The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-06-02
5kctfbes of Otber Gal,os.
From Dickens Household Words.
RUSSIA AND THE RUSSIANS.
BY AN ENGLISH LADY.

An English lady, who for ten years, was
domestcated among the Russians, and did
not quit their country until some time after
the commencement of the present war, has
just published, under the title of "4An Eng
Hsh Woman IN Russia" three hundred and
fifty pages Of information upon tho actual
state of society in that empire. The book
confirms ideas familiar to many people; but
nasmuch as it does this in the most satisfac-
tory way, wholly by illustrations drawn from
personal experience, or information ola trust
worthy kind, its value is equal to it's inter-
est. Having read it, we lay it down, and.
here make note of some Of the impressions it
has left upon us.
Unless, from one who has been for long
time an English resident, and who can speak
without passion, it is not easy to get clear
views of the internal state Of Russia. Des-
potism has established there SO strict CEN
sorship, that even the Russian scholar only
learns as much of his own country as the
Emperor shall please, and q learned travel
Ter assured our countrywoman that, of an
account written by him ofhis journeys in the
North of Asia, only those parts were allowed
to be published wherein nothing was said
tending to expose the desolation of the land.
more to be confessed than defeat in arms.
The great historian of Russia, Karamskin,
was obliged to read his pages to the Emperor
before he was allowed to publish them. Not
only certain class of facts, but also a GER
tain class of thoughts are rigidly kept from
the public mind.
One of the best living Russian authors
complained to the Englishwoman that all
ma rt Of o,.rc ot ha yalt IplT mr.
had been cut out by the censor. He wrote
a play containing, as he thought, some ad-
mirable speeches: it came back to him from
the censor's office with every one of them
raised, and only the light conversations left
as fit for the amusement of the public. Shak-
speare is honored greatly by the trading
class, and TRANSACTIONS Of King Lear and
Hornet are frequently performed; but all
those of Shakspear's place which contain
sentiments of liberty, such as Julius Caesar,
are excluded by the censor. A Russian writ
er wished to produce play, OH some subject
in English history; upon which he consulted
with our countrywolnan. Every topic was
found dangerous. The story Of Elfrida,
daughter Of the Earle of Devonshire, was
suggested. The Russian shook his head. 1t
would not be allowed. "Why nots 1t is a
legend of thousand years ago." why
they would never let Elfrida's husband cheat
the king" "But he was not Gar" "No
matter, the act is the same, and the possibili-
ty of a crowned head being deceived would
never be admitted by the Gar"
The Gar of Russia practically stands be-
fore the greater number of his subjects as
little more than God. s'The Gar is near,
God is far off, is common Russian saying.
"God and the Gar knows it" is the Russian
for our "Heaven knows" A gentleman des-
cribed one evening the Emperors reception
on the route to Moscow, said, II assure you
it was gratifying in the extreme; for the
peasants knelt as he passed, just as if he were
the Almighty himself"
And who shall contradict this decision?
Our countrywoman was once at an opera
when the Emperor was graciously disposed
to applaud Madame CASTELAR, by the clap
ping of his hands. Immediately some one
Kissed. He repeated his applause; the hiss
was repeated. His majesty stood up-look-
cd round the house with dignlty-and. for the
third time; solemnly clapped his hands. The
hiss followed again. Then q tremendous
scuffie overhead. The police had caught the
offender. An example Of another kind was
made by a young lady whose brother was
killed at Kalafat, and who, on receiving the
news Of his death, smiled and said, she was
rejoiced to hear it, as he had died for the
Emperor. Imperial munificence rewarded
her with a splendid dowery, and. the assur
ance that her future fortune should be cared
for.
There is no need to encourage o show Of
patriotism. The English woman who, on
her return found London streets as full of
peace as when she quilted them, had left St.
Petersburg wearing q far different aspect
Long lines Of cannon and ammunition wag-
ons drawn up here and there; parks Of artil-
lery continually dragged about; outworks
being constructed; regiments marching in
and out; while armies submitting to ihspec-
ton and departing on their mission, told Of
the deadly struggle to which the Cars am
bition had committed him. There was no
hour in which recruits might not be seen
trampling in YEARLY, by hundreds and by
thousands to receive the Empcror's approval
Its hard for US in this country to conceive
the misery attending the terrible conceptions
Which glsgue the subjects oftho Russian en-