The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-09-24
From Steven's Incidents Of Trauel.
THE RUSSIAN SERF SYSTEM.

The serfs Of Russia differ from slaves with us
in the important particular that they belong 70
the soil, and cannot be sold except with the es-
tate they may change masters, hut cannot he
torn from their connexions or their birthplace
One sixth of the whole peasanlry of Russia, l.
mounting to six or seven millions, belong to the
crown and nhaJt the imperial demense, and
pay an annual tax In partcuIa districts, many
have been enfranchised, and become burghers
and mere hants and the liberal and enlighten-
ed policy Of the present emperor is ditfusing n
more general system of melioration among
these subject of his vast empire. The rest of
the sers belong o the mobiles, and are the abso-
lutte property and subject to the absolute con-
troll Of their masters, as much as the cattle on
their estates. Some of the seigneu RS possess
from seventy to more than n hundred thousand;
and their wealth depends upon tho skill and
management with which the labor Of these serfS
is employed. Sometimes the seigneur sends
| the most intelligent to PetershuIgh or Moscow
to learn some handicraft, and then employs
them on his own estates, hires them out, or al
lows them to exercise their trade on their own
account on payment of an annual sum. And
sometimes, too, he gives the serf passport, un-
der which he is protected all over Russia, set
ties IN city, and engages in trade, and very OF
ten accumulates enough TO ransom himself and
his family. Indeed, there are many instances OF
serf's acquiring large property, and even ris.
ing to emnence. But he is always subject TO
the control of his master and saw at Moscow
and old mongk who had acquired Il verv
large fortune, but still slave. His masters
price for his freedom had advanced with his
growing wealth, and the poor serf, unable TO
bring himself to part with his hard earnings,was
then rolling in wealth with a collar round his
neck struggling with the Unborn spirit of freedom
and hesita!ing whether to die beggar or a
slave.
The Russian serf is obliged 10 work for his
master but three days in the week the other
three he may work for himself OH portion OF
land assigned TO him by law on his masters es-
tate. He is never obliged 10 work on Sunday,
and every saints day or iete day of the schurch
is holiday. This might be supposed to give
him an opportunity of eleva,ing his character
and condition but, wanting the spirit of a free
agent, and feeling himself the absolute property
of another, he iabors grudgingly for his master
and for himself barely enough to supply the ru-
dest necessaries of lite and pay his tax to the
selgneur. A few rise above their condition, bu,
millions labor like beasts Of burden, content
with bread to put in their mouths and never ev-
en- thinking of freedom. A Russian nobenan
told me that he believed, il line s5:!S were al
| free, he could cultivate his estate to better adj
vantage by hired labor and have no doubt
dozen Connecticut men would cultivate more
ground than hundred Russian sers, allowing
their usual working days and hoiidays'--
| They have no interest in the soil, and the desc
late and uncultivated wastes of Russia show Inc
| truth OF the Judicjous reflection OF Catafine IL
that agriculture never flourish in that ma
ton where the husbandman possesses no pro-
perty.'
1t is from this great body of peasantry that
Russia recruits her immense standing army, or
in case Of invasion, raises in a moment vast
body of soldiers. Every person in Russia en-
titled to hold land is known to the government,
as well as the number Of peasants OH his estate
and, upon receiving notice of an imperial order
TO that effect, the Numbers required by the levy
arc marched forthwith from every part Of the