown to him.
Caroline Jordan, a lodging-house keeper, in Caroline-
street, Eaton-square, stated that the prisoner lodged
with her from Saturday, the 10th inst., to Monday,
when she was taken in custody; and that she went by
the name of Elizabeth Pigot.
Inspector Mackenzie said that when the prisoner was
brought to the station, she gave the name of Elizabeth
Pigot. She admitted that she had written the order and
the signature J. Grant, and that she had induced a
stranger whom she met in the park to sign the other
three names. She added that Mr. Grant was a friend
of hers, and that he was a courier and was now abroad.
The prisoner said that the letter to Mrs. Pigot was
delivered to her at Sir Edward Baker's, Ranston-house,
Blandford, Dorsetshire, where she was staying with her
mistress, who was on a visit there. Seeing the signa-
ture J. Grant, she thought the letter was for her. Two
years ago a person of that name, who had for some time
been a suitor of hers, induced her to entrust him with a
sum of 581. to invest, with money of his own, in the
Eastern Counties Railway. A few days afterwards she
received a menage from him to the effect that he had
got a job on the continent, but would write to her, ex-
plaining what he had done with the money. She h..d
acted under the impression that Mr. J. Grant was the
same person. She had no intention to defraud.
She was committed for trial.
DREADFUL ASSAULT AND ATTEMPTED MURDER.—A
tall. and powerful Irishman, who gave the name of
Charles Seaman, but was called Syinons on the police-
) sheet, aged 28 year", and who is ab periwig of respectal4e