, 1860-02-03
Mr. Summers Lecture OIL Russia.

The regular lecture in the Course Of til
Young Nets Association, was delivered a. BE
teopolitnn HILL lust evening, before large ant
apprcciative audience, by George Summer, Esq
No class Of lectures havea more practical yalue
and possess ut the same time more interest thar
those which are the result and fruit Of iute'1i
gent research in foreign lands. The tourist, i
be be fitted to arail b.mself Of his opportupi
ties, il Lis heart be sufficiently cosmopolitan tt
lay aside preludices Of birth and education ant
judge and discern from what be sees, wins from
the possession Of such facilities, theme q
which an audience will rarely weary. Of suct
class wns Mz. Summers lecture last evening
Mr.. Sumner resided for two years in Russia
visiting its chief cities and places Of interest
and mingling in its best society, had rare op
portunities Of observing the working Of thai
great empire. lie therefore speaks from actual
observation, and gave one Of the most able, in
structiye aud entertaining lectures of the
course-
From whaseyer point Of view, said Mr. Sum.
ner, and whatever may be our individual SYN.
pathies, Russia is certainly one of the most in.
tcresting countries to study. Immense in ter.
ritory, covering ten times as much soil as
Fr1nce, larger than Was ever the Kcman En-
pire-having au army Of nearly million Of
men-and q population Of sixty millions, whose
cry is, Eve nre the slaves Of God and the Gar,
it merits. apparently, :he appeilation Of the Col
ossus Of tue North.
Dir. Summer then proceeded to an ex4mina+
ton Of Russia; promising that Americans, away
trotn The fear which her policy inspires in Eu~
rope, are in u position to judge her course im.
partially, and that, il anything they have to
guard against too great sympathy for her,
based upon 1er honorable conduct in her reJa-
tiona with the United Stases-upen the aid she
has given through her ministers to American
Legations when in ditiicu1ties-an1 a!so npou
the readiness With which she has adopted the
labors Of our own engineers and mechanics.
4 ririd picture OF St Petersburg was given,
with its monuments, its statues, its museums, its
parades, its gardens and its squares, ia one Of
which five Boston Commons, State House and
uli might be swallowed up then passing from
the exterior aspect, nr. Sumner proceeded 10
show The interior li@e, the blind obedience, the
passive submission, the cringiug to superior
rank, and the constant formula Of reply, En-
actly so, your high Excellency," to any obser-
vation made by one Of higher official position.
But in contrast to types lik: this were many
others filled with noble pride Of country, aud
with desireto improve lis condition. Passages
from, karalnsin, worthy Of Fenelon or Ci,an-
ming. were read, and Justice done to the ac:iyi-
ty of individuals who, were toiling By their
ptrs and by the stage to elevate the moral
character Of their countrymen.
The government itself oifers striking coll
trast to that Of Austria and other States, (where
the whole objec. Of The members is to keep
themselves in power,) BY living and working to
an end-to uproot abuses, found institutions,
and e1eTate Russia. The Emperor Nichoias,
with his noble intentions uud great activity,
would hare rendered eminent service to Russia
Lat. lie not been seeuced By the cringing seryll,
ity Of other States into playing part without
his borders. The course OF the government in
regard to the naterial resources Of the country
was sketched; its agricultural schools. its COL
leges Of Sylriculture, its plans for turning 10 ac
count tue immense forests Of the North aud re-
woolins the prairies OF the South 20 per cent.
Of soil being forest in one section, and only 2
per cent. iu The other its introduction Of Amer
ican ploushs and other agricultural machines,
and dthen tue employment of American mcchatl:
ics.
or these Mr. Sumner gave complete histor-
i: al sketch, beginning with, Timothy Clazton,
l}ostoniaa, who in ISIS went to st. Petersburg,
Russia, to light it with gas, aud describing ev-
cry American machine and engineer that has
gained foothold iu Russia.
Int nIl these attempts to improve the mnteri-
III EOHuAloA u AsAaSiA IkAfN AAIEO "! tuE!l
effect, because Of the imperfect administration
Of justicc, and because the dignity Of lubsr has
not been respected. To reform these two great
abuses, By means Of Independent judges uud
ty the abolition Of Slavery, is tile grcat ask Of
the Russian government.
Mr.. Sumner took the audience TO Russinn
uoblemaa's estate; puinted out the modes Of
life OF mesteraud slave; the village oftle serfs;
their town meetings; their obligations to the
master: their elected chiefs; the dt*atsky, who
stand between them aud their master, and gave
:. complete picture Of tic social and financial
position nf the ssrfs. This part Of tl.e lecture
wns cn.ivened Ly anecdotes characteristic Of
the illen aud incidents described.
The measures adopted ior thu emancipation
Of Tue ser:s were skctchcd-the great profits
secured Us proprictors who employees free lu-
stead OF slave labar described; as also the diff.
iicu!tlcs aud delays opposed by the ignorant
noblemcn.
Mr.. Sumner alluded to the present Emperor,
aud TO his carly traiuing under the poet Zliu-
koteky, 1hr Russian translator Of Schiller, and
the participator in ul his aspirations for liberty
Russia aud hu Eantr, lie sand, may well rejoice
that the disciple of Schiller became the prccep-
tor OF Alexander, From tile Emperor's own
character, and from the larger freedom which
be- has given, cheerful augury was drawn for
tile future Of Kusstu.