The North-Carolinian., 1851-06-14

ing an asyl lun for the oppressed, it is jail for
Austria.
The following article. giving description of
Siberia, will be found interesting and instruc-
tive.
SKETCHES OF SIBERIA.
Translated for the New York Tribune
Sibe.ia-a land so famous. vet SO little
known-has, like all mysteries, touched
manv fancies. and busted many pens.
Unwil'ingly u resident there, wish to
sketch some Of its peculiarities as a relief
against my tedious life. | write to kill
time but even if what l say shall lack
system, it must needs be valuable con-
tribution to our know ledge Of country
SO we'll deserving and rewarding attention.
yet rarely visited, save by those who would
much more gladly SO the other way.
Should be fortunate enough once more to
reach my native land. it will be my plea.
sure to arrange all the results OF my
Siberian experience, and to give them an
adequate form.
am political prisoner. and my punish
ment is banishment. But political crimes
have their degrees. and So also have their
retribut'ons. There are four grades Of
punishment in Siberia:
1st. Residence in a city. -
I'd. Service in Siberian battalion.
,, Sd. Colonization.
4lh. Public labor; in other words,
| work in the mines.
There IS also fifth grade, which is
however. but greater degree Of the fourth
prisoners in company.
Whoever is sentenced to a residence IN
city retains his rights as a nobl.man.
He can correspond with his friends. al
though naturally the whole CORE spondence e
passes through the hands of the mayor Of
the city, aud is very limited in its scope
The prisoner must not go beyond the city
limits, but within them he may employ
his time as he will, and is not constrained
to labor. Whoever is appointed to a
battalion has the same privilege of cores
pondence under the same conditions.
The political colonists take their name
from the fact that they were formerly
only allowed to live in villages. They
are deprived Of nobility, aud in order Of
rank they stand lower than the Russian
Doors. Justice ceases for them, and any
body may insult and ma!treat them with
out danger from the law. Yet they belong
still to the living, and may also correspond
with their friends. At present the coloni>ts
mostly live in the city, are not forced to
work. and have no other superintendent
than that of the ordinary police.
Those who are condemned TO a living
death in the bowels of the earth, there to
perish, or after an endurance OF suffering
| to become colonlsts, are no more ranked
with human beings, but With beasts Ut
burden-with tools aud machines. All
human intercourse has ceased for them
They are buried alive, and entirely
beyond the law.
The companion prisoners are compelled
to the most loathsome labor in the forts
and prisons. always wear chains. and have
,be head half shaved. This cla-. is con
sidered the lowest Of all. Russian social
rank admits nothing lower. 1t is great
error to despise the position Of the Russian
, serfs. In the eyes Of the prisoners they
have great importance, especially the
serfs Of the crown. 1t would be long and
| weary work for the condemned to climb to
the rights and Importance even Of this
class.
The manner in which the prisoners reach
their appointed place Of punishment de-
pc nts mainly upon the verdict. and much
upon the humor Of the judges. AS far as
loboisk the transport generally goes by
post, and with some few shorts pauses at
night for rest. The third and fourth
classes Of the condemned perform the rest
Of the journey upon foot. laden with chains,
and ia company with the most aba baado,ei
men, together with who" they are often
bound to an iron pole. know nothing
sadder and more horrible than the enc coun-
ter Of such q procession. For my own
part. l recall nothing in Dante's He'll 50
awful They do. indeed, with some hu-
man feeling, allow these wretched wan-
doro.s eo,no H. vs ri rost Rut where must