PUNISHMENT OF THE KNOUT.

345

disgrace of the Russian character, brought out as a common felon, and after being rudely treated, was placed upon the scaffold. At the very first lash the skin was peeled from her neck to the very end of her back, and afterwards, as a refinement of barbarity, her tongue was cut, and she was hurried off to Siberia to end there the remainder of her days. Catherine also once exercised her vindictive disposition towards a young female whom she had turned off, whose chamber was invaded during her sleep, and an officer inflicted on her, upon the spot, this dreadful punishment. Persons condemned to the knout, and afterwards to banishment, walk to the spot of punishment. On being cured, they are dressed grey coats, on the back of which is a particular mark, and are then chained to each other, and sent off guarded by a file of soldiers.

in

With respect to the coins of Russia, it may, in general, be remarked, that they are as easy to be understood as those in France. Previous to the tenth century, none seem to have been known in the empire; and by some it is supposed that the first coinage was introduced by the Tatars, whose money was stamped with the arms of Moscow; namely, a horseman striking a dragoon with his spear. The name of kopek owes its origin to the word kope, signifying a spear. At present there are kopeks of 80, 40, and 10 pieces, and the latter is of the value of

346

COINS AND MONEY.

one penny. No mint was established, but gold and silversmiths struck the coins, and were at liberty to convert them into money of real value. The sixteenth century may be considered the period when what may properly be termed a coinage took place, in a mint opened at Moscow. The first rubles (at present equal to 8d. sterling) were struck in 1654. Paper money is current, and passes under the name of assignations." There are notes of 50, 25, 10, and 5 rubles each the first three are of a white, the fourth is of red, and the latter of a blue colour; and being held up before the light, the number of each is distinctly seen, which is convenient for those who cannot read the Russian characters. These notes are taken without examination or precaution at least if one is indorsed, it is objected to, and passed again with great difficulty, a circumstance that travellers ought to attend to. The gold coins used are the Imperial (weighing 188 English grains), the half Imperial, and the ducat. In calculating money in public offices or shops, the Russians do not employ pen and ink, but use what is called the stchot, supposed to have been derived from the Chinese; which may be described as a board fitted up with twelve wires, or cross bars, on which are small yellow and black balls of bone, nine to each bar. At a distance this machine has the appearance of a musical instrument: the

ORDERS OF MERIT.

347

two lower bars, which are at a greater distance from the others, are intended for the calculation of kopeks, and the remaining ten for rubles; and this mode of counting is performed with great rapidity and facility.*

The Eagle in the imperial coat of arms, was first introduced in 1504. The orders of merit, in founding which the fair sex appear not to be lost sight of, are as follows, viz. of St. Andrew, St. Catherine, St. Alexander Nevsky, St. George, St. Vladimir, and St. Anne. The first-mentioned of these was founded by Peter the Great, with the view of stimulating the nobility in a war against the Turks. The second was instituted in 1714, in grateful recollection of the assistance derived by Peter from his consort in the camp of Pruth, and is conferred only upon ladies. The third was created by Catherine I. in 1725; the two following by Catherine II. in 1759 and 1782; and the last by the Duke of Holstein, in 1735, in honour of his Duchess Anne. It is un

* Subjoined is an account of some of the principal measures: The Russian foot is the same as that in England. A fathom, or sazhin, is 7 feet 1 inch. A verst, 500 fathoms. 500 sazhins is 1 verst, and 3 versts is equal to two miles English. An arshin is 28 English inches. 3 arshins make 1 sazhin; and a pood is 40 Russian, or 36 British lbs. The desiatin, which is a land measure, is equal to two acres, two roods, 175-7th poles of British standard measure. The weights, and the liquid and other measures of this country, are too numerous to mention here.

necessary to describe the insignia connected with the several honours. Besides the preceding, there are several minor orders, some of which are conferred on civilians.

There are seven newspapers in the Russian and French, and two in the German language, published here; yet no liberty of expression is allowed, the press being completely under the surveillance of a censorship; so that should there happen to be any thing in the debates of the British Parliament, in the slightest degree unfavourable towards this country, not one syllable of it must be introduced into the Russian journals; or should any of them be so indiscreet, woe to both publisher and printer; while, on the other hand, the most trifling paragraph written in their favour, is greedily snatched at, and triumphantly blazed and commented upon in the prints. Of course there is no discussion, no party, no opposition; but that beautiful harmony of sentiment and opinion, which John Bull has not taste enough to relish, but would be apt to term insipid. The English journals are not always particularly flattering to our patriotism, for while one abuses this set of men, another attacks their adversaries, so that, to an impartial observer, it is often difficult to say which is the worse. But here you may conceive yourself in the latitude of Utopia: every thing is admirable, every thing praiseworthy, and

CENSORSHIP.

nothing to be found deserving censure.

349

Well

may we exclaim, "O! felices nimium!" not forgetting to add, "ter quaterque beatos quos irrupta tenet copula." The system is excellent as far as it goes: it is only to be regretted that the government cannot gag the press in other countries, and prohibit it from uttering aught that is disagreeable to its too sensitive ears. There is, perhaps, too, another somewhat disagreeable circumstance attending such a system; namely, that whenever public opinion expresses itself, it is not in blustering words, but in action-in conspiracies and revolutions. The freedom of the press may be abused; nay it often is abused; but are our hands to be continually manacled, in order to prevent the possibility of theft or rapine? Besides there are many very unpalatable truths which yet are not seditious: but here solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant. The Russian government, however, must be allowed to put in practice the conduct recommended by our great moralist, who observes, that "it is not more reasonable to have the liberty of writing unrestrained, because writers may be censured, than it would be to sleep with our doors unbolted, because, by our laws, we can hang a thief." But is it, then, a hopeless problem in legislation, to discover some mode of checking the abuse of the right, while it is allowed to be exercised within due bounds. As to the above comparison, it is