An Illustrated Description of the Russian Empire; embracing its geographical features, political divisions ... cities ... population ... With ... engravings and maps, etc

Front matter

AN ILLUSTRATED DESCRIPTION OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE; EMBRACING ITS GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES, POLITICAL DIVISIONS, PRINCIPAL CITIES AND TOWNS, POPULATION, CLASSES, GOVERNMENT, RESOURCES, COMMERCE, ANTIQUITIES, RELIGION, PROGRESS IN EDUCATION, LITERATURE, ART, AND SCIENCE, MANNERS AND CUSTOMS, HISTORIC SUMMARY, ETC, FROM THE LATEST AND THE MOST AUTHENTIC SOURCES. ROBERT SEARS. EMBELLISHED WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS. AND jftiaps nf ÆnrnpMii aid Slsintir fUssk NEW YORK: PUBLISHED BY ROBERT SEARS, 181 WILLIAM STREET. 1855. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1354, ROBERT SEARS, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the District of New Jersey. STEREOTYPED BY C C. SAVAGE. 13 Chambers Street, If. Y. C. A. ALVORD, PRINTER, 29 Gold Street, N. Y.

Preface

. ■ HE volume herewith presented to the public was in course of preparation (to the extent, at least, of collecting material out of which to digest the subject-matter of its pages), for a considerable period anterior to the commencement of hostilities between the two governments occupying the position of principals in the present European war. That event, however, with the solicitude it has very generally and very naturally created for reliable information, as to the character, history, and resources, of the Muscovite empire, whose position seems generally though perhaps erroneously to be regarded as so formidable and threatening toward other nations, has led to its publication at a somewhat earlier day than might otherwise have been determined on. But comparatively few of the descriptive works on Russia heretofore published, accessible to readers in the English language — those of recent as well as those of earlier date — have extended their range beyond St. Petersburg and Moscow, with perhaps the provinces immediately surround ing them.

This is to be accounted for probably in the fact that (with few exceptions) they have emanated from tourists visiting that country for health or pleasure ; and the restrictions with which the government every where trammels locomotion on Russian territory, with the miserable travel ling facilities, and worse roadside accommodations, have generally been sufficient to deter them from penetrating or exploring to any considerable extent, the vast regions lying beyond the Muscovite capitals. And those works not comprised in this class, and which form the exceptions referred to above, do not cover, any one of them, but a fraction of this colossal empire. Thus Finland, the German colonies, Poland, Southern Russia, the Crimea, Kazan, the Caucasian and Trans-Caucasian provinces, Siberia,

PREFACE.

. and other divisions of the imperial domain, have each had its histori ographer, but each has generally formed the subject of a separate work. While still other writers have limited the scope of their pens entirely to sketches of the people, the government, and institutions of the country. To obtain a knowledge, therefore, of the whole empire, called for the pe rusal of so many volumes, and some of them not attainable this side of the Atlantic, that Russia has necessarily been a terra incognita to a large proportion of American readers. This deficiency in the means of accessible information, on most subjects so abundant in this country, suggested to the Editor the plan of this volume. He felt assured that if he could furnish an illustrated description of every portion of the empire — of its institutions and people, its history, and in brief, everything requisite to a complete knowledge of " Russia and the Russians," full in details, yet carefully condensed, so as to bring the whole within the covers of a single volume, and thus within the means of every class of readers — he would essentially subserve the cause of popular information.

He undertook the task, and the more completely to carry out his design, he has spared no pains in the endeavor to obtain, both in this coun try and in Europe, every work that promised any additional or more recent information, or which might serve to verify that already in hand. The result of his labors is embodied in the following pages. Of the success which has attended them, he will leave to his readers to judge from perusal. The engravings (many of which are from drawings made expressly for this volume) have been selected with regard rather to the more practical purpose of illustrating the letter-press than the minor one of mere pictorial embellishment. A glance at them, however, will show that the latter con sideration has not been lost sight of. They are all from the burin of Wil liam Roberts, whose eminent reputation is an ample guaranty that they have been executed in the highest and most elaborate style of the art.

Of the maps, it will be a sufficient assurance of their accuracy, to mention that they are from Morse's geographical establishment, and are specimens of his beautiful art of cereographic engraving. The preparation of this volume has been a work of no inconsiderable toil, involving, as it did, reference to such varied and si equently conflicting authorities ; and its mechanical execution has been attended witli a far greater outlay than any of the Editor's previous works. But should it meet with but a moiety of the favor so kindly and generously accorded to his former publications, he will feel himself amply recompensed for his labors. /^3»»flt\ OcronEK, 1854. KrF^"'!*^ CONTENTS.

Chapter I. Physical Geography

Boundaries — Latitude and Longitude — Superficial Area — Comparative Dimensions — Russian America — Ural Mountains — Caucasian Range — Asiatic Russia — Altai Range — Forests — While Sea — Baltic Sea — Its Extent — Gulf of Bothnia — Gulf of Finland — Euxine or Black Sea — Sea of Azov — Putrid Sea — Strait of Enikaleh — Caspian Sea — Its Position, Form, and Extent — Its Islands — Its Fisheries — Its Harbors — Its History — the Sea of Okhotsk — Rivers — the Dwina — the Obi — the Yenisei — the Duna — the Niemen — the Dniester — the Dnieper — the Boug — the Don — Attempts to unite the Don and the Volga — the Kouban — the Danube — Its Mouths — the Volga — Its Source and Course — Its Mouths — Its Tributaries — Its Inundations — Its Commercial Importance — Lakes — Lake or Sea of Baikal — — Lake Ladoga — Lake Onega — Lake Peipus — Lake Ilrnen — Bielo-Ozero — Climate — Storms — the Miatjel — the Samjots — the Vinga — Its Terrible Devastations page 13

Chapter II. Political Divisions The Baltic Provinces

Division-Line of European and Asiatic Russia — General Divisions — Table of Areas and Populations — Finland: Physical Aspect — Climate — Soil — Productions — Animals — Manufactures — Government — People — the Aland Archipelago — Chief Towns — Abo — Helsingfors Sweaborg — Tornea — Government of St. Petersburg: Physical Aspect — Climate — Productive Resources — Commerce — Kronstadt — Its Harbor and Fortifications — Esthonia: Soil Animals — Thrilling Incident — Revel — Its Harbor — Historical Incident — Catherinthal, built by Peter the Great — Livonia: Soil and Productions — Forests — Wild Animals — Huntino- Scenes — Rural Industry — Russian Coins — Livonia: Population — Government — Riga Dorpat — Historic Incident of Schloss-Ringen — Courland : Physical Aspect — Soil and Productions — Animals — Elk-Hunting — Mittau — Libau — Windau — History of the Baltic Provinces — People — the Lettes and Esthonians — the Jews — the Germans page 41

Chapter III. Great Russia

Archangel: Its Extent — Physical Aspect — Climate — Resources — People — Russian Lapland the Laplanders — Nova Zembla — City of Archangel — History — Vologda: Soil, Climate, and Productions — City of Vologda — Olonetz: Soil — Resources — Petrozavodsk — Kargopole — Novgorod: Physical Aspect — Soil and Productions — City of Novgorod — Its History Pskov: Soil and Productions — Pskov the Capital — Torepetz — Velikie-Louki — Tver: Productions — Manufactures — Commerce — Tver, its Capital — Smolensk: Soil and Productions Forests — City of Smolensk — Moscow: Its Extent — Physical Aspect — Climate — Natural Products and Manufactures — Yaroslav: Rivers and Lakes — Climate — Resources City of Yaroslav — Its History — Kostroma: Soil and Climate — Products — City of Kos- CONTENTS. i t i A troma — Nijnei-Novgorod — Soil and Productions — Manufactures — City of Nijnei-Novgnr-d — Fairs — Vladimir: Surface — Soil and Products — City of Vladimir — Riazan: Climnie — Forests — Prod nets and Manufactures — City of Riazan — Tambov : Resources — Forests — Manufactures — City of Tambov — Toula : Resources — City of Toula — Market — Manufactures — History — Kalouga : Climate and Productions — Manufactures — Exports — City of Kalougs — Orel: Its Rivers — Soil and Productions — Commerce — Town of Orel — Koursk: Products — Exports — City of Koursk — Fairs — Voronej : Resources — Population — City of Voronej page 81

Chapter IV

•k. LITTLE AND WESTERN RUSSIA. w Lithuania — Its History and People — Tohbrnigoy : Its Soil — Lnkes and Rivers — Productions J j— Its Capital, Tchernigov — Kharkov: Soil and Productions — City of Kharkov — Poltava: Its Surface, Soijt and Resourees — vjmvn of Poltava — Kiev: Physical Aspect — Climate — Crops — City of^Kfev — AntiquirVs — History of Kiev — Podolia: Physical Aspect — Productions — Kaminietz — Balta — Volhynia : Physical- Aspect — Manufactures and Exports -rt-y People — Jitomir — Berditsuliev — Minsk : Productive Resources — People— Tts Capital — Mooiiilev : Rivers and Lakes 3- Prod notions — Town of Moghilev — ViTErsK : Soil and Ynf - -factions — Its Capital — Wilna: Rivers and Lakes — Agricultural Resources — * Animals — Its Capital — Educational Institutions — Orodno : Soil and Productions — People — Town of Grodno — Bialystok : Its Resources — Bialystok, its Capital .page 119

Chapter V. Prussian Poland

Former Extent of Poland — Present Limits of Russian Poland — Population — Physical Aspect i — Climate and Soil — Productive, Resources — Estates of the Nobility — the Peasantry — Position of the Peasantry — Villages — Domestic and Wild Animals — Forests — Minerals — Manufactures — Commerce — Government — Religion — Education — People — History Krakow, the Ancient Capital of Poland — Warsaw: Public Buildings — Suburbs — Educational Institutions — Manufactures and Tra<Je — History — Other Towns .page 137

Chapter VI Southern Russia

Bessarabia: Its Position and Physical Aspect — Climate and Productions — People History — Kichinev — Ismail — Its Capture by Suwarrow — Kherson: Soil and Climate Industrial Arts — Kherson, its Capital — Historical Incident: "The Road to ConBtantinople" Odessa — Its Trade — Its Granaries — Bazars — Vineyards — The Boulevaid — Memorials of Howard — Nikolaiev — Taurida: Position and Area — Its People — Ekatherinoslav: Soil and Minerals — Climate and Products — Game — Manufactures — Don-'Cossacks (Government): Physical Aspect — Climate —Productive Resources — The Don Cossacks — Their History — Kreposts — Novp Teherkask — Tcherkask — Taganrog — Azov page 161 / '

Chapter VII. The Crimea

' I Physical Aspect — The Baidar Valley — Productive Resources — Salt Works — Chief Towm — Population — Crim Tartars — History — Sevastapol — Its Harbor and Fortiftfcations — Inkerman, the "Town of Caverns"— Ruins — Simferopol — Camel-Cart*'— Fair — Races — the Tchatir Dagh — Cave of Foul Kouba — Kisil Kouba -J- Pallas' Keeidence— Kertsch — Panti' capaeum, Residence and Reputed Burial-Place of Mithridates — Caffa —Baktchiserai- (the "Seraglio of Gardens") — Tartar Houses — Palace of the Khans — Mausoleum bf the Khans, "Valley of Jehoshaphat"— Tchoufut Kale — the Karaite Jews — Mangoup Kale — Novel Method of Shoeing a Bullock — D..*cay of the Tartar pace ., ..lMOE {ft æ'' ■ ■ —■ CONTENTS.

Chapter VIII. The Steppes Of Southern Russia

Area and Physical Aspect — Rivers — Ravines — Limans — Stavoks — Climate — Seasons — Excessive Drought —Vegetation — Burian — Steppe-Fires — Earth-Hares — Mice — Wolves — Dogs — Bustard-Hunting — Birds of Prey — Reptiles — The Toad-Shower — Lizards — Snakes — Locusts — Their Devastations — Herds of Horses — The Tabuntshik — The Horse- Stealer — Battles of the Horses — Attacks of Wolves — Thrashing of Grain by Horses — Mazeppa — Sheep — The Tshabawn — Milking Sheep — Herds of Cattle — The Tsherednik — Tallow-Houses — Wholesale Slaughter — Tallow-Market page 208

Chapter IX. Eastern Russia

Governments of Eastern Russia — Astrakhan: Physical Aspect— Soil — Productive Resources — Salt-Lakes — Rivers — Climate — Animals — Fisheries — People — The Cal mucks — Their Extraordinary Emigration in 1770-71 — City of Astrakhan — Its Trade and Population — Saratov : Productions — Sheep — Population — Commerce — City of Saratov — Other Towns — Orenburg: Physical Aspect — Soil — Minerals — Town of Orenburg — Its Manufactures and Trade — Perm: Physical Aspect — Climate — Gold, Iron, and Salt-Mines — Trade — Inhabitants — City of Perm — Ekaterinburg — Trade in Precious Stones — Viatka : Physical Aspect Productive Resources — Commerce — Population — Viatka the Capital — Simbirsk: Climate and Productions — -Its Capital — Samara: Area and Population — City of Samara — Its Annual Fair — Penza: Soil and Productions — Manufactures and Exports — City of Penza— Kazan: Physical Aspect — Agriculture — Gardens — Population — Cheremisses and Chuvasses — The city of Kazan — The Tartars — Their Costume — Tartar Women — Kremlin of Kazan — University — Manufactures and Trade — Inundation of the Volga — Foundation of Kazan — Its History — Its Conflagrations — Oliphant's Sketch of Kazan in 1853 page 24-1

Chapter X. The Caucasian Provinces

Caucasian Tribes — Georgia: Its Position and Aspect — Rivers — Climate and Soil — Fruit — Its Vineyards — Wines — Domestic Animals — Roads — Manufactures — Female Georgians — Classes — History — Teflis — Its History — Other Towns — Shirvan: Baku — Abcheran — Naphtha Springs— "Field of Fire" — Ghebers — Russian Armenia: Physical Aspect — Gukcha, or Blue Lake — Mount Ararat — Volcanic Eruption of 1840 — Nakhichevan — Climate and Soil of Armenia — Inhabitants — Echmiadzin — Armenian Language and Literature — Erivan — Akhalzik — Imeritia: Physical Aspect — Natural Productions — Bees and Silkworms — Commerce — Mingrelia: Physical Aspect — Productions — Guria: People — Koutais Abassia : Its Position — Industry — History — Anapar — Circassia : Extent and Physical Features Its Hydrography — Climate — Soil and Natural Productions — Animals, Wild and Domestic — Minerals — People — Villages — the Chase and War — Circassian Women — Domestic Habits — Physical Beauty — Education — Religion — - Manufactures and Commerce History — Caucasus: Physical Features and Climate — Stavropol — Other Towns — Daghestan : Physical Aspect — Bituminous Springs — Climate — Population — Derbent — Kouba — Tschetschenzes and Lesghians— The Caucasian War — Its History — Shamyl page 28"

Chapter XI. Siberia, Or Asiatic Russia

Its Immense Extent — Physical Aspect — the Steppe — Forests — Moorland, or Tundra — Stanovoy Mountains — Dry Lakes — Samoides — Ostiaks — Calmucks — Turkish Tribes— Buriats — Tungusi — Yakutes — Tchouktchis— History of Siberia — Tobolsk : Soil and Productions —Tartar Villages— City of Tobolsk — Climate — Tomsk : Soil and Productions — Tomsk, its Capital — Yeniseisk : Variety of Soil, Climate, and Productions — Inhabitants — Krasnoiarsk Other Towns — Irkoutsk : Physical Features — Climate — Forests — Wild Animals — A Bear Story — Domestic Animals — Crops — Minerals — Manufactures — Irkoutsk, the Capital CONTENTS. — Ita Police — the "Double Town"— Yakoutsk: Its Rivers — Productive Resources — Yakoutsk, the Capital — Its Trade — Inhabitants— Climate— Okhotsk: Physical Features — Products — Town of Okhotsk — Kamtschatka : Its Form and Physical Aspect— Mountains — Climate — Forests — Agriculture — Wild Animals — Inhabitants— Amusements — Houses — Dogs — Koriaks — Trade — History — Government — Aleutian Islands : Discovery — Volcanic Formation — Earthquakes — Soil — Game — Fish — Inhabitants — Manners and Customs — Religion — Government rAU": S23

Chapter XII. Moscow

Its Streets — Its Extent — The Kremlin — Bird's-Eye View — Spass Vorota, or "Gate of the Redeemer"— the Nicholas Gate — Ancient Palace of the Czars — Terema — Granovitaya Palata— Coronation-Hall — the Throne — the Bolshoi Dvoretz — the Maloi Dvoretz — Cathedral of the Assumption — Cathedral of the Archangel Michael — the False Dmitri — Church of the Annunciation — the Senate, Treasury, and Arsenal— Memorials of the Early Czars- Palace of Arms— "Monarch Bell"— Ivan Veliki— Its Bells— Cathedral of St. Basil— Chapel ofthe "Iberian Mother of God"— Convents and Monasteries — Maidens' Field — Hospitals — Theatres — Gostinoi Dvor — Manufactures and Commerce — History page 351

Chapter XIII. St

PETERSBURG. Site of St Petersburg — Its Divisions — Iron Bridge across the Neva — Bird's-Eye View — Foundation of the City — Its Perils — Inundation of 1824 — Climate — St. Petersburg in Winter — the Russian Stove — Double Windows— the Neva in Winter — Breaking up of the Ice — Its Celebration — Street Population — Nevskoi Prospect — the English Quay — the Mujik — Sweeping the Streets, a Punishment for Drunkenness page 375

Chapter XIV. St

PETERSBURG IMPERIAL PALACES AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS The Winter-Palace — Its Conflagration in 1837 — Its Re-Erection — Its Interior — the Hermitage — Its Treasures — the Marble Palace — the Taurida Palace — Its Orangery — Its Occupants — Hotel de l'Etat Major — the Alexandrian Column — the Old Michailoff Palace — the Anitshkof Palace — the New Michailoff Palace — Little Summer Garden — the Red Palace — the Imperial Library — Museums — Academy of Fine Arts — Educational Institutions — Government Buildings — the Exchange — the Customhouse — the Fortress, Arsenals, and Barracks — Historical Souvenirs — Equestrian Statue of Peter the Great — Monument to Suwarrow — Monument to Field-Marshal Romanoff page 399

Chapter XV. St

PETERSBURG CHURCHES AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS Modern Church Architecture — Kazan Cathedral — Isaac Church — Church of St Peter and St Paul — Its Spire — Thrilling Incident — Its Vaults — Tombs of the Russian Emperors — Smolnoi and Nevskoi Convents — Monastery of St. Sergius — Preobrashensky Church — Trinity Church — Nicolai Church — Roman Catholic Church — Hospitals — the Foundling Hospital 431

Chapter XVI. Markets And Manufactories Of St

PETERSBURG. The Gostinoi Dvor — the Gostonoi Merchants — the Somovar — the Apraxin Rinok — Image- Sellers — Fruit-Stalls — Pastry -Stands — Tshukin Dvor — Bird-Market — Hay-Market — Forzen Meat-Market — Sennaia Ploschad — Industrial Establishments: Tapestry, Porcelain, Card, Cotton, and Paper Manufactories — Ship-Building page CONTENTS. 9

Chapter XVII. The Gardens And Villas Of St

PETERSBURG. Calherinenhoff— the Summer Garden —Peter's Wooden Palace — the Wife-Market — Islands of the Neva — Kammenoi, or Stone Island — Yelagin, Cross, and Apothecaries' Islands — Count Strogonoff's Gardens— Czarsko Selo: the Palace — the Arsenal — the Grounds — Paulofsky and Gatchina — Strelna — Peterhoff— the Empress' Annual Fetes at Peterhoff— Old Castle of Peter the Great — Marly and Monplaisir — the Hermitage — Cottage of Catherine II.- Ropscha — Oranienbaum .page 4G0

Chapter XVIII. The Imperial Government

Absolute Power ofthe Sovereign — Organization of the Government by Peter the Great — the Imperial Council — the Senate — the Holy Synod — Committee of Ministers — Local Administration of the Governments and Provinces — the Judicial System — the Police System Its Corruption — Thieves and Pickpockets — Punishments — the Rod — the Knout — Exile to Siberia — Departure of Exiles — the Journey — their Number and Condition in Siberia — the Army — Its Organization — the Imperial Guard — Guard ofthe Interior — the Gendarmes — the Cossacks — Conscription — Pay — Military Colonies — Insurrection of 1831 — the Navy — Its Extent — Its Efficiency — -Its History — Public Revenue — Its Sources — Expenditures — Public Debt .487

Chapter XIX. The People

The Nobility — Its Division by Peter into Fourteen Classes — Titles — Powers of the Nobility — their Education and Habits — their Vassals — Attention to Manufactures — the Clergy, Merchants, and Burghers — their Classification — the Three Guilds — Citizen-Burghers — Respectable Citizens — Suburban Inhabitants — the Free Peasantry — the Serfs — Serf Laws — Marriages among Serfs and Free Peasants — Habits of the Russian Peasantry — their Villages, Costume, Food, &c. — Superstitions and Vices — the Vapor-Bath — Public Baths. . . .page 611

Chapter XX. Religion The Greek Church

The Various Religions in Russia — History of the Greek Church — Reforms of Peter the Great — Points of Difference between the Greek and Roman Church — the Clergy — the White and Black Clergy — Monks — the Clergy of Other Churches — Incomes of the Russian Clergy — Nuns — Titles — Habits of the Priests — Devotion of the People to Pictures of their Saints — Tolerant Spirit of the Russian Clergy page 533

Chapter XXI. Festivals And Fasts

The Easter Festival — Butter- Week — the Katsheli — Ice-Mountains — Admiralty Square during Easter — Equipages of the Grandees — the Wooden Theatres — the Burning Theatre — Its Victims — Fetes — the Great Fast — Its Monotony — Palm Sunday — Easter-Eggs — Holy Thursday — Good Friday — Easter Eve — Easter Kisses — Recollection Monday, a Festival- Day in the Cemeteries page 447

Chapter XXII. Literature And Education

Early History of Literature — First Grammar of the Language — Michael Lomonosoff — Literature during the Reign of Catherine II. — Cheraskoff, "the Russian Homer" — Other Poets — Progress of Russian Letters during the Present Century — Nicholas Karamzin — Poets of the Nineteenth Century — Voyages and Travels — Alexander Pushkin — Nicholas Gogol — CONTENTS. Alexander Bestushev — Historical Romances — Count Solohoupe — Female Writers — His torical Science — Statistics — the Drama — Theatrical Amusements — Theatres in St Petersburg — the Russian Alphabet — the Slavonic Dialects — Popular Instruction — Educational Statistics PAGE 567

Chapter XXIII. Means Of Travel

First Railway in Russia — Railroad from St. Petersburg to Moscow — Oliphant's Description of a Passage over this Road — Other Railways Projected — Roads and Roadside Accommodation — Sledge-Travelling — Posthouses — Posting — Cabinet-Couriers — Diligences — the Malle-Poste — Post Telega — Drosky — Ivoshtshiks — Pedestrian Privileges page 584

Chapter XXIV. Historic Summary

— EARLY ANNALS. Sarraatians and Scythians — Slavonians — Varagians — Rurik — Igor and Oleg — the Petchenegans — the Drevlians — Olga and Sviatoslaff — Yaropolk — Vladimir — Yaroslav — Monoinachus — Conflagration of Kiev — Famine at Novgorod — Tartar Invasion — Yury I. — Baton Khan — Yury II. — Yaroslav II. — Alexander Nevski — Wars with the Tartars — Ivan I. and II. — Dmitri III. and IV — "Battle of the Giants"— Vassili II.— Ivan III. — Destrueiion of the Golden Horde — Vassili IV. — Ivan IV. the Terrible — Origin of the Title "Czar" — Formation of the Strelitzes — Fedor I. — Boris Godunoff — Famine in Moscow — the False Dmitris — Vladislaus — Michael Romanoff — Wars with the Swedes and Poles — Alexis — Fedor III. — Accession of Peter the Great page 61)7

Chapter XXV Historic Summary Peter The Great To Nicholas

Intrigues of Sophia, Half-Sister to Peter, to obtain the Crown — Joint Reign of Peter and Ivan V, with Sophia — Insurrection of the Strelitzes — Deposition of Sophia — Death of Ivan — War with Turkey — War with Sweden — Peace of Nystadt — War wilh Persia — Death of Peter — His Character — His Manual Dexterity and Mechanical Knowledge — His Travels — Catherine I. — Her Previous History — Her Measures — Her Death — Peter II. — Menchikoff — Anne — War with Turkey — Ivan VI. — Elizabeth Petrowna — War with Sweden — War with Prussia — Peter III. — His Assassination — Catherine II. — War with Turkey — Potemkin — Suwarrow — Partition of Poland — Catherine's Death — Her Character — Paul I. — Events of his Reign — His Eccentricities — His Assassination — Accession of Alexander I. — Treaty of Amiens — War with France — Battles of Austerlitz and Eylau — Treaty of Tilsit — War with Sweden — Capture of Finland — Allied War against France — Napoleon's Invasion of Russia — Battle of Borodino — Capture and Conflagration of Moscow — Blowing up of the Kremlin — Retreat of the French — The European Powers allied against Napoleon — His Overthrow — Death of Alexander — His Character page 014

Chapter XXVI. Historic Summary Reign Of Nicholas

I. Early Life of Nicholas — His Marriage and Family — Death of his Daughter the Grand-Duchess Alexandra — Her Cenotaph at Czarsko Selo — Renunciation of the Throne by Constantine Attempted Revolution — Its Suppression — War with Persia — War with Turkey Campaigns of 18*28-'29 — Polish Revolution of 1831 — Its Suppression — Asiatic Cholera — Protection to Turkey in the War with Mehemet Ali — Russian Agency in Crushing the Hungarian Revolution in 1848 — War with Turkey in 1853-4 — Invasion of the Danubian Principalities by Russia — Destruction of the Turkish Fleet at Sinope — Interference of France and England — Declarations of War by Turkey, France, and England — Counter Declaration of Russia — Conclusion page ILLUSTRATIONS. Ice-Mountains at St. Petersburg during; Easter (See Description on page 549) frontispiece Ornamental Title with Illustrative Vignettes — 1.

Peter the Great working in a Shipyard in Holland ; 2. The Building of St. Petersburg; 3. Coronation (^Catherine II. ; 4. Assassination of the Empe^pr Paul ; 5. Napoleon in Russia; 6. The BurnLhg^>f Moscow ; 7. The Battle of Navarino. Hunting-Scene in Russia (Initia-VLetter).. . page 3 Map of European Russia (opposite) 13 Winter Scene "»in Russia (Vignette)'. 13 Altai Mountains — Peaks of Chenune-Ouzoune, Katunya, and Arrhite 20 of the Dwina 27 Mouths of the Danube 30 Mouths of the Volga: fK 34 Horse-Boat, with Barges, on the Volga 36 Russian Pilots 37 .

Russian Elk and Bears 45 Peasants of Finland . .. 47 River and Town of Tjornea, in Finland 51 Kronstadt, the Port of St. Petersburg 55 Woman of Esthonia abandoning her Children to1 the Wolves .61 Preparing for the Chase 66 Elk-Hunting in Courland — " In at the Death ".71 Gipsy Woman and Child 76 Courland Jew with Dulcimer -*- 78 Frozen Lake and Mountain Scenery in Lapland. 83 Sh,ore Laplander 85 Mountain Laplanders 85 The Chase — a Winter Scene 88 Monastery nf the Annunciation at Novgorod 92 Posthnuse on the Route from Kostroma to Yaroslav 1 00 Church of the Holy Women at Nijnei-Novgorod. 102 Chinese Quarter of the Great Fair, at Njjnei-, Novgorod I 105 Summary Punishment of a Mujik by a Cossack at Nijnei-Novgorod 106 A Tartar Wagon. ! 1 118 Obelisk at Poltava in Commemoration of the Defeat of Charles XII. of Sweden by Peter the Great 122 Volhynian Peasant-Girl engaged in Spinning. .129 Russian Village — Party of Hunters 134 Polish Bison (Urus), or Lithuanian Wild-Bull.. 144 Polish Jew at his Devotions 149 Polish Exiles on their Way to Siberia.. 155 The iCrakow^Cathedral 1 60 Map of Odessa -4 .165 City and Harbyr of Odessa 167 Tbe Boulevard at Odessa 169 -Cossacks ofthe Don * 116 Krepost, or Cossack Post, on the Circassian Frontier p \ge 1 77 Cossack Girl of Tchetkask 180 Crim Tartars ig3 Map of Sevastapol ]qq City and H a rbor of Sevastapol 1 87 Inkerman, the ''Town of Caverns ".....* 189 Camel Cart. .Vl 91 Cave of Foul Kouba ±.\ 194 .■Tartar Whip 1 y7 Palace ofthe Khans 198 Tartar Village 199 Tartar Guide ts 200 Mausoleum ofthe Khans 201 Jewish Fortress of Tehoufut Kale 203 Mangoup Kal£ 205 Novel Method of Shoeing a Bullock 207 Winter-Travelling on the Steppes — Sledges. .212 Summer-Travelling on the Steppes — A Tarantasse 215 Bird-Hunting on the Steppes 220 Invasion of the Steppes of Southern Russia by Locusts 225 Egyptian Locust 227 Itinerant Horse-Dealer 233 Hunters Encamped on the Steppe 241 City of Astrakhan 245 Calmucks 247 Astrakhan from the Sea...f 250 Sheep from the Steppes of the Caspian 251 View on the Volga at Simbirsk — The Jigoulee. 259 Chuvasses of Kazan 262 Leather Gloves and Wooden Spoon of Kazan Manufacture 263 Interior of a Tartar House 264 City of Kazan before the Conflagration of 1842.265 The Kremlin of Kazan ; 269 Cathedral of Nikolskoi, at Kazan 271 Tartar Mosque near Kazan 279 Types of Caucasian Races 280 Georgians of the Heights of Teflis 286 Teflis. tbe Capital of Georgia 287 Ararat, from the Plain of Erivan 291 Patriarchal Church and Monastery of Echmiadzin t 295 An Imeritian Prince, in War Costume 299 A Mingrelian Prince, in War Costume 299 Circassians 306 Circassian Females 307 Interior of a Circassian Armor Manufactory 311 Party of Caucasian Warriors descending the Mountains on a Predutory Excursion 317 Map qf Siberia, or Asiatic Russia 321 Kirghiz Merchant in his Tent 3C9 ILLUSTRATIONS Tobolsk, the Capital of Western Siberia. .p\ge 331 Peasant Attacked by a Bear 336 Yakoutsk 339 Kara tschatd ales 343 Summer-

House in Kamtscbatka 344 Map of Moscow 352 General View of the Kremlin, Moscow 355 Cathedral of the Assumption, Moscow 360 The " Monarch Bell " of Moscow 366 Cathedral of St. Basil, Moscow 369 Views it.

St. Petersburg: — Inundation of St. Petersburg in 1824 375 Cast-iron Bridge across the Neva 377 Map of St. Petersburg 379 Nevskoi Prospect 380 The Neva in Winter 388 Sweeping the Streets, a Punishment for Drunkenness ____. 396 Nevskoi Prospekt (Second View) 398 The Winter Palace — Residence of the Imperial Family 401 Hotel de TEtat Major, with the Alexandrian Column 411 Old Michailoff Palace, now lhe School of Engineers 415 St. Isaac Square 422 The Bourse 423 Equestrian Statue of Peter the Great, Admiral ry Square 427 Office, Hotel des Malle-Posies 430 The Kazan Cathedral — the Metropolitan Church of St. Petersburg 433 Church of St. Isaac 139 Spire of St. Peter and St. Paul 442 Monastery of St Sergius, Environs of St. Petersburg 447 Saloon, Hotel des Malle-Postes 451 The Goslinoi Dvor, during Easter 453 A Somovar, or Russian Tea-Urn 455 Cake and Tea Stall 457 Frozen Provision Market 461 Palace of Catherinenhoff. 467 Nurse, with Children, in the Summer Garden. 469 Noble's Villa on the Island of Kammenoi....471 Imperial Palace of Czarsko Selo 475 FSte of the Emperor at Peterhuff— The Polonaise 481 Monplaisir, Favorite Residence of Peter the Great, ut Peterhoff 486 Battle-Scene (Initial Letter) 487 Punishment of the Knout 495 Exiles on their Way to Siberia page 497 Regular Troops of Russia 502 Irregular Troops of Russia 502 Russian Silver Rouble 510 Summer Villa of a Russian Noble — Residence of the Kara ....