Education In Russia.
The Times, 1824-01-10T00:00:00

;: ,I have seen letters from Su. Petersburgh of the beginning of August, :which, though of an old date, cannot fail to be interesting, at th'ey refer to topics wthich, more than any other, deserVe atteition at tihe present moment, an contain facts that could not be allowed to transpire through the medium of any Russran putblication; . The facts to which I allude relate to the state of education in Russia, and- the measures lately taken for the regulation of the schools, colleges, and universities of that empire. It is dif- ficult to conceire with what perseveiing zeal the directors of these establishments pursue a system of stupid obscu- rantism, with what indiscriminating severity they treat respectable professors, wvhose willingness to adopt their views they are led to suspect, and what contempt they show towards every thing that reason, history, and science, have hitherto taught. At a public examination of the Uni- versity of St. Pctersburgh, where students of from 18 to 25 years appeared for the trial of their qualifications, the Curator of that seat of learning expressed, in uniea- sured terms, his displeasure at the progress which the young mnen had made in science and philosophy, and his indigna- tion at the liberal manner in which they answered some of the questions addressed to them. After listening for some time to the examination, a-id, unable at last to contain bis feelings, he began to row the Professors in the following elegant manner:-" These things, no doubt, appear to you to be very fine; you, no doubt, think them of great import- ance; but I tell you the contrary. I intbrm you of afact, of wvhich, though you be very learned persons, you are al- together ignorant-that man is naturally stupid, and that he never was intended to learn many of the fine ihings which you endeavour to teach him." The Professors stared vith as- tonishinent while' the indignant Curator continued at intervals to pour upon them the vials of hiis con- tempt. One of them, however, still proceeded with the examination in the sanme style as that which first excited the choler of the despotic superintendaut. This Professor was interrupted with the menace that be would be immediately dismaissed from his charge if he did not change his system. On this he crouched, and was silent, but his submission (lid not save himn. The Curator beinig joined by the IRector of the University, so plied the ob- noxious Professor withbquestions and abuse, that he was' obliged to leave the hall. This memorable sitting was concluded by a harangue from a French professor, which probably for slavish prin- ciples, for abuse of liberal knowledge, and blind adulation of arbitrary authority, was inever exc'ededl. The name of this Professor was Degour; but in order to show himself a fit subject of the Emperorof Russia, he has added an ow or an off to his name, and now figures under the Russian ap- pellation of Degouroff: His speech, of wlhich I shall senid you an extract, was framed to pour the same contempt on the sciences as their barbarian conquerors poured on the arts and civilization of the Romans. Western Europe came in for a large shlae of his vituperative eloquence. For the last forty years he declared that the learned in that part of the world had been labouring to overturn every wise principle of religion andi government. " The na- tural sciences," he observed, " had been employed to weaken the evidence of the sacred history of the Crea- tion, of the Deluge, of Noaht's Ark, antd other authen- tic facts which are detailed in the Bible. In millions of books, and in all the Universities of western Europe, prinuiples are inculcated which are hostile to religion, to monarchy, and public order. If such torrents of blas- phemny and anarchy had continued to flow from these vaunted learned societies for a few years longer, European order and civilization rnust inevitably perish.; bat Provi- dence, in impressing on the mind of the.-greatestmonaich of ancient or modern times (th-a E'i`nperor Alexander) the bright idea of uniting Suvereigns and Nations iu a Holy Alliance, has put a stop to the threatening evil." At the conghision ot:'this sp'eech Prince Galitzin, and others o fwc`liWe %06tt were present, shouted applause. In consequence of wbat appeared at this examination, the universities bve been placed urnder more severe rules. Every Professor is now obliged to submit a written copy of his course to the censors appointed to superintend thte schools and colleges. If any thing is struck out, and if after this the professor introduces the obnoxious passage, he is dismissed. Somhe lectureships, such as that of the rights of nations, are entirely suppressed. All the uni- versities, except that of Viliia, are reduced to ciphers. No students are to be allowed to attend German or other foreign universities. EBDUCCATION IN RUSSIA. PARIS, JA.RY 3.