Star.
London, England, 1829-11-19 00:00:00

A DINNER IN RUSSIA.

I had here a good opportunity of remarking the vigil.
lance of the Russian police. A certain Prince, who had been.saa-
pected of mingling in the proposed revolution in 1824, and with
whom I WAS very intimate, seemed desirous of speaking to some
of the soldiers during the dinner, merely, as he told me. to pay a
compliment to the regiment in generil; but ao sooner did he ad-
vance to speak to a soldier than he found a very active little police
officer li•tening on the other side. He retired for the moment,
but, willing to be muted that he was still suspected of some under-
hand proceeding, he advanced to another part of the table. His
shadow could not have been a more faithful attendant on a sun-
shiny day•than the police-officer ; wherever be went there was his
companion, and In disgust he remarked to me the absurdity of such
conduct, as if," raid the Prince, with a most bitter smile, '1 as
if I should be such a blockhead ai to batch treason before at least
2,000 people."
The dinner being finished, the Governor gave the health of the
Emperor, which was received with loud acclamations. •it seemed
an endeavour to make the loudest hurry ; and many of the Noble-
men who were then present, and who wished any thing else than
the realization of the toast, roared most manfully. The whole
company standing, all adorned with orders of more or less brig-
Haney, the ladies in splendid dresses, the different costumes, 'the
noise. and the place itself, contributed to rendes the scene exceed.
ingly grand and interesting. •
In the evening a ball was given by the Governor. In Russia the
dance is opened by a polonatte, the most silly performance imagi-
nable, in which old and young alike juin. It is merely walking setth
a lady through the entire suite of apartments, to the great annoy.
ante of the card players and loiterers. After this nonsensical parade
is hnished a majoolka is generally commenced. This dance, which is
voted very uninteresting by some travellers, is certainly just the
contrary to the performers, who have, during the duke, a bear,
opportunity of showing a preference and whispering the tender tale
than in any other in existence. In general the ladies have chairs
placed in a circle,and the partner either stands by her side or behind
her. Should be not have the object of his affectinns fur his partner
he has only to whisper to insect his sisters or friends in the dance
to lead him to his favourite, with whom be can then exhibit. As
this continues sometimes two hours the lover has an opportunity
which is quite impassible in a quadrille or country-dance. The
ladies are likewise able to select their favourites; and often have I
watched them passing a crowd of lookers-on to select the particular
object. The music Is in general very lively, and the Russians cer-
tainly prefer the majoolka to any other dance. It hall. are requisite
to create marriages this dance would be a grand acqui.itiuo hi Eng-
land ; and the Duke of Devonshire, as be took lessons in Moscow,
may begin the fashion.

The supper afforded a great display of good things and brilliant
company. The table was covered with bon►ons, fruit, &c. and
the dish:s were banded round one it a time as in Russian dinners .
This could not be don.: without a great number of servants. I
counted at the table at which I sat no less than fourteen attetid-
ants although we were ouly twelve in number. By my side sat
the Prince above mentioned, and next to him his favourite p,.l,ce
attendant. The former gave me a hint not to Indulge in liberal
politico. At this supper was served one of the largest starlets that
bad been caught during the season. Akhuagh travelkrs have
spoken favourably of this fish, yet I neither admire its taste nor
appearance. Prom the female sterlet the caviar is procureit-antl
this should be eaten perfectly fresh to be properly appreciated.
Dancing commenced after supper again. Quadrilles, waltzes, and
gallvades, were continued until about four o'clock, when the cum•
piny retired. A stranger in the first society is Russia would ima-
gine himself in Frarce.—B,y Trorelkr.

The letters which are received from Albania and the city of Ja-
nina give a very melancholy picture of the situation of that pi ice,
and of the surrounding country. The troops who have um re-
ceived any pay for a lung time, plunder and harass the Inhabitants.
The Paellas cannot make themselve s obeyed, and complete an arc fly
prevails. Eight thousand Albanians still support the Puha of
Janina, who is in open rebellion ag ilnst the Sultan.
Front the Journal des Debuts.
PARIS, Nov. 16.
- - - -

The Ministerial rash enterprfze of August Bth approaches its
conclusion. Those men who watched the departure of the Ch am.
bees to slide into notice, ate threatened with eztinction before their
return. 'fhey will have intervened between the close-of one Ses-
sion and the beginning of another, like a sort of accidental caprice
foreign to the Representative Government. France will sisepme
she has dreamed, and that the dream has disappeared with the re-
turn of day.
The King was attentive; and bring close, the impotence of these
new counsellors—their want of arrangement—their divisions—
must have been plain to him.
The iame impreseion is made around the throne, and on those
who are nearest to the King's heart. Very lately, the heavy and
sterile declamation of M. de la Bourdonnaye was cut abort by a
question from an august mouth—
" But have you a majority? Is a majority possible ?"
M. dela Bourdwmaye w is &lent. •
For all this, M. de Polignac has no other remedy than to ap-
point hina.elf President of a Ministry in ruine—than in his pa-
triotism and the service he wishes to render the public. flence
also the displeasure of M. de la Bourdonnaye, report of
his retirement, which appears well founded.
M. de Chabret, in the meantime, is the negotiator, cartying
about offers and promises.
In this confusion, about whom can we rally? In this Cabinet,
who merits confidence? Can it he supposed that France has need
of M. de Polignac, to be preserved from M. de la Bourdonnaye ?
If this latter is dismissed, will it not be the King, the King atom.,
to whom the public gratitude is due ? Yrs, giaLKing watches over
France, the King protects France ; we shall Itioithave a news and
a striking proof of this.
Beau is a small town in the departnient of the Eure et Loire,
where the ignorance of the poorer classes is extreme. About a
year ago, some of the inhabitants resolved to establish a school of
mutual instruction there, and their undertaking received the ap-
probation of enlightened men, though it was viewed with a jaun-
diced eye by those who fear nothing so much as the dif-
fusion of knowledge. A schoolmaster was sent to Bron by the
Society of Elementary Instruction, but the Cantonal Com-
mittee refused to authorize him to teach.' The inhabitants of
Broil then applied to M. Vatismenil, who allowed the school to be
opened. Very soon a number of scholars attended the instruc-
tion of a skilful master. In spite, however, of the success of
the school, a young Priest of the town several times shewtd his
dislike to it. Last Sunday, we are informed by a correspondent,
he invited the poor to send their children to confess, fixing 'Wed-
nesday for the boys. When he arrived at Inc confessional there
were present fifteen boys who attended the school; the Viear was
angry, and told then that the children who went to that
must not hope to approach the sacrament of the Church shet to
them the communion and confession should be always refused, and
he sent them away in a harsh manner, using harsh Words. ilk had
before refused•to catechise for their firattommunion {bole Who bad
not been tone year at the Ecsle des liens.
. .
From the Courtier Francais.
PARIS, Nov.lB.

Our present situation is singular; either the Ministers must re-
tire. or the Chambers he dissolved. The Ministers, however, deny
that they have thought of dissolv.ng the Chambers; they iccusithe
Journals of being afraid of this, and the Journals say that the Mi-
nisters tremble at this decisive measure. In whose hands is the
decision ? Can the Journals dissolve the Chambers ? It is not in
their power. -The Government can make this appeal when it
pleases • and if it is evident that we are afraid, why does it delay
performing what will strike us with terror, andwender so Many
pens powerless? We accuse the Government of being afraid of
dissolving the Chambers. The Government says the Journals are
afraid of such a measure • we cannot act, however, and it remains
with its hands folded when the law enables it to move them.
The Bishop of Arras being lately at Boulogne, addressed to the
Officers of the Line the following words Is your regiment ani-
mated with a good spirit? What do you think of the Ministry of
M. de Bourrnont ? The Ordinance concerning the retiremett must
be well received—our regiments are well disposed--the King
counts on them. The liberals are enraged Is this. spectacle." Iv
Spain, where the Priests put themselves at the bead of Guetilla•,
and in the time of need use a musket, this language would hay,-
ricked no surprise ; but we most be astussisheslat this conduct it,
a Prelate, whose mission in our eciestry is ally to spread Aaron.:
the wotd of peace.
From the Constitutiminel.
•
PARIS, Nov. 16.
The report was in circulation the day before yesterday;th st 11.
Ile Is Bourdonnaye htd resigned. A journal of yesterday ansiounc.,
it ; and the Gazelle de France, in the pay of the Ministry, dud 1,,,
deny It. 'the Garotte limits itself to saying :—" A journal of ti—
day says, that a repon is spread that M. de la Bourdonnaye h .
sent in his resignation." Must we therefore conclude, that M.. 1
la Bourdonnaye has at length decided to execute justice on hilt:set; :
From the Constitutionnel.
WASHINGTON, ()ca.. 10.
(PRIVATE cORRISPORDENCI
On the 4sl instant the Commander Jacob

Torlade P.-

reira d'Azlemtrigow presented to the Secretary of State his Cll..
dentials as Charge d'Affaires from his Alajesty the King of Porto
gal to the. Goveroment of the United States, and the President
subsequently received him in that capacity. -
Several of our Journals inveigh against this measure, 11.-
which others had for some drys prepared the public min...
The former continue to represent Duo Miguel ai ef perjurs
mati, and an imposter; and, c nsequently; as unworthy
be recognised by a Government which professes .tts cans.
those political principles to be respected upon which th,
intercourse between nations is found 44 They do .not
the sUghtest guarantee for the duration ofthc reknit( Prince
has violated 'Ell his oaths, and all the mat-siered tights of legiti-
macy, in order to lay violent hands upon a Crmvn'aiat-belonging
him, and which is disputed against him by part ache nation, and
whom no power whatever considers. as yet tbe.'lliftimate pos-
sessor thereof. This agent of Don Miguel, whom ounGovertinient
has recognized with so much levity :and. precipitation, and °Ra-
cially .received, was, it has been said, m the United States
before General licksun's nomination' 'to' the Presidency, and.
if we ire rightly . informed, the preceding Administratio,
bad given him to understand that he would not be: 'refilled 1:
any official character. We ire sot ry. to se! that the 'present follon
•a &Perini policy, and has other Ideas respieffifirthe *shims,' t t
Getvernments, and respectina the .conduct. and the character I:
Princes' iolating whatever is most sacred amongit men.' It 'Otitis
in us, say the papers who•are favorfalifemuifie--recognitiot
of Dun Niiguel by our Goveryment. that this Prince rtigns
Portugal by the will of the natiod; fir ilikfar as ihal• will citui...
'be expressed. lie iiStrvereign 'eft faelroland, actoonling tic It, •
maxims of the United Slates, be is also.t.lagittmate Sovereig::.
since he holds bit elevation from the pati.ble. Oar •Gui'erit

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