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ILLIBERALITY OF GOVERNMENT.

not exactly correct with regard to Russia, for she does not merely bolt her door, but absolutely bricks it up; and it may, therefore, be doubted, whether the security thus obtained is not more than counterbalanced by the inconvenience.

The following are a few of the many facts that might be adduced in confirmation of the jealousy, illiberality, and that cowardly pusillanimity of the government. An editor of one of the newspapers having heard, that I had brought a volume of my travels in Palestine to present to the Emperor, urged me, as a matter of favour and interest, to permit him to copy from it a description of the city of Jerusalem. After he had retained the volume some time for this purpose, I inquired the reason why the extract had not appeared; on which he said, "Ah! monsieur, malheureusement il est defendu." On asking for a further explanation, he informed me that the censor of his paper had positively refused to admit it, because it might be considered as connected with the English Bible Society at St. Petersburg! Yet there was not one syllable relative to that subject; it being merely a description of the Holy City. From not meeting in any of the newspapers with accounts of crimes or breaches of the peace in this large metropolis, or, indeed, in any part of the Russian dominions, a stranger might be apt to conclude that the people were highly distinguished for

good order, morality, and tranquillity. The fact, however, is, that the utmost solicitude is exercised to keep all such information from the public: for although a murder should have been committed, attended with circumstances of the most atrocious nature, a profound silence is observed, and every one kept in total ignorance of it, as far as the journals are concerned.

On one occasion, a person happened to lose his watch in the street, when it having been found by another, the circumstance was adverted to in a newspaper, merely as an article of intelligence; but, incredible as it may seem, the police pounced upon the poor editor, for presuming to make such an insertion, and he was actually fined 1000 rubles! It is one grand object of this despotic government to keep the public in the dark, as well as to facts and occur rences, as to the state of political affairs in general. As a proof, too, of this most contemptible and ridiculous pusillanimity on the part of the government, the following anecdote, if it can be credited, is sufficient: an Italian, who keeps a small print-shop in the Nevsky Prospect, in order to attract attention, stuck up several prints at the window. One of these happened to be a Russian general in all his military trappings, and the second was an English bull-dog. Both were fastened with pins, that they might be replaced by others with more facility. It so happened that the mastiff was placed in the upper, and

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the warrior in the lower pane of glass, and that the former, by some accident, having given way, carried the latter with it; by which, of course, the general was laid flat by the animal, and in that state they remained for some time. This circumstance got to the ears of the police, whose high indignation it did not fail to excite, it being considered an unpardonable insult. They entered the shop, remonstrated with the Italian, accusing him of placing an English bull-dog upon a Russian general, to show he was in the act of worrying him; and, after terrifying the poor fellow, threatened to bring him to condign punishment. What follows is another precious specimen of the same system: a steam-boat, with a party of pleasure from Stockholm, made a trip to Abo, from which they were induced to extend their excursion to St. Petersburg. Accordingly, they cast anchor at Cronstadt, where the baggage and every thing on board having been examined by the proper officer, they were allowed to proceed. On arriving at the capital, they found a complete embargo laid on their luggage; not being allowed to use their wearing apparel, on which official seals were put, while at the same time they were prohibited from sleeping on shore. Here they were detained, not three, but six weeks, and obliged to go through the farce of advertising their names, and their intention to return. Various other acts, on the part of the police, might be pointed out, equally absurd and

ludicrous. The adage, "Fas est ab hoste docere," is one that ought rather to be cherished by a government that has really at heart the welfare of its subjects. National, like individual vanity, blinds us as to our failings and demerits: from whom, therefore, are we, it may be demanded, so likely to hear truths, bitter and unpalatable indeed, yet not the less salutary, as from those whose partiality has a contrary bias? If nations were as wise as unfortunately they are not, they would rather seek to profit by the opinions of their neighbours, instead of deeming themselves models of perfection. As to the policy of a government which is so sensitively alive to the least expression of public opinion, that it endeavours by every means to suppress it, little indeed can be said in its favour; for it not only indicates a perfect consciousness of its weakness and its errors, but the very means adopted to prevent any innovation must ultimately lead to it in its most dreadful form, that of popular convulsion. It is to the obstinacy and jealousy of the Romish church that we are indebted for the Reformation. To attempt to repress opinion, is to attempt to do that which no human power can possibly effect. Nay, in the most despotic governments, the sovereign is often the most abject slave of opinion and prejudice. The Grand Signior himself, who can order the head of his vizier to be cut off with as little ceremony as he can slice an

apple, dares not omit going in state to the mosque every Friday, and trembles even for his own head should the old women and rabble of Constantinople look coldly on him; and his Sublime Highness is doubtless perfectly aware, that the signal for discontent once given, there very little to afford him protection.

is

There is a library kept by Pluchard, which is much resorted to by Englishmen; and it is a curious fact, that it is not very many years ago, that is to say, about the end of the reign of Catherine, that book-stalls were first seen in the markets and fairs of the country towns. The number of periodical publications may be calculated at seventy. This may perhaps startle the reader, and dispose him to think that it affords in itself satisfactory proof of the freedom enjoyed in this country by the press; but, as formerly observed, this is by no means the case, for the government has complete control and superintendance over it. Authors as well as. booksellers are subject to punishment, and perhaps to a trip to Siberia, if they presume to insert any article which is not altogether palatable. In such journals, therefore, as may be presumed, the discussion of politics is most studiously avoided. It behoves travellers, likewise, to be very cautious in bringing English publications with them, since they are most narrowly examined, and more especially those which treat