Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-07-02
RUSSIA AND THE RUSSIANS.

The ST. Petersburg correspondent of the New
York Herald thus speaks of the signs of progress
and strength that meet the eye at every turn IN
Russia
This city (St. Petersburg) is in itself stan.
ding and triumphant refutation of all the pitiful
and ma3ifold Misrepresentation, which have
been so assiduously circulated in relation to
everything connected with the country.
It's squares, streets, palaces, quays, churches,
monuments, public Institutions, and, in short, all
in, about, and belonging to it, are on scale of
grand and imposing magnitude whichis nowhere
else to be found You are met on all sides, 60
where you will, with such sameness Of mag
nifcence that particuarization seems almost
idle Theentire absence ofwretchedness among
the humblest portion Of the population has to
me, however, been, above and beyond all else,
the highest source of qualification and astonish-
ment. No such thing as squallid wretchedness
exists In this rcspeet-the most really impor-
tant of al-no city, at home or abroad, excep-
ting, perhaps, Conslantinople: will for moment
compare with it. For more than two months
have trarersed every portion of St. Petersburg
and the adjacent islands, during all hours of the
dsy and night, and have felt no little humiliation
at the reflection that despotism should have here
done so much more for the toiling poor than
they have ever vet accomplished for themselves.
even under our own glorious institutions, which
fully empower them TO become their own regen-
orators There is not lane, alley, or narrow or
dirty street in the whole place and the cheerful
gaiety which throngs and envcns the gardens,
prominent streets, quays and squares, though
not to be compared with Paris-the world has,
and never had, but one Paris-is in striking and
pleasing contrast to the plodding dullness which
moves through the thoroughfares of London.
was here, and in several of the other ciles and
towns of Northern Russia, for some time before
peace was ratified, and can safely say that if the
people or business of the country had been
much affected by the war, they must have been
in a most gratifying condition before it COM
menced, and the injury produced must have be.
come chronic, as the return Of peace has brought
no visible change beyond the general murmur
of discomfort with which its announcement was
ut first received.
The Russians-more particularly the men
who control the empre-are not enthusiasts
about mere idle, fruitless glory. They care
comparatively little about opinions, and attach
but Slight Importance to anything but results
was present when the Emperor announced the
ratification Of peace to the army, in front OF the
Winter Palace, and it seemed to fall like wet
blanket upon both the troops and the immense
multitude present. He Iattet luIueui"teiy uis-
pcrsed in sullen silence.
The people, who are somewhat slow in get
ting into anything, are much dissatisfied with
tho termination Of hostilities, but the knowing
ones chuckle quietly over the result. The war
has only made Russia fully conscious of her
own immense strength and exhaustless resources
while at remarkably cheap cost, it has unfold
ed to her all her mperfec'ions and Deficiencies,
and ,hcse-wih wise prudence and practical
good sensc-she has already earnestly devoted
herself 10 correcting. Never was the advantage
which great producing, sef-sustaining country
possesses in time of war over all others, made
more strikingly manifest, and this difference
would have increased with the prolongation OF
the struggle. The paper portion of the curren-
cy remained throughout at par, and specie was
instantly obtained, rs now, by presenting the
notes at the bank. Provisions of every kind
were in abundance and exceedingly cheap, and
all branches of trade and anufacture-foreign
commerce alone excepting-prospered with, in
MANY cases, more than their usual activity.
Railroads are now about to be constructed to
all the leading points of the empire That from
this city to Moscow. (over four hundred miles,)
which has been in operation for several years, is
the finest in world The country being so level,
offers every facility for that species of communi
cation; and instead Of running road in every
direction where there is good sized town to tap,
they adopt the sensible plan of carrying them
in a direct line and leaving the town to either
come to them or give way to new and more en-
terprising rivals. The work on the road from
Moscow to Warsaw will now be prosecuted
with the utmost vgor, and those from the for
mer place TO Odessa, with a branch to the
Crimea,) aud to the Caspian sea, by meeting
the Volga at Saratou will soon be commenced;
When these and others are finished, Russia will
have no need of immense naval arsenals on the
coast. but will keep them in the INTERIOR where
no foreign foe will be likely to trouble them
much, and send the material thence alta moments