The prisons of Moscow and Kostroma were chiefly filled with such runaway slaves, who were, for the most part, in irons. On-the frontier, they often escape; but in the interior it is almost impossible: yet, during the summer, desertions are very common; and they sometimes lurk about for many months, living miserably in the woods. This particularly happens when there is a new levy of soldiers. The soldiers are levied, one from every certain number of peasants, at the same time all over the empire. But if a man be displeased with his slave, he may send him for a soldier at any time he pleases, and take a receipt from government; so that he send one man less the next levy. He also selects the recruits he sends to government; with this restriction, that they are young men, free from disease, have sound teeth, and are five feet two inches high.

"The Starosta, of whom mention has been so frequently made, is an officer resembling the ancient bailiff of an English village. He is chosen, we are told, (at least generally,) by the peasants; sometimes annually, and sometimes for life. He is answerable for the abrocks to the lord; decides small disputes among the

peasants; gives billets for quarters to soldiers, or to government officers, on a journey, &c. Sometimes the proprietor claims the right of appointing the Starosta.

"A slave can on no pretence be sold out of Russia, nor in Russia, to any but a person born noble, or, if not noble, having the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. This rank is not confined to the military; it may be obtained by them in civil situations. (Professor Pallas had the rank of Brigadier.) This law is, however, eluded: as roturiers (plebeians) frequently purchase slaves for hire, by making use of the name of some privileged person; and all nobles have the privilege of letting out their slaves.

"Such is the political situation of the peasant. With regard to his comforts, or means of supporting existence, I do not think they are deficient. Their house are in corerable repair, moderately roomy, and well adapted to the habits of the people. They have the air of being sufficiently fed, and their clothing is warm and substantial. Fuel, food, and the materials for building, are very cheap; but clothing is dear. In summer they generally wear Nantkin caftans, one of which costs thirteen roubles. Their

labkas (linden-bark sandals) cost nothing, except in great towns. They wear a blue Nantkin shirt, trimmed with red, which costs two or three roubles; linen drawers; and linen or hempen rags wrapped round their feet and legs, over which the richer sort draw their boots. The sheep-skin schaub costs eight roubles, but it lasts a long time; as does a lamb-skin cap, which costs three roubles. The common red cap costs about the same. For a common cloth caftan, such as the peasants sometimes wear, we were asked thirty roubles. To clothe a Russian peasant or a soldier is, I apprehend, three times as chargeable as in England. Their clothing, however, is strong, and, being made loose and wide, lasts longer. It is rare to see a Russian quite in rags. With regard to the idleness of the lower classes here, of which we had heard great complaints, it appears, that, where they have an interest in exertion, they by no means want industry, and have just the same wish for luxuries as other people. Great proprietors, who never raise their abrocks, such as Count Sheremetof, have very rich and prosperous peasants. The difference we noticed between peasants belonging to the Crown and

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those of the nobility has been already mentioned. The crown peasants, indeed, it is reasonable to suppose, are more happy; living at their ease, paying a moderate quit-rent, and choosing their own Starosta. They are, however, more exposed to vexation and oppression from the petty officers of the crown.

"This account of the condition of the peasants in Russia is an abrége of the different statements we procured in Moscow, and chiefly from Prince Theodore Nikolaiovitz Galitzin. The levies for the army are considered by the peasants as times of great terror. Baron Bode told me, they generally keep the levy as secret as possible, till they have fixed on and secured a proper number of men. They are generally chained till they are sworn in: the fore part of the head is then shaved, and they are thus easily distinguished from other peasants. After this, desertion is very rare, and very difficult. The distress of one of their popular dramas, which we saw acted at Yareslof, in the private theatre of the Governor Prince Galitzin, consisted in a young man being pressed for a soldier. In the short reign of Peter II. who, it is well known, transferred the seat of govern

ment again to Moscow, no man was pressed for a soldier; the army was recruited by volunteers; and slaves were permitted to enter."

Heber visited the country of the Cossacks of the Don; and his notes concerning their manners, which he rated far indeed above those of the Russians, afforded better information than had till then been accessible as to a people destined to act a distinguished part in the defence of the North against Buonaparte in 1812. Writing at Axay on the Don, he says

"There is here a very decent kabak, with a billiard-table, and a room adorned with many German engravings, and one English print, that of The Death of Chevalier Bayard. The Cossacks, having never heard of the Chevalier sans reproche, called it The Death of Darius. On my asking if Bourbon was Alexandro Macedonsky, they answered, to my surprise, that he was not present at the death of Darius, and showed themselves well skilled in his history, which one would hardly expect.

"Education among the Cossacks is not so low as is generally thought, and it improves daily. All the children of officers are sent to