62SAVING OF A STEAM BOAT.
stadt, started for Peterhoff. Although large and strong, it was in danger of foundering like the smaller vessels, and would have done so had it not been for a foreigner who was among the passengers. This man (who was an Englishman) seeing several vessels capsized around them, knowing the danger they were in, and observing further that the boat was badly-served and badly commanded, conceived the happy idea of cutting with his own knife the cords which held the awning raised upon deck for the comfort and convenience of the passengers. The first thing that ought to have been done, -upon the least sign of a squall, was to remove this pavilion. The Russians never dreamt of so simple a precaution, and had it not been for the foreigner's presence of mind the boat would have infallibly capsized. It was saved, though too much damaged to continue its voyage, and its crew only too happy in being able to return to Petersburg. If the Englishman who saved it had not been an acquaintance of another Englishman, who is one of my friends, I should not have known the fact. It was confirmed to me by other informed persons, to whom I mentioned it; but they requested that I would keep it secret!
It would not do to talk about the Deluge, if that catastrophe had happened under the reign of a Russian emperor.
Among all the intelligent faculties, the only one that is here valued is that of tact. Imagine a whole nation bending under the yoke of this drawing-room virtue. Picture to your minds an entire people, prudent as a diplomatist who has yet his fortune to make, and you will compass the idea of the substance
THE RUSSIAN POLICE.
63
and worth of conversation in Russia. If the atmosphere of the court oppresses us even when at the court, how unfriendly to life must it not be when it pursues us into the very retirement of the family circle!
Russia is a nation of mutes. Some potent magician has transformed sixty millions of men into automata who must await the wand of another enchanter before they can again enjoy life. Or it reminds me of the palace of Sleeping Beauty in the wood—it is bright and magnificent, but it lacks one thing, which is life, or, in other words, liberty.
The Emperor must suffer from such a state of things. Whoever is born to command, no doubt loves obedience; but the obedience of a man is worth more than that of a machine. A prince surrounded by complaisant flatterers must always remain in ignorance of every thing which it is wished he should not know ; he is, therefore, necessarily condemned to doubt every word and to distrust every individual. Such is the lot of an absolute master. In vain would he be amiable, in vain would he live as a man ; the force of circumstances makes him unfeeling in spite of himself; he occupies the place of a despot, and is obliged to submit to a despot's destiny — to adopt his sentiments, or, at least, to play his part.
The evils of dissimulation extend here further than may be imagined: the Russian police, so alert to torment people, is slow to aid or enlighten them when they have recourse to its aid in doubtful situations.
The following is an example of this designed inertia. At the last carnival, a lady of my acquaintance had permitted her waiting-woman to go out on
64MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF
the Sunday. Night came, and this person did not return. On the following morning the lady, very uneasy, sent to obtain information from the police.*
They replied that no aecident had occurred in Petersburg on the preceding night, and that no doubt the
The day passed in deceitful security. On the day following a relation of the girl's, a young man tolerably versed in the secrets of the police, coneeived the idea of going to the Hall of Surgery, to which one of his friends procured him an admission. Scarcely had he entered when he recognised the corpse of his cousin, which the pupils were just about to commence dissecting. Being a good Russian, he preserved self-command sufficient to conceal his emotion, and asked — ' Whose body is this ?'
found dead the night before last, instreet; it
is believed that she has been strangled in attempting to defend herself against men who endeavoured to violate her.'
' Who are the men?'
' How did you obtain the body ?'
' The police sold it to us secretly; so we will not talk about it.'
This last is a common expression in the mouth of a Russ, or an acclimated foreigner. I admit that
* I have been obliged to conceal names, and to change such circumstances as might allow of this account being traced to individuals ; but the facts are essentially preserved.
A FEMME-DE-CHAMBRE.
the above circumstances arc not so revolting as those of the crime of Burke in England; but the peculiar characteristic of Russia is the protective silence in which similar atrocities are shrouded.
The cousin was dead. The mistress of the victim dared not complain; and now, after a lapse of six months, I am, perhaps, the only person to whom she has related the death of her
It will by this be seen how the subaltern agents of the Russian police perform their duties. These faithless servants gained a double advantage by selling the body of the murdered woman: they obtained a few roubles, and they also concealed the murder, which would have brought upon them severe blame, if the noise of the event had got abroad.
Reprimands addressed to men of this class are, I believe, accompanied with other demonstrations, of a character likely to engrave the words indelibly in the memories of the unfortunate hearers. A Russian of the lower class is as often beaten as saluted. The lifting of the rods (in Russia the rod is a large split cane) and the lifting of the hat are means employed in about equal measure, in the social education of this people. Beating in Russia can only be applied to certain classes and by men of certain other classes. Here ill-treatment is regulated like the tariff of a custom-house ; it reminds us of the code of Ivan. The dignity of caste is admitted, but no one dreams of the dignity of man. The reader will recollect what I have already said of the politeness of the Russians of all ranks, and of its real value ; I will now confine myself to relating one or two of the illustrative scenes that pass daily before my eyes.
66POLITENESS AND BRUTALITY.
I have seen in the same street two drivers of drowskas ceremoniously lift their hats in passing each other: —this is a common custom: if acquainted, they lift their hand to their mouth with an amicable smile, and kiss it, making at the same time a little expressive and intelligent sign with the eyes: so much for politeness.
A little farther on I have seen a courier, a feld-jager, or some other government servant, descend from his vehicle, and, running to one of these well-bred coachmen, strike him brutally and unmercifully with whip, stick, or fist, in the breast, the face, or on the head, which punishment the unlucky wight, who had not made way in
