The Sun. — 1847-06-19 (London, England)

LECTURES ON THE SLAVONIC  NATIONS. On Thursday afternoon, Count Valerian Krasinski delivered his fifth lecture on the political and intellectual development and present condition of the Slavonic nations, at Willis's Rooms. The lecturer commenced by calling the attention of his hearers to the latter portions of his last lecture, which he stated went very far to prove that the population of Russia was composed of a mixed number of patties, whose creeds as well as language were different in every way to each other. He likewise glanced at the state of the Slavonic nations during the eleventh century, when they were ravaged abroad by the depredations of the blood-thirsty and insatiable Tartars, their most deadly enemies, and at home were subject to the fierce despotism of the tyrants who sat upon their thrones ; one of whom carried his barbarism and cruelty to such a fearful height as to have many of his subjects put to the most excruciating deaths that a wicked mind could possibly conceive, in order that he might delight himself with the torments of the suffering victims. In proof of this the Count related two instances. The regal murderer having fancied that a conspiracy was on foot to dethrone him, and that the conspirators had assembled in a certain village, repaired thither, and put the whole of the inhabitants to the sword. On another occasion, he ordered a large number of his subjects to be driven into the river for the purpose of his beholding them drown. The Count also observed that the Muscovites and the Russians were races distinct of themselves, and ought thenot to be present c °u fu policy n de ef d t witheach he R n sai an o t che r ah, nt te although considerit was them as one and the same people. Leaving these dark hisand astot emnbtiroeoptaosstahgeesmionreh is address, pleasing t topic pioLoefc Lecturer turned turnd progresse made by the Russians in literature and the liberal arts. The Emperor Alexis, he stated, had made many improvements, by giving a new code of laws, which, in accordance with a certain rule, was enforced by deputies. Of Peter the Great, he remarked, that that Emperor had, by his extreme anxiety to arrive at a state of the utmost perfection, as regarded his army and navy, as it were almost converted his people into foreigners, by taking persons of all lands into the important offices of his kingdom ; and he introduced the present system of rank in the aristocracy. He, however, did small things to advance the liberty of his country. But little, the Lecturer stated, was done in the way of literature until the reign of the Empress Catharine, when several useful and instructive works were translated and published at the expense of the Government. This Empress also assembled the various Deputies, in order, with their aid and advice, to concoct another code of laws ; she was, however, frightened at some words which came from the mouth of one of the Deputies, and alarmed at the state of France at the time,hene driasmbliesse medald Deputies with her thanks and an each. About this time also a lodge of Freemasons, who honourable had done much good in the country, was dispersed by her orders, and the members desired to retire to their ms tpartees so fElizabeth country;also didc u country hsebaytswfaoawhile. The way of of improving theE many valuable books being translated and published at the Government expense. The Lecturer then thanked his auditors, and informed them that for certain reasons his lecture intended for delivery next Saturday would be deferred for a few days. The lecture was attended by a select and highlyrespectable company, who appeared much interested in 'he details laid before them.