The New York herald., 1871-10-27
Sketch of the Origin, Growth and
Strength of the Russian Navy.
M Z vi o II L E $ OF '63.
The ssSOiree RUSSe' at the
Academy Of Music.
Celebration by the Americans of
1918 of Russian Victories.

Inc VISIT OF the GranQ Duke Alexis VIII PROBABLY
have the indirect effect OF inducing our people to
study up the present condition OF Russia Fifteen
years ago Mt. Sala and the sEnglishwoman in
Russia iamiarzed us with Its social and
domestic cusoms aud Mr.. Hepworth Dixon's re-
cent volumes, unreliable as they proved to pe in
details, give fair picture of the religious anu social
forces that are uneaslly preparing TO work out the
political future Of this vast empire. Among the
latest news We nave received from Europe has been
the Significant fact that the International is silently
but surely spreading itself through the land
that mas established q headquarters Ia
ST. Petersburg and is from thence despatch
ing active agents to the four points OF the
compass. Remembering what Mr.. Dixon and others
have TOLD ustnat already in Russia there are little
communities which are practically socialist, and
remembering, too, the peculiar fervor and enthu.
siasm that mark the Russian character, and OF
which, II proof be needed, the annual pilgrimage OF
from filty TO a hundred thousand devotees to the
Holy Places at Jerusalem is sufficiently significant
cxample-Russa becomes, perhaps, the most inter.
esng country IN Europe TO the eyes OF the thought
ful observer OF the charger politics, OF the .swdc
majestic world" While we shall be feting the
Grand Duke as one OF the most splendid and glitterng
ngures IN the Russia to-day, IL well to remember
that the agents OF revolution earnestly plotting
to inaugutate that more liberal and progressive
political regime which many thinkers look upon as
probably the controlling genius OF the Russia OF the
future.
Russia, both in territory ana population, is the
most important member Of the family OF civilized
nations. Its vast area may be conceived by remem.
berng that it has more than four times the extent
OF the Roman empire under Augustus and that it
Is much larger than the combined territory Of
France, Austria, Prussia and lta!y. Ana although
much OF It's soil in Asia is sterile and valueless, the
greater portion OF the gross acreage is singulary
productive and needs but Intelligent agricultural
effort TO be developed into wonderful wealth. Even
as at present titled, with the rudest appliances and
apeasantry exceptionally ignorant aud stupid, even
Tor Europe, IL Is one Of the great grain exporting
communities OF the world, and competes in the
markets o. Great Britain with American produce.
Russia had in 1853 no less than seventy five mil.
lions Of popuation and by the present time this has
probably been increased at least ten per cent.
Its people, however, are slngularly heterogeneous.
and comprise no less than huudred and twelve
various peoples representing seven great races
hclaves, Fins, Germans, TURKS (or Tartar5l Caucas-
ians Jews and Mongols. The Sciaves are far the
most numerous, and number 5j,o6o,0o Large as
Is the present number OF the subjects OF the Car,
Dnly lao years ago the entire population was only
mercay, is almost as Striking that OF The Ameri-
cans. This population is sharply defined by CASTE
distinctions into the orders OF nobility. bourgeoisie
and peasants. The first OF these classes possesses
nearly the whole OF the SOIL tne land having been
mapped out into Immense estates. To the NOBILITY
have also been ,o granted ant .n many any, SPECIAL
tton or the system OF. serf laDor In 1861 by the
Emperor Alexander have been greatly curtalled.
Ihe bourgeolsie comprises all the trading and me-
chanic classes, and The peasants are tue actively
The government OF Russia Is an absolute mon
archy-the most complete and perfect form OF an
unlimited desqotlsm that men vita white faces
have ever suffered. The throne desccnds from male
to male, nut should there be nase lne neir a
woman may be called upon to succeed TO the crown.
THIS ruler IS termed Car or Au:ocrat.
b. his functions; there is No limit OF bound TO his
will Al his caprice he can deprive any OF his sub.
ects, even The highest IN rank, OF lie liberty and
fortune; and ,his vast power mas been-at any rate
in the pas-lreely exercised. The Car is assisted
In his administration bs a council OF The empire-a
body composed OF the members Of the Cabinet
such oL the high nobility who enjoy the title OF
grand duke and a numoer of iunctionaries ana
heads OF departments VINO are appointed coun-
c,llors ~ the VIII OF the sovereign and not BY
Is also a senate formed bv mucn the same process
which publishes all laws and DEGREES OF the
monarch and which forms the supreme tribunal OF
hppea, OF the courts nm ana possesses, con.
Emperor, however, has the right OF modifying all
Its decisions The ordinary routine of government
Is carried on by one OF the most elaborate bureau.
eighty-iour departments. Each Of these Is admin.
stered By military governor, ciyll governor and
deputy civil governor. These departments are
subdi,lded into districts OF manageable dimensions,
each OF which Is kept under strict oncial despotism
These are the general features OF the SYSTEM which,
however. is modified in some Of the Asiac prov.
mces to meet the necessities OF The nomadc tribes.
The administration OF justice IA Russia Is very op-
pressiye and confused The Judge H., OF course the
soe arbiter Of the case, and as there are at least
thirty thousand separate hat ofIimes conflicting
statutes IN the code his task Is frequently one or
extreme dlicuty. That corruption and venalIty
should thrive under such regime l. u matter OF
course.
In religion Russia mainly belongs 10 The Russo
Greek Church, more than threciourths OF It, popu-
ation belonging TO that communion Among lhe
other sects are Roman Catholics, Lutherans Ar.
ind Chamanists. The Russo3Ieek Church Il the
same as the Greek churcn. except upon some
secondary points OF discipline. The Emperor has
been Its nominal head since the days OF Peter the
Great. 1ne governing body OF the Church Is the
bishops. II directs the internal discipline and Inc
pecuniary interests Of the church 1t mas fu power
censorship over all religious WORKS Il has also Ger.
lain civil functions and has absolute control or
Sy se w ~ q ne re
representative Of the sovereign, and transmits his
Church. Is reality and not mere 6ctilioas ngure.
9s sSse baycn as ps Queen Of England over the
spiritual prince as the Pope.
The Hussirn Navy.
sketch OF the Imperial navy past and
present will be appropriate al this time
The cordial sympathy existing between the
Two countries. and the many acts Of COR.
tesy that have passed between the onioers
p7 the Russian navy and those or the United
States during the past two years would, In sny
event, make the subject an interesting one. The
existence OF o powerful marine, especially In the
BLACK Sea, has been always leading feature o!
Auscovire policy. In the Baltic, too, ncets have
been founf potential agents In extending and con
Bolidating Russian dominion. In fact, ~ the nIes
knt day great navy is as essential to the govern
nent OF the Czar as great army. The entire Blacs
bea neet which, befUre the Crimean war; was the
bride OF every true Russian, disappeared In th,
waters OF the harbor Of Sebastopol; but the ships
were wooden and Old fashioned and would
be accounted Of little value just at this time
Peter the Great at the beginning OF the eighteenth
bcntury found Russia without navy, and with
bnlv one port--Archangcl, IN tn White Sea, Tue