Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-11-04

DR. BAtRD's LECTURE or RUSSIA last nisht |
Dr. Baird gave, al Chapin's Hall, The hrst Of bis
course Of lectures upon "Europe ps Il is." Tho
subject Of his lecture was Russia and a most 10
tereating and instructive lecture II was We can
hardly aay too much in favor Of these lecturcs.-
They are no formal Il eatsss npon political or prob
lematiesl questions that she mass Of the people
would know little abou. aud care less but real
wide awake, lively, entertaining conversations,
telling Of what tho lecturer has sees and heard
himself and giving one, in an heur and half
more useful Information than he might learn In
twenty years from The books he would read Al
though u would bS exceedingly beneficial 20 oil 20
attend She whole course regularly, YET each cue "a
separate and distinct, and begins and finishes one
subject. We need make no apology for the space
wo devote 10 abstracts Of these lectures.
Dr.. Baird remarked of Russia that il is on en-.
pire which includes more than half Of Eorope,
more than the fourth pa,t Of ASIA aud portion Of
North America, and contains s.O0OOO0 square
miles, and 7O,OOO.O 900 inhabitants. Great as that
empire is, It's political power and importance are
far from corresponding, as Dr. b. remarked, with
lis geographical extent, partly because il lies SO
far nOrth--no portion Of il scarcely being south Of
AAhltANN VI ANkAUNo I'D ALhuo-
Caucasian provinces and partly because ii Is so
little advanced in civilization.
DE-. Baird next spoke Of tho European part Of
the Russian Empire, as btlng the proper subject
Of the lecture, and said il contains more than
100000 square miles, and $4,000, 600 inhabitants,
leaving only 5000, 600 for the Asiatic and Ameii-
can portions OF the Empire, fact which shows
what the vast country of Siberia must | e; aud
after describing briefly the geographical features Of
Russia in Europe-ono Of which is that Il is 30
level as to be In fAot nothing but vast plain, aud
another is the fact that it is relatively 50 low-hu
spoke OF i's productions aud manufactures, its
trade and commerce, etc. Under this latter topic
he described the great fair OF Nishni Noygorod,
two hundred miles east Of Moscow, to which from
100000 to 100000 people come every summer aud
do an immense business in the way of barter aud
exchange There are more than twenty fairs held
in Russia every year, and business is done al them
to the amour, Of nearly slLO,OOO,OOO
Next Dr. Baird described the chief cities
Russia, taking them in historical order KieG
NOygorod Vladimir. Moscow and st. Petersburg
aud took some notice OF kasan, AstraChan, War
saw, AbO, HelsngfOrs, 50 well as SevastOpol an
other places Of note in the Crimea. The detail,
which he gave OF these cities were very curious
especially those relating to Moscow and Sl Peters
burg The KGemlin, in tho former city is on n
high hill, which is surrounded by wall from Rhy
to seVenty-tVe feet high. The top Of the hill /,
leveled or 10 the wa |. Three gates lead INTO the
Kremn. lhe word Kremlin, like thJ word Ser
agia in Turkish, means not palace, but fort
nud inclosure within which tbs prince has hi.
palace aud his life guards There are about twenty
public bu ldings in the kremlin Ol Moscow ia.
Guiding three or four churches, one OF which co o.
tains the remains OF all the monarchs Of Russt
from tue 18th to the 18Th century. Moscow ha
100000 inhabitants, and is sixteen miles in srcum
I ference lt is very picturesque and Asiatic city
' with its kremlin looming up on the centre
its 500 churches and 1909 or 2OOO domes, its mol
asteries, 90.
( ST. Petersburg is in Dr. Bard's opinion one {
the most splendid cities 10 Europe, cOntniUin
100000 inhabitants, twenty-five miles in oircun
ference, aud containing hfty or sixty building
which have the size aud grandeur Of palaces II
, position is at the head Of the Gull OF Finland
on the banks OF the Neva, aud north latiiud
sixty degrees, 1t is but little moro than $50 year
old.
DIR. Baird stated that in many respects Russl
remind an American Of his own country-its eS
tensive forests, ts pIaries, too, 10 the South il
= wooden leuees and wooden houses, its shOckingl
a bad roads, Especially in tho autumn and spring,
its seriage and The hospitality OF the people. !
most respects, however Russia Is still AsiAic--i
Il the language dress menuors, and amusements
the people, its kremlins and dumes hotels an
n tico aud punlshments On these points, DR. Blir
- entered into many very interesting details. Almo
4 everything seems strange TO an American, 30 Il
as these topics are concerned, because so Who'll
different from what one sees with u.s. The MARI
n age and funeral ceremonies are very striking; 4,
d too, are some Of the social practices. Dr.. BIS d
scription OF the marriage Of the grand Duche
II Olga, bister to the present Emperor, was high
interesting.
h DR.. b. then spoke of the education, school
universities aud literature of Russia and then
its moral and military strength, its naval and mi
l., tary schools etc. As TO military Schools there a
seventeen OF them, containing almost 10 COO cadet
sd Dr.. b explored very fully the three that in
w Petersburg.
Z. DR. Baird next spoke of the mobiles, the me
chants, the clergy aud the Greek Church, d
nc Jews, and the serfs. We shall try to find time
ly day or two for what he sad in refer noe to ii
re numerous class OF people, (45 900 600 In number
:, and the plan of their emancipation. On all the
III subjects, the Doctor enlarged as much as the tin
a. would permit.
Iy And lastly DR.. Baird spoke OF the nature
ne the government Of Russia, the character Of Il
present Emperor, and his brothers Cons,antir
ht Nicholas aud Michael Of the modes Of admnistt
q ing justice the puuishments perpetual impriso
ment, the knout, punishment to Siberia, ETC
The above account is mere sketch of this me
important lecture, which was listened to with /
"a deepest attention by every Que present. The ne
is lecture (to-moTow night,) will be on Greece a
lo Turkey" with notices Of the late Crimean Wi
illustrated by fine maps, We expect there will
IN a very large audience. We arc confident thai
i'm the people Of Cleveland had proper idea OF I
ho nature and value of these lectures There Is not
~ hall 10 the place that would begin TO hold tho
as who would desire to hear them.