The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-06-26
FIFTEEN CENTS A WEEK.
r US STA:


With regard to the government of Russia must
first state that the whole empire is divided into fifty
SIX departments, each of which has a subordinate
government. The administration of Justice is ex-
tremey Imperfect, from the nature of The case, the
courts being badly managed and the Judges very
accessible to bribery. The profession of law is al
most unknown, and there are very few educated
LAWYERS. The Duke of Odenburg, a nephew Of
the Emperor, who takes great interest in such
matters, has lately opened law school, which has
now eighty or hundred students.
The navy of Russia is considerable, and COM
prises about fifty ships Of war, good many frigaes
few steamships, and great number of smaller
vessels Naval schools have also been established ;
but their commerce is SO limited that they cannot
have an efficient marine They do not need great
navy, and it is now fer larger than is necessary
Their ships pretty well built, but their sailors
are not good those of America, France or
England.
Their army, however; is quite 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
million. Their common soldiers,s who are taken
from the serfs, serve for the most part during fe
and through well drilled, are very ignorant. The
higher officers, however, are well educated men,
and 81 hools have been established among the
common soldiers, they will probably improve. They
do well what they told to do but if in battle
they lose their officers, there of the pri-
Yates fit to take the command, and they are very
much hike flock of sheep. They generally con-
tinue TO execute the last order, although it may
have become impracticable, for they are as
brave as any men in the world. They labor
greatly under the want of good officers of their
own, and therefore many of their officers both
in the army and the navy are foreigners
principally English and Germans. They are
deavoring to supply their want by means of mill
tary schools, of which they have twenty-four, IN
der the direction OF the Grand Duke Michael,
Commander in chief of the Russian forces. am
not of the opinion however, that Russia is so for
midable a nation on account Of her military force,
that she will attempt the conquest of Germany
or Prussia. France is more than match for her,
and she is well aware oft; for although her stand
ing army is twice as large as that of France, she
has nothing behin it, like the National Guards of
the latter. and which, 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 those who have
served their several terms of seven years in the
army, and returned to private life.
There are very few newspapers in Russia, and
very little political information can be circulated
among the people. as there would he if the press
were free Every paper sent from France or Ger
many is carefully examined by the public censors,
and if there is a single line against Russia it is
blackened or expuhged in such a manner that it
cannot be read. have frequently received papers
from Germany disfgured in this manner.
The Grand Duke Michael, the brother of the
Emperor Nicholas, and head ofthe army, is very
popular In Russia, on account of the severity of
his discipline. Still he has a great deal of good
sense and sound judgment, and as he is not afraid
to speak his mind to the Emperor, he is found to
he exerting more and more influence every year.
One of the best men in Russia is the Duke of
Oldenburg, of whom have spoken. He is a Ger
man, and son Of one of the Emperors sisters.
Unlike most of the imperial family, he thinks edu-
cation and legislation of more Importance than the
army and military affairs.