The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-21 00:00:00

STATISTICS (IF EUROPE.

A St. Pete: burgh corresprupient mentions the
recent y,ublication in the gr-at northern capital of
a remarkable work upon polit cal economy and na-
tional statistics, which has occaQiuned much sensa-
tion in the literary and p:-)litical world. It is en-
titled "Le Manuel de Stat'sque." Iti author is
M. Roslayskii Petrovskii, of Kharkov, who says he
intends it especially " for the use of the Russian
you,h." The following very curious calculations
are made by him :

" The extent of Russia is 31 times greater than
that of Austria, 39 times greater than that of
France, Great Britain, and Prussia taken together,
each of which taken sepantely forms scarcely one-
seventesnth of the coh-,ssil Russian empire. The
cultivated Loads with us form 20 per cent. of the
whole superficies, whilst they are buss 16 per cent.
in Anstna, 12 per cent. in E, gland, Bi. per cent in
Prussia, and 7 per cent. m France. The propor-
tion, however, is in an inverse ra'io in respect to
territorial wealth. There is in Russia for every
inhabitant 6.4 deciatines of productive land ; in
Austria an 1 Prussia, 1.4 ; in France, 1.25 ; and
in England, 0.75 only. Under a hydrogiaphic
aspect Great Britain and Prussia possess per
,quare mile more than I of a verst of fresh
water communication ; France, / ; Austria, 2.3 ;
Russia in Europe, 1.5; and Poland. 1.1-10. Thus
it appears that Poland is the richest country in
water communication, and Russia the po.trest, not-
withstanding the great extent of her rivers.
"The first canals in Russia were formed under
the rule of Peer the Great. In France the canal
du Midi was established under Louis XIV. Eng-
land had not commenced to form her canals until
1758 ; but since then she has outstripped all the
other Powers, for she possesses to-day nearly
4,000 versts of canal. France has 3,960 ; Russia,
1,138 ; and Prussia only 361, That difference be-
comes sill more evi ent if we compare the ex-
tent of 'hose canals with the relative superficial
of each of those States. Great Britain possesses
per square mile more than 4-5 h of a verst of
canals ; France, 2-sth ; Prussia and Austria,
1-14th ; Russia, in Europe, 1-80. In this respect
G: eat Britain is nearly twice richer than Franca,
Il times richer than- Prussia and Austria, and 64
times ri.her than Russia. It is true, however,
that, in most of these countries, the navigable
waters and rivers compensate to a great extent for
their relatives inferiority.
" Great Britain possessed, at the end of 1855,
15,054 versts of railway in operation ; France 5,000
ve!sts ; Prussia 2,758; and Austria 2,177. In
proportion to sul erfieics GI eat Britain had 4i times
more than France and Prussia, and 11 times more
than Austria.

" Under the head of population, it is to be
noticed that mortality is greater in Russia than
amongst any other of the peoples of Europe. Ac-
cord,ng to the statistical calculations made in the
first half of the 19th century, there died in Russia
no less than one out of every 30 of the inhabitants ;
and, according to the latest documents, one for
every 28, and even for every 26, of the inhabitants
—a terrible proportion, far beyond the state
of mortality in Great Britain, France, or even
Austria, where mortality is said to be very
great. Besides that, the average duration of
life in Russia is much shorter than i❑ the other
nations of Europe. Out of 1,000 deaths there
died in Russia only 116 old persons, whilst, out of
the same number there died in Austria 170, 193 in
Prussia, 214 in France, and 270 i❑ Great Britain.
The Russian mortality, too, amongst children
is very high. Out of the total number of deceased
amongst the Russians who professed the Greek re.
ligion, there died very nearly 1,000,000 of children
under 15 years of age. Thus it appears that nearly
1745th of the entire population of Russia die prema-
turely. After that tact, who can deny,' says the
author, that the ignorance which surrounds the
cradle of the peasant's child is much more dan-
gerous and destructive to the country than all her
possible enemies?
_

" The fertility of the soil of the great European
nations is represented by the following numbers :
One grain produces in Great Britain, on an average,
9 or 10, in France a little more than 6, in Austria
5, in Prussia 4-7, in Russia 3-5. Under this re-
port it appears that England raises proportionally
three and a half times more products from her soil
than Russia, notwithstanding the extreme richness
of the land in many of our governments. We cau
only attribute this deficiency to the bad system of
cultivation that is generally adopted in Russia.
" Under the head of " Public Education," we
count in Prussia 1 pupil out of every 6 to 7 inha-
bitants, in Great Britain 1 out of every 9, in France
1 out of every 11, in Austria 1 out of every 14,
and in Russia 1 out of every 132 ; and if we in-
clude those who receive a domestic eduCation,
t out of every 70 ! In France and Prussia there
is puhlishe i, proportionately, a new work for every
7,000 inhabitants ; in Austria, 1 for every 14,000 ;
in Great Britain, 1 for every 21,000 ; in Russia
(not including Poland and Finland), 1 for every
58,000 ; and including Poland and Finland, 1 for
every 46,000. On the other hand, the numbers
under t' e head of " Moral Statistics," if they can
he called such, are all to the advantage of Russia.
We count id Russia 1 criminal for every 1,380
inhabitants, whilst in Austria the proport;on is 1 to
652 inhabitants ; in France, 1 to 585 ; in Prussia,
1 to 449 ; and in England, 1 to 375 inhabitants !
It true that the enormous extent of Russia is fa-
vourable to the flight of criminals, and increases
the possibility of their escaping from the vigilance
of the police ; nevertheless, under this head, the
advantage indisputably remains oa the side of

" There is in Prussia 1 church to every 1,060 in-
habitan s, in Russia 1 to 1,360, in Great Britain 1
+01,414, in Austria Ito 1,820. We count in Russia
1 ecclesiastic to every 370 inhabitants, in Austria
1 to 450, in France 1 to 460, in Prussia 1 to 1,228,
in Great Britain Ito 1,250 inhabitants. The dif-
ference is enormous as between Catholic and Pro-
testant countries. Industry and commerce present
the foll,wing numbers :—The industrial produc-
tions of Great Britain are valued at 172 francs per
head ; in France, at 110 francs ; in Prussia, 104
francs ; in Austria, 68 francs ; and in Russia, at
34 francs. The amount of the commercial move-
ment is 128 francs for every inhabitant of Great
Britain, 52 francs for Fr ince, 28 francs for Prussia,
17 francs for Austria, and 12 francs for every in-
habitant of Russia."

The author in conclusion says :—" We have
not failed to observe in this sketch, to our great
satisfaction, that on the one side nature has richly
endowed our country with her gifts, and on the
other side that it has conferred upon the inhabit-
ants of Russia a happy physical oiganisation, and
qualities which promise to this country a long and
vigorous existence. The defec's which we have
remarked with us ought neither to as'ouish nor to
sadden us. They are explained by the natural
progress of events, for we must not forget that the
civilisation of Western Europe is the fruit of long
and painful efforts of human intelligence, often
accompanied with fatal outbursts of pasiions,
whilst Russia has not taken any active part in.
European civilisation until from the period of
Peter the Great."

SwitzPrland has just lost one of her best patriots, and
a most iutel'igent public man. NI. Franscini, chief
federal councillor, died on the 19th, raiher suddenly.
Leominster and Kington Railway is to be opened for
public traffic on the 28th inst. Four trains will run
daily each way.
COMMENGEMENT OF THE LTAIIVEST IN SURREY.—
Wheat-cutting is commencing much earlier this year
than usual, The crops look extraordinary this year, and
we have not had so heavy a crop of grain since the year
1847., Wheat, oats, barley, peas, and beans will, no
doubt yield abundantly ; and the show for root crops is
s,,lendid. We suppose that wheat reaping in the Weald
will be general by Undfield fair, which is at least a fort-
night earlier than usual, The harvest in France is also
very ti rward ; a loaf made from wheat grown this year
has been produced in Paris.—Sussex Express.
THE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.—The last coil of the
cable which is to unite the Old and New World, will, it
is expewed, be on board the Agamemnon on Wednes-
day. The event will be celebrated by an entertain-
ment at Erith to the workmen of the various factories.
The Agamemnon will arr:ve in Cork on Monday.
More than ten thou,and persons visited the ship on
Sunday.
CRICKET.—NORTU V SOUTII.—This match was COW-
mono- d at Lord's yesterday, and when the stumps were
drawn the game stood thus :—South, Ist innings, 165 ;
North, 81 (five wickets Slandirg).
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.—The Master in Chan-
cery (tiornphry) charged with the winding-up of the
London and Manche;-ter Direct Independent Railway
Company (Remington's line), will, on the 22d inst.,
adjudicate on the claims of the ecripholders to the divi-
dof 6s. 31. per share. Such is the disgusting state
of our law, that this company has been not less than
13 years under the winding-up process, although there
was plenty of money, and all that had to be done was
to pay the debts and restore the surplus to the share-
holders.

NORTII LONDON COLLEGIATE SCHOOL.—Yesterdot
the eighth annual distribution of prizes to the pupils of
the above oboe' took
place by permission of the autho-'
rides of the paiisl4, in the Vestry-ball, King's-road,
Camden-town. Toe Bishop of London presided, and
supported by a large body of the clergy and laity of
the district, including the Rev. T. Dale, vicar of St.
Pancras ; G. Attonburough, Esq., churchwarden • J.
Payne, E-q., Major Cobbe, it. F. Erettinghatn, Esq.,
A. E q., &c.
EAST AND WEST IiTALLING.—Our hop bine still
looks promisingly ; some grounds not so well cff eft
others, but judging from pros, nt appearances wo
diall do as well as our neighbours.
THE SurToNs.—Many grbuilds in the parishes
are very Joul, and appear as if they were going
into a rapid blight : others look more favourable
The hot weather 1.3.111 their favour.

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