On this page
-
Text (3)
-
October 7, 1854.] THE L E A D E R. 943
-
THE ENGLISH PRISONERS IN RUSSIA. * A n-A...
-
AUSTRALIA. Tun arrival of tho new govern...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
October 7, 1854.] The L E A D E R. 943
October 7 , 1854 . ] THE L E A D E R . 943
The English Prisoners In Russia. * A N-A...
THE ENGLISH PRISONERS IN RUSSIA . * A n-AiiM narrative of the events connected with the unfortunate capture of tbe Tiger at Odessa would undoubtedly be received with interest fi'orn the hands of © ne of the officers of the ship . Lieutenant Boyer was peculiarly fitted to give the best account of what befel the English prisoners , as he 'vras taken to St . Petersburg and placed in constant personal communication with tbe Emperor and the Court , not tvitfeout a . special object , as there is internal evidenc-e in Mr . Hover ' s book to show .
The Bistory of the capture of the Tiger and the adventures of tlie prisoners are related in a simple , straightforward style , ¦ with only the drawback of a most decided leaning towards everything Kussian , evidently derived from the peculiar influences brought to bear on tbe author- He received great civility on bis arrival at St . Petersburg , and was released on parole under the following conditions : —' 1 st . That I was at liberty to go anywhere I pleased about the city , but was always to be accompanied by an officer . 2 nd . That I was not to communicate with any English subjects , except the Rev . Dr .. 'Law , the Chaplain to the Embassy at St . Petersburg .
3 rd . I was allowed to have any "books or papers I chose to ask for , but all letters that I wrote or received were to pass through . 'the office of tie Coimnander-in-Chief . : To crown their liberality , the colonel produced a portfolio , with pen , ink , and paper , which he placed on the table , recommending me to make . notes of my residence in Russia . ^ The liberty to " take notes on Russia" was significant , but th . e meaning of the permission was raa . de manifest by an incident when Lieutenant Koyer ^ vas released .
I Teceaved a message from the Minister of War , expressing a desire to see me . I proceeded at once into his presence . He again congratulated me on my release , and added , that his Imperial Majesty had ordered him to present me with a sword , which he trusted would not be unwelcome from its being Muss-tan , as they had not an English one to give me in place of mine . He lioped it would serve as a memorial of the treatment I hud met with in Russia ; and concluded by observing , that he had no doribt I should speak well of them , and assure my countrymen that they were not such barbarians as the papers had represented them .
From the Emperor and the royal family Lieutenant Koyer received personal marks of attention , which , if intended to have given a tone to " his notes on Russia , " were not without effect . Here is his account of an interview with the Emperor , in which he is pa ' mted decidedly " beau : "— . The Emperor was standing in tho middle of the room , Crossed an tho plain dark-blue uniform of a (• reneral-m-Chief , ami wore a simple white enamelled cross at the button-liole on bis chest . Thirf , I believe , was the cross of the Order of St . Ceorjge , an honour conferred only -upon , m'tsohs who have rendered important services to
their country . I imagine that his Imperial Mnjesty has not yet assumed the decoration of tho highest class of the Order , which is worn by such men as l'askcwiteh , AVoronxoli " , etc ., and which was described to mo aa tlifl ' erent in isizo from that worn by the Kmpcvor . I expected to see a fine tall man , but was not prepared to find his Imperial Mnjesty so much superior to tho generality of men in height and apponrance . lie certainly did not -look inoro than fifty ; nor were there nny particular signs of care on liis countenance , at lonst not more tluiii one sees in every man of Inn age . I Us features wore fine nnd regular , his head bald in tho contro , and hirt oyo oxpresaivo of mildness , quite iu aucordnnce with his -words .
I was aware tliat his Majesty spolio both English and French , and hoped that ' 3 io would address mo in my native tongue . As I bowed and stepped forward , ho addressed ino as " Monsieur lo Lioutemvnt , " and inquired after my health , whether I had got rid of my fuvcr , and how and whoro I had caught it . Ho asked mo about tho loss of tho Tigor , and inquired why \ to had not zuuihorcd , being bo near tho land . I replied that tho fog wna vory thick , nnd that by our reckoning wo woro aomu rifotanco from Uind whoii tho vohhuI struck . Ho nulcud if I was married , made somo kind inquirioH xoflpoctintf tho family of my Into captain , and informed me that Mrs . Gimird Tvaa gone to Odoann . to join hcv husband , not having hoard of his death .
Ilia Imporial Majesty then said , that it had been hia intention to ( joint tho captain hin liberty ; but an that was now impossible , ho "would extend that grace to mo aa the next in command , and aakocl mo how 1 nliould like to go homo . X wna quito taken aback by this announcement , na * Personal Narrative of tha First Lieutenant of the , itycr . Wy Alfred Itoyor , R . N . Clmpman « nd Hull .
although I had been told at Odessa that I should have my liberty , still I did not anticipate that it would be granted so soon and 60 freely . I was therefore unprepared to answer the question as to my intended route , and said that I really had not thought of it ; upon which his Imperial Majesty burst into a fit of laughter , much amused at my surprise and embarrassment , and said , " Allez done , pensez-y ( Go and think about it ) , and let me Jsnow this evening , through the . Minister of " War , -what road you -would like to take . " He then bowed me out of the roam .. Even while at Odessa , Lieutenant Eoyer ' s impressions of Russians were favourable . It appears that
General Osten Sacken paid daily visits to the captain cind officers , and to the hospital . He was much gratified at seeing William Tanner ( who had been wounded , and who recovered ) occupied , whenever he visited him , in reading . his Bible ; and he expressed great approbation of his conduct , being himself of a religious turn of mind . Indeed , such , were his kindly feelings and religious tendency of thought , that he never visited the establishment without going to the graves of his enemies , where , absorbed in meditation , he might be seen crossing himself and offering up prayer to the Lord of Hosts . Mr . Hoyer visited the Opera-liouse at Odessa , and was
Accommodated in the governor ' s box , -where he had the " satisfaction" of looking at the ladies through the identical opera-glass that had been used by . his Excellency Osten Sackeh Tvben watching the progress of the attack on th . e luckless Tiger . At Ahesame tiihe some pictures of Russian life are given , which decidedly balanoe the shore laudatory portions of the book . As an instance of Russian indifference to the lives or comforts of common men , take this : —
When the English prisoners -were in quarantine , a piece of paper , on which we had written a list of the crew that were present , and -vyhich was no longer needed , was torn up and thrown to the winds . One of the Russian officers perceiving this , gave orders to a sergeant , who selected one of the soldiers , and causing him to give up his accoutrements , sent him amongst us to pick up all the little bits of paper , lest contagion should be communicated , either physically or politically . And thus this man had to perform quarantine the same number of days that we had , although , without any undue assumption of TvaTslmess , wo might have been ordered to pick up the pieces otirselves . A train : —
The Russians were much struck with the great care taken of the Englishmen by their superiors , when they saw the abundance of materials landed for their comfort ; and It consoled the men in their isolation , convincing them that they were not forgotten , or likely to be neglected , by their country . Notwithstanding all the Imperial kindness to Lieutenant lloyer , be Was not permitted to travel to the frontier unaccompanied by a police agent , who joined him at Warsaw . At the frontier station , he says ,
Tho police agent too 3 c up hia abode in a room which opened just opposite to ' mine . He paid xnc repeated visits , excusing himself , however , for depriving mo of his good company by saying ho had some -friends to supper , ami asked mo to join them . But I felt 1 could well dispense with his civilities , and wished him anywhere else . About eleven o'clock ho ciuno in again , and asked mo , with many expressions of politeness and excuses for disturbing me , if I would allow a bed to be put up for him in the corner of my room , as there was no othor place in the hotel ! Knowing wlio my man was , I of course fult thut it would bo uselesB to object ; so I put the best face I could on the matter , and he installod himself accordingly .
Australia. Tun Arrival Of Tho New Govern...
AUSTRALIA . Tun arrival of tho new governor of Victoria , ' Sir Charlqs Ilothum , on 21 st July , has caused some display a intoudttd to show that lie is popular . Mre . Chisholm has boon welcomed more quietly , but bUo scorns to have a large share of appreciation in the colony . Improvements arc going on rapidly . Tl » o harbour of Occloiifr is being made a port by tUo removal of a bur dividing tho outer from tho inner harbour , and a Chamber of Commerce lias boon established there . TJicro arc three railways in progress in tho colony of Victoria : —l . Tho Geoloug uuil Melbourne Itaihvay , tho completion of winch hns been promised in about eighteen months . 2 . Tho Melbourne , Mount Alexander , and Murray Itivur Railway , which lias been commenced at Williainstown , ami will bo < joinploted na far a » Melbourne ( nine miles ) in about one year . 3 . Tho Hobsou ' e Bay Knll-way , which wna to bo ready for opening on tho 1 st of August ) and the piur will then be so fur completed nu to unload vessels drawing ton feet of water . Among othor works of progress tho establishment
of electric communication deserves lobe noticed . A line has been in active operation between the capital and Williamstown , a distance of nine miles , for the last four months , and is being daily used by the shipping agents and merchants . The gold-diggings flourish , and " digging" is more than ever becoming a " settled pursuit . " As regards trade , there is a complaint of " too great importation ; " there is a " glut of merchandise" ia " Melbourne . The " social and political condition" of the colony is thus stated by the Melbourne Argus : — " In our social condition there is not much change to remark , but what change we have to report is significant of improvement . It is to be expected that the assimilation of society here to the character of tlxat at home will be gradual , even if such assimilation ever should tako place .
There is still , we are bound to confess , a great absence generally of domestic comfort in Melbourne . Only a small proportion of the population can know what it really is . The want of houses , and the consequent high rate of rental already referred to , render it necessary that the people should be crowded together in then * dwellings to the almost total exclusion of real comfort . In many cases people are crowded together so as to interfere even with decency . This cannot but exercise an injurious influence on the morality of the people . " Deeply , however , as we are tainted with the vice of drunkenness , there does not seem to be any reason to believe that the habit is on the increase . The imprudent and idle , who were always in difficulties at home , manage by the same courses to surround themselves with similar
embarrassments here . But on the other hand , the great majority of our mechanics and labourers are of a decidedly superior and really respectable class . They are hard working , stead y * economical men , and would do credit to any country . It is to be hoped that the ' -evils of bad dwellings , and streets will be much , if not entiroly abated .. Jl great ainount of labour is . being expended on the streets and roads ; and though these operation ? , ¦ while in progress , arc far from conducive to comfort , wo may hope that their results tviII be so . Our footpaths are at last exciting fome attention , and various experiments are in progress with a view to ascertain the best mode of forming-them . " The appointment of " Mr . Stonor" is thus spoken of by the same paper : —
" The colonists have just lieen scandalised with another instance of the old regime in the appointment of Mr . Stonor . to the Melbourne bench . Anybody waa deemed good enough , it would appear , for a colonial judgeship ; and so , because of some claim which the brother of this gentleman had upon the Colonial Minister —for hiss testimonials do not seem to have been opened -Mr . Stonor . is nominated to that important office That gentleman landed here about a month ago , ami found that his suspension had arrived before him . Evert had this not been the case , the fact that lie had been conyictcd of bribery by a select committee of the Ilouso of Commons would have aroused sullicient indignation here to have prevented him from taking his scat or linding barristers to plead in his court . " The labour-market is reported thus : — " MT £ I . < l } OlTU ? tK l-. A-llUUU-aiAUK . KT , JUI , Y 20 .
" The number of arrivals of agricultural labourers by late vessels has had some slight efil'ut on the wages ) of general unskilled hibour . Thi . s in nho the slack time of tho year for farmers . Skilled mechanics of all kinda find ready employment at the rates given below . l '' omalo servants are rather more plentiful , but really useful ones arc eagerly sought after . "With rations—Married couples , without family , 80 / . to DO / , per annum ; ditto , with family , 70 Z . to 80 / . ditto ; shepherds , 4 «>/ . to 52 / . ditto ; hulkecpers , 80 / . to 401 . ditto ; general useful Horvuntfl , 11 . 10 m . to 1 / . 1 . 5 s . per week ; bullock-driver .- ) on fnrniH , 8 / . to 3 / . 10 h . ditto ; ditto for tho roads , 3 / . 10 * . to Ah ditto ; Estoultkccjicrn , CO / , to 80 / . per annum ; yood farm lubourorri , 11 . 10 n . to 1 / . los . per week ; ploughmen , " if . to 2 / . lOfl . ditto ; gardeners , 80 / . to 100 / . jmr annum ; cooks , male , Ql . i . 0 a . to 'II . 10 s . licr week : winters ,
II . 10 s . to Til . lfia . ditto ; grooms , 00 / . to Ibl . per annum . Tho weekly rations consist of lOlbs . Hour , lOlhs . beef or mutton , 21 bH . sugar , and \\ h . tun . Without rations : — Compositora , 2 . f . Gd . per tbou & und ; ditto , 11 . 7 n . por week ; good hon . se carpenter * , town work , ]/ . 5 b . to 11 . 7 a . per day ; masoiiH , 1 / . Oh . to 1 / . 10 h . ditto ; wondftplittors and fcnucrH , 12 m . ( id . por load ; bluukuiuilliH , for country work and shoeing , 1 / . to 1 / . On . |» or d / iy ; labourers on tho roadn , witlx wood , water , and tout accommodation , 12 a . to 13 s . per day . tjcaiuun for Lomli'ii , for the run homo , 45 / . ; ditto , Cnluutt / t , libl . ; C ' ulJno , 8 W . ; coasting , 9 / . to 101 . per month . FcnrnUi Horvnnt * : ¦ —Thorough Horvants , 30 / . to 36 / . pur iinuuni ; lioum ; - niui <]« , 30 / . Lo IW . ditto ; luuinlj-winon , -Ull . U > f > 2 / . ditto ; nurrioinnidrt , 25 / . to 30 / . ditto ; wiub , 45 / . to iW < - ditto . "
" ADl-. l-AlOK LAll orn-MAJlKKT . " 1 ' er annum with \ numl and lod ^ Um ' DomwUc . twrvunti»—mnlo 45 / . to Hot . \ fuiiii « l «' , IM > u > 2 ( ^ « f " " ? - vuntu—¦ married couple , 4 7 / . l <> 70 / . ( binglo im-ii , 00 / . to 00 / . ; HlKiplionlH , Ml . t <> DO / . J '« r weuk , with bonnl and lodging : Butcl . oM , U . !««• »«> - '/• 1 () » - i »>« k « w , 2 / . Ma to ?/ . 14 » . | biillock-dri vorfl , 25 h . to 30 n . ; conf « ctl (/ ncrH , 11 12 » . Por day , witliout bwurd and lodylug : IJlackimutlm ,
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 7, 1854, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_07101854/page/7/
-