The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-03-11

LxcTun8e.--On Sntufoey evening tsss4
Baird delivered his arss lecture on the rsnons q
Europe, selecting Russia = The thens Hd sass
elear description Of IL geographical extent ens
pulaton, and passed to exposition OF somsV Y.
most striking social pecullarities and sustop1s
the people. They were extremely hospitable. Sno
were greatly under the domination OF their dreS.
priests. They lived mostly In cabins built Of Wooe
and were spread over territory comprising nearly
one-seventh part Of the globe. The process OF mar.
rage was very peculiar, the bride and the bride.
groom after the proclamation of the bans, drinking
wine, containing some extremely bitter compost
ton, in remembrance of the pleasures and sorrows
Of the connubial state. The bride then had to 60
through the ordeal of being kissed BY every person
present, an arrangement not always acceptable TO
the fair lady.
On Tuesday evening, the lecturer continued his
remarks upon Russia. 1t was principally level
country. Originally, ancient Poland had entire
possession of the Western part Of Russia, part OF
Austria and part of Prussia-bu this territory had
been taken back since the downfall of Poland. The
lecturer then recited the various successive dynas.
ties of Russia, affirming that but for the feeble mo
narchs, who, at times, ruled Russia, the extent of
Q5I tcEIN0fy WOuu udNc UCCA Aai EiCotCt tdoA ~
was at present. From the 9th century, the hatred
between Poland and Russia had been of the fercest
character, and grew out of the antagonism of the
Greek and Catholic churches. Poland, by her own
indiscreton, became involved in civil war. torn
by dissenson, and finally the territory, of which she
had despoled Russia and other surrounding
tions was taken from her-she was conquered, and
her powerful kingdom completely anpihilated-the
conquerers makirg three divisions of her territory
in 1883, 1898 and 1895 respectively Thus, the lee
turer said, an Almighty Ruler dealt with nations as
with men, publishing them for their iniquities-and
Poland, for her despoilment Of Russia, had been
paid back in her own coin. 1t was, he thought, a
dangerous thing for one nation to injure another
in the long run the oppressor would suffer for it,
Thus it would be that we could not understand
the present condition of things in Europe, without
going back into its past history. The Poles were
far more advanced in civilization than the Russians,
and would obtain their liberty yet. twenty-five
millions Of people spoke the Polish language, and
the Poles and Hungarans would yet obtain their
freedom, but they must combine their strength If
they would bid defiance to Russia.
The visitor to st Petersburgh, in Russia, would
be astonished at the amazing splendor of the city
and the court. The court took great pains to have
its attendants dress elegantly The higher class of
Russians were exceedingly refined and secorous
A great change had taken place in them, as in the
time of Peter the Great the mobiles were drunken,
worthless set. Peter required that the mobiles
should shave their long boards, and had great diff.
fculty in carrying out the enactment. One disobe-
dent old nobleman, who would come to court
with his long dirty beard, had to be caught and
shaved by force. Q.asghter)
Tkere was but little refinement in the habits and
practices of the ancient courts of Russia. As an
instance of the eccentric exercise of despotc DOW
er, the lecturer stated that during the reign of
Empress Ann, she actually commanded her
ladies and mobiles to repose in large nests ia the
winter, and one nobleman was required to sit for
two days on q nest and cackle like goose
Uaughter). The lecturer thought that such action
on his part, showed that he was either goose
gander. (Renewed laughter).
In ths reign OF Catharine the Great they PLAYED
hide and seek and blind mans buff in court regu
larry.
The chief productions Of Russia were wheat and
buckwheat Large quantities of fruit were raised
delicious pudding was made by the Russians out
of the buckwheat. The manufactures were very
coarse. Government was trying to introduce and
encourage manufactures. Large quantities of cot
ton from the Southern States were manufactured
in the interior. They had some very superior iron
manufacturing establishments. The Russiens were
very ingenious and were rapidly improving in their
manufactures. Their commerce was large and
increasing, especially the foreign commerce.
They had an immense interior trade, principally
conducted through the medium of fairs. They had
annually twenty.four great fairs, held in different
parts of Russia, which did business amounting to
seventy FIVE millions of dollars These fairs were
great convenience to the people, and the Scriptures
and tracts were distributed during the session, to
the immense multitudes drawn together from diff.
ferent portions of the country, The people were
very anxious to obtain books and acquire knowl-
edge. With respect to education and literature,
the Emperor was doing great deal to promote
their extension. He had erected schools for the
education of the serfs OF the crown. Not one in
ten, however, of the serfs of Russia could read.
The lecturer thought the Emperor liberal man,
though ruling with a iron hand. He was subjected
to many checks and restraints, and to sustain the
unlimited government of which he was the head,
was compelled to rule imperiously and perempto-
rily As to his treatment of the Poles and Hunga.
rians, he acted az he did. upon a common principle
which would actuate any man in his peculiar DO.
sition distinguished parsonage nearly connected
with the Emperor told him Or b. that if they had
to conquer Poland over again, the task would not
be ,performed; having conquered her, however,
they were too proud to give her up. They were
sick of their trophy. And the Emperor justly sup
posed that if the Hungarians were allowed to over
throw Austria, that they would raise up Poland,
therefore he aided in putting them down. These
were some of the motives that Influenced the &C.
ton of the Emperor, who was q man of keen per
captions and great decision of character. The lee
turer here described the mode by which the pres
ent Emperor Nicholas assembled 20 his throne. in
place OF his elder brother Constantine being at the
request of the latter, and cited instances of the
Czar's hberality. The national religion of Rus
STA was that promulgated by the Greek church.
which was similar to Catholicism. The Greek diff.
fered from the Catholic church in having no Poue.
The affairs of the church were managed by four
Archbishops and holy Synod. 1t made great
deal OF absoluton and very little of purgatory.-
The doctrines OF the church did not forbid the
IL e. t-zD L.