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which bas enabled Mr . Kelly to compress eight centuries of chaos into something like 200 readable and interesting pages . " We confess without shame to have made repeated attempts upon the history of the rise and growth of the Hussian empire , and to have always broken down in disgust at the more than Siberian dreariness , in the midst of "which the hideous and unpronounceable names of the * celebrated ' ruffians who fought and murdered , and swayed over barbarian brutes , rise up like so many Megatheria or Plesiosauri to dismay the historical inquirer . What a debt of thanks do -we not owe to Air . Kelly , who has turned this desert into a safe and easy road , even for indolent travellers ! In his preface , Mr . Kelly very modestly indicates that his work has been one of selection of
* secondary materials . ' The fact is , that no readable history of Russia , in the best sense of the word , and from primary sources , exists . The best . arrangement , therefore , of these secondary materials is the best history ¦ of Russia . Mr . Kelly cites on his title-page the -works of Karamsin , Tooke , -and Segur among lis chief authorities . In an introductory chapter , containing a clear and succinct view of the whole field of his research , he divides Russian history into five great periods , the fifth beginning towards the end of the seventeenth century , with the reign of Peter the Great , for whom , by the way , Mr . Kelly professes a very qualified respect . He deprecates the preposterous idolatry of Peter which . English writers have caught from JSegur ; and he pertinently remarks : — .
"The reign of tbat monarch was the turning point in the history of Russia . The empire is at this day what he and his successors , inheritors of his system as well as of his throne , have contributed to make it . We judge that system by its results . If they are irredeemably bad , what praise is due to the source from whence they flow ? " . : , Through the four earlier periods , comprising eight centuries of the Russian annals , there are , says Mr . Kelly , twelve great princes to guide us : from Ilutiic the Northman , whofounded the empire at Novgorod , to Ivan IV ., * heTerrible . But , he addsr ^—" independent of these twelve beacons , we descry other directing points , landmarks , which alsprnay afford ms assistance in classirrg our observations , and analysing this vast mass of iiistory . We haveremarked , that the-present capital of Russia is thefifth which the empire
has had . In 862 , the conquering genius of Kurik placed the first in Novgorod . From 882 , i ; he still greater genius of Oleg , together with the allurement of a milder climate ^ and of the riches , the knowledge , and the comforts of Greek civilisation , fixed the Second in . the south . « tKieiV In 1167 , internal dissensiorts , the attacks of the Poles in the west , those of the siomail / tribes in the south , and thepoliey of Andrew , drew back the-third towards the east , ¦ and established , it at Vladimir . The fourth , and most central , the great Moscow , which , was to re-unite with it all the empire , rose in 1328 , and subjugated the three others by the Uiachiavellisrn of Ytrry , and the talent of Ivan Kallta , its first princes , and by its position between Novgorod , tlie first metropolis , and Vladimir , the third . Lastly , about 1703 , the : genins of civilisation established the fifth , St . Petersburg , on the northern frontier , at the head of the Gulf of Finland , and on the very coast whence , eight hundred and forty years earlier , the barbarian Hurik , the creator of this empire , commenced his march for the purpose of fornnding it . "
Mr . Kelly ' s first volume brings us to the accession of that teterrima of < monarcbs , Catharine II . We recommend his labours to all who are anxious to acjjuire more than a superficial and pamphleteering acquaintance ¦ with Russia . With none of the pretensions , this history of Russia has all the « caarm of originality which refined strength and accomplished clearness of style can bestow . The next work on our list for its character of permanence and its carefulness of treatment , although rudimentary in design , is a reprint , with corrections from ' the Geographical Dictionary , " of an article on Russia and ^ Turkey , by no less serious and authentic a person than Mr . M'Culloch . That name will be a sufficient guarantee for the statistical value of the pages which Messrs . Longman have just added to their excellent " Traveller's Library . " We are not sure that the power of Russia can be most accurately ^ considered from a geographical point of view . But Mr . M'Culloch has , with his well-known tenacious severity , and it must be added , with an . indefatif ; able and dogmatic dulness , sometimes almost approaching to naivete , colected a series of facts and figures detailing the whole political , religious
administration and commercial system of the empire , which in spite of his rather favourable , not to say optimist opinion of the Emperor Nicholas , will -contribute to explode that enormous delusion . The concluding passage of iris historical sketch indicates the tendency of this ponderous writer : — "In addition to his other qualities , the Emperor Nicholas has been supposed to bo endowed with great moderation and good sense But lato events have made this exceedingly doubtful . We do not know that he is much to blame for having wished to effect a partition of Turkey ; though , it may be questioned whether the real strength of the empire would be thereby augmented . It is Bwrely , however , impossible that ho should be able to effect this object , despite the opposition of England and Franca , And by precipating a conquest with these great powers , he encounters extraordinary risks , and can hardly fail to suffer severe losses . The ¦ diffusion of arts arts and industry through his vast dominions might , on « should think , haro < rafRced to satisfy his ambition . And it would have done more to mcronsa and consolidate Ilia influence and power ,,. than he needa ever hopo to accomplish , by the moat successful campaigns . " Tl > o following table gives a view of the extant of the Russian dominions nt different < epocTis : ¦— Germ , so , rn . In 1535 , afc the accession of John the Terrible , his dominions comprised 37 , 'iOO , 1685 , at his death ... .. ¥ ... ... ... ... 144 , 000 „ 1013 , at the accession of Miohaiel Romanoff ... ... ... 148 , 000 „ lG 45 at his death ... ... ... ... ... ... 258 , 000 „ 1726 , at the death of Peter the Groat ... ,.. ... ... 280 , 000 „ 1741 , at the acceasion of Elizabeth ... ... ... ... 825 , 000 „ 179 C , at the death of Catharine II . ... ... ... ... 835 , 000 Ana Rt present ( 185-4 ) ... ,.. ... ... ... ... 848 , 000 ' Tables similar to thi » have been the theme of much silly declamation about the grasping , inantlwible ambition of Russia , No doubt her rulers have had the same dohiro to extend her territories as those of France , England , nnd othor powers ; but certainly they uro not , in this roHpecfc , in any , decree peculiar . In point of fnct , too , by far the greater part of tho territorial acquisitions of Rnssia have consisted of mere deserts , or of countries occupied by roving bnrrbariana , and tiro worth little or nothing . Her really valuable ncquwitiona have 'iMion . confined to thoae on tho eido of Poland and tho Black Sea . Hor conquests in this ¦ direction have added materially to li « r power j nnd it ia but fair to add . that they lmvo also added vo « y materially to tho well-being and civiliantion of tho inhabitants .-Mr . M'Cullocn ' a statistical account of Turkey is equally pains-talung , sand ' hi * deductions , perhaps , cqnaUy subject to correction . If he is disposed to regard Russia too favourably , he ia a thorough pessimist us regards ) the Ottoman Empire . He inoiats on the incurable abuses of tho Mahommedan wystean , and while praising the policy of tho reigning Sultan , oxpresHes his doubt *? whether the dissolution of tho empire enn be prevented ;'' and
considers it most likely that the success of the allies in the present contest will be but a short respite for Turkey . Wo do not undertake to contradict the horoscope of our statistical prophet ; we shall be satisfied for the moment with the defeat of Russia , be tho future fate of Turkey what it may . Mr . J . R . Morell , on the other hand , rather as a vindicator than as an historian , -writes with unconcealed affection for the venerable fabric of Turkish government and religion , and not merely for the aggrieved in the present struggle . Pie says truly , however , that " the liberty of continental Europe depends on the independence of Turkey . * As against Russia , he might have adiled : the internal liberties of continental Europe have other enemies and other guarantees to look to . Having noticed , without at all deprecating , the bias of the writer , we may commend his sympathetic pages as an acceptable and agreeable contribution to philo-Turkish literature .
Under the guidance of the lively Captain Jesse , who has enjoyed peculiar opportunities as an eyewitness of observing Muscovite civilisation beneath the surface , we return to Russia . " We do not care to follow the Captain through his disquisitions on the causes of the war , or the social condition of the serf . Perhaps that part of his subject has already been handled with considerable effect elsewhere . Nor do we linger over descriptions and reflections with which we seem to be familiar . But in addition to what we have read over and over again , there is an interesting chapter or two on the Russian army , some pleasant anecdotes of Russian societ } 1 " , and a really interesting account of Sevastopol or Sebastopol , as it is variously called , which has all the advantage of being a record of an actual , and even minute , inspection . Captain Jesse ' s experiences of high society in Russia are an apt illustration of ' Napoleon ' s mot : " You have only to scratch a Russian to catch a Tartar . "
Mr . Irancis Marx , appears to be a fervent disciple of Mr . David Urqnhart , and a , member of the " Turkish Association . '' We cannot , however , congratulate *' Mr . Francis Marx on having contributed anything new to the Russian question . His Sketch of the Condition of the Russian People is composed of extracts from the Baron von Haxthausen , from Ax . exa 2 o > rk Herzeist , and from Mr . David Urqiihart , eked put with a report of some proceedings of the Turkish Association respecting that Russo-Dutch loan , which only five members of the House of Commons were disposed to repudiate . Mrv Marxj in a note , says : " We hoped to have had the advantage of consulting Herzen ' s work , Le Ser . vage enRussiey which has been advertised long ago , l > ut which has not yet reached the hands of the booksellers . " We were not aware that a work under this title had been announced by any publisher ; but we are fully aware that a series of papers under that title , and signed by the author , our esteemed friend Alexandra Herzen , appeared in the Leader last axuuimn , and that Mr . Francis Marx has borrowed largely from that source , without acknowledgment .
Miss Psirdoe ' 3 City of ( lie Sultan is worth a score of some recent occasional publications on Turkey .. It must be -so well known to the majority of our readers as a life-like picture of the Turks ' at home , ' that we need do no more than welcome the fourth edition , happily seeui-ed by Mr . Routledgefor his shilling series , after having run through three editions at two guineas . We find by the preface that upwards of 30 , 000 copies have been sold in England and the United States . We cannot doubt that in its present popular shape , and at this moment , it will almost rival that mysterious romance , The Lamirfinliter .
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TABLE TRAITS . Table Traits , with Something on Them . By Dr . Doran . Bontley . Is all the talk about education and Oxford Reform no one has had the good sense to propose a Professor of Gastronomy . And yet there is no subject in the world about which we ought to know so much , and of which we know so little . Is not the stomach the final cause of human existence ? Let it refuse to perform its operations and creation is at a standstill . Terrible is the revenge which it takes on mankind for the sufferings it undergoes at the hands of its capricious owners . No one can tell -what crosses and misfortunes are to be attributed to bile . If your mistress has a headache , she will turn a deaf ear to your vows . If you would have mercy from a judge , take care to bribe his cook . Ministries have fallen , dynasties have been
overthrown , by a badly-dressed salad . If you wish to rule mankind you must plant your throne in the kitchen . It makes us sad , therefore , to think of the carelessness of our countrymen in respect of diet . We are now at the height of what is jocosely described as summer . And , in truth , the sun is sometimes powerful enough . Last week , for instance , we tried in vain to comprehend the sublime mysteries contained in a batch of poetry , from thq fertile , but not alwaya intelligible , brain of Young England . Daily , too , we sigh in vain for some suburban retreat where we may dine in peace—far away from the din and dust of London . And yet the British public pays no heed ; it is utterly insensible to tho change of season . It dines on the 5 th of August as it will dine on tlie 10 th of December . Look at those enormous joints , those pallid
waiters , that steamy atmosphere—what stomach does not rebel ! Quousinic tandem I how long shall this be endured ? When are we to learn that to consume xoast beef and porter in stilling rooms is an occupation quite unworthy of rational beings ? These are not original thoughts : one says these things whenever one seea a new book on cooking ;—but these are things to be reiterated . There ia still necessity for reform . We do not yet despair of the republic ; and to any who really wish to find out what to eat , drink , nnd avoid , and withal to read a very pleasant little book , wo recommend Table Traits , tvith Something on Them . We ahull now let the reader judge for himself . To begin with cooks : here ia a pen-and-ink sketch of Cnrcino : —
" Ho was illustrious by descent ; for one of liia imci-Blora had norvod in tho lioutii'huld of a Pope , who himself mndc more sauces than saints , Loo X . But Carbine waa oao of so poor und ho numnroutt a family , tlmt whon ho cumo into tho world ho was no more welcome than Oliver Goldsmith was : tho respective pm-cntu of tho Iittlc-curod-for babes did not know what . futuro great men lay in nnkod holplcs . inoss before thorn . One wrote immortal poetry , nml Htarvcd ; tho othor mado delicious pantry , nnd roilo in a chariot ! Wo know how much Oliver received for his ' Vicar ; ' while Anthony Oiirbino uHod to receivo twice a » much for merely writing out a rooipe to mnko a ' pdtd . ' Nay , Oarfemo ' ti untouohotl pnttlou , whon thoy loll royal ublen , wcro bought up at a coat which would have supported UohlmnitU for u
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738 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,
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Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 5, 1854, page 738, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2050/page/18/
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