Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-09-29
RUSSIA.

The Russian empire in Europe is said
to be equal in extent to all the rest of Eu-
rope: its limits, however, have never been
accurately defined. Itis composed of up
wards OF fifty different nations, occupying
territory OF about 2, 900, 900 square miles.
and comprising population OF about As,
1000 souls. In Asia, Russia is sup
posed to have territory of 5000, 900,
square miles, and population of III, OOO,-
600 or l5,OOO,0O0. Total population.
probably 60,0O0,0O0, The longevity of
the Russians is without parallel. DIR.
Granville, in his st. Petersburg, furnish
es synopsis of the Report of the Holy
Synod, published in 1927, from which it
appears that there were living in 1925 "a
mong those who professed the Greco-Rus-
sian religion throughout the empire, no
fewer than S4S men, who were 100 and
more years old; among whom were 35
who had passed the age of 100; A were
between l25 and 1870; and others be-
tween $50 and l35 years of age. The
Gazette of the Royal Academy, published
in the month of Jan. last, contains state
ment of the progress of the population in
Russia, as far as it concerns those who
profess the Greco-Russian religion in the
course of 1926. This document contains
results still more extraordinary for out of
SOC, SSl males, who died that year, 27S5
had passed the age of 80 years 1882 that
of 95; and 9I3 that of 100. Among the
latter, 80 were more than lis years of
age; "a more than 100; z more than
l25; and there was one that was 100
years old at his death
The military resources of Russia are
immense authors are not agreed with
regard to the effective strength of the en-
pire. Her army is estimated at from 6 to
800, 900 men-2OO, 900 of which she can
call into immediate service. Her navy
consists of about 400 sail.
In the wars with France, the Russian
generals placed much greater reliance on
the desperate character Of the Cossacks,
than on the true courage or correct disci-
pline of the regular soldiery. To fight
for the honour of the Virgin Mary. to die
for their motker-for all the Royal Family !;
that if slain in battle, they shall have an
immediate transition to the arms of nine
ty thousand Virgins of their church, who
officiate in paradise, from an important
article in every Russian soldiers creed.
This prompts them to rush inconsiderateIy
to the fight, regardless Of consequences.
When peasant is enrolled as soldier,
he places implicit confidence in his supe-
riors, his life is entirely at their disposal,
and his greatest satisfaction consists in his
devotedness to their most unreasonable
demands. Sir Robert Wilson, in his ac-
count of the Russian campaigns, gives
several instances in character. The un-
trained Russian, undauDted whilst he con-
fronts danger, disdains the protection of
favoring ground, or the example of his
adversary presents bis body exposed from
head to foot, either to the aim of the
marksman, or the storm of the cannonade.
/" No carnage" says Sir Robert, "in-
timidates the survivors; bullets may de-
stroy, but the aspect of death awes not,
even when a commanders evident errour
has assigned the fatal station" "Com-
rades, go not forward into the trench"
cried out retiring party 10 an advancing
detachment, "reireat with US, or you will
be lost, for the enemy are already in pos
session." Prince Poiemkis must look
to that, for il was he who gave US the OF
der, /" replied the comnanderj and he and
his men marched forward and persisted,
the victims of courageous sense of du-
iiy. 1t was this franiick spirit, which m