Daily American telegraph., 1851-12-29
RUSSIANS.

turesque dresses, according to the custom OF
the country, were returning from their labor,
singing those airs of the Ukraine, the words Of
which, in praise of love and liberty, breathe a
sort Of melancholy approaching to regret. |
requested them to dance, and they consented.
| know nothing more graceful than these
dances OF the country which have all the origi-
nality which nature gives to the fine arts; a
certain modest voluptuousness was remarkable
IN them; the Indian bayaderes should have
something analogous to that mixture of indo-
lence and vivacity which forms the charm of
the Russian dance. This Incidence and yivacity
ments Of character which civilization has yet
neither formed nor subdued. / was struck
with the mild gayety of these female peasants,
AS rad been, in different degrees with that of
the greater part Of tho common people with
whom had come in contact in Russia / can
readily believe that they are terrible when
their passions are provoked; and as they have
no education they know not how to curb their
violence As another result of this ignorance,
they have few principles of morality, and theft
is very frequent in Russia, as well as hospitality
they give as they take, according as their i'm
agnation is acted upon by cunning or generos-
ity, both of which excite the admiration of
this people. In this mode of life there is a
little resemblance to savages but it strikes me
that at present there are no European nations
who have much vigor but those who are what
is called barbarous, in other words unenlight-
ened, or those who are free; but the nations
which have only acquired from civilization an
indifference for this or that yoke, provided their
own fire-side is not disturbed those nations
which have only learned from civilization the
art of explaining power and of reasoning servi-
tude, are made to be yanquished. | frequently
imagine to myself what may now be the situ;-
ton of the places which | have seen SO tran
quill, of those amiableyoung girls, of those long
bearded peasants, who followed SO peaceably
the lot which providence had traced for them;
they have perished or fled, for no one of them
entered into the service of the victor.
thing worthy of remark is the extent to
which public spirit is displayed in Russia The
reputation of inyincible, which their multiplied
successes have given to this nation, the natural
pride of the nobility, the devotedness inherent
in the character of the people, the profound in
fluence of religion the hatred of foreigners,
which Peter | endeavored to destroy in order to
enlighten and civilize his country, but which is
not less settled in the blood of the Russians.
and is occasionally roused-all these causes
combined make them most energetic people.
Some bad anecdotes of the preceding reigns
some Russians who have contracted debts with
the Partisan shopkeepers, and some boaa-motS of
Diderot, have put it into the heads of the
French, that Russia consisted only of corrupt
court military chamberlains, and a people OF
slaves, This is a great mistake. This nation,
Lit IS true. regabres long examination to know
it thoroughly, but in the circumstances in
which | observed it. everything was salient,
and country can never be seen to greater ad-
vantage than at period of misfortune and
courage. 1t cannot be too often repeated, this
nation is composed of the most striking CON
trasts. Perhaps the mixture of European
civilization and of Asiatic character is the
cause
The manner of tho Russians is so obliging.
that you might imagine yourself the very first
day, intimate with them, and probably at the
end Of ten years you would not be so The
silence of Russian is saltogether extraordinary;
this silence is solely occasioned by what he
takes deep interest in. In other respects, they
talk as much as you will /; but their conversa-
ton teaches you nothing but their politeness ;
it bctrays neither their feelings nor opinions.
They have been frequently compared to the
French, in my opinion with the least justice in
the world. The fexibility of their organs
makes imitation in oil things a matter of ease
to them; they are English, French, or German,
in their manners, according to circumstances
but they never cease to be Russians, that is to
say, uniting impetuosity and reserve, more ca
pable of passion than friendship more bold
than delicate, more devout than virtuous, more
brave than chivalrous, and so violent in their
desires that nothing can stop them, when their
qualification is in question They are much
more hospitable than the French but society
does not with them, as with us, consist Of Il
circle Of clever people of both sexes, who take
pleasure in talking together They meet, as
we go to a fete, to see great deal of company,
to have fruits and rare productions from Asia
or Europe, to hear music, to play--in short to
receive vivid emotions from external objects,
rather than from the heart or understanding,
both Of which they reserve for actions, and not
for company. Besides, as they are in general
very ignorant they find very little pleasure in
serious conversation, and do not at all pique
themselves on shining by the wit they can ex-
hibit in it, Poetry eoquence, and literature,
are not yet to be found in Russia; luxury,
power and courage, are the principal objects
of pride and ambition all other methods of
acquiring distinction appear, as yet ehemnate
and vain to this nation.
But the people are slaves it will be said
what character, therefore can they be supposed
to have? 1t is not certainly necessary for me
to say that all enlightened people wish to see
the Russian people freed from this state, and
probably no one wishes it moro strongly than
the Emperor Alexander but the Russian
slavery has no resemblance in its effects to that
Of which we form the idea in the West it is
not as under the feudal system, victors who
have imposed severe laws on the vanquished !;
the ties which connect the grandees with the
people resemble rather what was called a fam
lily of slaves among the ancients, than the state
of serfs among the moderns, There is no mid
ding class in Russia which is great draw
back on the nrorress Of literature and the arts /.