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the study of it: and that it is not more frequently spoken is owing chiefly to the difficulty of its pronunciation, which costs the Russians particularly great labour to acquire, It is rare to meet with a Petersburger of any tolerable cultivation who is not acquainted, more or less, with these three languages: the English is considered rather as an elegant accomplishment, and is learnt by particular persons as

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"The general custom of speaking French enables the people of that republic easily to dispense with learning the language of the country; but it is absolutely necessary to the Germans, unless they speak French with some degree of fluency. Some of these attain to such proficiency in the latter tongue, that they might be thought to have passed a considerable portion of their lives in France; others, and indeed by far the major part, apply themselves to the study of the national language with all the patience and perseverance peculiar to the Germans, and at length master it to such a degree as to excite the admiration even of the natives. It were to be wished that this laudable exertion did not lead to that affectation, sometimes manifest in German families, of generally and without occasion mingling scraps of Russ in their discourse. One part of this censure indeed loses its force, as it is frequently impossible to express

particular Russian denominations with the same accuracy in a foreign language, without being misunderstood or falling into a ridiculous pedantry. Instances of such cases may be observed in abundance, and even in this book. Who, for instance, would ever think of putting into English or German the terms: isvoschtschick, podriadschik, droshka, artel, &c.? A number of domestic directions that must daily be given, and names of things that come in ordinary use, are likewise not to be translated: yet it cannot be denied that the German language* by this means acquires in the mouths of our ladies and gentlemen a very motley appearance. We every moment hear the phrases: Is the lejanka† heated? The kalitka is open. The plotnik § is come. pogrebschik || been paid?' with numberless others, which must be tolerated, as they cannot be translated in ordinary discourse without affectation. Though this there. fore be unavoidable, yet it is not to be pardoned, when, without any necessity, Russian words are em ployed which may very aptly be supplied by German terms in general use. But we almost every. where hear, tschulan instead of store-room, krischka instead of cover, lutzkoi instead of the people's room, agarodnik instead of the greens-seller, liteina instead of the foundery; or even Do you choose your coffee with or with

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"The same may be said of the English likewise."

"A stove, with a bench on which the Russians usually sleep." "A small door for foot passengers cut in the carriage-gate."

"Carpenter. But, as the German and the Russian carpenter carry on their business in a very different method, it is necessary to retain this denomination for the latter."

"Wine-cellar-fellow sounds pedantic in German, and is no where adopted in the language of conversation.”

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Wout slifki [cream]? Here is a pribore wanting;' i. e. a cover for the table. 'He made his poklone [bow or salutation],' and a thousand other expressions of like nature. That the Germans and English born here should have interwoven a number of Ruthenisms in their speech is however naturally to be expected. German provincialisms are seldom heard, and the accent is rendered peculiarly soft and harmonious by the melting together of so many dialects.

*

"This seems no improper place for mentioning an amiable national custom which has ever been adopted among the Germans and English, and has much contributed to render the style of conversation easy and familiar by reducing nearer to a level, at least in appearance, persons of distant ranks and ages. The Russians very rarely call one another by their family names, or, in addressing any one, to give him the predicate of his quality; the baptismal name being generally used with the addition of that of the father. When, for instance, the person addressed is called Feodor, Theodore, and his father Ivan, then the former is termed Feodor Ivanovitch, Theodore Johnson. A lady named Maria, and her father Ivan, is called Maria Ivanovna, &c. The only exceptions to this rule are among persons totally unacquainted with each other or people of high distinction; in all other cases it holds good even in the politest circles. This custom has likewise crept into very many

German and English families; at least it has been adopted by them to facilitate the manner of address to the common Russians who are

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not accustomed to foreign family names. Such as have Christian names not known to the Russians change it for one something similar in sound, for instance, Henry for Andrey, Edward for Dmitri, William for Vassilly or Basil; or sometimes retain it, as in the pellatives Karl, Christoph, &c. There are some other national customs of a like nature that introduce a certain familiarity into society; but they are lost in proportion as foreign manners and customs glide into use. Thus, for example, it was formerly usual, among all orders of people, and is still among the lower, to kiss the cheek on coming into company and at leaving it, or on meeting an acquaintance in the streets. This usage, which in the higher classes only subsists among the ladies, or is continued by the gentlemen to them by way of homage to the fair sex, is now gradually giving way to the mode of greeting generally used throughout Europe. Russian and even many foreign ladies have no other method of salutation than that of the gentlemen, that is, by merely bowing the head, without bending the knee.

"A people so social and fond of amusement as those of this city are not apt to let slip any opportunity for feasting and junketing. Namedays and birth-days are particularly solemnized in Russian families with grand entertainments or balls, at which the friends and acquain

"The Russians commonly have no more than one baptismal name. Women are not called after the mother, but after the father. In the pronunciation the third or fourth syllable is dropped. Though we write Ivan Vassilievitch, it is pronounced Ivane Vassilitch; Kuprian Prokopovitch, pron. Kuptiane Prokopitch; Leof Alexandrovitch, Leof Alexandritch,"

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tance customarily assemble without formal invitation. The birth of a child, the appointment to an office, the purchase of a house, in short every fortunate occurrence furnishes an occasion for a domestic festivity. At these times like wise the same ease and freedom prevail that so agreeably heighten the character of the general manners of the people of this place. No custom is of such universal obligation as not to admit of an exception without impropriety; no where are fewer formalities, and no where is the neglect of them attended with fewer expostulations and remarks. Weddings, christenings and funerals are conducted in various ways; there being no rule of etiquette prescrib. ing the pomp, nor any form to regulate the ceremonies.

"Fromthese strokes lightly thrown together some judgment may be formed concerning the agreeable sojourn this city affords. In fact, of all the capitals in Europe that I have visited I know of none where in such a variety of enjoyments are to be had at so cheap a rate as here. The uncommon hospitality, the good-humoured behaviour, the passion for society, the freedom from all formality and constraint, are every where seen in particular instances, but no where in so great a degree together. Neither is Petersburg devoid of attractions for the lover of intellectual gratifi cations. In the higher ranks it is common enough to meet with persons of extensive cultivation in mind and heart, who to sound learning and shining talents unite a mature judgment and a profound knowledge of mankind. People of this sort, if they are not found in such numbers as in some other cities of the first magnitude, keep

so much the closer together, and by the sentiment of their wants are excited to mutual toleration and indulgence. The works of taste and science with which the resi dence is stocked and adorned present to the curious in beauty and art as ample nourishment as to the diligent explorer of science.—With a moderate share of content a man may gain sufficient amusement in our point of station; and instances are by no means wanting of people of unbounded pretensions and of an appetite for enjoyment not easily satisfied, after repeatedly changing their place of abode, have amused themselves no where better than here.

"After what has been said the reader is curious to know what are the accomplishments that a person must bring into company for enabling him to claim his share in the stock of social enjoyments. Exclusively of the general requisites in a man of cultivated knowledge, which are every where pre-supposed nearly by the same stan dard, each country has still a particular demand on him who devotes himself to company and expects to be well received in it. In France to this purpose he must make himself agreeable; in England the grand requisite is wealth; in Holland a letter of recommendation to some great mercantile house; and in Germany a celebrated name or a patent of nobility. In Russia, money and rank are the key to good company. Without these conditions, though having all the rest, a man finds himself dismissed into that populous and obscure sojourn which in all large cities is so widely cut off from all communication with the brilliant circles of fashion.

"Money therefore is the prime requisite

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requisite in the man of breeding. Not that fund of property which in England makes the man of consequence, but a competence for supporting a decent expense in dress and equipage, and playing for the usual stakes at the clubs and in genteel companies. Riches on their own account are here no recommendation; no one gives himself the least concern about the sources of income: if a certain ease is discoverable in his deportment, and he betrays no marks of poverty that offend the common rules of decorum, it is all that is required: and it must be reasonably allowed that the Petersburgers show no undue severity in requiring thus much. Play is after all their grand resource; and who can blame them for submitting the particular humour of individuals to the predominant inclination of all? In cities and countries where play is not so universal, even these conditions are not known; but then others are adopted in their stead.It is not less pardonable that a decent and neat attire should be made the sine qua non of admission into good company. In truth, great moderation is shown in exacting this requisite. The value

and cut of the cloaths are more indifferent matters than would perhaps be thought; as to what concerns the point of decorum, that must be every where observed. In France it is held pardonable in great geniuses, witty persons, and singular characters, if they violate the rules of propriety in their dress; with us, neither the first nor the last being very current commodities, it is not necessary to make exceptions on their account. Cleanliness and neatness being in no country, except in England, so general as here, a slovenly dress there attracts less notice. An equipage, in short, is not so much an article of convention as a necessary accommodation arising from local circumstances; since the want of it will be sensibly felt by every one who is fond of good company and would not be deprived of the satisfactions to be found in the politer circles. To appear in these after walking through the streets at certain seasons of the year is utterly impossible. In all parts of the world to go on foot is by no means held a very shining condition, but no where is it thought worse of than here."

CLASSICAL

CLASSICAL AND POLITE CRITICISM.

CRITICISM ON FROISSART'S HISTORY.

[From JoHNES'S MEMOIRS of FROISSART, translated from the French.]

"FRO

ROISSART is accused of partiality; and this accusation is become so general, that it seems to have acquired the character of notoriety; whose prilege is is to supersede proofs. Froissart is said to have sold his pen to the English, who paid him a considerable pension; and, by a necessary consequence of his affection for them, he is unfavourable to the French,

"Bodin, Pasquier, Brantôme, Sorel, la Popeliniere, le Laboureur, decide against him in the most positive terms. It seems even that his readers, prejudiced by the connexions which Froissart had with the English, may have some reason to distrust every thing he relates to their advantage. In truth, he begins by saying, that he had written his history at the solicitations of Robert de Namur, a near relation of the queen Philippa, and a vassal of the crown of England, which he usefully served against France. In another part he informs us, that he was of the household of Edward III. the most cruel enemy of the French; and that his queen, to whom he

was secretary, had not only, by her liberalities, enabled him to travel into various parts in order to enrich his history, but that she had generously paid him for his labours in it.

"In short, the first twenty-six chapters of his Chronicle solely concern the history of England, which has been the reason why it has been called the Chronicle of England' in several manuscripts. From thence it has been concluded, that Froissart, from his intimate attachment to the court of England, must be a violent partisan of that nation, and the enemy of its enemies. Nothing more was wanted for the most innocent accounts, if given by any other historian, appearing as poisonous if issued from his pen: but, in order to judge if this suspicion has any foundation, I will run over the period of which he has transmitted to us the history, in examining successively the different situations he was in when he wrote the various parts of it.

"Froissart cannot be suspected of partiality during the first years of the reign of Edward III. This

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