Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1849-07-14
RUssIA--1Ts ARMY, NAVY, ETC.

RUsSIA-ITs ARMY, NAVY, ETC.
With regard to the government of Rus
sia, must first state that the whole en-
pirc is divided into ffty-six departments,
each of which has a subordinate govern
ment. The administration of Justice is
extremely imperfect, from the nature of
the case, the courts being badly managed,
and the judges very accessible to bribc
ry. The profession of law is almost un-
known, and there arc very few educated
lawyers. The Duke of Oldenburc, a
nephew of the Emperor, who takes a
great interest i'll such matters, has lately
opened law school, which has now
eighty or a hundred students.
The navy of Russia Is considerable,
and comprises about fifty ships of war, a
good many frigates, few steamships,
and a great number of smaller vessels.
Naval schools have also bocn established;
but their commerce Is so limited that
they cannot have an efficient marine
They donot need a great navy, and it is
now far larger than is necessary. Their
ships are pretty well built but their sail
ors arc not so good as those of America,
France or England.
Their army, howevor, isquite another
thing, and in it their great strength lies.
In 1910 it numbered nine hundred
thousand men, and as it is now at the
highest point, it cannot be much short of
n million, Their common soldiers, who
are taken from the serfs, serve for the
most part during life, and though well
drilled, are very ignorant, The higher
officers, however, arc well educated men,
and as schools have been established
among the common soldiers, they will
probably improve. They do we'll what
they are told to do; but if in battle they
lose their officers, there none Of the pri-
Yates fit to take command, and they are
very much like flock of sheep. They
generally continue to execute the last or
der. although it may have become i'm
practicable, for they are as brave rs any
men in the world. They labor greatly
under the wants of good officers Of their
own, and therefore many Of their officers
both in the army and in the navy, are
foreigners principally English and Ger
mans. They arc endeavoring to supply
their want by means of military schools,
of which they have twcnty-four, under
the direction of the Grand Duke Michael,
Commander in chief of the Russian
forces. / am not of the opinion, how
ever, that Russia is so formidable ma
ton on account Of her military force, OF
that she will attempt the conquest of
Germany or Prussia. France is more
than match for her, and she is well
aware Of ii; for although her standing
army Is twice as large as that of France,
she has nothing behind it, like The Ma
tional Guards of the latter, and which,
as events have lately proved, are fully as
effective as regular soldiers. These
Guards comprise nearly the whole male
population of France, and many of them
are thosewho have served their several
terms Of seven years in the army, and re-
turned psigate life.
There are very few newspapers in Rus
slay and very little political information
can be circulated among the people, as
there would be if the press were free
Every paper soht from from france or Ger
many IS carefully examined by the pub
Tic oeDsors, and if there is single line
against Russia, it is blackencd or ex-
plunged in such q manner that il cannot
be read. l have frequently received
papers from Germany disfigarcd in this
manner. ttF al
The Grand Duke Michael, the brother
of the Emperor Nicholas, and behd of
the army. IS very unpopularin Russia, on
account Of the severity Of his discipline
Still he has a great deal Of good sense
and sound judgment, and rs he is not
afraid to speak his mind to the Emperor,
he Is found to be exer.ing more and more
influence every year. One of the best
men in Russia is the Duke of Oldcnburg,
of whom have spoken. He is Ger
man, and son of one of the Empcror's