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demands, that the negociation was frustrated, and the diamond returned. "Shafrass was now in great perplexity. He had involved himself in expences, was obliged to pay interest for considerable sums he had borrowed, and there was no prospect of selling the jewel to advantage. His negociators left him in that perplexity, in order to profit by his mismanagement. To elude his ereditors, he was obliged to abscond to Astrakhan. At length the negociation with Russia was recommenced by Count Grigory Grigorievitsh Orlof, who was afterwards created a prince of the empire; and the diamond was purchased for 450,000 rubles, ready money, together with the grant of Russian nobility. Of that sum, it is said, 120,000 rubles fell to the share of the negociators, for commission, interest, and similar expences. Shafrass set:led at Astrakhan, and his riches, which by inheritance de volved to his daughters, have, by the extravagance of his sons-in-law, been in a great measure dissipated.".

With all due respect to the imperial purchasers, we cannot quite approve of their conduct in this transaction. If Colonel Blood had succeeded in carry. ing off our crown jeweis, no European Sovereign would have purchased them. The thief is bad, but we have a proverb which, perhaps, may not exist in the Sclavonic language, to say who is worse. Professor Pallas must be mistaken in supposing that the English government was among the bidders; there is no folly of this kind among the ways and means of expending the public money here.

In August the Professor proceeded to Mount Caucasus, a wearying and uninteresting route; at least we have found it so in following him through pages that relate only to plants and soils. The Tartar monuments, indeed, furnish interesting prints, but even such infermation as satisfies antiquarians is not to be obtained concerning them. Some times some descriptions cf a singular nature occur; such is the following account of a mineral spring, of which the bason is twenty-seven feet long and

seventeen broad.

"The principal gulph is not exactly in the middle of the basin; its limpid mineral water issues with violent emotion, continually ejecting large bubbles, together with a ferruginous brown and sleek sand, like fine gunpowder; it is four or five arshines wide, and on sounding it with the plummet, we ascertained its depth to be upwards of nine feet. But on examining it with the pikes of the Kozaks, we found it was upwards of five

arshines deep, and that at the bottom it cortained rocky cliffs, apparently proceeding in an oblique direction. The boiling spring, by the brown colour of its sand, and the large bubbles of water it throws up, perfectly resembles coffee in a state of ebullition. The violence with which the water forces the sand to the surface, is more or less considerable at different times; and frequently, on in metsing a glass immediately below the surface of the water, it was taken out more than half full of this brown sand, which, however, is instantly precipitated, and the effervescent water appears as clear as crystal: the sand likewise, by its own weight, falls to the bottom in the spring itself, so that it is not carried into the channel of the basin. It may be easily conceived, what a mass of water must proceed from a spring, which is powerful enough to cause bubbles of such magnitude as to support even the human body when floating in the bath, instead of allowing it to sink by its own weight. Its junction with the two other, though more considerable, rivulets is attended with so remarkable an effect, that notwithstanding the great loss of carbonic acid in its course, and subsequent mixture with the water of those rivulets, the barbel and trout, which are very exist here. If such fish are taken and numerous in their superior tracts, cannot plunged into the spring, they immediately float motionless on its surface, and recover but slowly when replaced in the water of the

rivulets.

"After having ascended a rocky path, we arrived at a dreadful abyss on the steep side of the mountain, at the foot of which the village is situated. This gulph has been ap parently formed by the fall of a cylindrical mass of calcareous rock, no less than twenty fathoms thick: it cannot be approached with out danger, on account of the giddiness it produces in the beholder. After repeated trials to ascertain its depth, by means of a plumb, I found that it was from seventeen and a half to eighteen fathoms deep; and the stones which we threw into it were neatly three seconds in falling. The water at the feet deep, and the weights plunged into it bottom appeared to be little more than two were perceptibly warm when withdrawn; it is likewise of a sulphureous nature, as is ma nifest from the strong smell of the hepar sulphuris emitted from the abyss. Notwith standing this suffocative exhalation, wood, pigeons, which are started by throwing in stones, build their nests and pass the winter in this constantly warm retreat, The great r number of these birds were out, in search of food: when we departed, a large flight of them appeared, and after having flown several times round this subterraneous abode, they plunged suddenly into the gulph. On ap proaching its brink, and laying ourselves down on our breasts, we could see the water at the bottom, and two very large caverns,

one of which we observed towards the hol-
low middle of the great mountain, and the
other in a direction towards the front of the
hill. Between the stony strata are many clefts,
in which pigeons build their nests."

This picture reminded us of the cave of Montesinos, except, indeed, that the birds who sallied out upon Don Quixotte were of a darker plumage.

The account of the nations inhabiting the Caucasus, forms a more important part of the volume. The system of the Circassians is feudal; there is no need to invent historical hypotheses to account for the general diffusion of this system, it is the necessary system of a semi-barbarous people. A more extraordinary feature is the apparent want of all natural affection in the higher classes; they live almost separate from their wives, and suffer their children to be educated by strangers. The parents have no desire to see their son, till he is capable of bearing arms, and no notice is taken of the girls till after marriage. The princes (a more accurate idea of their rank would be formed by using the Circassian title pshi; which is equivalent to bey), and the nobles, or knights, or usdens, pursue no other business or amusement, than war, pillage, and the chase; they live a lordly life, wander about, meet at drinking parties, and undertake military excursions. Tavernier gives a more inactive character of what he calls the Circassian gentlemen: he says they sit still, say little, and do nothing.

"The two opposite customary laws, namely, those of hospitality and revenge, are sacredly observed among the Circassian knights, as well as among most other nations of the Caucasus. The right of hospitality, which they term kunak, is established on certain principles; and every person submitting to its protection is perfectly secure from all injuries. He who befriends a stranger defends him, if occasion require it, not only with his own blood and life, but also with that of his relatives; nor does he suffer him to depart without an equestrian escort, and delivers him over to his next confederates, under such conditions that a murder or injury committed on the guest, is avenged with equal severity as the death of a relation by consanguinity. A stranger who intrusts himself to the patronage of a woman, or is able to touch with his mouth the breast of a wife, is spared and protected as a relation of the blood, though he were the enemy, nay

even the murderer of a similar relative.

"The opposite conduct, or bloody revenge, is practised with the most scrupulous

adherence to custom. The murder of a family relation must be avenged by the next heir, though he should be an infant at the time when the deed was committed. Every degree of vindictive malice is exercised sooner or later, whether publicly or in a clandestine derer, lest the injured party should be conmanner, to take away the life of the mursidered as an outcast of society. Nay, the cessors and the whole tribe; it remains as it desire of revenge is hereditary in the sucwere rooted with so much rancour, that the hostile princes or nobles of two different tribes, when they meet each other on the compelled to fight for their lives; unless they road, or accidentally in another place, are have given previous notice to each other, and bound themselves to pursue a different route. Among the Circassians the spirit of resentmurderer are considered as guilty. This cusment is so great, that all the relations of the tomary infatuation to avenge the blood of relatives, generates most of the feuds, and ocof the Caucasus; for unless pardon be purcasions great bloodshed chased, or obtained by intermarriage between among all the nations the two families, the principle of revenge is propagated to all succeeding generations. The hatred which the mountainous nations evince against the Russians, in a great measure arises from the same source: if the thirst of vengeance is quenched by a price paid to the fathlil-uasa, or the price of blood; but neither mily of the deceased, this tribute is called princes nor usdens accept of such a compensation, as it is an established law among them to demand blood for blood."

bears no affinity to any other language, "It is probable that the Circassian and that it has originally been a species of gibberish; for it is reported that their princes and usdens speak a peculiar dialect, which is kept secret from the their predatory expeditions." This supcommon people, and used chiefly in position is so very extraordinary, that we should almost suspect an inaccuracy in the translation, a species of gibberish ! The Professor himself tells us, that the chiefs are a race of conquerors, and the vassals a conquered people; and surely this solution is sufficient. circumstance has been observed in some of the South Sea islands. speak a language which is unintelligible The chiefs by the people.

The same

mentioned by Xenophon, is produced. In the country the intoxicating honey It is collected from the blossoms of the said to be nearly as hard as sugar. rhododendron and the azalea pontica. It is be of a milder character than might their religion little is said. It seems to

Of

have been expected from their man

pers.

"In some part of their territory is a remarkable cave, consecrated to Saint Nicholas, who, as tradition says, appears here in the form of an eagle. The sacrifices made to this tutelary saint, consist of the flesh of animals, which is placed in the cave, and is, no doubt, a sufficient inducement for the eagles to visit this place. The Dugores possess a temple devoted to their sacrifices, which are made on important occasions, when they kill their cattle, consume the fish, but carefully deposit the bones in the temple. Among the Tsherkessates we also found sacred groves, in which every family has its appropriate place for erecting huts, under the shades of trees or bushes. These people celebrate an annual feast, which is continued for eight days, and bears great resemblance to the Jewish passover. During this religious festival every passenger is stopped, and obliged to join them in the celebration of the feast, when all the families strive to emulate each other in evincing their hospitality."

The Professor left Georgiefsk in Sep. tember, designing to reach the Taurida before the winter set in. His remarks upon the journey are, as usual, scientific, but not generally interesting. The following extract is curious.

"From the last regular post-house, on the banks of the Podpolnaya, we were obliged to travel seven versts entirely over a low country to the river Don, which we crossed by a bridge made of floating beams joined together by chains, and which conducted us to the city of Tsherkask. The prevailing tempest from the sea agitated and bent the floating bridge on this broad river in a dreadful manner: this, together with the noise of loaded waggons drawn by oxen, forming as it were a continued chain, was so impressive about twilight, that we appre hended every moment the destruction of the bridge: such a misfortune indeed sometimes happens in consequence of violent storms; especially as the bridge is scarcely broad enough to allow two carriages to pass each other; and as it is not provided with railings to prevent the accidents of falling into the tiver. Thus we arrived in the evening at the capital of the Kozaks of the Don; a city which during the last twenty years has been considerably enlarged and ornamented

with many beautiful private houses, inhabited by Kozak officers who have been invested with honours and titles. But the narrow and obscure streets of this city, the confined situation of its buildings, most of which have not even the convenience of a yard, and the annual inundations in spring. all conspire to render it extremely unwholesome, and for ever to prevent any effectual improvements. I likewise cannot speak favourably of the moral character of its inhabitants, whether male or female. A continual habit of good living, indolence, and debauchery, the natural consequences of the superfluity, which the excellent possessions of this free militia afford, have thoroughly corrupted their manners, and their ancient simplicity has been almost entirely superseded by luxury. Here, as in other countries, the capital is the seat of corruption, which gradually infects the mass of the people. The distinctions and privileges which have in later times been too liberally granted to the higher ranks, have rendered these, as well as the people, proud and insolent. The former, who have established villages on the beautiful tracts of land granted to them on the eastern bank of the Don, deavour to oppress the poorer class of inand encouraged vagrants to settle there, enhabitants, by imposing upon them all the burthens of military duty; though they spare the more wealthy, whose common interest it is to deprive the latter frequently even of the payments due for their services. The discontent resulting from this conduct, is construed, by their superiors, into want of obedience and mutiny, so that it is productive of additional oppression. Thus a people naturally well disposed, and who have hitherto been very useful to Russia in furnishing the empire with light troops, are continually more injured in their free constitution, and daily shew greater aversion to military service, while their affluent governors live in the most voluptuous indolence and immorality."

In no one instance do the Russians appear to have ameliorated the condition of their conquered subjects.

From Tsherkask the Professor proceeded through Taganrof, a town of considerable trade, to the Taurida. Here the first volume ends.

The appearance of the work is very splendid, and no expence in engraving has been spared.

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ART. XII. The most remarkable Year in the Life of Augustus Von Kotzebue, containing an Account of his Exile into Siberia, and of the other extraordinary Events which happened to him in Russia, written by himself. Translated from the German by the Rev. BEN. BERESFORD English Lecturer to the Queen of Prussia. 3 vols. 12mo.

THESE volumes contain an entertaining and interesting account of the author's visit to Siberia. The motives of tourists are various, some journey for health and some for pleasure, but a tour to Siberia would scarcely have been undertaken without a motive as strong as that supplied by the late emperor Paul to the unfortunate Kotzebue. The reason of his arrest, if, indeed under such a sovereign any other reason than caprice was to be sought for, he professes himself entirely ignorant of; and if we may credit the account here given, it was a most wanton and arbitrary exertion of power. It was in the year 1800, on the 10th of April, that Kotzebue, his wife, and three children, set out from Weimar, furnished with a passport from the emperor, to visit their relations and friends in Russia; he had some misgivings as he proceeded, though his fears did not extend further than the possibility of not being suffered to return from Petersburg. His feelings as he crossed the barrier, and his subsequent arrest, are described in an impressive manner, and cannot be read without a shudder, by an inhabitant of a free country.

"We came in sight of the frontiers; we passed the line, and were now on the territory of Russia. We could, however, have returned. No soldier stopped us; no river, no bridge, not the slightest barrier separated us from the Prussian dominions. Silent, and with a heavy heart, I cast my eyes to the left: all the admonitions I had received, now assailed me; I could scarcely breathe.

"My wife too had her alarms, which she has since owned. She looked at me without saying a word. Still we had time to retreat, but the wheel of fortune was turned, and we were about to undergo our destiny.

"Halt!" cried a Cossack, armed with a long pike. We were at the foot of a bridge that led over a small brook; the guard house lay on our left; the officer made his appearance. Your passport, Sir. Here it is.' -The officer opened it, and examined the signature. What name is this?-Krudener. You are come from Berlin ?—Yes. -Very well, pray go on, Sir.' He made a sign, the barrier opened, the carriage rolled with a heavy sound over the bridge, the barrier shut behind us, and I heaved a deep

sigh.

Here we are,' said I to my wife, affecting to be gay. Heaven knows, how ever, that all my uneasiness was confined to the single point of my return; far was I from thinking that my personal safety was at all in danger.

"We arrived in a few minutes at Polangen, a small town where the custom house is established. At the head of this department was Mr. Sellin, a polite and humane man, formerly lieutenant-colonel of a regiment quartered at Narva. He had resided at no great distance from my wife's patrimonial estate. When I last left Russia, we had emwere happy to find we were on the point of braced on this same spot, and my wife and I meeting him here again.

"I alighted from my carriage, and Sellin appeared on the flight of steps before his door. I approached and embraced him, but he returned my salute with an air of gravity. I asked him if he did not recollect me; he made no reply, and strove afterwards to appear cordial.

barrassment of Sellin inade her shudder. He "My wife alighted, and the evident emreceived her, however, with politeness, and handed her into the house. Weyrauch, the comedian, who had accompanted us from Memel, was likewise admitted without difficulty.

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My wife now assumed the easy gaiety of behaviour which takes place between old acquaintances; Sellin answered in an aukward manner, and at length, turning towards me, said, Where is your passport?' In the hand of the Cossack officer.' He was silent, and the concern he feit was visible in his countenance. The passport soon appeared; Sellin perused it, and then asked if I was the President de Kotzebue. The question on his part was singular. Doubtless, (I replied) I am that person.' 'In that case,' continued he (but he instantly stopped short, and I observed that his countenance was pale, and his lips quivering), then addressing himself to my wife; be not alarmed, madam,' said he; but I have orders to arrest your husband.' The unhappy woman gave a loud shriek, her knees tottered, she flew to me, threw herself about my neck, and began to load herself with the bitterest reproaches."

After his papers had been seized, and his baggage examined, he was told he was to go to Petersburg, to appear be. fore the emperor, but at Mittau he was obliged to leave his wife and children, and proceed, under the guard of an aulic counsellor and a courier, in a car

sage which he was allowed to purchase for the occasion. The first post from Riga the route was changed, and he learnt, with horror, that he was going to Tobolsk. On the 7th of May they passed Moscow. They had several rivers to ferry over, swelled by the melting of the snows, and soon after underwent a danger of a different kind from fire.

"One night we saw a large forest in flames. At a distance the spectacle produced a grand effect, but when I found we were to pass through it, this new kind of danger made me shudder, Some burning pines, which had fallen one against the other, actually formed an arch of fire in the very middle of the road, while others threatened to fall upon our heads. We frequently observed trees burnt eight or ten feet at bottom, supported by the mere thickness of their bark, their tops and branches as yet untouched by the flames. We came at length to a fir tree on fire from top to bottom, which was overturned across the road.

At

first we hesitated what to do, as it was equally dangerous to proceed of to turn back. It was at length determined to proceed; the postillion whipped the horses, and drove them over the lowest part of the tree, This agreeable passage was at least a thousand paces in length."

On the 17th of May they left Cäsan, the weather was then agreeably warm, but quantities of snow were still in the woods; the road was wide, but frequently intersected with swamps, and being repaired with faggots, jolted severely the poor traveller. They met several companies of robbers, chained in couples, who were marching on foot to the mines of Nertschink, and who asked charity. We cannot here agree to the assertion of Kotzebue, that undoubtedly be was more unhappy than those wretches. He seems, indeed, disposed to make the most of his sufferings, and indulges a spleen pardonable, perhaps, in his situation, against the aulic counsellor who had him in charge, and who really does not appear to have treated him with more severity than was necessary to fulfil the mandate of his master, particularly when it is considered, that Kotzebue gave him some trouble by an attempt to escape; but, indeed, we observe throughout something of a parade of sentiment, and a studious attention to produce dramatic effect, which mark the professed author rather than the simple narrator. From Perm to Tobolsk the country improved; instead of

gloomy pines, fine woods of young birch, fertile fields in a high state of cultivation, opulent villages Russian or Tartar, and peasants with contented countenances, scarcely, allowed them to believe they had entered Siberia. The peasants spoke with great affection of the late empress, whom they called matuscha, little mother. At one of the object in an old man who had been villages they met with an affecting thirty-five years an exile, and was become insane; he was continually inquiring after letters from Revel, his former home, and they could only pacify him by pretending to read one from his wife. They arrived at Tobolsk on the 10th of May: here he was consigned over to the governor, a worthy man, who treated him with great kindness. Tobolsk is on the banks of the Irtish, and its numerous steeples make a handsome appearance.

"Towards the evening I commonly took a turn in the town, or to the great square. The city is large; most of the streets are broad and straight: and the houses chiefly constructed of wood; those built of stone are commodious and in the modern taste. The churches, which are very numerous, are all heavily designed. The streets are paved, or rather planked with thick timber, which is far cleaner, and much more agreeable than pebbles. The town is traversed length-ways by navigable canals, over which market-place (the basar) is very spacious, are bridges, kept in good repair. The where, besides provisions and things of the first necessity, a great quantity of Chinese and European goods are exposed to sale. These articles are extremely dear, but the price of all kinds of provisions is very moderate. This square is crowded incessantly with people of all nations, particularly mucks. The fish market afforded a very Russians and Tartars, Kirgises and Calnovel spectacle to me. Great quantities of different kinds of fish, which I had hitherto known merely by description, were exposed, both dead and alive, in tubs and barges, for sale. Esterlets (acipenser ruthenus) sold for a mere trifle. The buse, or royal fish, (acipenser buso) the silure, (ilurus glaris) &c. with caviar of every colour, were equally reasonable."

Toholsk has also a play-house; and the exiled author had the pleasure of seeing some of his own pieces represented in this distant region. The governor's house has a garden, of which one trait will be sufficiently descriptive: it had a fine show of fruit trees painted upon the

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