The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-12
AFFAIRS IN EUROPE.

tiers of instruction from the Minister OF the Interior,
Lanskoi, explanatory of the Emperor's mode of car
rying out that project. We translate from LIE NOrd,
the official Russian organ in Brussels, and publish
below these letters Of the Minister of the Interior.
They furnish a complete deveiopement of the plan
proposed by the Emperor Alexander for the progress
sve enfranchisement of the sers in the Russian en-
pire.
The following Is the letter Of instruction addressed by
Ne Mniterof the Interior TO the Military Governor OF
Vino and the Governor General Of Kovno and Grcdno,
under the date of November q (old stye) or December
had the pleasure 70 lay before his Majesty the Empe
inc &c s dssr esSrssse Sy the
posed of the marshals Of the nobility and the land pro-
prieors in the governments Of Vne Grodno and Kovno
For the revision Of the system Of inventories The desire
expressed by those committees for the ameoraton of the
condition Of the peasants settled lands belonging TO
prsate persons consists in the delivering OF those peas
His Majesty has learned with especial satisfaction this
noble wish on the part OF the representatives, Of the
lescrt his Majesty the Emperor addresses TO you he
degns consequence To authorize the nobility of those
governments 70 proceed to the preparation Of scheme
with that object and to appoint special committees for
that purpose each of those governments, besides q
Majesty dcgned to indicate both the order which 70 be
1nOwed h the ab0rs Of those different committees, and
~ general principles according TO which this work may
A completion Of the instructions given in reserpt
Ser the composition Of the committees and the COMMISSION
established 70 that end well for the order Of their
iaoors his Majesty degned to issue the following
6ers;-
l. With regard to the election in each district of the
members of the provincial committees, the nobility shall
have the right elect If they choose the marshal Of the
nobility OF his district,
y With the members Of the committees, substitute cand
dates fer each Of those members who shall have
place them IN case Of sickness or absence.
s. The choice by the nobility of the members of the
committees and their substitute candidates to be SUBJ
mitssd 70 the appreciation Of your E1cellency Those
dress themselves: The members Of the committees of the
the chiefs Of those governments the
members of the general commission 10 your celency.
l. The right of fixing and paying salaries both the
members Of the committees and TO those Of the commits
g. The governors of the provinces having to exercise
permanent superintendent the abors Of the pro-
vincia committees are authorized TO demand the COM
Munication Of the official reports Of the sittings.
The general commission Is bound TO present TO your
Exeeency the reports of It's deliberations In the Of
before your observations If those observations be
eepted by the coppsson will have TO change its reee
ssons If, the contrary the commission be not in
cordance with you you are bound agreeable TO the gra
Why OF the case, TO Immediately communicate TO me.
T. The provincial committees will be obliged TO term
nAe their labors within the term Of six months from the
day Of the opening Of their sitting The general commits
scn "a likewise bound to terminate it's iabors within a
term OF six months from the day which will have
seived communication of all the projects may which have
been elaborated by the provincial committees.
In of Of those committees OF the general
commission deviang from the end which pointed out TO
them and entering into discussions concerning subjects not
belonging 70 their deliberations, your Exceency s
ehsrzed to suspend those deliberations and TO
Sivc notice Of for the purpose OF making report
o Emperor. At the same time his Majesty pleased
b charge with giving your Excellency my views
ming myself 70 this supreme order, and taking
.e consideration the rules formerly adopted same
aAvces set forth by the committees OF the inventories Of
the governments Of Kovno, Grodno and Vino, deem Il
- be indispensable that those committees which 10 be
governments
living rules and prescriptions
The abolition OF the serfdom Of the peasants is not to
10 sneced at once but progressively TO this effect the
peasants ut first TO through transition state,
bong less attached 10 the land after which they
viii dehnitively become free men when the government
viii have authorized them certain conditions 10 move
om locality into another. For the duration OF this
ansition state will be necessary to fix term which
H. Conormably 10 the principles established In the inn
perl rescrpt the landed propretors retain their right OF
property all their lands but in order TO avoid the
dangers which might result 10 the agricultural population
om Grant and vagabond life the peasants sharea
sher enclosures which they will Afterwards have 10 ac
quire a freehold property by means Of redemption
Price, pay abh within n liked term. They TO have,
moreover the cf such quantity OF land ~ Is neces
sAry according the Of the locality,
ner subsistence and TO give them the moons Of salts
lying their obgans towards the and towards
yPcpr,etor As evaporation for the OF this hnd,
ne peasants are bound either 70 pay rent 70 the opre
tor or 70 work FOE him.
n Al their details, Is indispensable 70 alse into console
ration the following observations.
l.
Ca where be lives including the yard and appurteuanccs
Che knnhen garden, together with The land comprsedin
The rights u personal liberty and freehold property
Viii be acquired by the peasants only after the payment,
- be enecsed during their transition sNe OF sum which
h exceed the real value Of the enclosure when pos
sesscd by them a freehold property.
This payment may be effected either In money or In
private works Independent from those the peasants
bound 70 a compensation for the Of tho
iand, in virtue Of section q the present article
without he enclosure all other land is 10 be divided
At0rt tfsn n( nuria
md, aud IN such leased 70 the peasants.
g. Land which once has been leased To the peasants
sstcneurai estates; must forever remain the Of
ne peasants for which the latter have 10 pay either with
personal service and work , or IN money and Kind ~.
DeaHAnt for their In order 10 secure their subsistence
and 70 give them the means Of satisfying their obligations
towards the state and towards the proprietor Is 10 be
reated according the conditions and customs OF the
locality.
T. The mode in which the peasants to enjoy The
euct Of those lands likewise 10 be regulated according
70 The loc customs In such localities where tho
munai organiz SITS, without In the least nTairng
sh orsanzaion 70 each family must DC presrvea 'ne
possible, too frequent partitions and exchanges Of those
ca As 10 those bocslites where there exists DIVISION
Of The land by heath and where the land u divided into
arms cultivated by farmer masters and day sborcrs,
to be taken for securing 10 thcc farm la
bsrcrs stable residence and TO regulate by fixed rules
Nher rclstieus with the farmer masters.
The payment " the landed proprietors In personal
service and work, or in money and kind obligatory
only for those peasants who obtained land for their
fruct In those localities where the peasants arc divided
INTO fsrmcrs aud farm labcrers without land work can.
mt be demanded from the latter except on condition Of
their work being paid for.
o. Tho rropor,onate amour, Of payments in money or
~ personal services aud work " 20 be xed In positive
manner acccrd the extent and quality Of land leased
10 the peasants
TO- The personal services and works 70 be rendered
by the peasants according 10 the rules which will be
established by the provincial committees in the most
SIMPLE and practical way.
n In case Of rreguarity in the payments in money the
proprietor will be allowed 10 have 10 the personal
labor Of the delinquent OF irregularity 10 this
second mode 81 payment the proprietor will have ihe
right to take away from the peasant the portion Of land
which has been leased 70 him.
uITne rural police belongs 20 the departments Of the
proprietor the peasants be divided into rural
munitses The administration Of communal affairs and
communal wuce n reserved 10 the communal assemblies
rather 70 the communal tribunals composed OF pea
SAINTS, under the superintendent and after couhrma
Ton OF the proprietor.
V-In order watch over the introduction and TO con-