Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-12-28
Russia and Poland.

Poland, is thus sketched in the NJ Y. Ex-
press -
After few remarks, in reference to the
topics alluded to at the close of the preceding
lecture, the DR.. said that Russia taken as a
whole is very healthy country and the mass
es Of the people obtain great longevity, al
fact which certainly must be attributed more 10
the climate than their mode Of living; for the
serfs, and common people live in an inferior
style, in point Of actual comfort, 10 those of
most other European countries. The North
ern parts of Russia are not so saubrious as the
Southern districts, owing TO the marshes and
vast extent of low ground, but in central por-
tons where the soil is of more sandy nature,
the climate is excellent and the health of the
people generally good The manufactures of
Russia the lecturer next adverted TO-. The
Emperor had done much to foster and encour-
age this branch Of national industry but he had
found great difficulty in persuading capitalists
and The nobility to invest money in this sort Of
business. If, as the Emperor desired, the no.
blemen would sell out their lands to the serfs,
there can be no question that manufacturing
interest of considerable importance would
speedily spring up,-but DIR. Baird is Of opin-
ion that Russia will never become great man
ufacturing country. The social habits of the
people were hastily glanced at. There were
twenty great FAIRS held in Russia, but these
holidays differed very materially from those
known as such in England and in this country.
These were great trading days-when II was
the custom to exchange merchandise, and car
ry on traffic of every imaginable character
When, it is stated that the value of the arti-
cles bought and sold at these FAIRS amounts
yearly to over $50 900 900, some idea may be
formed Of their importance. In Russia there
! is an abundance of manual labor, and iron
mines are to be found in every section of the
coun,ry-two things, the speaker remarked,
which admirably fit it for great railroad coun-
try, and this il will no doubt one day become,
under liberal system of government. Inter-
nal commerce, therefore. at future day, must
receive great impetus, If the facilities thus
offered for inland travel and intercomihunica-
ton are improved. The foreign commerce Of
Russia was comparatively Insignificant. Be-
fore the time of Peter the Great, she had no
ships on the ocean,-but considerable progress
has been made in maritime affairs since that
period and if Turkey be conquered and an
nexed TO the Empire, as II probably WILL Rus
sia will no doubt improve the resources the
Mediterranean Will atiord her, 10 build up a
strong commercial marine.
was UCAl w. ~ was 70
timated that about a million and half Of chill
dren are receiving education in the Empire; of
Universities there were five, located at ST. Pc
tersbu,g, Moscow, and other of the large cit
les. l,ussian Poland had also two Of these in
sttutes one at Warsaw, and another at Will
ma, and both had many students. A passing
glance DR.. Baird bestowed upon several distin-
guishcd contemporancous writers and authors
of various degrees of merit Russia and Poland
had produced, some of whom had spent por-
tions of their lives in this country. Religion,
in Russia, was of remarkably varied and het-
erogeneous character. There we're probably
about one hundred thousand clergy altogether
in the Empire many of the priests were well
educated men, and the great majority belonged
to what is known as the modern Greek
Church, the differences of which from the Ro-
man Catholic doctrine, were explained by the
lecturer at length. In the Greek Church in
Russia there was great deal of oss super
slition, and aniong the higher classes spirit
was nutured quite as ntolerant and proscripuve
as that of their Roman Catholic brethren. Oi
other religions, there were about seven mil
lions Of Roman Catholics and little less than
half that number of Protestants, who were
mostly all of the Lutheran faith the Jews
numbered nearly two millions the Armenlans
about a quarter of million and good many
Mahomedans and Pagans were to be found in
the Southern parts, thus showing what wide
field is there for the labors of the Christian
missionary. To make converts from the Greek
Church to Professionalism, however, DR.. Baird
says, is an utter impossiblhty the government
is opposed to it, though 1t does not prevent the
conversion of the Mahomedans aud Pagans.-
The Protestant Church, 1t was remarked. was
about as corrupt, in Russia, as the Greek OF
Roman Catholic, but still DIR. Baird says he
found there great many good Christians, and
he is convinced that steady progress Is max
ing towards a better state of things.
4 The military power Of the nation was very
great, and its naval importance vas rapidly
increasing. The army is supposed TO contain
about million Of men, dispersed all over the
empire some as far away as Siberia, many
are in Poland, prepared in that quarter ior
whatever contingency may arise out of the
present disturbed state of politics IN southern
/ Europe to demand their services The Rus
sian, to some extent, improves his condition
! when he enters the army. He is obliged t'
| throw oil his Asiatic costumes and becomes II
! this as in every other respect, more asslmllatet
! 10 European usages. Their officers are wei
| trained but. after all the common soldier
are mere machines. Without their officer
| they are very inefficient. And IN that re
spect present a striking contrast to the NOR
perfect discipline of the armies in other part
of Europe In the French armies, for in
stance, when the officer is shot down, ther'
are always men by his side well enough edu
Gated in the science of var TO supply his plac
on the spot, thus preventing any confusion io
want of a commander. The military estab
lishmcns and the admirable domestic regula
,ions thereof, next formed fruitful topic o
remark for the lecturer. Among the hiRhe
officers in the army are many foreigners, par
, licularly English and Germans-but they hay'
bu, very few good general officers. One o
: the best was an old mau Of 80 years OF age
: now commanding in the Caucasus. The chic
cities VI the empire were then referred to-
but two Of which, In Russia proper, merits ou
attention, though there were several far To ih
East of great antiquity, and many along tn
} shores Of the Baltic of considerable note
which the lecturer pointed out for his auditor
upon the map.
+ Warsaw was described as having muc
within its limits to interest the stranger.
contained 10000 inhabitants, who for refine
ment and elegance, were far IN advance {
/, thosa of 81 petprsburu or Noscow L he va