The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-27 00:00:00

ever being executed in our country. Their wages
' are almost nothing ; I have seen a man engaged
carving foliage on some of the jasper vases, ina
style not excelled anywhere in Europe, whose
wages were three shillings and eightpenee per month
with two poods, or thirty-six pounds of rye-flout--
per mcnth made into bread—meat he is never sup-
posed to eat. I have seen another man cutting a
head of Ajax, after the antique, in jasper of two
colours—the ground a dark green, and the head
yellowish clean" colour—in very high relief, and
intended for a brooch. It was a splendid produc-
tion of art, and would have raised the man to a
high position in any country in Europe except'
Ru-sia. He, also, poor man ! received his three
shillings and eightpence per month, and his bread.'
There are many men employed in these productions
possessing great genius ; were they free to use their
talents for their own benefit, this country might
send into civilised Europe numerous works of vast
merit." Very little is said about the Siberian exiles ;
indeed, as the work is dedicated to the Emperor
lAlexander, it would be invidious. On one occa-
sion the author mentions passing a large party of
convicts marching to eastern Siberia ; seventeen
men and women, in chains, led the van,
who were destined for Nertohinsk, and had
to march more than 4,000 vents, which would
take them eight months. The others were more
hrtunate, having only a march of six months before
tem. Eleven women rode behind, some of them
following their husbands into exile. A gang leaves
Elraterineburg every Monday morning. The author
remarks, that among these convicts are some very
bad men is doubtless, but there are also many who
have been driven by cruel treatment to rebel against
their masters, and a word or blow is enough. O,
quittine Siberia the author pushed his way into the
steppes of ancient Mongolia, and his account of his
adventures there is full of interest. He describes
the coals of the old patriarch chiefs, surrounded by
their flocks and herds, and camels, numbering thou-
sands. By all he was most hospitably received,
and mixed freely among them. The meat,
exciting part of his narrative is his visit to
the robber chief, Koubaldos, who pretended to re-
ceive him hospitably, but in reality planned to
attack and plunder him. It was only at great risks
and through the greatest caution that the party
escaped. This part is infested by bands of robbers,
who plunder in the most daring manner, and the
author only owed his safety, on one occasion, to
being taken for a robber chief. His fire-arms were
of good service to him, as they greatly imprewed
the wild and savage beholders. Speaking of this
cauutry, he says, "He who follows on ray track
will find his rifle will be required for more pur-
poses than obtaining a dinner. His courage and
determination will be tested by men who seldom
show fear, and are ever on the alert. It is only by
a steady hand, a quick eye, and skill with his wea-
pon, that he can remain safe from acts of violence.
Plunder is the common trade ; and what is still
worse, the traveller, if not murdered, is carried off
into certain slavery." Many of his 'Lost beautiful
sketches were obtained among the mountains.
Speaking of the great chain that separates Siberia
and Mongolia, he says the best idea that
can be formed of its magnitude, is
by c( mparing it with the Alps, " which can be
crossed in four or five days, while the wanderer
among the Asiatic Alps has lost no time if he con-
trives to cross them in thirty-five." Adventures
with wolves and serpents, with boars and bears, be-
sides the storms on the mountains and the robbers
of the steppe, give excitement and variety to the
work. The novelty of the scenes and the variety
of the incidents will at once secure for it the inte-
rest and attention of the public. A map of the
writer's course will be of service to the reader in
following his extended route, and the numerous
woodcuts convey an excellent idea of the spots de-
scribed. Besides these, there are numerous coloured
lithographs, which greatly enhance the attractions
of this valuable and interesting work.

SHIPWRECKS ON THE GOODWINSANDS.