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THE ENGLISH PKISOUERS IN" RUSSIA . * A tlain narrative of the events connected with tlie unfortunate capture of the Tiger at Odessa -would undoubtedly be received -with interest from the hands of one of the officers of the ship . Lieutenant Rover was peculiarly fitted to give the best account of what befel the English prisoners , as he was taken to St . Petersburg and placed in constant personal communication with the Emperor and the Court , not without a special object , as there is internal evidence in Mr , Rover ' s book to show .
The history of the capture of the Tiger and the adventures of the prisoners are related in a simple , straightforward style , with only the drawback < of a most decided leaning towards everything Russian , evidently derived from the peculiar influences brought to bear on the author . He received great civility on bis arrival at St . Petersburg , aud was released on parole under the following conditions : — 1 st . That I was at liberty to go any where 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 siibj ects , except the Rev . Dr . Law , the Chaplain to the Embassy at St . Petersburg .
3 rd . I was allbvred to have any hooks or papers I -chose to ask for , but all letters that I wrote or received were to pass through the office of the Commandei-in-Chief . To crown their liberality , tie colonel produced a portfolio , -with pen , ink , and paper , which ] ie placed on the table , recommending me to make notes of my residence in Russia . _ The Liberty to " take notes on . Russia" was significant , but the meaning of the permission was made manifest b y an . incident when Lieutenant Koyer was released .
I received 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 Mm to present me with a sword , which he trusted would not be unwelcome from its being Russian , as they had not an English one to give me in place of mine . He hoped it would serve as a memorial of the treatment I had met with in Russia ; and concluded by observing , that he had no doubt 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 Xieutenant lLoyer received personal marks of attention , which , if intended to have £ iven a tone to * ' his notes on llussia , " were not without effect . Here is 3 iis account of an interview with the Emperor , iu which ho . is painted decidedly " en beau : "The Emperor was standing in the middle of the room , dressed in the plain dark-blue uniform of a General-in-Chief , and wore a simple white enamelled cross at the buttoii-liole oil his chest . This , 1 believe , was the cross of the Order of St . George , an honour conferred , only upon ]> exfii > ns who have rendered important services to
their country . I imagine that his Imperial Majesty has not yet assumed the decoration of tko highest clans of the Orel or , which is worn by aucli men as Paskewitc-h , Woronxoff , etc ., and which was described to mo as different in size from that worn by tho Emperor . I expected to see a fine tall man , but - was not prepared to find his Imperial Majesty so much superior to the generality of men in height and appearance . Ho certainly did not look more than fifty ; nor wore thoro any particular signs of euro on hia countenance , at lojwt not more tlum ono sees in every man of Iiia ago . Ills features were lino and regulnr , his head bnld in tho centre , and Ills cyo expressive of mildness , quite in accordunco with his words .
I -was aware that his Mnjosty npoko l ) oth English and Fronoh , and hoped that ho would address mo iu my nativo tongue . Ae I bowort and stopped forward , ho addresaod me aa " Monsieur lo Lieutenant , " and inquired after my health , -whether I 3 uwl got rid of my fov « r , and how and whoro I had caught ! it . Ho asked mo about tho loss of tho Tigor , and inquired why ivo had not anohorod , boing so near tho land . I replied that tho fog was very thick , wul thut by our sockoning wo ivcro aomo distance ) from land whon tho vcshoI struck . Hq ankod if I waa married , made nomo kind inquiries respecting the family of my luto oaptain , and informed me that Mrs . Giilard waa gwe to 0 < Jae « a to join ho * - huabimd ,. not having hoard of lua death .
Hia Iinpwial Mujoaty then said , tliat it had boon his intention to great the cajptuin bin liberty ; but as that was now impoBjslblo , ho would extend , thut graco to mo oa tho noxt in oomnwod , and asked me how 1 should like to go Jiome , I wiw quito takoa abaclc by this announcement , as
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 so freely . I vas 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 lit of laughter , inucfci amused at my surprise and embarrassment , and said , " Allez done , pensez-y ( Go and think about it ) , and let me know this evening , through the Minister of War , what road you would like to take . " He then bowed me out of the room . Even while at Odessa , Lieutenant P . oyer ' s impressions of Russians were favourable . It appears that
General Osten Sacken paid daily visits to the captain and officers , and to the hospital . lie was much gratified at seeing "William Tanner ( who had been woimded , and who recovered ) occupied , whenever lie 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 witkout . going to the graves of his enemies , where , absorbed in meditation , he might be seen crossing himself and offering u $ » prayer to the Lord of Hosts . Mr . Royer visited the Opera-kouee 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 Ostea Sacken when watching the progress of the attack on the luckless Tiger . At the same time some pictures of Russia ™ life are given , which decidedl y balance the more 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 weie present , and wliiek was no longer needed , was lorn 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 hint to give up his accoutrements , sent him amongst us to pick up all the little bits of paper , lest contagion should be copuaunieated ,. 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 harshness , we might have been ordered to pick up the pieces ourselves . As ? ain : —
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 Royer , he was not permitted to travel to the frontier unaccompanied by a police agent , who joined him at Warsaw . At the frontier station , lie siiys ,
The police agent took up his ahode in a room which opened just opposite to mine . 3 Ie paid me repeated visits , excusing himself , however , for depriving me of his good company by saying ho had some friends to supper , and naked mo to joiu them . But I felt I could well dispense with his civilities , and wished him anywhere else . About eleven o ' clock lie cumo in again , and asked me , with many expressions of pol 5 t « ne . ss and excuses for disturbing mo , if 1 would allow a bed to be l > ut up for him in the corner of my room , as there wns no other placo in tho hotel ! Knowing who my man was , I of course felt that it would bo useless to object ; ho 1 put tho best fuco I could on tho matter , and ho inatalled himself accordingly .
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* Personal Nnrrativa of tho FirM LiculvnanC of tho * * gar . l \ y AUiwl Koyor , 1 CM , CUaumau mxd IXaU .
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AUSTRALIA . The arrival of the new governor of Victoria , Sir Charles Hothnm , on 21 st July , bus caused some displays intended to show that he is popular , Mrs . Clusholni has been welcomed more quietly , but flho seems to have a larg : o sharo of appreciation in the colony . Improvements are going on rapidly . Tho harbour of G oolong is being made a port by the removal of a bur dividing tho outer from tho inner harbour , and a Cham her of Commerce has been ostn .-
Wished there . Thoro aro throe railways in progress in tho colony of Victoria : —I . Tho Gcelong and Melbourne Railway , tlio completion of which hnfl been promised in albout eighteen months . 2 Tho Melbourne , Mount Alexander , and Murray Kivcr Railway , which has been commenced at Wiiliauistown , and will bo completed ns far as Melbourne ( nine niik's ) in ubout ono yenr . : j . Tlio Hobson ' s Bay Railway , which was to bo ready for opening on the 1 st of August ; and the pier will then bo bo fur completed as to unload vessels drawing ten foot of wator . Among other worlca of progress tho establishment
of electric communication deserves tabe 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" in . 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 that at home will be gradual , even if such assimilation ever should take place . " There is still , we are bound % o confess , a great absence generall y 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 their 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 rnfhtence 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 h abit 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 . Bui 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 , steady , 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 entirel y abated . A great amount of labour is being expended on the streets and roads ; and though these operations , while in . progressy are far from conducive to comfort , wo may hope that their results will be so . Our footpaths are at last exciting : oma attention , and various experiments me in progress with , a view to ascertain the best mode of forming them . "
The appointment of " Mr . Stonor" is thus spokea of by the same "paper : — - " The colonists have just been scandalised with another instance of the old regime in the appointment of Mr . Stonor to the Melbourne bench . Anybody was 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 his testimonials do not seem to have been opened — Mr . Stonor is nominated to that important office . That gentleman landed here about a month ago , and found tliat . his . suspension had arrived before him . Even . had this not been the case , the fact that he had been convicted of bribery by a select committee of the Houae of Commons-would have aroused suflident indignation , hero to have prevented him . from taking his seat or find-, ing barristers to plead in his court . "
JLlie labour-market is reported tlius : — " MEIJtOCKSU UOJOUn-MAItltKT , . JULY 20 . " The number <>! ' arrivals of agricultural labourers by Into vessel * has had Homo . slight cfleet cm tho wages of goneml unskilled labour . Tlii . s in alt-u the rdaek time of the year for fanners . Skillud niudumies of all kind ** find ready employment at tho rates given below . Female : servants are rather more plentiful , but really useful one * arc eagerly sought after . With rations—Married coup le * , without family , « 0 / . to 90 / . per annum , ditto , with , family , 70 / . to bo / , ditto ; nhephurils , 45 / . to 52 / . ditto ; lnitlteepcrs , f \{) f . to M ) l . ditto ; gciiorul useful . servants , 1 / . 10 . 1 , to I / . 1 B . S . per week ; bullock-drivers on furinH , til . to 8 / . 10 s , ditto ; ditto fur the roads , !)/ . 10 s . to A ! . ditto ; fitockkeepers , (>()/ . to 80 / . per annum ; good farm labourer ^ 1 / . 1 0 a . to 1 / . 1 / Js . p « r week ; ploughmen , 2 / . to 2 / . 10 s . ditto ; gardoners , 80 / . to 100 / . p « r annum ;
cooks , male , 31 . 10 h . to 4 / . l () a . per wcolc ; waiters , 11 . 10 a . to 1 / . lfifl . ditto ; groom . s , 00 / . to 76 / . per annum . Tho weekly rations conHist of lOlbs . ( lour , lOlba . beef or mutton , 21 bs . hiigar , and | lb . tea . Without rations ;—• Compositors , 2 Th . < Jd . per thounnnd j ditto , 71 . 7 « . jier week ; good houno curyontorw , town work , 1 / . 5 h . to 1 / . 7 h . per day \ masons , ll . 5 h . to 1 / . 10 . i . ditto ; womlfiplittcra and fciicern , 12 . 1 . Od . por load ; bhuilwuilths , IUr country work and allotting , 1 / . to If . Cs . por day ; labourers on t !» o rond » , with wood , water , nnd tout iiccoinnkotlutioii , 12 s . to 13 a . per duy . Sounion I ' m Lomhin , for tlio run home , 45 / . ; ditto , Calcutta , tlM-i Onllno , U&t . ; coasting , 9 / . to lOf . por month . J-Vmalo oorvantH : —Thorough H « irvantri , U 0 / . to . W . por annum ; IiouhomaidH , { JO / , to tlM . ditto | launcirosaos , lOi . U > Ml . ditto ; nurweiniuUtt , 2 . ( 5 / . to UOl . ditto j oook . t , Ml to 100 / - ditto . "
" ADKl . AIDH LAnOtTIl-MAKKItl . " Tor nnniini with Ix' / ml and Imltfiiig ; Ooinootio H « rvaiitH- —malo -1 '>/ . to ( M / . » <"« iii « l » i t 10 / . to MU . \ farm Horvuiita—marrlcl < : » u | i 1 . im , ' 17 / . to 70 / . ; Hinglu uicn , T ) 0 / . to 00 / . ; Blioplionln , » & 1 . U > ftl )/ . 1 ' w vock , with board umi lodging : JJulcJiei ' t , 1 / . 10 ft . to tl . 10 m . j Imlioru , 21 . « ,- » to '„ '/ . M « . ; bullock-drlvor . H , 25 h . to JIOh . ; confectioners , tr VZa . l ' or day , without Hoard and loilyiug j liloclusinithH ,
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October 7 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . 943
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Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 7, 1854, page 943, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2059/page/7/
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