The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-31 00:00:00

PROGRESS OF RUSSIA.

Whilst ycu are talking of war in Paris, and making
fools of yourselves, with fanfaronnwle and useless ex-
penditure for war, the Government here is doing every-
thing in its power for domestic improvement, and in
the encouragement of trade and manufactures in ad
parts of the empire. You will be surprised, perhaps,
when I tell you' that the Emperor Nicholas, whom you
are in the habit of representing as a cc'reeau bride, and
breathing nothing but ambition and war, passes two
hours every day in conference with the heads of the
commercial and manufacturing departments, on the
different projects which are presented for the develop-
meat of these important sources of national wealth.
Thera is no country in the world in which more hieral
encouragement is given to rational schemes of public
::melioration than in this, so far at least as regards the
Government ; but it is a lamentable fact, that there is
still so much chicanery in the laws, and so niueh
corruption in those sslio administer them, that
foreigners dread embarking their capital in specu-
letion here. A friend of mine, an Englishman, who
established a large factory here in partnership with a
Russian nobleman, has had a lawsuit with his part-
.er, which, after having been nearly six years be-
fore the Courts, is only just decided finally in his
favour. He has had previously four verdicts in his
favour ; but the system of procrastination and ap-
peal is such that frequently cysts tem years may elapse
before the final decision is pronounced, and, in the mean
time, the fortune of the suitor is swallowed up by law
xpences and bribes, for without bribes even justice
cannot be obtained. The Minister of Justice has been
desired by the Emperor to present to him a report on
the present stele of the civil law, with a view to its
being reformed ; and as Nicholas is very determined,
when he once takes the woik of reform in hand, we
may expect a beneficial change. There are very
cheering accounts from most of the commercial porta
of Russia as to the improvement of the trade. This is
particularly the case with Odessa and Archangel ;
,and some of the large towns of the interior have made
strides which surprise those who knew them only a
few years ago. 1 was at AL.scow in the early part' of
February, and was pet fcctly astonished at the deve-
lopernent of that city. Manufactories are rising up in
every quarter, notwithstanding the difficulty of procur•
ing and the cost of fuel, for the timber has been cut
down for a distance of 60 miles round Moscow, and the
Russians, with their usual imprudence, have neglected to
plant other trees. There arc, however, immense peat
grounds in the neighbourhood, and the Emperor has
received an offer from a M. Ponteau, of Moscow, to
turn tham to profit, provided he has a privilege for ten
years, which there is no doubt will be grautel The
object is to compress the peat according to the plan of
Lord Willoughby de Eresby, but greatly improved ;
means having been discovered of compressing it one-
, third more than by his Lordship's patent, and also to
convert the peat into cake on the grounds, so that both
peat and peat-coke may be had in Moscow at a small
~x[ ease of carriage. A Company is forming in antici-
pation of the privilege being granted, ar.d capitol is
offsrel to any extent. Should the Company go on,
one of its plans is to light Moscow with peat gas, a
speculation which promises great results. I saw some
experiments on this subject whilst I was in Moscow,
and they appeared to me to be very conclusive. Peat
in its crude state is now extensively used in Moscow
for the burning of brick, lime, &c , and also for a few
steam engines, but it doss not answer so well as m'ght
be wished, owing to the bulk, which makes the carriage
come very dear."—Letlerfiemz St. Petersburgh.