PR 40/5 JI %4~X § PRESENTED BY , LONDON : PRINTED BY C. ROWORTH AND SONS, BELL YARD, TEMPLE BAR. IP g 3 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS, WHOSE NAMES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED IN LONDON. COPIES. Her Majesty the Queen Dowager 10 Alexander, Mrs Alexander, Miss C. M. Archer, Thomas, Esq. Bailey, Assistant-Commissary-General , Bailey, George, Esq Bartelett, Miss , Bethell, Mrs , Bethell, Miss Betts, Samuel, Esq r t , Blackwood, Mrs Boyd, C. M., Esq Bridges, Miss Browne, Mrs Brownrigg, Captain Brownrigg, Mrs Brownrigg, Miss ., Carpenter, Mr Charlton, Mrs Christopherson, H., Esq Clinton, Colonel F. (Grenadier Guards) IV LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Colquhoun, Chevalier, Minister of the Hanse Towns, Cowie, E., Esq Creed, C, Esq . , dimming, Deputy-Commissary-General , D'Aguilar, Lieutenant (Grenadier Guards) Daniel, Rev. E.J Davidson, Assistant-Commissary-General Dawkins, Clinton G., Esq, Drummond, Captain (Grenadier Guards). . DufT, William, Esq., Barrack Master .... E. B., per Reverend J. D. Glennie Engelbach, Charles, Esq Essex, Countess of Esterhazy, Prince 4 Field, Deputy- Assistant-Commissary-General Fortur, Charles, Esq , Gedge, William, Esq Gore, Montague, Esq. . . * Grassett, Dr Green, Miss Green, Sir Andrew „ Greig, Mrs Grey, Honourable Captain George, (R. N.) Grote, Charles, Esq Hallett, James, Esq Harding, W. Charles, Esq. Harper, Mr. Harvey, Miss Hay, Captain William . . . Henderson, John, Esq. . . . Herries, Miss LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. V COPIES. Hockley, Mrs Holmes, Mrs. A. Court Holt, E. C, Esq Ironside, Captain, Superintendent of Indian Affairs Jacob, William, Esq. . . . Jenkins, Mr. R Johnstone, George, Esq. Jones, H. Julius, Esq. . Kater, E., Esq Keightley, ArcRibald, Esq. Lake, E., Esq Lake, Mrs Lawrence, Ed., Esq Layton, Mrs Lee, Dr Leggatt, John, Esq., Assistant-Commissary-General Leslie, C. P., Esq Liddiard, Mr. William Liddiard, Mrs Lindsay, F., Esq Lopez, Mrs Lowe, General Sir Hudson Lundy, Mr. James Bell Mackie, Reverend J. W., A.M., F.R.S Major, Assistant-Commissary-General , Mangold, Charles, Esq , Monroe, Charles, Esq Morse, Deputy- Assistant-Commissary-General Nutt, Mr. VI LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Parish, Sir Woodbine. Paslow, Mr Pattison, James, Esq. . , Pattison, F., Esq. . . . Perkins, Miss Phillips, Mrs. George Priestley, W. H., Esq. Pritie, Samuel, Esq. . Ramsay, Miss 2 Rayner, Charles, Esq., Assistant-Commissary-General .... 2 Reynolds, E., Esq. (Royal Engineers) Rigby, Dr Risio, Captain Vincent (Royal Engineers) Robinson, W. Esq., Deputy-Assistant-Commissary-General Robinson, George, Esq. . . . « Rushworth, H., Esq Schade, Colonel (60th Rifles) Senior and Co., Messrs Seton, Miss Seton, Miss B Sherriff, Mr Shiel, Charles Henry, Esq Skerrett, Miss Smith, Captain H. N. (Royal Engineers) Smith, Mrs. Tringham Spearman, Sir Alexander Spottiswoode, Captain (Grenadier Guards) Strut, William W., Esq Strut, Rob. A., Esq Stuart, Honourable Miss F. . . Tupper, Mrs. ....... Turner, John, Esq. . . . Tyrrell, F. Esq. M.D. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Vll COPIES. Ward, N. Esq 1 Westminster, The Marchioness of 2 Wingfield, Reverend W. F ... 1 Wood, Mrs. Alexander 1 Worthington, The Rev. Dr 1 Ximines, Major-General Sir David 1 Yeates, Dr. Holt 2 Yeates, N., Esq 1 Young, C. M., Esq 1 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. AN 1LLYRIAN TALE OF THE EIGHTEENTH AND NINETEENTH CENTURIES. " Cosi all' egro fanciul porgiamo aspersi Di soave licor gli orli del vaso, Succhi amari ingannato ei beve, E dall' inganno suo vita riceve." Tasso, Canto primo. I was born in 1781 at Neustadtl, a small town of Illyria, in the province of Carniola, important for its position in a military point of view, and very agreeably situated on a sloping hill. It is watered on the south and east by the river Gerka, famous for its excellent shell-fish, while in the distance are dark forests; and immediately around the little town are groves, vineyards, and well cultivated hills, which afford very interesting views, particularly to the north-west. About eight English miles distance from this pretty retreat are the warm baths of Toplitza. I was eleven years of age when my parents determined upon sending me to school in my native town. My mother accompanied me thither, and as I was V Z THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. her only child, her parting with me was indeed a great trial for her. She recommended me never to forget her instructions, which she had so care- fully bestowed upon me; and recalled to my recollection my dear little brother, who died at the age of seven years. Never shall I forget our frequent rambles. She was fond of retirement; and taking our little hands, would walk with us morning and evening, either in the garden, or in some of the adjoining groves, and there she took care to draw our attention to the beauties of the animal and vegetable creation; very entertaining were the observations which those objects of nature so copiously called forth : they in fact remained so deeply impressed in my mind, that whenever I am reading any thing of the kind in our modern works, the association of ideas often recalls to my memory, the sweet and tender ac- cents which I was wont to hear from the lips of her who had lavished so many cares on me, and who on parting with me, uttered these words as she pressed me to her breaking heart, " My dear boy, I fear I shall never see you again in this world." Alas! she was but too correct; for two months afterwards a severe illness suddenly hur- ried her. to the tomb. I continued at the college ; when at the end of the first year of ,my studies my father came to fetch me home for the vacation, and was accompanied by his second wife, now my stepmother ; she received me at first very kindly THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 6 and made me a present of a silver watch, with which I was much pleased ; the next morning we started for Sechof, our country seat, likewise situated on the river Gerka : but the land around it is very low, and presents a plain of sixteen miles in length and twelve in breadth. On our arrival at home, it is impossible to describe what I felt when I came to the well-remembered haunts of my childhood, where I used to beguile so many innocent and happy hours in company with my poor mother. I gazed with a tearful eye on the shrubs, many of which were planted by her own dear hand; and unconsciously, in passing through one of the rooms, raised my eyes to the wardrobe, where she once playfully hid herself, half expecting to see her form. Eight days after our arrival my stepmother passing by, saw me with the watch in my hand, and, snatching it from me, gave me a sound box on the ear, telling me angrily, that I did not know how to take care of it; and, to my surprise, T never saw it again. From that period my sufferings commenced. In the evening she made me sit up till ten o'clock at night, and as I was accustomed to go early to bed, I began to be drowsy about that time, and could not help falling asleep on my chair. Then my stepmother would seize me by the hair and drag me about the room, until I became quite awake ; this however she never did when my father was present. It is worth while observing, b2 4 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. that my stepmother originally married a widower with six children, who had been as badly treated as myself, so that her first husband apparently died of a broken heart. One of these children (a boy) assured me, that amongst other cruelties, which she practised on them, was that of shut- ting them up in a cold room for a whole day, without fire, food, or drink in the depth of winter, so that they used to allay their thirst by sucking the icicles which hung from the windows : she had three more husbands after the death of my poor father : I never was shut up by her, but I suffered many other privations. In the autumn I was obliged to gather a basketful of acorns every morning before breakfast ; she made me also carry large baskets on my head full of provisions and other articles to her mother, who lived some distance from our home on the other side of the river Sava, at a place called Lichtnagora. This kind of life lasted during all my vacations, so that I longed for the moment when I returned to school. The inundations of the river Gerka during three successive years, caused a great deal of damage to my father's property from which he never recovered, on account of bad management my stepmother showed in her household arrange- ments. Her only care seemed to be sending things to her parents in Lichtuagora. As she did not like me to continue my studies, she soon prevailed on my poor father (whose THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. O spirits began to droop) to keep me at home, which was a severe blow to me ; I was then in my fourteenth year. It was the same year, about the middle of November, when my father had gone to buy some horses in Transylvania, that my stepmother requested me, about seven o'clock in the morning, to take off my shoes and stockings and go and relieve the cowherd in the meadow until his return, as she wanted to send him on an errand. The morning was bleak and the frost lay thick on the ground. I made my way in the best manner I could to the meadow and delivered my message to the cowherd, who, surprised to see me barefooted, gave me a look of compassion, and left me to perform his mistress's commands. As soon as I was left alone, overpowered by the bitter cold I suffered from in my feet, I burst into a flood of tears, and called upon the name of my poor mother : Alas ! not even an echo answered my calls in those fatal plains ; I call them fatal, because on them I lost my parents, without any one being left to whom I could tell my sufferings. On the return of my father from Transylvania, my stepmother, fearing perhaps that her cruel behaviour to me might reach his ears, gave him so bad an account of my conduct, that I was severely chastised for her sake ; yet I did not dare complain. The year following, in the month of January, when the snow lay from three to four b THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. feet deep on the ground, my stepmother sent me with a message in the dead of night to a neighbouring village, about a good English mile distance from our residence. The night was dark, and wolves were known to prowl about. I obeyed, being quite unconscious of the danger to which I was exposed ; there was no path, and I was obliged to make my way through the snow in the best manner that I was able. The person to whom I brought the message was actually alarmed to see me at that time of night, and allowed one of his men to accompany me some way back towards my home, where I arrived about mid- night, perfectly exhausted. I could fill volumes in relating all the sufferings and privations which came to my share, owing merely to the ill-will of my stepmother. It was about that time that I began to reflect seriously on my sad situation, and I felt myself roused, on comparing my con- dition with those of my school-fellows passing merrily by, as they went back to Novogorod to continue their studies. Those who have been at school, can only tell what feelings are excited when the mind recals those innocent, and per- haps happiest, moments of our lives. One Sun- day, when my father was gone to church in a neighbouring town, about noon my stepmother sat down to dinner with a rich farmer's wife ; I was not allowed to come to table, but was seated on my poor father's iron chest (which by that THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 7 time was but a useless appendage to the room), eating sour krout and gnawing some brown bread made of buck-wheat, while she and her friend were regaling themselves with a roasted capon and drinking excellent wine. My looking at them too attentively, displeased my stepmother, and to get rid of my presence she bid me go and buy some sugar at a village, an hour's walk from our house ; I said, that I would go, and begged her to give me a glass of wine ; she replied, that I was to go first and fetch the sugar, and that she would give it to me on my return. I was then in my fifteenth year, and felt at last indignant at being so treated ; it was the first time that I disobeyed her orders, and I told her that I would not go. She flew at me immediately, and seized me by the hair ; but this time I was wide awake, and I felt myself strong enough to keep her off, and taking hold of her collar, kept her hands from my head ; then a most desperate struggle ensued between us ; of course I never thought of striking her, and only defended myself as well as I could against her blows, thinking, at the same time, by which way I could best make a safe retreat before my strength was exhausted, be- cause I could expect no mercy if once over- powered by her. With that intention I moved towards the door that led into the hall, in which were several stoves, and close by lay some long 8 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. pieces of fuel, which my antagonist seized to strike me with, but as I always had my eyes on her hands, I had strength enough to wrest the pieces from her, as fast as she took them up. I gradually approached the staircase, where, for- tunately for me, no fuel lay within her reach ; I then suddenly disengaged myself from her, and making two steps back, threw the money at her feet, and ran down the stairs, which were very long and steep. I was within a few steps of the bottom, when I heard an immense large log of wood rolling after me ; I cleared the remaining steps in one jump and saved myself from sure destruction, and took shelter in a peasant's house, who, knowing me, sympathised in my sufferings, and treated me very kindly. My father came home towards the evening, and being informed by a faithful servant of what had happened, sent for me, and received me with much emotion. He asked me what had been the matter with me ; but in reply, I entreated him with tears in my eyes to allow me to write to one of my professors at Novogorod, and to solicit his kind office in obtaining for me a tutorship, and thus to enable me to finish my classical studies. To this pro- posal my father readily consented, and early the next morning his faithful servant was sent with my letter to Novogorod, and returned with an answer the same day. My good friend, Professor THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 9 Augustin, wrote to me to come immediately to that city, and that he would provide for me. My father, having read the letter, gave orders to prepare every thing for my departure early the next morning. It is impossible to describe the plea- sure I felt at such news. My father was happy to see me returning to my studies, and giving me his benediction, I joyfully started for Novogorod. As I w r ent along I was in a continued reverie ; now I thought how kindly I should be received by my professors ; then I fancied myself in the midst of my school-fellows, in whose company I thought I should forget all my bitter sufferings. About ten o'clock, I arrived at Novogorod ; my friend Augustin received me very cordially, and told me that he had found a tutorship for me ; that same day I was accordingly introduced, and thus continued my studies for two years, until I had finished my classical course. By the end of the two years, having finished my studies, my father sent me to his cousin Pouur, in Brinie or Stranigorod, two hour's jour- ney from Lublana, the capital of the province of Carniola, in Illyria, where I was to continue my studies and finish my education. My cousin Pouur and his mother received me with paternal affection ; never shall I forget their kind treat- ment. Mr. Pouur interested himself at Lublana with a clergyman and got me a tutorship, in 10 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. which situation I remained one year, and finished my philosophical course. But I had no longer my good professors of Novogorod to watch over me and to give me their advice. I was there ushered into the great college unknown to any one. The professor seemed to be a very clever person, but quite a man of the world, and I bade adieu to those sincere and friendly countenances which I was wont to behold. Thus was I sud- denly without friends, and only amongst strangers. It was indeed a period of the greatest moment to me, for I was thus thrown upon my own resources at seventeen years of age. I do not know how it happened, but I was singled out by two or three wild companions, who insinuated themselves into my society ; I was ignorant of their designs, and was rather flattered by their noticing me. I can only say that, thanks to the principles which my beloved mother instilled into my heart during my tender years, and through the mercy of Provi- dence, I escaped as well as I did ; yet that short but sad connexion materially checked my progress. In 1799, Mr. Pouur came to fetch me for the Christmas holidays, and just when we left town, he handed me the following letter from my poor father : it ran thus : — " My dear Louis, " By the time you will receive this letter I shall no longer be amongst the living. The THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 1 1 Almighty has given me grace to see you complete your necessary classical studies ; and now, my dear son, that you are alone, you must exert yourself. Trust in God's mercies, and never neglect his precepts. How fortunate for you that you have obeyed your masters ! Be regular and punctual in all your transactions in life, and never deviate from the truth : depend upon it that you will never be forsaken, and kind Provi- dence will bless you. Remember me in your prayers. Receive, my dear boy, my blessing, being the last and only gift I can now bestow upon you. Your ever affectionate Father, {Signed) F. X. Donatti. (Dated) Drascovich, 4th December, 1799. After reading the letter T burst into a flood of tears. Mr. Pouur allowed me to give vent to my grief; he mingled his tears with mine, and then taking me by the hand, did all he could to sooth me : his mother joined in his sympathy on our arrival at Brinie. I remained with them about ten days, and then returned again to my studies. At the end of the year, Mr. Pouur, who had observed that I was very fond of navigating up and down the little stream that glided gently by his residence, conceived the idea of speaking to his friend the clergyman at Lublana, to send me 12 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. to some of the lllyrian sea-ports in the Adriatic to study navigation. The proposal was scarcely made, when it was put into execution, and I again prepared myself for departure. Mr. Pouur's family gave me letters of introduction and their blessing, and I left Brinie for the Adriatic Sea, which lies to the south-west of Lublana. THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 13 SECOND NARRATION. Before I continue my narration, it is worth while to give a description of the country be- tween Lublana and the Adriatic Sea. After leav- ing this city, eight miles towards the Adriatic, you begin gradually to ascend gentle hills, when a sudden change in the prospect takes place ; instead of the eye wandering over fine meadows and fields, the country suddenly becomes wild and rocky. It opens first with the immense forest called Hrushkovagora, which communicates with the Turkish territories to the east ; on the north side of this forest are the famous quicksilver mines of Idria. On the other side of Postoyna the change is still more striking : a large tract of land opens to the view, consisting of hills and plains, covered with rocks, interspersed with green valleys, ravines and grottos, extending to the south and east, and to the very shores of the Adriatic Sea. Seven miles from Postoyna is the wonderful Lake of Cirknitz, about twenty-four miles in circumference. Wonderful, I call it, because regularly during the winter season a lake is formed in this spot which abounds in fish, and is visited by all kinds of sea-fowl. In summer the water disappears, and it then presents most 14 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. luxuriant meadows and rich corn-fields, which attract the notice of many travellers. Close to Postoyna is the renowned grotto, which is now becoming every day more interesting, since the Austrian government have found it their interest to form an establishment of guides, who boldly accompany the traveller for many miles, and, aided by their torches and other necessaries, ex- plore its subterranean beauties.. They have lately built regular staircases, which lead from one vault into another, which are ornamented with most astonishing stalactites, presenting the forms of figures, columns, &c. The entrance to the grotto is almost in its primitive state, and very narrow, but after walking under ground about three hun- dred yards, at first the ear is struck by the noise of a subterranean waterfall, and advancing thirty yards further, about one hundred feet beneath, you behold at the bottom of the grotto a small river rolling its Stygian waters in an eastern di- rection. It is a grand and awful sight if suddenly presented to the traveller's eye, which depends in a great measure on the activity of the guides and torchbearers ; you then descend to the river, and along its banks view the different halls and vaults formed by nature, glittering with varied and grotesque forms. All the vaults at present ex- plored, have various names given to them, and may be visited without the least danger. The main road from Lublana to the Adriatic runs THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 15 through the forest to Postoyna ; it had formerly been much frequented by strong bands of rob- bers, who eame from the borders of Turkey, so much so, that now and then several regiments were sent after them., but they always escaped their vigilance, favoured by the thickness of the forests. The Austrian government has lately cut down all the trees to the right and left of the road, to render the passage more secure ; yet almost every year, during the months of August and September, robbers still penetrate there from the confines of Turkish Croatia, and again escape while the trees are still covered with leaves. Laibach was formerly the capital of the duchy of Carniola, of Lower Austria, but after the late war was incorporated with the kingdom of Illyria. Carniola borders to the north on Carinshia, to the east on Stiria, to the south on Hungary and Istria, and to the west on the Adriatic Sea and Friuli. Large quantities of cattle are bred here, and there are abundant supplies of every kind of fruit, as well as plenty of game; for it is re- nowned for the larger kind of stag, and also bears, which come from European Turkey, and which afford a royal sport to the gentry and pea- sants of that country : it is indeed interesting to witness during those hunts the good under- standing between the upper and lower classes, who are invited by their lords to partake of those amusements, and which give a real zest 16 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. to the sport. All the sportsmen have one com- mon repast, which all are allowed to attend : the lord is seated near his peasants, and per- haps next to his tailor or shoemaker, and al- though they are for a time equals, yet the nobles are honoured and respected by those pea- sants and tradesmen as much as in any other country ; nay, they are really beloved and adored by them. Almost every peasant and most of the tradespeople have their own plot of land and vineyard, and cultivate them with great cheer- fulness, because they know that their offspring will enjoy the fruit of their toils and cares. The capital of Carniola is very advantageously situated on the river Laibach, which falls into the Sava about six miles to the north, which latter river discharges itself into the Danube : it is navigable, though rapid, and keeps up the communication with Hungary and Servia. Corn, wine, skins and hemp are brought on that river from Hungary, the Bannat, Servia, &c, to Laibach, and from thence forwarded to Trieste. The main roads from Fiume, Trieste, Italy, Turkey and Hungary pass through Laibach to Vienna and other parts of Germany ; it is agreeably situated between woody hills ; its inhabitants are very in- dustrious, and fond of trading. The main roads leading to Trieste and Vienna are lined with comfortable farm-houses, which are all well stocked with horses and cattle for the transport THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOLIOD. 17 of goods. The chief roads in that part of the country is one leading to Carinthia, to the Tyrol, and to Italy ; the other to Hungary and Turkey, by Carlstadt. The peasants speak a kind of Illy- rian, but amongst the gentry, German is the predominant language. The principal towns of Carniola are Laibach, Gorz or Gorice, Neustad/^ Landstrass, Mottling, Postoyna and Gurgfeld. The principal rivers are the Sava, the Gerka, the Lai- bach, and the Isonzo. The Gerka and the Laibach discharge themselves into the Sava. In the heart of Carniola is the county of Gotshe, the natives of which speak a kind of old German. They dress differently from the Carniolians ; wearing white round coats, long loose trousers, Quakers' hats, not unlike some Hungarians and Poles. They are the shrewdest and most active pedlars on the continent ; I really think they beat the Israelitish tribe in eloquence. It is not quite known from what part of Germany they have de- scended. The mountains called Gorianiz, stretch- ing out from the confluence of the Sava and Gerka towards Fiume, in the Adriatic, are con- sidered a very good military position against the invasion of the Turks and Russians. The Carniolians are fond of agriculture, and are very loth to quit their native land, but if they once conquer that feeling they become great travellers. The natives of Carniola generally wear round short jackets, and on Sundays and c 18 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. in winter, a kind of pilot coat, without buttons or pockets, ornamented Quakers' hats, and long- boots and short breeches, not unlike the English post-boys. The women wear gold-embroidered caps, and above them fine large muslin handker- chiefs, which present a very curious appearance when many women are congregated together in the churches, contrasted with the men in their dark coffee-coloured coats, with their large Quakers' hats under their arms. The countrywomen are very fond of singing, and their songs are pleasing, swelling on the evening breeze, when the sun salutes with its departing rays the tops of the hills and mountains. On Sundays, after the church service is over, both men and women amuse themselves by dancing and singing; on returning home, the young peasants show their joy by huzzaing as loud as they can, and thus proclaim to the whole country what a truly happy company is returning home to meet the toils of the approaching day, which, echoing through the valleys and mountains, announces to the quiet dwellers and to the passing traveller what a truly happy and innocent race of peasants is living there. In my humble opinion, those innocent expressions of mirth are a pledge that their hearts are not entirely corrupted ; a truly perverse heart is an utter stranger to snch inno- cent amusements. Perhaps some grave persons living in affluence and ease, and with all their THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 19 comforts about them, will say, " What a shame, on a Sabbath-day to dance and be merry instead of praising God;" but may I be allowed to ob- serve to such austere minds, that it is cruel to deprive the hard-working man of those innocent amusements when divine service is concluded : why may he not be allowed, after having been gaining his bread with the sweat of his brow for six days, in the cheerfulness of his heart to show his gratitude to the Almighty by innocent recrea- tions ? Are we not told that there is music and rejoicings in heaven ? and it cannot be a feeling- heart which does not sympathise with the inno- cent joys of the poor man. God sees our hearts, and that is a great comfort to a just and well- meaning soul. Moreover, are we not taught by our Apostle, Saint Paul, to be of good cheer, and whatever we undertake, to do it to the honour and glory of God ? and who will deny that well- disposed people being merry and praising God, their benefactor, with joyous and grateful hearts, are not perhaps more acceptable to the kindest and most merciful of all Fathers, than those who roll in affluence, reading their Bible and saying their prayers in their easy chairs under a bower in summer, or near a comfortable fireside in win- ter, and then grudge the poor labourer his mirth and relaxation on a Sunday ? " Thou shalt do no manner of work." Our Heavenly Father did not say thou shalt not be merry. Who knows whe- c2 20 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. ther this constraint upon the amusements of the poor man does not ultimately create the germ of crime in him, which takes root and gradually ripens? and it is not improbable, that had the man been allowed to give himself up to some innocent recreation after the divine ceremonies were over, his inclinations to dwell upon evil would have been turned aside, and he would not have passed his time in a tap-room for hours to- gether to the misery of his fond wife and children, and thereby rendering himself and his family miserable in this world, and perhaps for eternity. The 1st of November, 1800, I arrived at Pos- tyana, or Adelsberg, where I was joined by a traveller who was going the same way. Just when we were quitting that town, he directed my attention to a small declivity to the north-west of the place ; saying " You see there a small open- ing in the rock, there is a most wonderful grotto, in which the man of the lake of Cirknitz, called ' the Orphan of Novogorod,' has met with most extraordinary adventures." He then pointed to the east, and said " about ten miles from hence is the renowned lake Cirknitz, and of which no doubt you have read, but very likely you have not heard of the lamentable occurrence that took place there and led to the disclosure of a most extraordinary adventure of a gentleman, called ' Aussitz, alias the Orphan of Novogorod,' which I am sure will be interesting to you." I instantly THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 21 begged him to relate it to me, and he thus began : " In the time when the French were in posses- sion of Carniola, some French employes, who were stationed in the environs of Lake Cirknitz, went in the month of March, during a beautiful moonlight night, to watch the passage of wild ducks and geese. While they were thus occupied two of them saw a large object moving on the lake towards them, and they were instantly struck with the idea that it must be some huge otter, and after allowing it to approach within a few yards of their ambush they simultaneously fired at the moving object; but dreadful to relate, what was their alarm when they instantly heard the groans of a dying human being. One of the unlucky and terrified sportsmen jumped instantly into the lake and assisted the unfortunate being to come on shore, they carried him to a neigh- bouring cottage and gave the man all possible assistance ; the surgeon of the place was sent for instantly, and he stopped the wounds from bleed- ing, but declared that the man was mortally wounded, and that very little hopes of his reco- very were entertained. However, contrary to his own expectation, he saved his life, to the great consolation of the two unlucky sportsmen for the time being, during which the unfortunate man gave the following most extraordinary account of his travels and adventures. He said that his name was Aussitz, a native of the village of 22 THE ORPHAN OF NOVGGOROD. Govitz, two miles from Novogorod, where he had completed his classical studies, and was appointed agent to the seniory of Reifnitz. One winters day he went to collect some arrears from his pea- sants on the skirts of the large forest called Birne- vald,orHrushkovagora; he succeeded in collecting some monies, and was on his way to the seniory, when, unfortunately for him, he went astray in the wood, was benighted there, and ultimately fell into the hands of two robbers, who took from him his horse and robbed him of all his money, and brought him captive into the grotto, which I have just alluded to ; and, to continue the story in his own words, he related as follows : The two robbers led me to the grotto of Postoyna, and made me enter into a small opening in a rock, where we walked on a few yards ; then one of the fellows struck a light and lighted two candles. I then could see their countenances. They were rather tall and robust, their features of a brown hue, with immense large mustacios. They were armed with long Turkish guns, a brace of pistols, and a large Janissary's knife. I heard them converse in Illyrian, and one of them observed that their chieftain would be pleased with me on account of my presence of mind, and because I understood their own language ; they told me to be of good cheer. Suddenly I heard a tremendous whistle ; they answered it with two loud whistles and a fainter one. We began to hear the sound of a THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 23 waterfall, and shortly after saw several lights at a distance in a large vaulted place near the fall of a river. What was my surprise, when I per- ceived about twenty-four stout fellows, nearly all in the samaattire. They were just getting ready to quit the grotto, for which purpose three of them moved on in front, all armed as already de- scribed. They all had the appearance of having been once soldiers. Before they left that place, the chieftain told one of his companions to take me down to the river; I then thought indeed that it would be my last moment, and my limbs almost refused to support me. The chieftain tapped me upon the shoulder, and said ' Neboyse, mladitch ;' * Do not be afraid, young man.' My guide then took a candle and began to descend a rope ladder, desiring that I would follow him ; there was a light at the foot of the ladder, and I now saw and heard very plainly a rivulet to the left of it, in a very spacious hollow; he showed me a large depot of all manner of stores and provisions, smoked sausages, tongues, hams, bacon, brown and white bread, kegs of wine and brandy, cheese, raisins, and a large heap of candles ; also ropes, carpenters' instruments, nails, hammers, saws, together with some blankets, and bear and wolf skins ; he then gave me a glass of wine, and told me to eat as much as I pleased, and that I could sleep on one of the bear skins. I again heard a whistle ; my guide said again ' Noboyse, brate,' 24 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 6 Be not afraid, brother,' and hastened up the rope ladder, which he afterwards hoisted up. I ate a little, and drank the glass of wine, and laid my- self down quietly ; not to be in the dark, I let the candle burn, but I could not sleep. Yet I lay still, ruminating on what was to become of me ; the murmur of the river was a kind of companion to me, and as it rolled along pretty fast, it occurred to me that there must be an issue to this river, so that if I could not succeed in escaping above, I might perhaps try it by following the river's course; but that was merely an idea: and many things were to be ascertained previous to my at- tempt, which I purposed to do as soon as I could. It must have been about four o'clock in the morning when I heard the same whistling, and in about a quarter of an hour afterwards I saw the same party descending, and, saluting me in a very friendly manner, told me to follow them. We walked a few yards along the banks of the river, and then crossed it on some planks about eigh- teen feet long by a foot broad, which were se- cured together by ropes and large iron nails. They were enabled to move this bridge back- wards and forwards. After crossing the river, we came into a spacious hall, which they called ' Krall Mathias's Hall,' which now-a-days is used as a ball room every Whitsunday, to the great amusement of hundreds of visitors ; in this hall they lighted a fire with long thin chips, which THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 25 scarcely caused any smoke, and were thus en- abled to boil some eggs, and broil some sausages, which they heartily enjoyed. Some drank wine, and some brandy, and then laid down upon their bear skins, and covered themselves with their cloaks. From their conversation I perceived that they were all Turkish subjects, but of the Greek religion. After having thus reposed, they again ate and drank a little, and went up the rope ladder, and told me that I should make a fine janissary, and that they would take me to the commandant of Cetin, a Turkish fortress, in the course of a few weeks, but for the present I must stay where I was ; they allowed me to range about as much as I chose in the lower part of the grotto. I remained there for a week, during which time I was continually exploring the vari- ous vaults and hollows of that singular grotto. One day when I was washing my feet in the river, which in some parts was about three feet deep, I felt something playing about my feet, and holding the candle to it, I saw a vast quan- tity of long animals, not unlike small eels, moving busily in the water, and succeeded in catching some with my hands ; but on seeing that they had small heads similar to that of a man, with two feet or rather hands with which they got hold of my fingers, I soon flung them back into the water. Their bodies were darkish and as slippery as eels, their heads and hands of flesh colour; 26 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. they certainly looked disgusting, yet. I thought they might make excellent food in time of need. I shoved, one day, the moveable bridge into the middle of the river, and found that I could pro- ceed a pretty good distance downwards, but that the further I went the more rapid the stream be- came. The next day I determined to risk my excursion a little further upon the planks, and I found that they bore me very well. The third day I made a rather longer excursion. It was about the ninth day of my confinement that I embarked upon those planks and continued my way for a good half hour, when I began to feel alarmed at the increased velocity of the stream ; I had in fact great trouble to return. By that time I had become so bold in my subterraneous excursions, that I determined upon making my escape on the river, whatever might be my fate. I accordingly floated the bridge, knocked in several large nails, and fastened to them all such articles as I thought fit to take with me. Amongst other things I took a hatchet, two ham- mers, large iron nails, two large pruning knives, some pieces of rope, several bunches of tallow candles, tinder and flints, and several bundles of matches, which I placed into a small jar and corked it quite tight, together with a barrel of dried figs and a bear skin. I took care to fasten every thing in such a manner that in case of striking against a rock nothing might start from THE ORPHAN OF XOVOGOROD. 27 its place. I lighted two candles, one ahead and the other astern of my floating bridge, recom- mended myself to God, and shoved off with a determination to escape dead or alive from my horrible confinement. On the eleventh day of my captivity, three hours after the robbers had left the grotto, I started, rigged out as already stated. The first twelve hours I had occasionally some trouble to push my bridge forward, by which time I found the bed of the river to have increased to four feet in depth, and it carried me along at a tremendous rate. The supposed eels became considerably larger and tamer, some of them ventured to crawl on the planks, but I cut them in two with my pruning knife, and tasted their flesh, which was much like that of eels, and fed upon them whenever I could get any. It was the sixth day of my leaving the grotto w r hen I observed that the river was no longer so rapid, and that the vault above had considerably lowered, which made me feel fear- ful of some sudden change, since I began to hear distinctly a waterfall, and in less than ten minutes after, I felt the bridge giving a plunge, and it remained with me for nearly one minute under water. I fortunately held fast to the rope which kept the planks together and thus saved myself from being washed off. As soon as I felt myself safe again, I groped along for the tinder jar which I had fastened to the large nail, with the candles, 28 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. and fortunately I found it well corked and quite dry. I lighted again the candles, and what was my surprise when I saw myself in deep water, still moving on very rapidly. That plunge had, however, cost me the loss of the bear skin and a few trifling articles ; the monster eels had entirely disappeared, but instead of them I began to see all kind of figures on the surface of the water, which seemed to be in great fear of my burning candles, and I really think I owe my safety to the lights, as otherwise I should have been most likely devoured by them. Seven days after the plunging I began to hear, about midnight, tre- mendous cracks like those of whips of the Spanish and Italian couriers, or rather those of sledgers in Germany, accompanied by awfully shrilling whistles; my hair bristled, a cold sweat ran over my whole frame ; first I thought that the robbers were in pursuit of me, but that fear soon sub- sided, since, on one occasion, I heard immedi- ately after the first three cracks a great and sudden splash in the water on the right side of the river, which was followed by some thousands of wood rats swimming across, apparently in great terror, grinding their teeth as they hur- ried along to the other side ; then the cracking and whistling were heard again. I could get no rest for nearly twelve hours after ; I really cannot say whether it was through the effects of fright and heated imagination, but I thought I beheld THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 29 strange colossal figures prowling about me ; I heard horrid cries, as if many persons were going to be swallowed up by an immense whirlpool, out of w r hich issued flames and a most disa- greeable sulphuric smell. Now and then I saw figures like men crossing the river, and looking at me with distrust ; I do not know indeed what would have become of me in so critical a moment had not the salutary religious instructions of my poor father and mother and of my professors come to my aid, who always taught me to trust in God, and in Jesus Christ our Saviour. I did so, I prayed to our Maker through the kind inter- cession of our Redeemer, and innocently invoked the blessed Virgin Mary, and all the Saints in communion with Jesus Christ, which renewed my strength of mind most wonderfully, and from that moment I was no longer afraid of any thing. It was the third week of my subterrane- ous voyage when I began to think that there would, sooner or later, be an end to my voyage, and my provisions began to fail me. Being thus wrapt up in meditation, I began to feel a pres- sure of air on the river ; the water was no longer rapid and undulating, which at once convinced me that some great change was going to take place. The bed of the river must have been by that time about sixty feet broad. All on a sudden my bridge gave several turns; I clung fast to the ropes ; the bridge sunk suddenly, and 30 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. then I felt myself propelled with it upwards with great violence. I had been accustomed to keep my eyes open under water, and could see light above me, and, as I felt my breath failing me, I let go the bridge and endeavoured to swim to the top where I saw light. I had already swallowed a good quantity of water. On a sud- den I rose, and beheld again the glorious light of day ; I swam for about two minutes to give myself time to look about me and see whether I could get again a sight of my bridge, which fortunately was floating capsized not far from me ; I swam to it and worked it to the shore, which was about twenty yards off; it was at the foot of an immense mountain, where I landed safely about three o'clock. The sun shone beautifully, and poured new strength into my whole constitution. As soon as I reached the shore I fell upon my knees, and gave myself up to most fervent thanksgivings to my Heavenly Father, and then I began to think of pitching my tent in some safe place for the night. I could scarcely keep my eyes open, having been deprived for such a length of time of the light of the sun. I had on one side the wide sea, and the huge mountain before me, covered with very lofty trees ; the sea-shore was lined with shrubs not unlike the wild laurel ; there was also fine grass on the ground, with many variegated flowers that spread a sweet per- fume. The sun gradually descended behind the THE ORPHAN OF XOVOGOROD. ol mountain. I saw very fine birds, but neither the animal nor vegetable creation was known to me in that place, which puzzled me not a little. Of men I saw none, yet I found tracts which convinced me that the country wherein I now found myself was inhabited. I hauled my faith- ful bridge on shore, and found to my great com- fort that I had two dried sausages and the brandy left, and that the pruning knife, the saw and the tinder-box, which I had fastened to a nail, were yet preserved to me. I immediately took care to dry my clothes during the evening at an im- mense fire, which I kindled for that purpose, and also to defend myself against the wild beasts, as well as to give notice to the inhabitants of the place that I was in their neighbourhood, but I was visited by neither. I built a kind of hut on a little hill or slip of ground which projected a good way into the sea. It was a splendid evening ; the sun had just run his glorious course and I was getting ready to go to rest, when I distinctly heard the report of a large gun ; I instantly con- jectured that I could not be very far from some town or fortress; wrapped up in a thousand speculations and suppositions, I at last fell asleep for four good hours, when I was awakened by the howling of wild beasts not unlike a lion ; I seized my pruning-knife, and did not close my eyes again that night, or rather day, for shortly 32 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. after it began to dawn ; and lo ! the report of a heavy piece of artillery was heard again from the same quarter. The sun began to emerge from the sea, and saluted the country with its benefi- cent rays and glorious brightness. I could dis- tinctly see several sails to the east, steering in the direction from whence the two reports of the heavy cannon came. I was not long in deter- mining to start for the supposed large town ; I accordingly left my hut, and speedily lighting a fire, was going to boil one of my sausages, and while I was thus occupied, I heard some of the wild fowls cackle like the hens after they lay their eggs ; I accordingly watched them with attention, and by this means soon discovered a nest of about eighteen eggs, of the size of those from our do- mestic hen ; I seized half a dozen of them, and boiled them in the tinder-jar, and made a most hearty breakfast of them, and then ascended the mountain to the right. It took me three good hours to reach the top of the mountain ; it is true I stopped very often looking at many of the wild animals which I started as I went along ; some looked like hares, and the others seemed to be a kind of red deer, but they were very tame. My joy was beyond all bounds when, on coming to the summit, I beheld before me a beautiful land- scape, composed of groves and superb villas, joining an immense city, intersected by three THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOEOD. 33 rivers crowded with ships and boats, going up and down without any sails set. The town seemed to be very large ; the streets were regu- larly built, and always led into large squares, and then a beautiful plain opened, interspersed with undulating hills as far as my eye could reach, which ended in the distance in a fine ridge of mountains, their blue outlines forming a pleasing contrast with the bright and glorious sky above. 34 . THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD, THIRD NARRATION. Whilst I was thus gazing on the beautiful coun- try before me, I was alarmed by a great noise ; I looked up, and beheld at the distance of a mile from me, an immense monster in the air moving rapidly towards me ; the first surprise did not allow me to examine immediately what it might be, but I soon saw that it was an air balloon, worked by a machine fixed in the car underneath the balloon, moving its huge paddles in the air. With a sur- prising rapidity it passed over my head, and a tremendous voice hailed me with a speaking- trumpet, but I could not make out the words ; I grew bold, however, and gave as loud a shout as I could, waving my handkerchief at the same time. Immediately the monster balloon stopped, and a basket was let down for me, and as I could not well refuse the kind offer, I seated myself in it, and was soon hauled up by a machine moved by clock-work. On my entering the car, I found, to my greatest astonishment, about fifty persons sitting comfortably in cells, not unlike small arm-chairs, fastened to the main basket, and covered with a kind of Indian-rubber cloth. On seeing me they expressed their admiration, THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 35 and an elderly mild-looking person asked me in Latin what language I spoke. On saying that I understood Illyrian, German and Latin, he conti- nued speaking Latin to me, asking me a few ques- tions as to how I came on the mountain ; when, hearing that I was thrown up by the waters at the foot of the mountain, he and all the persons in the basket immediately offered me their ser- vices, and vied with each other as to who should be the first to assist me ; yet they all ceded me to the person who first addressed me. They all spoke Latin, Greek, German and English, and expressed themselves very laconically in all those languages, avoiding all useless circumlocutions. A quarter of an hour afterwards an anchor was cast out in a very large square of the town, which I had been admiring a few minutes before ; some persons secured the anchor to some immense iron rings, after which the main basket was lowered into the square by means of pullies, not unlike those used on board ship. My old friend put a comfortable cloak and cap over me ; a light car- riage approached us, into which we stept, and moved off with great rapidity. The carriage was worked and directed by a man standing and pressing with his feet alternately two iron pans, which immediately rose again with great force, by means of two powerful steel springs fixed underneath to a kind of block-work. The wheels of the carriage were eight feet in diameter : they d2 36 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. had in the centre another spring, which, when wound up, continued moving forward for three hours, at the rate of six miles per hour, which, when united to the team machine, propelled the carriage at the rate of twelve miles per hour on even ground and six miles per hour ascending any hill ; and in fact all the carts and carriages were made upon the same principle throughout the whole country. My friend took me to his house, situated in one of the squares ; his family received him and me with great joy, and I was shown into an apartment nicely furnished, when my kind host then left me, telling me that I must consider myself at home, and that I could do no greater offence to his house than by constraining him to press me, to find out what I required ; I remarked, that the balloon was then lowered close to the basket, but it remained always a little inflated by a tube hanging down from the centre, ready to start again towards the east early the next morning. I observed several other balloons in other squares in the same position ; they were called aerial safety packets. I assured my host that it would be my parti- cular care to conform most strictly to ? all their customs; in answer to which, he pressed my hand most affectionately, and, giving a deep sigh, said, " God grant it ; but I must tell you, my good friend, that our records most sadly relate that all those that have come from your regions THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 37 have sooner or later acted in a contrary manner ; they could not help dissimulating and hiding their real thoughts ; they continually betrayed them- selves by their actions, and ultimately made themselves so miserable by their own self-con- sciousness, that they departed from us on their own accord to the mountains which you see to the north, provided with all the necessaries of life for one calendar month, and preferred thus to go astray in a subterraneous passage, which is said by old traditions to lead back to your regions, provided the person chooses the true one, though we have never yet been able to find out that any one had returned from thence to tell us of the fact ; and for the rest, I shall take you to our public libraries, where you can read with at- tention the records thereon, in any of the lan- guages you speak, and memorable they are. We are all Christians, and followers of Jesus Christ, and read with horror and astonishment of the dis- union, persecutions and uncharitableness which reign amongst you ; which information comes to us occasionally in all languages, partly in books, partly in newspapers, which are found in your ships and on dead persons, cast up from the depths of the seas and from whirlpools, and which are thus finally thrown up by the waters, as you have been, and many indeed there are. We keep them on the sea-coast, near the place where they have been originally found ; these we have 38 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. arranged according to their seniority, and depo- sited all their contents and curiosities in the great museum, purposely built to contain things that come from your world, which I shall show you, as soon as you get acquainted with our customs, which will not take you above one week, for they are simple, few, and very easily acquired." It was on the eve of their Sabbath-day that I came to the town called New Jerusalem, where I then found myself in my hospitable friend's house. As we walked through the different apart- ments, my friend pointed out to me a large dining hall, provided with chairs, sofas, and many large tables ; it was then being covered with all kinds of meats, wines and other comforts, together with fruits of the season. " To this place," my friend continued, " we shall resort to-morrow for our morning, noon and evening meals, because, al- though we keep strictly the Ten Commandments of the Lord, we scorn all hypocrisy, we live on the Sabbath-day merrily, and praise the Lord, whom we are taught by our forefathers to con- sider our kindest and fondest of Fathers, and who only wishes to see us happy ; and we strictly observe the injunctions and doctrines of our Saviour Jesus Christ, which is contained in these few words, " love your fellow-creature as your- self and do unto others as you wish to be done by f which words are written in all our churches, into which we admit all men, but never force THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOKOD. 39 any one to adopt our creed, neither by threat nor intimidation. We let any of the new comers think and work for themselves, who, without ex- ception, seeing the great principle of charity and forgiveness upon which we act, are glad to resort to divine service once every Sabbath-day, which divine service is performed at sunrise, at noon and at sunset; it only lasts an hour, and con- cludes with a sermon, laid down by a committee of our elder-men, who assemble every year, and who make a rule to keep close to the system and practice of our Saviour Jesus Christ, not admitting of any innovations, which so sadly have been introduced by your maniacs, enthu- siasts, selfish and interested knaves, under the mask of religion, or the so-called spirit of the age. No, my dear friend, the Bible or the New Testament is our great book, and we keep to it strictly, as you will see to-morrow. Name only the time when you wish to serve your God." I immediately said at sunrise, to which he gladly consented. By that time we had walked nearly through his whole suite of rooms, when I heard most cheerful music proceed from the centre of the house ; my friend was much pleased at seeing me so agreeably surprised. That music, my friend, said he, is the call to dinner. We accordingly approached the place from whence the melody proceeded, and entered another hall, not so large as the Sabbath-hall, but very comfortable, in the 40 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. middle of which was a dining table covered with various meats, fruits, and all kinds of wines. I had scarcely time to look about me when I saw all the inmates assembled. Just as they were going to sit down, my host asked me how old I was ? and on my answering him that I was in my eighteenth year, I was shown to a place be- tween a young lady and a young gentleman, who expressed great pleasure to have me between them. My friend sat at the head of the table, and blessed the meal, by making a Latin cross in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and sat down. My two young friends to the right and left took care of me ; they spoke all the languages which I did except Illyrian, but were not ignorant of its existence, and told me that they would introduce me to some of their friends who spoke Russian, which is nearly the same language. After having been thus at table for about three-quarters of an hour, the father of the family and the whole company stood up and thanked God for the food which we had received at his hands, and then sat down again, when most enchanting music was heard proceeding from an urn placed between the two central bal conies ; it played for a good half hour ; then the whole company rose to pursue their various occu- pations. My old friend walked up to me, and invited me to a walk in his garden with part of his family, which I readily accepted ; it was THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 41 situated at the back of the house, and led to the river side ; there were four beautiful walks in it leading from the house to the water, and ended in four fine arcades at the water side, so that we could see all the boats going up and down the river without being overlooked by them, except we chose to seat ourselves on the other side of the arcades, before which was a beautiful arena, with a landing place. After sunset I heard most charming but very powerful music, like a military band. My host told me that this music pro- ceeded from the church steeple which we saw to our right ; he said that every church is provided with a splendid euterpion, and that at sunset they begin to play at intervals of a quarter of an hour each, and thus continued playing for about two hours. In the morning at sunrise they begin again to play for an hour, during the week ; on Sabbath days they begin to play an hour before sunrise. It was ten o'clock at night when we heard again the musical call for supper, and pro- ceeded accordingly to the dining hall, where I took my old station ; half an hour after, we got up and walked into an adjoining apartment, where we had singing and playing, and coffee and tea. The following were the qualifications of their clergymen : — 1st. No person was allowed to be an ordained clergyman who did not speak and perfectly 42 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. understand all the principal ancient and modern languages of the country, so as to be able to perform divine service in any language, according as he might be situated, pursuant to part of the Gospel of St. Mark, xvi. 14. 2nd. All clergymen were allowed to marry. 3rd. They were handsomely paid by govern- ment. 4th. No clergyman was allowed to trade, or receive any fees. 5th. No clergyman was allowed in the pulpit to speak against any Christian sect ; the errors of the heathen and other unbelievers were not allowed to be animadverted upon in the pulpit, but their errors were to be shown with calmness, compassion, and with- out any vehemence, concluding with a most engaging and conciliating prayer for the same, without ever excommunicating any individual. 6th. No halt or defective person was allowed to be a clergyman. An hour before the break of day the church music awoke me, and penetrated to my soul. With all imaginary elevation of my mind and reverence for our Creator, I could not help falling upon my knees, and praising the Lord during the whole time' of the sacred morning music. We assembled in the Sabbath hall, and helped ourselves at the breakfast-table to what- THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 43 ever we liked best, and then proceeded to church. The temple stood in the middle of a large square, and had four magnificent gates, situated to the east, west, south and north. There again I heard most entrancing music. We walked to the centre of the church and sat down on very comfortable seats, which were all open without any pew- openers, sextons or beadles. Between every door there was an altar, representing the birth, life, passion and death of Jesus Christ. On the walls were written, in golden letters, the Lord's Prayer, Saint Gabriel's Salutation of the Virgin Mary, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments. The service began exactly when the sun rose. In the middle of the church there was a round pulpit ; in the second range there was the officiating elder or shepherd, and in the first range the elders and the clerical clerks. We all knelt down and crossed ourselves with the Latin cross, and the clergyman or shepherd invited us to confess our sins to the Almighty through Jesus Christ, and to ask forgiveness of them with a sincere and peni- tent heart, repeating the Confession after the clergyman, who then pronounced over us the ab- solution of our sins, provided we repented, and have forgiven them that have trespassed against us. Then the different prayers were read, nearly the same which I heard in my country ; but all repetitions were avoided. The same Psalms and Gospels, prayers, &c. were made for all men, 44 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. and particularly for us, who are so differing in our opinions, and persecuting each other. During a part of these prayers I was overpowered, and was ready to burst into a flood of tears, reflecting on the actual cruelties and persecutions and shameful dissensions between us, who call our- selves followers of Christ ; nay, that we are even encouraged to it by our ministers, calling them- selves disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. The general benediction was then given, and we rose, passing by one of the four altars, where we knelt down, and received every one of us the holy and most comfortable sacrament, from one of the officiating clerical elders in the most becoming manner, but without any pomp or ceremony, in remembrance of our Saviour and Redeemer. We then immediately rose and went to our homes with great cheerfulness. THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 45 FOURTH NARRATION. My friend told me that it was the custom to attend divine service only once in the day, in order that no one should remain away from church ; and he said also, that the household people generally went in the morning or evening. At nine o'clock we were called to our breakfast, and 'continued at it for a good half-hour. We then went out to explore the town until dinner-time ; the streets w r ere alive with all classes of people going backwards and forwards ; and we heard music playing in the various squares. On Sundays, we always dined at two o'clock, in order that we might not interfere with the evening service, and with the parties which were generally given at night, both by the higher and lower classes. Ball-rooms and theatres were open in the evening ; in short, no restraint was put on the poorer people from amusing themselves. The streets were re- markably clean, and on each side of them there ran a small stream of water, constantly flowing, kept up by the waterworks and nume- rous springs, which served to water the streets, and thus carried off all the refuse into the 46 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. river. We had just arrived at the end of our street, when my friend took me into a beautiful public garden, where we sat down on a gentle elevation, viewing the country all around us. I seized this opportunity, and asked my friend how it was that I saw no beggars in the streets ; he sighed, and said, " my dear friend, that is another horrid practice amongst you, of having beggars, and we suppose it is a kind of punish- ment inflicted upon you on account of your gene- ral uncharitableness to those who are rendered unfortunate amongst you ; it seems as if you con- sidered poverty synonymous with crime, and thus by your laws and practice you augment crime and the number of the poor; and it appears also, that the poor and wretched in your world are apparently kept in that state, lest they should ever get independent, because your great men fear that they would lose their power and conse- quence ; we thank God that we have no poor, nor do our laws allow any man to be in that state ; our elders belonging to the committee for regu- lating trade and industry, have formed an opinion from the various papers and books deposited in our public libraries from your world, that in the wealthiest parts of the country, wherever the peasants are not real landed proprietors them- selves, and where, consequently, the land is in the hands of a few hundreds of seigneurs, nearly THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOKOP. 47 the whole of the lower classes consist of a people on the verge of ruin. I hope you will feel convinced of this truth when you will have visited our capital, which is about four hundred English miles from hence. The best season to visit it is during the winter, because about that time the court resides there, but from May to the end of October the monarch always travels to the various cities, and does not omit to visit the smallest and most remote spot of his dominions, and upon these occasions he travels without any parade or pomp. He is not accompanied by any troops, as we have none, and because in time of need every one of us is a soldier, as you will see in the course of time. Every day, either during the time that he is travelling or residing in the capital, he gives audience to those who express a wish to see him, or to present to him any papers. He is continually seen in the public places of worship, amusement, and in the public walks, &c. No request addressed to him remains longer unanswered than three days from the time it has been presented. No difference, quarrel or question can be longer pending than twenty- four hours before it must be decided. We have no prisons, no punishment by death, and astonish- ing to relate, crimes are scarcely known amongst us, owing perhaps to the salutary system to stifle every germ of vice at its very first appearance. 48 THE ORPHAN OP NOVOGOROD. All the public places of worship and amusement are free to the public. Many are thus saved from ruin, as no extraordinary expense can be incurred by them in any amusement, and consequently the great desire of resorting to such places is allayed, and the mind is rendered more indifferent to them. We have performances both in plays and ballets, which tend to elevate the feelings, by the excellent morals they engender, even amongst the lowest classes. At the age of thirty every man must provide himself with a wife, and no man is thought well of who is not married after he has passed the age of thirty-six. Divorces are allowed, but under the sole condition that both the husband and wife immediately marry again of their own accord within the space of one month after their separation. The children of the first marriage are allowed to stay either with their father or mother, or as the parties con- tracting may have agreed. The marriages are celebrated in the churches, in private, or at home, by one of the clerical elders free of any charges ; all christenings and burials are also free from all expenses. The encouragement of arts and sciences are publicly taught, and also free of all expenses, and no one can receive his certificate for any profes- sion who has not been unanimously approved by the committee of one hundred elders ; and that THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 49 committee at the same time points out to any can- didate thus excluded, the trade or art for which he ought to apply ; but those exclusions very seldom happen, on account of the strict examinations which the candidates are obliged to undergo, be- fore they can apply for the final appointment to their profession. With regard to education, during the first ten years both the male and female children are entrusted to the instruction of their father and mother, who study first their bodily health and constitution, and afterwards gently form their minds and prepare them for that career which they wish them to pursue. They then are sent either to the public elementary schools, or may be privately instructed at home. They are never put to any serious study before the age of four- teen ; nay, they are most agreeably instructed in the various languages, drawing, music, arith- metic, &c, until they arrive at that age, when they are bound to attend the public colleges and universities, for the space of four, five, or six years, according to the progress they make in the different branches of the profession for which they have studied. They are then incorporated in their department, where they attend as apprentices for the space of three years, at the end of which period they are sent by the proper committee of elders to the capital, to undergo a final examina- tion by the general committee of the profession E 50 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. to which they aspire, and are then nominated by this same committee, and, being approved of by the monarch, are appointed accordingly. Every female or male past the age of fourteen is obliged to attend for two years the anatomical and medical lectures ; even the members of the royal family are not exempt from that regulation, because our ancestors and all of us consider, that as the different opinions of the clergy have caused so many dissensions, disasters and bloodshed, and have so often plunged the whole world into bar- barism and darkness for so many centuries amongst you, so also the medical men are consi- dered to have killed and continue to kill more men than all the battles and pestilences united ever did, on account of their not agreeing in opinion, and as every medical man has actually his own way and method of treating one and the very same disease, in which they cannot possibly be all correct, since one and the same malady must naturally have one and the same cure. We actually feel the most salutary effect of our wise arrangements in the medical department, since we have thus succeeded in prolonging our lives to three hundred years. We are still vigorous at two hundred and fifty, of which you have an instance in me. These are the main regulations for the medical department : — 1st. Every physician must be also a surgeon. THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 51 2nd. Medical men are to have a handsome salary from government, as they are not per- mitted to receive any fees. 3rd. The physician must visit his patients four times in the day to observe the different symptoms. 4th. The medicines also are to be supplied by the public apothecaries gratis, of which there are six in every street, with the same num- ber of physicians. 5th. That all such physicians who do not re- move a malady in the course of three days be dishonoured, and revert to some other profession. 6th. There are rules set down by a committee of one hundred medical elders how to treat every malady and wound of any kind, from which they cannot at all deviate, in which rules every thing is so clearly explained, that the narrowest mind may comprehend them. 7th. That the fair sex are supplied with female doctors, accoucheurs, &c, &c, who are in- structed and paid upon the same principle as the male physicians and surgeons ; the former, in fact, excel us in many points, nay, they have contributed to very many superior discoveries peculiar to the female sex. Few lose their children, whose ages are prolonged, as I have already said, to three hundred years and upwards. e2 52 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 8th. That all the deceased are inspected and opened after they had been lying in state for the space of eight days, and be after- wards committed to one of the four public burying-grounds outside the town. 9th. A work entitled " The Mirror of Health," is printed in the form of a small volume, and ordered to be placed in all bed-rooms, with directions how to proceed on the first symp- toms of any illness appearing, and thus the doctors are scarcely ever troubled or applied for ; but both the physicians and clergymen have a free access to families, and are consi- dered as friends. Our beloved monarch has carefully considered all these laws, which tend so much to our happi- ness and welfare. He has made himself ac- quainted with all these studies, as tending to the prosperity of his subjects ; and unless this is the case, no country or its inhabitants can be truly happy, as you must clearly see in your own world. I was highly pleased with this information, and expressed a wish to be shown the public library, which my friend promised to do on the following day ; by that time the divine service at noon was announced by the sacred music in the different churches. We therefore walked home and rested ourselves in the sitting-room, reading the news- paper, which to me was highly interesting, and THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 53 from which I clearly saw how candid and correct my good friend had been in his informations. An hour after the evening divine service, the family proposed to go to the opera. The opera was announced to be the " Clemenza di Tito;" I found the house was lighted with gas, and it would be impossible to describe the magnificence of the building and its decorations, and the beauty of the music and singing. The pit and boxes were full ; rich and poor all sat together ; and the neat and quiet dresses of the higher orders were very striking. Every thing was so very harmonious and cheerful, that it inspired the most indifferent heart with a wish to partake of the amusement for which we assembled. The whole opera only lasted two hours, after which the stage was instantly lowered on a level with the pit; four magnificent gates opened at the bottom of the stage, and we beheld before us a kind of garden, in the centre of which were large banquet tables, covered with all the fruits of the season, and provisions of all descriptions. In each of the four corners of that garden there was an immense hall beautifully lighted up, where various groups were merrily dancing ; in one hall they had country-dances, in another quadrilles, in the third waltzes, and in the fourth minuets. All classes most happily mixed toge- ther : the governor danced with the peasant girl, and the peasant with the clergyman's daughter ; 54 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. in short every one was happy and enjoyed him- self. I went to the hall, where I heard waltzes playing, and engaged a beautiful young lady, who was seated on one of the sophas ; we made several rounds in the hall, and feeling rather tired, my friend came up to me and asked me how I had amused myself. I told him that I was much pleased with the young lady with whom he had seen me waltzing. He asked me if I knew how old she was ; I said I sup- posed about my own age : he smiled and told me that she was past one hundred years, which completely puzzled me. We then went to the quadrilles, where he showed me some couples dancing, who were above two hundred years old. In the minuet rooms were little children and elderly looking men and women ; he informed me that most of the persons dancing in that room were verging on three hundred years, and some were even passed that age, who still enjoyed the amusement. Towards eleven o'clock the parties left the dancing rooms, and we then went home, and partaking of a slight supper retired to our rooms about midnight. THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 55 FIFTH NARRATION. When he had arrived at this part of his narra- tive, an interruption took place, for we came in sight of Trieste, one of the principal Austrian sea- ports in the Adriatic ; he promised however to finish it on some other day. The town of Trieste, with its territory, contains about 100,000 inhabitants. It is situated on the seaside, and is now a very thriving free port. On the north and east is Carniola ; on the south is Istria, while to the west is the blue Adriatic. The port is a pretty secure one, except during the prevalence of the north-east winds, which, during winter, cause some danger to any ships which anchor too close to the Lazzaretto Vecchio, as they are sometimes cast on shore ; but there is not the least danger to the shipping in the anchorage on the other side of the Mollo di S. Carlo, where the wind can do no material harm. During the winter season, an easterly wind, called the Bora, is very prevalent, and sometimes so violent that people are often thrown down by it. The town is regularly built, and possesses very fine streets and squares; and in the outskirts are many beautiful villas, which command the most charm- 56 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. ing views. The smaller country-houses are called Mandrie, and the peasantry about there are styled Mandrieri. They speak Carnilan, a kind of Illyrian; they are a hardy and courageous race, and would make excellent light troops; they wear short round jackets, and loose trousers of black cloth, with large Quakers hats ; they form the militia of Trieste, and present a very imposing appearance when they are embodied in regiments in the time of war. The gentry of Trieste consider themselves of noble descent, and speak a kind of corrupt Venetian ; they call their Mandrieri and all the peasants round Trieste Schiavi. These old Triestines, however, have nearly disappeared. The present population consists of various nations, and specimens of almost every nation may be seen parading the streets and about the port; the major part of the inhabitants however consist of Germans and Italians. They all live in great harmony together, no matter what country or persuasion they belong to; and it is certainly to the credit of the Austrian go- vernment, that there is more tolerance in Trieste than in any other part of the world, North America perhaps excepted. For this Austria is indebted to Maria Theresa, the Emperor Joseph, and to the late emperors, Francis I. and II., names that never can be forgotten. Trieste is well supplied with all kinds of provisions and the luxuries of life. During the heat of summer the inhabitants THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 57 are often distressed for fresh water. But it is hoped that the new burying-ground, lately se- lected by the Triestine elders, and which yields vast quantities of water during nine months in the year, will be turned to account by some clever engineer. Commerce is carried on at Trieste with all parts of the world, but particu- larly with England, America, the Levant, Greece, Egypt, and the coast of Italy, together with the Island of Sicily. Trieste is in fact the emporium of all kinds of merchandise, and an admirable place for gaining commercial knowledge, and where a man may soon make his fortune. Large sums of money are here raised on English government bills. Venice is next to Trieste in this respect, but from the difficult entrance for vessels, this city will never be able to cope with Trieste. The principal import from the interior of Austria and Illyria is wheat, copper, iron, lead, quicksilver, timber, wines, cattle, linen, and various other commo- dities. In a military point of view, Trieste is exposed on every side, but the holds on the mountains all round Trieste are very strong, and capable of keeping off an enemy, particularly from the side towards the sea. On the mountains above Trieste there is excellent sporting during the woodcock season ; there is also a great abundance of hares and red-leg partridges. 58 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. About ninety miles to the south-east of Trieste is Fiume, a free port of Hungary, very important for the exportation of Bannat wheat, timber, and all the articles which are brought to Trieste; thirty miles to the south of Fiume, is the free port of Segna, having also a great traffic in the same articles. Segna, however, being exposed to the bora, is not so thriving. Fiume might become as important a place as Trieste, if its commercial interests were more regarded. Ninety English miles to the west of Trieste is Venice, also a free port ; but on account of the diffi- culty which large vessels have in entering it will never become a thriving maritime town, un- less the Venetians united all the islands by bridges, and made them approachable for car- riages by some large viaduct from the main land, on the side of the Brenta and Lido Dimalamacco. Venice would then indeed be regenerated and become the most interesting town in Italy, if not in the world. And in my humble opinion the Venetians are as deserving of aid on the part of the Austrian government, for the Venetians are more attached to Austria than any other Italian nation ; and Austria, by so doing, would perhaps derive very great advantages for herself, as well as for all her hereditary provinces. Venice would thus become a great commercial town ; and were fortifications to be added, it would be one of the strongest places in the world, and a safe THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 59 military depot for the Austrians. Bonaparte has given a specimen of the improvements he would have made in Venice, merely by the planting of the walk called " IlGiardino Publico." The lonely and melancholy looking palaces would soon be re-animated ; Venice would indeed with justice be called " La Partenope del Mondo," and a fairy town. As to the laws of Austria, they are the most mild and paternal ones in the whole world. In no country are the peasantry more protected : there the poor man is not afraid to bring a rich man to justice; the public authorities are bound to hear him and do him justice. There the per- secuted man need not be afraid that he will be put to any great expense by his rich opponent. In Austria every peasant, nay, every tradesman owns some portion of land, which he cheerfully cultivates, knowing that his grand-children will amply reap the profits. Austria, in itself a very small province, was in the first instance made an empire, in order to deprive Francis II., Emperor of Germany, of all his principal rights in being styled the Em- peror of Rome and of Germany, and thus to make Austria gradually sink into a secondary power in Germany. Whereas, Prussia, it is true, had not been aggrandised by the late war ; but she knew how to keep her title and rank, which may in the course of time render her the mistress 60 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. and protectress of the whole of Germany, thanks to the deplomacy of England, France, Russia and Prussia. Poor Francis II. was so humbled as to become Francis I., Emperor of Austria, having been left to the mercy of Napoleon, and was ex- cluded from all further claims to the control over Germany. Why England, for whom Aus- tria shed so much blood, allowed her only faithful and steady ally to be thus dealt with, remains yet a riddle ; but in the main it is evident that Eng- land, allowing Austria to lose her supremacy in Germany, has virtually dipt her own wings in that part of Europe. Alas! Austria has lost her power in Germany, and few Germans regret it, not that the government is a bad one, but be- cause she is taunted by the ignorant as being a bigoted and Catholic country, and intolerant towards the Protestants, Calvinists and Luther- ans, which certainly was not the case during the reigns of the Emperors Joseph I., and Francis I. and II. Jealousy and fear of the Lu- therans and Protestants, however, in Prussia, as well also as that of France, contributed to en- tirely alienate the German hearts from Austria ; and unfortunately they have proved of late but too triumphant. It is known and acknowledged throughout the whole of Austria, that there is not a more tolerant country in the world in point of religion ; and I may even go so far as to say, that THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 61 Austria, a Catholic country, is more enlightened and reformed in general notions of Christianity than many Protestant and Lutheran countries; and the period is perhaps not very distant, when, to the discomfit of bigoted Protestants, Aus- tria will put to the blush all those who would represent her in the odious light that I have already mentioned. I may say, and with truth, that there is no country in which the purity of the Catholic religion was more attended to than during the reigns of the Emperors Joseph I., and Francis I. and II. There a nobleman associates amongst his inferiors without being afraid of losing any portion of his nobility ; nay, he is more revered on this account by his peasants and in- feriors. The government is particularly paternal in point of public institutions of instruction. A peasant's son is allowed to frequent the different colleges, and is found seated near a count or baron, who meets with all that urbanity and respect due to his birth, though he may be seen playing with his inferiors during the hours of recreation. Austria is composed of many dif- ferent people, who are all governed by those laws which render them a most happy nation. In Hungary the peers or magnats own the land ; and there the peasants are slaves, while the civi- lians enjoy a little more freedom. In Italy the peasants or colloni, though not actually slaves, are perhaps in several instances worse off than 62 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. those in Hungary, for they possess very few com- forts, and generally shelter themselves from the cold during the winter by living in the stables with the cattle ; and this is the country in which people boast that there is so much liberty and civilization ! Austria is sensible of their sufferings ; but, as nearly all the landed property is in the hands of the nobility, she cannot well interfere in it with- out upsetting the feudal systems of that country, which, it is to be hoped, she will eventually do, as soon as she has prosecuted that great object in Hungary. There are few countries in which all classes may live so well, and with so much eco- nomy as in Austria; and were English travellers to mix more with the inhabitants, and make themselves better acquainted with their manners and habits, many of their unjust prejudices would be removed. Austria is called an absolute mo- narchy, it is quite true ; but few persons are aware that her monarchs are the most rigo- rous observers of the laws, which have been framed by the states and their forefathers, and for that very reason she may be said to have a constitutional form of government, as it is the laws that govern and not the emperor. To return to my travels. My friend and I ar- rived safely at Trieste. I took a situation as tutor, in the family of a nobleman, who wished me to superintend the education of his two THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 63 nephews ; he was from Trieste, and was named Francesco di Minighini ; there was an under- standing that I should be allowed to attend the public naval school during the time that I was with them. In 1805, I heard from all persons, that the French would soon come to Trieste and take pos- session of the whole of Carniola. My plans were thus about to be entirely frustrated ; I therefore began to make serious reflexions upon my future movements. I knew German, Latin, Illyrian, English, French, Italian and Spanish, which only kindled the more earnest desire to begin my travels. I dreaded the idea of seeing French bayonets in my native land ; in the mean time I became acquainted with several English and American naval officers. One day I was invited in company with the nephew of the Austrian governor, Count Lovag, of Trieste, and another friend of mine, Antonio De Minighini, to go and breakfast on board an English 64 gun ship, com- manded by Captain Briggs. The kind treatment which we received from this gentleman, the order and cleanliness of the ship, and of the whole crew, completely won my heart ; in short, the rapid approach of the French towards my native country, and my desire to see the world, determined me to take a passage on board an English man - of - war. A few days after I had formed this resolution, the I alouse English 64 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. sloop of war came to Trieste, commanded by Captain Straichy. My plan was soon made and executed. I applied to the English consul for a passage, which was granted me immediately, and thus I sailed in her from Trieste, in the month of June, 1805. I shall never forget that day; it was towards sunset when we weighed anchor. I was shown into the midshipmen's mess-room ; it was rather small, but they all appeared to be very cheerful and happy. The first - lieutenant on board was Mr. Bailey, and the surgeon a Dr. Reid; the midshipmen were Modsly and Steven- son. The night was beautiful ; the sea was gently agitated by the evening breeze, from the Car- niolan and Carinthian mountains, and our vessel gliding over the shining waters, we arrived at day-break at the channel of Venice. I was asked by the officers if I wished to see Venice, to which I answered in the affirmative, and we soon after shoved off in the cutter, with the first-lieutenant Bailey, the doctor, and. several other officers; we remained at Venice about twenty-four hours. I here thought it better to lay in some stock of provisions for myself; I accordingly bought eight dozen of eggs, two pounds of tea, some sugar, cakes, and half a dozen of Cyprus wine, which I brought safely on board, and gave the whole over to Mr. Stevenson, the senior midshipman. The next day we sailed for Malta, just at sun-rise, and we soon lost sight of Venice. At eight THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 65 o'clock I was called to breakfast in the midship- men's mess-room, where we were all very merry ; and I proposed to have some eggs for breakfast, and we soon despatched a dozen of them. At one o'clock we dined and drank between us a bottle or two of Cyprus; the next day we did the same, and made milk out of the eggs for our tea. My provisions, however, did not last very long, for, at the end of six or seven days, they were all devoured ; I did not much relish the tea without milk, nor the hard ship's biscuits for my break- fast ; I, however, did not lose my good spirits on this account ; the dinner hour did not mend the matter, for we had only salt beef, potatoes and biscuit, and some grog, which I could not drink. I was walking up and down the quarter- deck, when the first-lieutenant approached me, asked me how I fared ; I felt rather embarrassed, and did not give him an immediate answer ; but he continued talking with me, and asked me to dine with him next day, which I gladly accepted, and it made up for the preceding day. Next day the doctor invited me ; and I was thus asked to dinner almost every day by the officers of the gun- room during the whole passage to Malta. The eighth day after we left Venice, I observed all hands suddenly very busy, the drum beating to quarters, and I was shewn a large frigate, which was bearing down upon us, and being supposed to be French, the captain ordered the netting to be 66 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. rigged up, in case of an attempt being made to board us ; the decks were cleared for action, and all hands were ordered to lie down near their guns, to be in readiness. It turned out however to be a false alarm, for the frigate proved to be a Neapolitan one. The next day we gave chase to a small craft, but the crew escaped in their boats. Two days after, when there was rather a heavy swell, we fell in with a large Trabaccolo; we brought the vessel to, and Mr. Stevenson was ordered to board her, which he instantly did, to examine her papers ; but the sea being rough, I saw him in some danger of being crushed between the two vessels, I therefore most innocently, and really in the sincerity of my heart, was so rejoiced to see him safe back, that as soon as he put his foot on the quarter-deck, I threw my arms around him before even he had said a word to the cap- tain, which scene I found to my great mortification was a source of much amusement to all the bye- standers, and soon cured me of giving way to any similar sentimental demonstration on board an English man-of-war. Before I left the Jalouse, Mr. Bailey asked me if I should like to remain as midshipman on board, which I politely declined, thinking of the bad fare that midshipmen endured in those times. There was a young Swiss officer as passenger on board, with whom I got acquainted; his name was Baron De Sonnenberg ; he was a very fine and engaging young man, and introduced THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 67 me to Colonel De Watteville, and to some other officers of De Watteville's Regiment,, who hear- ing that I spoke English wanted to take lessons of me in that language ; they introduced me to Major D. Walker, of the 20th Regiment, who was a very good German scholar, and used to read with me. I thus continued for a fortnight, when Captain William Hoste, of H. M. ship Eury- dice, sent for me, offering me a seat at his table, and one dollar per day, if I liked to join him on board, and employ my time by reading and speak- ing French and Italian with him, w T hich I was not quite willing to accept ; but he called again and sent his first-lieutenant Mr. Green, now Sir Andrew Green, to me, representing to me the many advantages, were I to immediately join him, as he was going to put to sea early next morning, which offer I finally accepted, and embarked on board the Eurydice towards the end of August. Captain Hoste, the late gallant Sir William Hoste, soon gained my con- fidence by his truly endearing and cheerful man- ners, with whom I remained from August, 1805, to September, 1806, during which time I received all possible attention from him and from ail the officers on board. We left Malta next day, and took a cruise between Africa, Sardinia, Minorca, Majorca, and Gibraltar, when we received orders to join Lord Nelson's fleet off Cadiz. As soon as the Eurydice joined the fleet, she was irame- f 2 68 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. diately selected to carefully watch the move- ments of the combined Spanish and French fleets in Cadiz, consisting of thirty-three sail of the line, without counting the frigates, sloops, &c. It is impossible to describe the zeal with which Sir William Hoste and Sir Andrew Green, together with all the other officers, acquitted themselves in that highly important duty. In the afternoon, and early in the morning, the Eurydice approached within gun-shot of the entrance of the harbour of Cadiz, when Sir William and Sir Andrew began to count the enemy's ships, noting their positions, size and appointments, which duty lasted for nearly three weeks. During the night we steered a little further off the harbour; and in the day time we made our report by signal. One day being relieved from our duties, we were cruising between Cape St. Mary and St. Lucar, when we discovered a gun-boat or shebeck steering close in shore; Sir William immediately gave chase, and just as we were getting our long guns to bear upon her, the Eurydice struck against the shoal. Sir William immediately ordered the launch to be manned with twenty-four men, in order to board the gun-boat. Sir Andrew Green jumped into her with his usual alacrity, and made off for the chase. The launch was not half a mile from us, when the Eurydice completely turned on her starboard side and remained so for several hours, until the tide lifted her again. As soon as the THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 69 gun-boat saw the launch approaching, the whole crew fled with such a precipitation on shore, that they left the letter bag on board, which Sir An- drew took possession of and consigned it to the care of Sir William, who ordered me to examine the contents with great attention ; in doing so I found amongst them one which announced, that the enemy's combined fleets were going to sail with the first fair wind, which letter Sir William lost no time in taking to Lord Nelson, on board the Victory, who, after learning its contents, said to Sir William, " I know very well that they will come out ;" he consequently drew his ships be- hind Cape St. Mary and formed a line of fri- gates to observe the movements of the enemy's fleet. The same day, his lordship gave to Sir William the choice of the command of the Ajax 74, and the Amphion frigate, Lord Nelson's favourite ship. Sir William accepted the latter, and assumed the command of her accordingly. I accompanied him, which was about the 15th or 16th of the month of October, in 1805. The Amphion was then ordered to proceed to Algiers with presents of some chests of muskets for the Dey ; we accordingly sailed, Sir William little thinking that he had seen his great friend Lord Nelson for the last time. On our arrival there the presents were delivered to the Dey, who was highly pleased with them. Sir William and myself were invited to stay for a few days with the 70 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. English consul in the Dey's palace, from whence we made a shooting excursion to the north-east of Algiers, and found many red-leg partridges. The whole coast abounds in game, particularly during the quail and woodcock seasons. Algiers is agreeably situated; the country houses give it a fine appearance, but the town is built like a sugar-loaf, with narrow streets, simi- lar to all other Turkish towns. It has a miserable harbour, and is commanded from the south-west side, so that it cannot be made a strong place. The country on the whole coast of the north of Africa is much like the soil of Sicily, and may become a very fruitful one. The inhabitants are a hardy race, having the same habits, manners and customs as all the Arabs. The Dey was at that time on good terms with England, and he gave us as many head of cattle for our fleet as we chose to take on board. The four Portuguese officers who were slaves in Algiers were allowed to come and dine with us at the palace. They told us of the great sufferings they had endured, being obliged to carry large stones on their shoulders to Algiers from a place an hour's dis- tance from the town, so that their shoulders often bled. We promised them that their case should be brought before Lord Nelson ; the poor fellows shed tears on our departure. I also saw some Neapolitan prisoners of war or slaves, who were driven along the streets like cattle. I could not THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 71 help reflecting how disgraceful it was for the whole of Christian Europe to allow those barbari- ties to exist so long. About the 28th of October, 1805, we left Algiers. We took the governor of Oran on board, in order to land him in Oran Bay, most delight- fully situated. The town is about five miles from the sea shore. During the passage I had an opportunity of conversing with the governor, who is a native of Turkey in Europe, and a well-informed man. Amongst other subjects, I turned our conversa- tion on religion, and asked him what he thought of our Christian religion ; to which he candidly replied that he could not form a favourable idea of it, since he saw us so disunited and so con- stantly at war with each other. He had a green waistcoat on, and said, " Look, that is green, and every body in their sound senses will say that it is so ; but your Copts, Armenians, Catholics, United Greeks, Disunited Greeks, Protestants, Lutherans, Calvinists, Methodists, Unitarians, &c, each one pretends to have a right notion of the colour, and laughs at his neighbour, whereas one only must be in the right." We were here interrupted by Sir William Hoste, who wanted to speak to the governor before he went on shore, which I was very glad of, as I was rather puzzled what reply I should make to him on so important a subject. In the afternoon we landed the governor 72 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. under a salute, and continued our course towards Gibraltar. When we had passed Tetuan Bay, HJW's brig, the Halcyon, hove in sight ; she made a signal by telegraph of " Victory," and then that " Lord Nelson was dead." It certainly was an awful moment for every one on board ; poor Captain Hoste did not speak to any one, except when his duty required him, and in this mourn- ful condition we cast anchor at Gibraltar, where we found the whole of Lord Collingwood's fleet. I visited the French 74, Swiftsure, and the Spanish ship of the line Bahama ; they were both in the same state as after the action, except that the dead were committed to the watery grave, and the prisoners and wounded were sent on shore. The sides and the interior of the prizes were pierced just like a sieve, but I found that the shots had especially extended from astern to- wards the centre of the vessel, and shattered her in a dreadful manner, sweeping off dozens to the right and left on the maindecks, and dashing the skulls of the poor fellows against the ship's sides, which were still covered with the brains, blood and hair. It was indeed a heart-rending sight, but how much more distressing must have been the spectacle of Admiral Villeneuve's flag-ship, which had about three hundred men killed and wounded at the first broadside from the Victory ; so great indeed was the slaughter, that the French crew actually waded in their blood. THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 73 SIXTH NARRATION. We remained at Gibraltar about a week, when on Sunday, about three o'clock, p.m.,, the admi- ral's ship made a signal for the Amphion to slip her cable and to attack the enemy's gun-boats, that were coming] out of Algesiras to annoy an English convoy of merchantmen, which were coming into Gibraltar direct from England. This order was immediately executed, and we were soon engaged with about thirty-two gun-boats, the greater part of which were protected by an immense battery, which began to pour shells upon us, several of which actually burst above and near the Amphion without doing us any harm ; several shots struck us under water, but did not penetrate ; one 24-pounder struck our launch, and broke one of our men's legs ; he hoisted himself up on the painter astern, and the poor fellow was taken down to the cockpit. The lower guns of the Amphion were so well directed by the first-lieutenant, Bennet, and by the second- lieutenant, G. M. Jones, that we sank several of the enemy's gun-boats ; the others soon retired, and we saw the whole convoy enter safely into 74 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. Gibraltar harbour, if we may call that a harbour, which is the most unsafe in the world during north-west winds. The value of many of the cargoes which have gone down would exceed treble the sum that might be expended in cutting a deep canal between the neutral ground and the rock into the Mediterranean, by which the ships coming to Gibraltar would be protected from the north-westerly gales and would be perfectly se- cure, by the immense batteries on the land side. But to return to our naval operations. Lord Collingwood put again to sea with his victorious fleet, and the Amphion was ordered as a look-out ship, to observe the remnant of the Spanish and French ships of war and our escaped prizes in Cadiz harbour. One day, while we were thus reconnoitring the harbour, we saw all the men-of- war with their yards across, and soon learnt that it was the mourning signal of the brave Spanish Admiral Gravin, who had died of his wounds re- ceived off Trafalgar. A week after, we were sent on a cruise with the Unity frigate, commanded by Captain Ogle, in the Atlantic Ocean. The Amphion took the range between Madeira and the Canary Islands, and the Unity cruised more to the north-west, round the Azore Islands, when we again fell in with her, and soon after rejoined the fleet off Cadiz. During our cruise we visited the Island of Madeira, and stopped there three days, in order to take in fresh water and some live THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 75 stock. Captain Hoste and I dined with Mr. Pringle, then the British consul at Funchal, and some of the officers were kindly invited to dinner by Mr. Gordyn, the wealthiest wine merchant of that island. In taking into consideration all the vineyards at Madeira, it is quite preposterous to believe that this island could ever produce all the wines that are yearly consumed in England ; and I was told by a person of the highest authority then at Madeira, that immense cargoes of white wines are yearly introduced from the coast of Spain into that island, which are manufactured by the skilful English wine merchants into Ma- deira wines, and exported accordingly to all parts of the world for the genuine article ; a convincing proof of the probability of the fact is, that the Bronte Madeira wines, alias Marsalla, of Mr. Wood- house, which, in spite of the great inferiority of Sicilian wines in comparison with those of Spain, certainly partake of many of the good qualities of real Madeira, hence the great difficulty to de- tect the deception. A few days before the Amphion and Unity rejoined the fleet off Cadiz, towards the evening a large ship hove in sight, supposed to be a Spanish 74, and Captain Ogle, our commodore, immediately made the signal for chace and to prepare for action ; we soon were ready ; and this immense vessel, which had all the appearance of a foreign man-of-war, we perceived was also 76 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. prepared for action. The Unity took an excel- lent position astern of her, in case she should turn out an enemy. When we, however, came within pistol-shot of her, in the dead of night, Captain Hoste ordered me to hail her in Spanish, which was answered in Portuguese, and she proved to be a very large Portuguese East Indiaman, bound for Lisbon. The scene was a very striking one, and the Amphion and Unity looked very impos- ing during the darkness of the night, on account of the fine effect produced by the many lights hanging on the beams of the maindeck. The suspense of all hands on board, during the interval of coming alongside and my hailing her, can hardly be described; for we were uncertain whe- ther a full broadside might not have been given us as an answer, which certainly would have been the case, if she had been an enemy. Soon after we rejoined Lord Collingwood's fleet, the Amphion received orders to proceed on a cruise to the Mediterranean, in company with the Ajax, 74, and Thunderer, 74, for the purpose of reconnoitring the Spanish fleet in Carthagena, consisting of about eight sail of the line ; we ac- cordingly proceeded there, and as soon as we made out the heights of Carthagena, the Amphion received further orders to steer right for Cartha- gena, to reconnoitre and try to decoy the enemy's ships to sea. On coming in sight of the entrance of the harbour, we discovered outside two Spa- THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 77 nish line-of-battle ships, one of which gave us chace ; we hoisted the English flag and placed the Spanish colours under it, and fired a gun, which was a signal for the Ajax and Thunderer. The Spanish 74 gave us chace for a full hour, and we let her approach us within gun-shot, with signals flying of the enemy in sight. The Spa- niards could certainly have reached us with their long guns, but they did not fire at us. The Ajax and Thunderer soon after hove in sight, and had the former been a little faster she might have cut off the enemy's ship. As soon as we saw the im- practicability of doing this, we tacked and short- ened sail for the moment, and continued our cruise direct for Toulon, the Ajax and Thunderer keeping the high sea. We approached close to the entrance of Toulon harbour during a pitch- dark night and when it was a dead calm, which made us keep on the alert, expecting to be at- tacked every moment by gun-boats ; yet all went off well, and at daybreak we perceived a French pollacca ship, which was coming from Marseilles; but the southern hills of Toulon keeping the wind away from us, we had not a fair chance of coming up with her, and she consequently put back to Marseilles, and we continued our cruise off Genoa, Ostea and Leghorn. Marseilles is very advantageously situated, and is the principal and most thriving French port in the Mediterranean. The country houses round 78 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. Marseilles are very beautiful. This city has an advantage in being so near Toulon, which is one of the safest harbours in Europe, on account of its narrow entrance. Marseilles carries on a great trade with the whole Levant, the Mediterranean, with the West Indies, and other parts of the world, and has lately be- come still more important, since the French have possessed Algiers. Not far from Toulon is An- tibes, where Napoleon landed from Elba, and only interesting on that account. Not far from it is Nice, well known for the salubrity of its climate, so often beneficial to English invalids. The red wine of Nice is perhaps the best in the Mediterranean. Marseilles produces a kind of red champagne, which is extremely pleasant ; the olives of Mar- seilles and Nice are perhaps the best and finest in the world. Nice has no harbour; but on the east side there is a kind of bay at Villa Franca, which has a very dangerous anchorage, on account of the dangerous surf which is prevalent, during a south-east wind. The whole coast from Nice to Vado, near Savona, is rough, and has a romantic aspect, interspersed with insignificant villages, producing olives and light wines. Savona, once a rival of Genoa, is delightfully situated; it pro- duces very good fruits, and has some little trade in silks; formerly there was a nice little harbour here, which the Genoese ruined by sinking some galleys laden with stones at the very entrance. THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 79 Cuculetto, the native town of Christopher Co- lumbus, Veltri, and several other places on the Marina, are covered with fine buildings, together with delightful palaces, belonging to the old Ge- noese families. The inhabitants of these towns are now nearly all shipwrights, who work at small crafts. The finest tulle or silk lace comes from Arbisola, where there are two fine palaces, which are well worth seeing. Genoa, so delightfully situated, is now the chief sea-port town of the dominions of the King of Piedmont and Sardinia, and trades with the whole world. The Genoese are consi- dered the most crafty merchants in the world, and very seldom is one of them known to be taken in; they say that seven Jews and seven Greeks are required to take in a Genoese. The Jews find great protection in Genoa and Piedmont, particu- larly since the strict alliance between Sardinia and the House of Austria. The principal trade with Piedmont is silk and corn. The wines of Genoa are light, and scarcely worth drinking. Their best are called Agretto. Those of the interior of Pied- mont are somewhat better, and the Vino di Asti is a kind of white champagne, which is consi- dered a very good lady's wine. Genoa is a very strong place, but it requires many troops to de- fend it, and garrisons generally run the risk of being starved out, on account of the many troops 80 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. that are required for its protection in time of siege. This town capitulated to our troops under the command of the gallant Lord William Ben- tinck, on condition of being allowed to remain a republic: but Lord Castlereagh annulled the ca- pitulation signed and approved by Lord William Bentinck, and caused Genoa to be incorporated with the kingdom of Sardinia, which breach of faith the Genoese never can forget, and which placed Lord William Bentinck in a most un- pleasant position, and which he has deeply felt during his lifetime ; but his name is venerated throughout the Mediterranean, and well may Sir Robert Wilson say, " in the deserts of Lybia and throughout Egypt, a British uniform was equally respected with the turban of Mahometanism, and the word of an Englishman esteemed sacred as the Koran." Leghorn, a very thriving seaport, and trades with nearly the whole world. The Tuscans are the better part of the Italian nation, and their soil is rich and productive ; it is considered one of the most important places in Italy, and here the quarantine regulations are perhaps the severest in the world. Naples, most charmingly situated in a very fruitful country, is surrounded by beau- tiful islands, with an excellent harbour. Not far from Mount Vesuvius, and close to Herculaneum and Pompeja, the excavations of which towns would, perhaps, make the King of Naples the THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 81 richest of monarchs, if the Neapolitan govern- ment would only choose to look a little to its real interests ; but alas ! Naples, by some fatality, is not sufficiently alive to this, and they think too much of the amusements of life, without in- teresting themselves for the welfare of their offsprings, fully confirming the proverb, " Napoli e poi Morire." The olives are here remarkably fine, and all kinds of fruits are most abundant. The sporting is excellent; quails, woodcocks, red- legged partridges, snipes, and all sorts of wild fowl, are found in great abundance ; and the wild boar and the deer are hunted with great success. The Neapolitans are certainly a most excellent and sociable nation. They make also good troops, if well officered. The island of Ischia, a few miles to the south-west of Naples, is one of the finest islands in the world ; its baths surpass any in Europe ; if there be any virtue in baths, Ischia carries off the prize. The walks through the centre of the island are wild and most enchanting, par- ticularly from the royal bathing mansion to the other side of the island, where there are groves of chesnut, delightful vineyards and gardens. Ischia produces the finest fruits, and an excellent kind of white champagne. In 1809, the British army under Sir J. Stuart, in union with the Neapolitan Sicilian troops, remained at Ischia during six weeks. On the arrival of the British expedition in the waters of Ischia and Procita, Murat was G 82 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. greatly alarmed, when, the next morning at about two o'clock, a. m., our navy captured nineteen of the finest Neapolitan cutter-rigged gun-boats, which were coming from Gaeta, and which might have done very great damage to our transports that were full of troops, but which the French Neapolitan commandant, most fortunately for us, did not attack. The whole coast of Naples and its adjacent islands, are famous for quail-shoot- ing in the month of April, which arrive in thou- sands from Africa, and afford a handsome income to the great seigneurs on that coast. When the British troops were stationed at Capri, under the command of our gallant Sir Hudson Lowe, the two regiments, together with the whole garrison, received quails during several days for their ra- tions instead of fresh meat. After having reconnoitred the coast of Italy, as far as Naples, we had orders to join Sir Sidney Smith's squadron at Palermo, where we had an- chored in the month of June, 1806. We found there H. M. ships Active, Phoebe, Volage, Capel and Shomberg ; the captains being all intimate friends of Captain Hoste, we passed three very agreeable days together at Palermo. The Ma- rina of Palermo is charming, and the Favorita is also worth seeing, being stocked with pheasants and hares. Monte Reale deserves to be visited on account of the fine view which it presents, and there are also some old mosaics in the principal THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 83 church of that little town. A few miles from Palermo is one of the celebrated Dominican con- vents, where the younger sons of noblemen take the vows, and live in a most independent and agreeable manner, without being subjected to those rigorous restraints peculiar to convents. I shall give a more succinct account of the Sicilian convents in my subsequent narration. We received instructions from Sir Sidney Smith to cruise on the coast of Calabria, and to recon- noitre all the inland creeks and bays : we accord- ingly proceeded towards Policastro Bay. Captain Hoste went one day to speak to Sir Sidney Smith on that coast, and found him in a cave, seated in the midst of some of the Calabrese chieftains, or rather bandit, deliberating how he should annoy Murat; and we received several proclamations, with orders to circulate them on shore amongst the inhabitants. One day we came close to Ci- rella island, which had a martelio tower, not yet manned. Captain Hoste sent a cutter on shore, in order to blow it up : the party consisted of four sailors, one lieutenant, the marine officer, two midshipmen and myself. We stood immedi- ately for the island, landed, and undermined the tower, and blew it up in a very short time ; but, when we wanted to reimbark, we were rather disagreeably surprised to find that a stone had fallen into the cutter, and made such a hole in her that we could not reimbark. Two of our best g2 84 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. sailors fished the cutter with a sail, and steered right for the Amphion, which being immediately perceived by Captain Hoste, he sent us the second cutter, in order to rescue us from the rather awk- ward position we were placed in. We then steered towards the main land. The officer command- ing the cutter asked who would carry Sir Sidney Smith's proclamation on shore? I instantly volun- teered. On landing, I was determined to fix one to the nearest building, which was about a hundred yards from the beach. When I arrived near it, a man appeared coming down an alley towards me ; but, on seeing me, he turned back in such haste, that he left his hat behind him. I then proceeded to the gate, and fastened two pro- clamations on the knocker, and of course walked rather rapidly back to the beach ; thinking it possible that some of Murat's troops might ap- proach, who would not have treated me very well if they had caught me with Sir Sidney's procla- mations upon me. Captain Hoste did not entirely approve of my leaving the boat at so great a distance ; but all is well that ends well. Next day we carried some more proclamations to the Calabrese, but this time I did not venture to go on shore, for some of the bandits' countenances were so repugnant that I handed them the pro- clamations and returned on board. On Sunday, as we were cruising off Policastro Bay, we fell in with two large feluccas, full THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 85 of Calibrese women, men, and children, in great distress, having fled from their native country. I shall never forget that sight, and how the crew of the Amphion behaved to those poor sufferers. It was in the afternoon when they came alongside of us. The Amphion seemed no longer to contain sailors, but rather the charitable brethren of some convent. The liberal donations of the true-hearted British tars exceed all description. Provisions of every kind, together with money, were thrown into the boat. I looked down upon the affecting scene, from the larboard-side stern window, and could with difficulty restrain my emotion. The Almighty blessed the crew, and subsequently secured to them and their noble captain the glo- rious victory of Lissa, against a superior squadron of French frigates, without much loss on board, owing to a sudden and skilful manoeuvre at the moment when the French Commodore was bearing 1 down, by which means the very first broadside of the Amphion entirely disabled the Commodore, one of the enemy's largest ships, and caused her to run on shore at the island of Lissa. Towards the beginning of July a lieutenant came to bring some further orders of Sir Sidney Smith's to Captain Hoste, and informed us that Sir Sidney attacked a martello tower in Policastro Bay, mounted with two 24-pounders; that in taking it the Pompey, 74, had thirty-five men killed and wounded, and her mainmast much in- jured. 86 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. We now reconnoitred St. Euphemia bay, where we were busily employed during two days. Lieu- tenant-General M. Jones was ordered to take the soundings of the bay, when some French troops began to fire upon his launch, but which he dispersed with a twelve-pound swivel, by firing grape shot amongst them. Towards the evening on that very day, our look-out man called from the maintop-gallant mast, a strange sail in sight, that looked like a man-of-war. We instantly made a private signal, when it proved to be the Apollo fri- gate; soon after he called out again, that a fleet was in sight; when the Apollo coming closer into bay, made a signal to the Amphion to prepare to assist to land troops. The Amphion accordingly took her station near a small decayed tower, giving room for the fleet of transports to anchor in the bay, which were coming in, having on board the troops from Sicily under the command of Sir John Stuart* The next morning was indeed one of the most glorious days ever witnessed by any individual whose heart was sincerely beating for the cause of Great Britain, against the common enemy. The 78th Highlanders, under the command of the brave Colonel Macleod, were the first of the British troops that landed, and it certainly was a delight to see those brave fellows marching forward into the underwood where some French troops were seen, and a few hours after we had the satisfaction of learning that they had surrounded a Polonese re- THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 87 giment, which immediately surrendered to them, and which were instantly embarked on board five or six transports, the Amphion having the order to escort them to Millazzo. On quitting St. Euphemia Bay, we observed the whole of General Regnier's troops in a most formidable position to the east of the plains of Maida, which Sir John Stuart could not have car- ried without sacrificing half of his brave army. The French, however, about 7000 strong, seeing that our troops could not muster above 5000, ventured boldly down to the plain, in order to drive us back into our element, as they then used to say. Regnier accordingly attacked Sir John Stuart's army about ten or eleven o'clock on the following morning, sending the IstLeger to charge our light infantry battalion, under the command of Lieut.-Coionel Kempt. The 1st Leger approached our troops within twelve yards, stamping with their feet, but seeing them immoveable, they were panic struck, and turned round, when the havoc began amongst the French army, which was routed and attacked from all sides, and obliged to retreat with the greatest precipitation. The 78th threw off their knapsacks and pursued the flying enemy with great ardour, in union with the light com- panies of the 10th, 20th, 21st, 27th, 58th, and 81st Regiments, and together with the flank com- panies of the 35th Regiment. The Amphion saw the prisoners landed at Mil- 88 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. lazzo, and hastened back to St. Euphemia Bay, where we found our victorious army in possession of the field of battle strewed with the fallen, over which I rode with some of the officers of the Am- phion. We first found some of our own brave fel- lows in the sleep of death on the victorious field ; but about two hundred yards further we disco- vered the plain literally strewed with the enemy. For curiosity's sake we collected many letters from amongst them, which spoke of their soon being in Sicily to drink the good wines, and to enjoy themselves. Our army pursued General Regnier, who retreated in double quick time to Catauzaro, when Sir John Stuart took possession of the mountains of Calabria, towards Monte Leone, and the Amphion was ordered to go and bombard Reggio with the Neapolitan flotilla, which place soon surrendered to our troops, and thus secured the communication with Sir John Stuart's victorious army direct from Messina, by Reggio. As soon as Reggio was ours, the Am- phion proceeded with a Neapolitan flotilla to annoy General Regnier off Catauzaro, where we found a brave Calabrese mass of insurgents, who, seeing us anchor in the Bay, were bold enough to attack General Regnier's advanced posts on the hill to the left of Catauzaro. The en- gagement began at about ten o'clock in the morn- ing, between the Calabrese and the French light troops, and lasted for about an hour, during which THE ORPHAN" OF NOVOGOROD. 89 time the Calabrese, about four hundred in num- ber, behaved with great bravery. The French riflemen sent many balls over our heads, but with no effect. About noon, our look-out man from the topmast observed the whole French army in movement, evidently with the intention of cutting off the brave Calabrese. The balls of the French riflemen began again to whistle over our ship, and we allowed the French troops to come down the valley close to the beach, when the Calabrese threw themselves into the houses by the sea side, and commenced a vigorous fire upon the French columns that were advancing from Catau- zaro to surround them. The Amphion now took a very advantageous station close to the shore, and, in union with two Neapolitan gallies and a gunboat, under the command of the brave Cap- tain Zavallos, who was in direct communication with the Calabrese, opened a tremendous fire upon the advancing columns of General Regnier's army, who soon after retreated back to Catauzaro. Seeing himself thus roughly handled by the Cala- brese, and by our flotilla on his right, and fearing that he might possibly be pursued by Sir John Stuart's army in front, he began his retreat towards Cosenza. Sir John Stuart sent, in the mean time, the brave 78th, under Lieut.- Colonel Macleod, which completely shook General Regnier's firm- ness, and he precipitately continued his retreat. We had only the pleasure of deranging his re- 90 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. treating army in the plain near Copo Colonna, to the right of Cotrone. During this interval our brave Calabrese intercepted a courier from Murat to General Regnier, which Captain Hoste opened and read ; that the Emperor learned with great displeasure, of the panic that had seized the 1st Leger at Maida, ordering him to concentrate at Cosenza. Colonel Macleod and Captain Hoste determined on attacking Cotrone Castle. We arrived before it towards the evening with one Neapolitan gun-boat, commanded by Captain Zavallos, and six transports with the 78th on board. The Amphion took her station on the west side of the castle, and the gun-boat and transports to the south east side, as if ready to land. The French fired several shots at the Am- phion, one of which cut her halyards in two. We only fired one shot in return, right over the civil governor's house, grazing his roof, which had a better effect than we might have expected, for it completely alarmed the whole town, who were afraid of seeing their best houses battered down. The next morning Captain Hoste and Colonel Macleod ordered Major Macdonell of the 78th, Lieut. Bailey, first lieutenant, and myself acting as interpreter, to go and summon the French commandant to surrender at discretion. We were, of course, received by the French with the usual precautions, and conducted to the castle, where the commandant received us very politely. I was THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 91 obliged to explain the conditions, which were soon agreed to by the commandant, who, seeing the stern determination of Major Macdonell, agreed to capitulate, surrendering with his garrison as prisoners of war, consisting of about 600 Poles and 100 French artillerymen, together with all the military stores, &c. The French troops, accord- ing to the capitulation made out by me, in French, surrendered the next morning, and were em- barked for Messina the same day, and the 78th took possession of the town and castle of Cotrone, which occurrence was celebrated by the civil governor of the town giving us a grand dinner, to which most of the officers of the Amphion and the 78th were invited. A few days after, the 78th was relieved by a Neapolitan regiment from Mes- sina ; and the Amphion thus completed her duty on that coast, after seeing Calabria freed of the French yoke, the fruits of the glorious battle of Maida, gained on the 4th of July, 1806. On the 25th of September of the same year, I entered into the British commissariat at Messina, in which department I have served up to 1831, and have had the advantage of being employed almost on all the expeditions that sailed from Sicily and Genoa between 1806 and 1815. 92 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. SEVENTH NARRATION. As I have already mentioned, on the 25th of September 1806, I entered on the commissariat duties at Messina, taking charge of the stores in the forts Gonzago and Castellaccio. Sir William Hoste was good enough to offer me, through Sir John Stuart, as a reward for my services on the coasts of Spain and Italy, an ensign's commission in one of the foreign regiments serving in Sicily, which I declined to accept, and by the kind suggestion of my good friend Lieutenant Boothby, Royal Engineers, now the Rev. C. Boothby, I shortly afterwards entered into the British com- missariat service at Messina, under Commissary- General Sir George Burgmann, serving with the army under Lieutenant-General Sir John Stuart. Early in 1807, Sir John Moore fitted out an expe- dition for Egypt, composed of about 5000 men, under the command of Major-General Mackenzie Fraser, and I was ordered to proceed on that expe- dition. We left Messina in February and reached Egypt in March, in two divisions. General Fraser, on arriving with the first division, landed imme- diately on the south-west side of Alexandria, and invested the place in a most masterly style ; the THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 93 day after, the second division arrived in Aboukir Bay, and the troops instantly landed and marched up the heights of Alexandria to join General Fraser, where we arrived in the evening. Some officers of the De Rolle's regiment gave up to me a small hut, made of leaves of date trees, to pass the night in ; and I must acknowledge that I felt very cold with the morning dew, and, as one may suppose, I slept very little, being the first day of my campaigning. Early in the morning we were roused with the agreeable news that Alex- andria had capitulated to us, by allowing Ali Pacha to withdraw with his troops to Rosetta. We entered Alexandria the same day, more like friends than enemies, for the Turks held the British arms at that time in great respect, in spite of Colonel Drovetti, the French consul-general. By subsequent expostulations, Colonel Drovetti was, however, more successful with Ali Pacha, as will be seen hereafter. The expedition consisted of the 78th High- landers, 35th and 31st, De Rolle's Chasseurs Britanniques, and the Royal Sicilian regiments ; about twenty dragoons of the 20th Light Dra- goons, under Lieutenant De Lancy, together with a few artillerymen and engineers. The Turks kept up a small artillery fire on us during the first day of our investing Alexandria, but without causing any loss to our troops, with the exception of a Sicilian assistant-surgeon, who would quit De 94 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. Rolle's regiment and go behind a hill to avoid the shots of the Turks; but the regiment suddenly moving on to the right, the poor fellow found himself quite alone, and was soon taken by the Turks, who cut off his head, &c. in the Turkish style, and stuck it up on the fort on the top of a pole as a trophy ; which is a salutary lesson to every one, never to abandon his corps without absolute necessity. On entering Alexandria, I found the town built upon a similar plan as Algiers and Tangiers, with narrow streets, and the houses well built of stone, with small but immensely strong gates. As I was one day walking about the streets of Alexandria, whom should I meet but my friend and travelling companion who related to me part of the story of the Orphan of Novogorod at Trieste. He gave me a great deal of good advice as to how I should live in Egypt in order to keep my health. Observing that nearly one-third of the inhabitants had lost one eye, I expressed to him my fear of the ophthalmia ; but, on looking at my eyes, he assured me that I need not be afraid of it, since very few persons who have blue eyes get that complaint, and if they are attacked by it, it seldom proves fatal, provided they be a little cautious. He also advised me to try to breathe by the nose as I went along the streets, and in crossing any deserts or marshes, since that precaution is a great preventive against the plague THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 95 and the malaria fevers. As he was settled in Alexandria, I often went to pass the evenings with him, and had the opportunity of hearing the remainder of the adventures of the Orphan of Novogorod, which will appear in the Eighth Narration. After having remained for many weeks in quiet possession of Alexandria, giving thus an ample opportunity to Ali Pacha to know our entire strength, which, in fact, he was not long in as- certaining, through the assistance of that most active officer of Napoleon's, Colonel Drovetti, who, in fact, directed all the movements of Ali Pacha against us. The garrison of Alexandria was really in want of nothing, as the Bedouin Arabs sup- plied us over the deserts with corn and cattle ; we had also afloat large supplies of biscuits and salt provisions, and the Greek islands supplied us with excellent wines. The first expedition, which was undertaken under the command of General Waukope, with the 31st Regiment and Chasseurs Britanniques, put the Turks immediately to flight, and we en- tered Rosetta without any difficulty. Our troops marched quietly into the town, and piled their arms in order to refresh themselves, and while thus occupied, the French consul, Drovetti, ha- rangued Ali Pacha, telling him what a shame it was for 8000 Turks to fly before 2000 men ; he thus prevailed on Ali Pacha to re-enter the town 96 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. by the rear of the houses, and advance over the tops of them to the square and main streets* where our troops were resting, from whence they opened a destructive fire upon us, killing and wounding about 600 of our men in a very short time. From the streets of Rosetta being very narrow, we had not the least chance of defending ourselves, since every Turkish house is provided with a strong gate and shutters, which could not be opened without great exertion. General Waukope was killed, and General Meade badly wounded. The remainder of our troops rallied outside the town, and retreated regularly to Alex- andria. Soon afterwards a second expedition was determined upon, under the command of the Hon. General Stewart, who took with him the 78th Highlanders, the Be Rolle's Regiment and 35th Regiment, with some artillery. We invested Rosetta and bombarded it, to however very little purpose. The Turks returned the fire, and we were thus daily losing our men. In the mean time, Ali Pacha received reinforcements from Cairo, and General Stewart ordered Colonel Macleod, with 700 men, composed of the 78th and De Rolles' Regiment, to advance to Elhamed, in order to observe the enemy's movements from the side of Cairo, when, by some unlucky ma- nagement, we did not keep up a regular line of communication between the main body and Colonel Macleod's detachment, in consequence THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 97 of which, poor Colonel Macleod fell a victim, with his whole detachment, owing to the immense superiority in point of numbers of the Turkish troops, who poured in upon them from all quar- ters, and thus occasioned the disaster that befel this handful of our best and bravest troops. Ali Pacha, continually directed by Colonel Drovetti, advanced rapidly upon our besieging army before Rosetta, and soon forced us to retreat, which we did in a masterly style, notwithstanding the immense superiority of the Turks, who came upon us with great rapidity in huge masses, but were not able to break our squares, and were continually repulsed until we crossed the cut of the canal near the Lake Mariotis. Here the Turks gave up the pursuit, and left us quietly in pos- session of Alexandria, from which circumstance it was evident that Ali Pacha was not much dis- posed to wage war against the British, as from that time all hostilities between us had nearly ceased ; and the treatment shown to our poor pri- soners confirms the idea that the pacha was rather favourable to the British nation. I was stationed at Alexandria during the failure of these two expeditions, and during that time had frequent opportunities of viewing the lines and positions on the heights of Alexandria and Aboukir, where seven years before, the glorious victory was gained by the ever-lamented General Abercrombie* I visited this spot with some officers H 98 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. of De Rolle's regiment who were in that engage- ment against the French, and there was still to be seen many a bleached skull, particularly in the lines where the French cavalry had been cut to pieces. Every British officer may indeed be proud of this battle, since it was gained by hard fighting, and by dint of the courage and in- trepidity, in the awful moment when the immense body of the French cavalry charged the British infantry. From those heights Aboukir Bay is visible, where the great battle of the Nile was fought by Lord Nelson, and crowned with a com- plete victory, thus immortalising those waters and the shores of Africa. The loss of poor Colonel Macleod's detachment may be attributed in a great measure to the want of portable field day and night telegraphs, with which every regiment ought to be provided, and some intelligent privates should be instructed how to manage them. They could be easily con- structed, of very light materials, so that one bat horse could carry half-a-dozen of them for every regiment. The advantages derived from them are of the highest importance to any army in the field, and may often insure the victory against a very supe- rior force, which is not provided with similar telegraphs. The British army possessing so many experienced officers, could easily improve them to such a degree, that they might be fixed to the THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 99 top of high trees, and be thus worked to a very great advantage, not only to communicate by one telegraph, but even as many as twenty- four at once, giving thus the most important commu- nications to an army of 60,000 men in a few moments. I am quite sure, that if the quarter- master-general's deputy had established similar telegraphs, the disaster at Elhamed would never have taken place. But to return, the prisoners that had the good fortune to be sent to Cairo fared indeed very well, but those poor fellows who had the misfortune to fall into private hands, had to undergo most try- ing and revolting hardships ; amongst whom was poor Baron de Sonnenberg, nephew to M. Ge- neral Sonnenberg, a very fine young man, com- manding the De Rolle's Swiss regiment. He was taken by one of the nabobs of the pacha of Egypt and made a slave of, and was obliged to submit to the most humiliating and degrading situations ; his master led him by a rope round his neck through the towns in the interior of Egypt; and on one occasion ordered him to do some degrading office, which he refused, and in consequence he was beaten black and blue in a most dreadful manner, so that a couple of months after, when his uncle, then Colonel Baron Son- nenberg, released him by paying a certain ran- som, his body was yet covered with the marks of the blows he had received during his captivity ; h2 100 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. and this treatment, alas ! changed him to an alarming degree. He obtained leave of absence and went to England, in hopes that by change of scene and climate he would recover ; but the brutal treatment which he had received from the barbarians in Egypt made a dreadful change in his once mild and gentle temper. He returned from England to rejoin the De Rolle's regiment in Messina, and embarked on board a transport, which took out the several detachments and re- cruits of the regiments then serving in Sicily ; and most unfortunately for young Sonnenberg, an officer of most disagreeable manners had the command of the detachment on board the trans- port, who, on several occasions during the pas- sage, behaved to young Sonnenberg not very un- like his late tyrannical master in Egypt, which roused the poor fellow's former distressed state of mind to such a degree, that he unfortunately committed himself and challenged his command- ing officer, the consequence of which was, that he was tried by a court-martial at Messina, and of course cashiered. The officer, however, after- wards met with his deserts in America; for, in consequence of his bad conduct during the late war with that country, he was tried by a court- martial and ordered to leave the service. During my stay in Egypt, I also made acquaint- ance with some Armenians of superior talents, amongst whom was a merchant of the name of THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 101 Casare Faraone Cassis, a man of superior natural talent, which I never expected to find in so bar- barous a country as Egypt ; but the truth is, that I passed many agreeable and interesting evenings in his company at Alexandria, and had the op- portunity of learning many things that took place in Egypt during our expedition there, which con- vinced me that it is of the greatest importance to appoint young and middle aged intelligent mili- tary and naval officers to act as consuls and diplomatic agents abroad, since it always greatly influences sooner or later the political relations with the country where such agents and ministers are required. I shall not easily forget my acquaintance with Mr. Cesare Faraone Cassis. My friend, the Orphan of Novogorod, also expressed his sur- prise when he heard of our subsequent crusade against Rosetta ; and he, without any rhetorical figures, remarked to me, that when Napoleon had landed in Egypt, he gave no time to the flying enemy, but ordered the troops imme- diately after their landing to proceed to Rosetta, and to continue their march to Cairo, and by this rapid movement he met with no resistance, and quietly took possession of the whole of Egypt. Napoleon could very well have done this with so numerous an army ; but how could we have acted otherwise, with only 5,000 men, after hav- ing taken possession of Alexandria : hence the 102 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. words of that noble and brave officer occurred again to me, who said to Maj or- General M'Kenzie Fraser, " Go to Egypt, you will take Alexandria, but if you go further you will be surely lost;" which saying poor General Fraser kept in mind, till at last he allowed himself to be overruled by well meaning men, but who had not a thorough insight into the great difficulties of a small army marching into the interior of a country, in which almost every atom of sand may be considered as an enemy to the invading army. I really think, that had General Fraser first conceived the ro- mantic idea of marching to Cairo with his hand- ful of men, he would actually have taken that city ; but the certain loss of his whole army would have been the consequence of so mad an enterprise. The Bedouin Arabs still recollected the British generosity, were indefatigable in supplying us with wheat, meat and poultry ; and it was very interesting to see them distributing the monies amongst themselves, which they received from us, in the great hall of the Custom House Office, at Alexandria. The wheat of Egypt is light if well cleaned, and produces a very good bread. The meat of the buffaloes and sheep is very rich, so that European troops acting in that country should not be allowed to consume more than half a pound. Poultry is plentiful in Egypt, on ac- count of the way of hatching the eggs in ovens, THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 103 which plan I am induced to think ought to be in- troduced into all countries, for the comfort of the inhabitants in general, and particularly for the poor, which would be indeed a great blessing for the infirm and destitute in Great Britain. We certainly were often in distress for fresh water, but which could have been removed by intro- ducing the distilling machines, by which means salt water can be reduced into fresh water. Troops should be provided with these when on duty in places where fresh water is wanting. The country about Alexandria is entirely bar- ren, with the exception of a few artificial gar- dens outside of the town, which are watered by team-machines, from wells of brackish water. In time of peace, Alexandria is never in want of fresh water, as it is supplied through a canal from the Nile. The only tree that vegetates in Alexandria and its environs, is the date tree, the utility of which is incalculable : its fruits, as it is well known, is delicious, and from its bark the Egyptians make ropes ; and out of its branches a skilful campaigner can make a very good and comfortable hut, to shelter himself from the sun and rain. But the Egyptians are without rain for nearly seven months. The climate of Alexandria is moderate, being near the sea ; but when the south wind comes on, the atmosphere towards the deserts becomes darkened, and it is then only that the inconvenience of the climate is materially 104 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. felt, when the sand penetrates into every thing ; and even the bread is impregnated with it, which is very disagreeable to the teeth. Wine is ge- nerally supplied from Cyprus and the Greek islands. The harbour of Alexandria is rather inconve- nient, but it admits ships of all sizes. Alexandria has the advantage of the Lake Mariotis, by the means of which the heavy ships need not come up to the city, but could unload their goods in Aboukir Bay, and forward them to Alexandria on the lake, and partly on the canal of the Nile ; and Alexandria could easily be made an island, by uniting the lake with the sea in the har- bour. The ruins round Alexandria are very interest- ing ; and it is to be regretted, that they have not been regularly explored, as I am sure that such a work would lead to discoveries of anti- quities, and perhaps to many treasures. Diocle- tian's monument, or the so-called Pompey's pil- lar, is an astonishing work ; it rests upon a very narrow basis, considering its immense size and weight. The old ruins present to the human eye a specimen of superior skill in masonry ; and the bricks in particular bid defiance to any of our era, as they have stood for ages exposed to the inclemencies of the seasons, and are still stronger than any of our modern bricks. There is very good sport during the quail THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 105 season, and the passage of the turtle doves. The Arabs make a terrible havoc amongst them during the hot days; they lay three flat stones on the ridges of the sand hills, and then go in the val- lies amongst the date bushes, and frighten the poor birds out of them, which immediately fly to these ridges, and seek a shelter under the stones : the Arabs then visit them two by two, carrying a net with them, which they let fall over the stones, and thus catch hundreds of quails, which they bring afterwards to Alexandria for sale. Euro- pean sportsmen generally go and seek their game amongst the date bushes. There is another kind of small turtle dove, which are quite domesticated, and roost upon trees and houses in and about Alexandria, which are scarcely even noticed. The wild dogs in Egypt are a kind of vulpine breed, and are seen in herds about Alexandria, some even come into the town, but they are never molested by the natives, as they are of great service to the inhabitants, since they devour during the night all the carcasses of the dead animals, which the natives drag out of the town in the evening. There is a great abundance of large field rats round the city, with short fore-legs, and very long hind- legs; they always make their way by jumping, and so uncommonly well, that I would defy any greyhound to catch them. There are also jackals, one of which I wanted to hunt, but my 106 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. sport did not last long, since in galloping after the poor animal, my horse fell into a hole, and over I went on the sand, without however being hurt, but that accident cured me of being an amateur of fox-hunting. I shall say nothing of the fruitful country on the borders of the Nile, since it has been so often touched upon by many other writers. Alexandria, in point of commerce, is a very important place. Egypt is still now the granary of Europe, and the great depdt of cotton. The present viceroy of Egypt has improved the commerce of Egypt to a degree which might do honour to any enlightened European monarch. THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 107 EIGHTH NARRATION. In the beginning of September, 1807, we pre- pared to peaceably evacuate Alexandria ; I there- fore entreated my friend to finish his tale of the Orphan of Novogorod, and he thus continued it. " I could not sufficiently admire the excellent public institutions of New Jerusalem, and deter- mined to go to see Sion, which was the capital. My friend enabled me to accomplish this ob- ject sooner than I anticipated ; for one morn- ing after breakfast he asked me whether I should like to accompany him to the capital, where he intended to go in the course of a couple of days. I answered him in the affirmative, and we left New Jerusalem in a boat worked by clock machinery, nearly in the same manner as their land carriages, but on a much larger scale. He told me that the machinery of the boat we were in was 200 horse-power, with pad- dles placed under the water, by which reason scarcely any agitation of the water could be per- ceived, nor was there the least shock felt on board from the movement of the machinery, although the boat was propelled at the rate of fifteen miles per hour. The machinery was 108 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. placed in the middle of the vessel, covered over by immensely thick cristal panes, through which the whole of the works could be viewed. It was put in motion by a sort of pendulum fixed in the middle of the clock-work, and the great power, which actually propelled the machinery, pro- ceeded from six immense springs, which were wound up every six hours. The velocity of the boat was augmented by p the improved mechanism of many parts of the machinery, and by this ingenious invention doing away with all dangers of fire and explosions, which no doubt the per- severing genius of man will eventually accom- plish in this country. We had a strong head wind during the whole of our passage, and yet arrived early next morning in the great harbour of Sion, which is situate in a vast undulating- plain covered with woods. The town is built upon the same plan as New Jerusalem, but upon a much larger scale. On our entering the harbour we fired a gun, which was returned from the castle situated on a height in the cen- tre of Sion, from which place could be viewed the magnificent imperial palace, which was erected on a gentle elevation, surrounded by delightful gardens intersected by rivers and small lakes, which communicated to two larger rivers to the east and west, upon which were seen ships sailing up and down with their colours flying, bearing the emblem of the most Holy THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 109 Trinity, with the motto "Concordia et Prospe- ritas." The regulations of the public institutions were the same as those of New Jerusalem, already described. My friend took me to his brother's house,, where I met with the kindest reception, and soon found myself at home. The next day the two brothers took me to visit the great monarch of that truly happy land. On ar- riving at the castle I observed neither centinels nor guards. The regulations of the visiting hours and the necessary etiquettes were plainly written on large golden tables. On entering the great hall we approached the monarch, and saluted him in a becoming manner, which he kindly re- turned, and we took our seats on the still unoc- cupied arm-chairs. Soon after the monarch rose, and we approached him by turns, saluting him in a respectful manner ; my two friends then pre- sented me to him. His majesty was pleased to invite us to his private evening party, which took place between ten and twelve o'clock in the evening. We then took leave and walked over the whole of the imperial mansion and the beau- tiful gardens. The palace is a succession of buildings round a beautiful little hill, one Eng- lish mile in circumference, and covered with trees, shrubs, and all sorts of fragrant plants. The whole palace is built of bricks, four stories high, upon immense large arches of beautiful marble, which afford fine promenades during 110 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. the hot weather or in rainy weather; through these glide beautifully streams filled with trout and other fish, which communicated with the two larger rivers. On the first floor are all the public offices : the second is occupied by his majesty and all the attendants of the court. On the third floor reside all the public officers belonging to the different offices of the court; while the fourth is reserved for all the underlings who are attached to the various public offices. The ascent to these four stories is almost imper- ceptible. The apartments are very lofty, and are provided with spacious galleries going all around the palace, which are lined with all kinds of shrubs, which give it more the appearance of a delightful shrubbery during the whole year, and the little birds take advantage of these peaceful retreats to build their nest, so that they may bring up their young families in security, reward- ing the passers-by with their varied warblings, a delightful language to those who can appreciate the beauties of nature. It is impossible to de- scribe the beauty of the delightful hill, which is situated in the centre of this stately building, in which are concentrated all the public offices, in- stitutions and universities within reach of each other, and the monarch living unmolested in the midst of them, is ready to visit at any time any department without the least inconvenience to himself or others. All the rules and regula- THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. Ill tions are besides so easy and plain, that they are understood by any individual possessed of com- mon sense, which is indeed a great blessing for any government, since many of the ordinances now-a-days are so filled up with technicalities and far-fetched expressions, that they often cannot be clearly expounded even by the very persons who framed them, and must be guessed at by others who may be influenced by similar decrees, and reminds one of those of the Oracle of Delphos. It is generally admitted in all countries that the best written books are always those which are compiled in the plainest and most comprehensive terms; how much plainer then should be the laws and ordinances of any country ! When the clock struck ten we proceeded to the imperial palace, which was magnificently lighted with a kind of gas, which spread a most grateful per- fume both outside and inside. Most kindly we were received by that truly happy monarch, who must have been verging on his 150th year, and looked very cheerful and active. Of course I was obliged to relate the whole of my sub- terraneous adventures, and how I made my ap- pearance in his realms. I was at first quite astonished to find how well his Majesty, and indeed most of the intelligent inhabitants, were acquainted with our customs ; but after having been shown their libraries and reading- rooms, I soon reconciled myself to the fact, 112 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. as I here found books of six months standing in English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Turkish, Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, Da- nish, Swedish, Hindostan and Persian languages, all of which had been cast up by the sea in the different quarters of his realm, and collected from foundered vessels of various nations. They also spoke of the frequent appearance of a Dutch rigged vessel in those parts of the sea opposite to the Atlantic Ocean, and the antipodes of the Cape of Good Hope and the Canary Islands, which is a sure indication of the found- ering of some of our ships which are crossing that part of the ocean ; and the vessels therefore cruising on those seas give signals to each other to look out for the various ships which are cast on shore, and on board of which are found books, newspapers, and all other articles belonging to our world ; and by this means are they ac- quainted with all our arts and sciences and pur- suits in life. They compassionate our follies, for they observe that we generally make each other miserable through our own selfish hearts, and that we continually fall a prey to misery and depravity, which bring on all other calamities upon us. They ascribe these calamities to the false principles and education we give to our children, in not sufficiently inculcating into them the necessity of always speaking the truth, which is the root of many of the miseries of this THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 113 life. This however is not known in the happ t y realm where I then found myself; and I was not a little alarmed when they told me that none of those who came alive to them, like myself, could get rid of that abominable system of dissimula- tion, which humbles them to such a degree, that they get attacked by a kind of melancholy, giving them no peace till they retire to certain mysterious subterraneous walks in the moun- tains, from which they never return, and all that has hitherto been ascertained respecting them is from some philosophers, who ventured to explore those caverns, and arrived at last at im- mense fissures descending in a slanting direction, at the bottom of which were streams of uncom- mon strength and velocity, carrying away any thing that was thrown upon them. There are again other places from which are heard at cer- tain times all kinds of noises, sometimes like men who are talking very loud, then again voci- ferations of the most revolting nature in various languages ; at other times the distant sound of martial music, vast armies marching in battle array, and military words of command mingled with the neighing of horses and the blast of the bugle ; all these are heard, and yet no one has discovered from whence they proceed, and on this account those places are but rarely visited by anybody, except by a committee of elders, i 114 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. who are obliged to report whenever they hear of any of these extraordinary noises, as they may lead to the discovery of the cause, but all efforts have hitherto proved abortive. After a fort- night's stay in the capital, my friend returned to New Jerusalem, and I remained at the house of his brother, with the intention of preparing my- self for the requisite examination previous to entering the university for the study of theology, for which, I had conceived, I was fitted ; and in the course of one year I entered into holy orders, and was sent at my own request to one of the small villages situated close to those wonderful and mysterious mountains. In this happy coun- try, which is called Chastnu Kraileftvu, I passed a most delightful time for nearly two years, oc- casionally visiting my friends in New Jerusalem and Sion. I was invited by the monarch to assist at the great assembly of the divine elders, con- sisting of a hundred members, whose venerable heads had been bleached by 300 to 350 winters. By that memorable assembly, I found had been composed three addresses, intended for our three principal Christian churches. It was to the fol- lowing effect : — " To the chief Shepherd of the Churches, and " to all the dignitaries of that church, blessings " and peace ! " The clergy and elders of this country so hap- THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 115 ** pily situated, and free from all worldly strife, " observe with the deepest regret the dreadful ra- " vages and dissensions which have been brought " on by designing, interested, and often very igno- " rant persons at the head of these principal Ca» " tholic churches, to the great detriment of the " propagation of that universal faith which had " been originally instituted by our blessed Saviour " Jesus Christ, and subsequently sealed by his " most precious blood ; and which had been " faithfully preached and handed down to us by " his holy apostles in the old time, and which we " would not on any account alter. How simple and " innocent were their doctrines and their prayers ; " the great command was ' repent ,' — believe in " Jesus Christ, be baptised, and you shall be for- " given and saved. When our blessed Saviour in- " stituted the Holy Sacrament, he required in us " nothing more than purity of heart, and repent- " ance of our sins ; he never ordered an auricular " confession, which it is known has been insti- * tuted by designing tyrants some centuries ago, " in order to have a control over the consciences " of men for the perpetration of their own wicked " designs during those dark ages. We appeal in the " name of Jesus Christ, to ask your hearts how " much mischief the auricular confessions have " produced, and are still producing ? How many " young men and maidens and virtuous women " have been scandalized, nay even led into temp- i 2 116 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. " tation by their confessors ? And what is the " awful consequence of a similar abuse? That " the confession begins to be looked upon as a " mockery by all enlightened Catholics in Ger- " many, Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal. Mil- " lions of souls are spurned away from the holy " and true religion, which the holy fathers of the " Catholic and Greek Catholic religion could " easily obviate by causing the general confession " to be read to them every Sunday in their " churches, and giving them the general and full " absolution of their sins in the same manner and " with the same power as a Catholic field chap- " lain is empowered to give and to pronounce 6 over the whole army previous to their taking " the field ; and let us ask you, beloved fathers, " by what right do you keep a similar rite and " blessing from your flocks, who heartily confess " their sins to God through Jesus Christ, and " who wish for an absolution of the same with a " true and penitent heart ? How can you answer " for your keeping that blessing from mankind, " and thus alienating and frightening millions of " panting souls from your folds ? Alas ! hence "the schisms, massacres, murders, and other sacri- " legious deeds, which would be endless to enu- " me rate, and would fill our hearts with horror " and dismay, and which confirms the infidels of " all classes in their opinion, that our Christian " religion is of a savage, blood -thirsty, and revenge- THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 117 " ful nature, and of the most dangerous kind ; and " that by similar persecutions they afford con- " elusive reasonings, that either the Holy Bible, " and particularly the New Testament, is a mere " mockery, and full of hypocritical notions which " few of the elders are following; since the holy " fathers, the great guardians, are so remiss in " following its sayings, they then conclude how " much more remiss must their flocks be ; hence " they also imagine that our Christian religion is " one of vanity, and not worthy to be followed. " This encourages some vain men, such as the " Jews, and the enemies of the Christian faith in " general, to write such dangerous books against " it, and emboldens them to try and undermine " the Holy Gospel by ridiculing it : they thus " check the propagation of the Christian faith to " an alarming degree, and cause the perdition of " millions and millions of souls ! And what is " the cause of it ? Selfishness, obstinacy, and " weakness, and resulting also from the feelings " of revenge of several of the misguided chief " dignitaries of the various churches, and where- " in, alas ! some members of the two most en- " lightened of these had and still have the great- " est share in this unwarrantable strife ; they do '* not consider that they will both have to answer " for all the disasters and schisms which they " are thus causing amongst Christians. On the "other hand, some Catholics, forgetting that they 118 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. " owe their faith to this very Catholic religion, " which they foolishly call by all sorts of bad " names, and thus blaspheme their own real " mother church, and that merely on account of " some wicked, ignorant fanatics, who four hun- " dred years ago caused all those evils that have " been already enumerated ; but alas ! is the " Holy Universal Catholic Religion to be so " cruelly and unmercifully condemned and ab- "■ horred, with all the millions of its followers, on " account of a handful of ignorant, selfish, and " misguided madmen ? Is that the principle on " which our Saviour has established the Christian " faith ? Of what avail did Jesus Christ teach " us to forgive each other, if we wish to be for- " given, and not only seven times but seventy " times seven ? Some fanatical and ignorant cler- " gymen of various sects, on the other hand, " thinking to hunt down the Catholic Church, " declare that some of the Catholics worship the « Virgin Mary and the Saints ; whereas, if they " would coolly examine the purified rites of the " simple faith, they would find to their surprise " that Catholics do not adore or worship the " blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints, but inno- " cently invoke both her and them to intercede " with God in the name of our blessed Saviour " Jesus Christ; and what harm can there be in " this notion ? Another portion of the Catholic " faith acknowledges the communion of Saints. THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 119 " Then the learned Protestant fathers go; further " and say, that the Catholic priests pretend to " give absolution of sins to their flocks, and does " not the English Catholic faith to a certain " degree hold the same consoling notion, with " the exception of some formalities ? As for pay- " ing money for the absolution of one's sins, there " are indeed very few Catholic clergymen who " would do such a thing in these days, nor are " there any priests who would now a days hold " forth such a notion. With regard to alms- " giving to churches, we must say that the whole " Christian faith is grounded upon charity; and " if such alms be given with a sincere heart, and " with good intentions, they cannot fail of being " acceptable to God, and are entitled to be re- " membered with gratitude by those who have " been intrusted with such gifts. " We beg now to embrace all the chiefs and " dignitaries of the Christian faith, and conjure " them to consider, and bear well in mind, that, " owing to their mutual obstinacy and discord, " the Christian faith is not making that rapid " progress which it otherwise would. That the " Dissenting sects are increasing in America to " an alarming degree, which sects have more par- " ticularly originated from the Protestant religion. " It is indeed necessary at this time, to unite, to " forget, to forgive, and to cede on both sides. 120 THE ORPHAN OF NQVOGOROD. " Let the holy fathers of England, Rome, Ger- " many and France, be united ; nay, let the " fathers of all Christians make a covenant be- " tween themselves ; and let them adhere with " truth and simplicity to the very same creed, " reminding each other no longer of their past " errors, weaknesses and follies ; but let them " follow the example of our great priest, Jesus " Christ, who said, ' A house that is divided " within itself cannot stand but must fall.' Let " the holy fathers all unite against the common " enemy ; let them call upon the enlightened " monarchs of this world to co-operate, and the " great work will soon be accomplished. There " are troubles enough in this vale of tears, with- " out there being dissensions and disunion in the " Christian faith. Once remove the bar against " a ' general union,' and the many nations in " Asia, Africa, Europe and America, would em- " brace the Christian faith. Let us show to the " whole world, that it is still the same as it " was when instituted by our Saviour ; let us " act up to the Credo, and the great object will " be gained ; every body will say that the Chris- " tian faith is as true as is the sun, whose light " beams upon us ; and that in the name of our " Saviour, Jesus Christ, Amen." Thus ended this eloquent address, which I have given at full length, for the purpose of showing THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 121 the pure sentiments of religion which these truly Christian fathers possessed. Soon after I had returned to my parish, the in- habitants of those mountains, residing near the caverns, in which were the mysterious noises, re- ported that some extraordinary sounds were again heard ; I of course was induced to go and witness it. I remained for a long time listening to them, which were exactly as I have already described ; but not being satisfied, I ventured to walk to- wards an opening, which descended towards the quarter from whence the greatest noise proceeded, and where there seemed a very strong current of air, and with reports like heavy artillery : ab- sorbed with astonishment at such a noise, I ven- tured a few steps further, when the current of air suddenly gashing forth from one of the air-holes on my right overpowered me and carried me away with great violence ; I still kept on my legs, but I felt that I was carried along by the cur- rent of air as swiftly as a bird could fly, and fast approaching the dreadful reports of artillery, when I had just time to reflect how imprudent I had been to venture so far ; thinking that I was near the end of my days, I hastily recommended myself to the mercy and will of God, but had not much time even to employ my thoughts upon this, when I felt a most violent shock in my whole body, and was suddenly hurried away by 122 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. a kind of whirlwind, accompanied with con- tinued explosions ; from that moment I lost my ground, and felt myself hurled away in the air with such a velocity, that I should have been suffocated had I not kept my mouth open. I thus continued to be carried away by the sub- terranean hurrican for a good hour, when I felt that I was sinking very fast, and the force of the current was diminishing, but still it continued to carry me along. I now began to see daylight, and fell all at once into water, slightly impreg- nated with salt; I swam towards the opening, and saw, to my great consolation, that I was in some unknown sea, and in the distance a wild shore covered with trees ; I made for the nearest point and there I rested myself: it must have been about noon, as the sun was high, and cheered me by his warm rays. I observed flocks of birds flying, and many deer, of the antelope kind, grazing on the grass; they were so tame that I easily secured one ; for I began to feel very hungry, but would not kill it yet, so I tied its legs with my handkerchief. After having dried myself as well as I could, I slung the animal over my shoulders and proceeded towards a hill covered with trees, from whence I might view what kind of country I was in. I had not gone a quarter of a mile, when I was roused by a dreadful barking of dogs, as if they were hunting- some wild beasts ; and strange to say, the animal THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 123 on my back seemed to answer, as if^calling the dogs, which I did not like at all; and between fear and precaution, as I heard them fast ap- proaching, I thought it better to secure some safe retreat, and fortunately I saw a tolerably large pear tree, with ripe fruit on it ; I laid down my prize in the grass, and hastily climbed up the tree ; and behold, I was scarcely secure in my position, about twelve feet from the ground, and was beginning to taste the pears, when my prisoner began to bleat still louder, and six huge dogs came up full speed, barking in a frightful manner, not at the poor animal, but at me ; they were of the size of our Newfoundland dogs ; the largest of them tried to make a most desperate jump at me, so I climbed up two feet higher, when, to my greatest surprise, I saw one of the dogs biting my handkerchief in two, and libe- rating the antelope, which, as soon as it was free, went off like lightning towards its flock. The dogs, however, beset the tree which I was in, — as if I were a wild beast which they wanted to hunt. One of them seized my hat and ran off with it ; the others seized my coat, tore it to pieces, and hurried away, which I was very glad of, since they would most likely have killed me if I had descended. The first thing I did was to try and appease my hunger with some pears ; but I was again roused by the same barking, and two dogs again placed themselves under the tree, 124 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. and kept guard upon me ; I took some of the hardest pears and pelted them, but they did not at all mind it. After having been perched on the pear tree for a long time, I heard the sound of a discordant bugle, and soon after perceived six men marching towards me with their fowling pieces slung round their shoulders ; their dress was not unlike the Sbirri of Verona and Udine, in Italy. The man in front was rather tall ; and near him was sculking an urchin, with a most clownish appearance, holding his mouth wide open, so that I might have chucked a pear into it. They both walked like ploughmen when their feet are covered with huge large clods of earth ; the other four individuals I had no time to examine closely ; the first man addressing me in these terms, " Don't you know that I can have you transported for trespassing on my ground;" the boy repeated the word "Trans- ported," turning with a vacant look to the four men behind him, as if he were seeking their ap- proval. The same man then raised his voice, resembling a cracked pitch pipe, and said, " Sir, you have been damaging this tree, I shall have you indicted for felony," and he bid me " come down immediately ;" before I descended, I told him that I had been cast on these shores from the waters of yonder cave, and that I came from the country of the New Jerusalem. " Aye, aye, you are a poacher, I shall have you transported ;" THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 125 and the boy immediately repeated again very loud, " Yes, transported." I then came down, and the man searching me, found some papers in the side pocket of my waistcoat, written in Ger- man, English, French, Italian, Spanish and Latin. His countenance suddenly changed; he called his boy aside, and after apparently con- sulting with him, he came to me, saying in an obliging manner, " Sir, you would answer very well as a tutor for my three sons ; if you like to accept of that situation, I shall be glad to em- ploy you." I was very glad at the sudden change in his language, and accepted of the offer; he promised me money equal to 200/. per year, and a comfortable house, and even a reward, if I should please his eldest son, turning towards him, who was evidently looking at me, to receive a mark of homage from me, to whom I cordially bowed, and said that I hoped we should be very good friends together, but he did not seem to like what I said. His father took me to his residence, which was splendidly furnished, and looked like a nobleman's castle. After having obtained some clothes from the neighbouring town, Mr. Shrokileys introduced me to his three sons, who were just at dinner with what appeared to be their nurse. The boy of about sixteen years of age I have already described; the second was in his thirteenth year, and the third in his eleventh year ; they both had rather pro- 126 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. mising features. When I entered the room the father introduced me to them. The nurse, who sat at table, got up immediately, and staring at me, left the room in rather a sullen manner; but her figure is certainly worth while describ- ing ; her height was about three feet six inches ; her head was large, with her nose sunk in be- tween her eyes, and so cruelly turned up, that she could not keep her spectacles upon it ; her hands were a mass of fat, and the fingers so short, that she could scarcely hold any thing ; she was always asthmatically inclined, and her feet were much like the paws of a bear. She was, however, held in great veneration by Mrs. Shroki- leys, since she had been brought up by her, and for other reasons which I shall not mention here. Mr. Shrokileys was the son of a very wealthy organ maker, which was the cause of his ex- traordinary voice. He had a brother, who, through his riches, tried to appear as a real gen- tleman by birth in society, but had no idea of distinguishing himself by noble and generous actions. There was also a step-brother, a man who had the good luck to marry a superior woman, who educated her children in such a manner as would do credit to any virtuous and intelligent woman in the world. What a contrast ! between the children of these two men; the former chiefly THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 127 brought up by the mother- nurse,, and those of the latter by their own intelligent and tender mother! Here then I was now tutor to the three darling sons of Mr. Shrokileys. The first day of my com- mencing my duties, the eldest son appeared with a dog in his lap, the second one with a white cat, and the third with a huge torn cat; they sat down, the fond parent being present; I did not like to speak to them the very first day against the impropriety of having these animals with them during the hours of study, but determined to reform their manners by degrees. When the din- ner hoar came, the old nurse came to help the boys ; and as I w T as informed that it was custo- mary for her to sit with them, I wished her to continue that practice, to which Mr. Shrokileys objected ; but alas ! from that moment the old nurse became my implacable enemy, which I did not like at all, since I perceived that she and not Mrs. Shrokileys managed the whole affairs of the house, and my forebodings proved but too true. The first night when I lay down on my apparently comfortable bed, I found myself two hours afterwards in a complete fever, owing to the damp sheets that had been given to me ; what could I do, it was one o'clock in the morning when I found myself in that state. I did not know what course to pursue, and was actually afraid to speak to Mrs. Shrokileys on the subject, as I saw that implicit faith was placed in my friend,, old mo- 128 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. ther nurse, and that it would be no use speaking against her. The consequence was, that I con- tracted a rheumatic fever, with severe pains in my left side, and it took me many days to get quite well again. In the course of a week I found a great change in Mr. Shrokileys's conduct towards me. I saw myself completely under the control of the old nurse, who annoyed me in every way. It was my custom to rise early, and take an hour's walk before breakfast, after which I gave the boys their lessons. This life I led for six months; I never partook of any supper, but at eight o'clock a boy used to bring in a rushlight, and I withdrew to my bed-room at the very top of the house, over which was a reservoir of water which supplied the whole house ; the consequence of which was that the walls of my room were quite damp, and it penetrated even to the closets on the ground-floor. I was then quite aware that the nurse would annoy me and make me as uncomfortable as she liked, and I really think that some one or other attempted to destroy me by indirect means. One night I awoke with great anguish and oppression, finding my room full of thick smoke proceeding from the dust of ignited charcoal, w 7 hich had been placed in my fire-place, the chimney having been pro- bably stopped up. Another time the nurse helped me to some gravy of roast beef, of which I was very fond, and in which I nearly swallowed a crooked THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 129 hair pin ; and a third tintfe I nearly swallowed another pin that had been maliciously thrown into my beverage, but against all which the Almighty had most mercifully preserved me. Whatever improvements I wished to make in the education of the boys, the nurse immediately op- posed them, from the power which she had over Mrs. Shrokileys, so that I ultimately gave up all idea of educating them, and I determined on quitting Mr. Shrokileys as soon as an oppor- tunity should offer. By that time I also found out that Mr. Shrokileys possessed in reality a most unfeeling heart. Many of the poor that were on his estate were threatened with trans- portation, and many of them turned out of their houses without any relief; often did I follow those unfortunate people and relieve them to the best of my means, with tears in my eyes. One day I happened to be at the window,, looking into the yard, when I saw a poor man collared by Mr. Shrokileys, and turned out of his yard; I threw myself on my bed, and was much affected, but firmly determined to quit that cruel family as soon as I possibly could. One day in the month of January, when a sud- den frost had set in, and the snow was lying deep on the ground, I observed to Mr. Shrokileys that the poor in the neighbourhood must be suffering very severely with the inclement weather; to K 130 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. which he replied, with the greatest indifference, that his bailiff, who visited them, had informed him that they felt very comfortable during the night by creeping between the straw; and this man was considered to hold property equal to a million of pounds sterling. Thus I passed six months under the roof of that hard-hearted family, and not being able to endure it any longer, I left the house, and having heard of many adventures in the Dragon's Cave, not very far from where I then was, I resolved on entering it at all risks, taking with me a brace of pistols, a sword, and a pruning-knife, with provisions for several weeks, some boxes of rushlights and wax candles, and recommending myself to the mercy of kind Provi- dence, with the sweet hope of being thus again able to return to that blissful region of New Jeru- salem, which I shall never, never forget ! I wan- dered about in the cave for three days, when I began to see daylight, and arrived at a tranquil but deep river, that had its course in a ravine of about 100 feet in breadth, abounding with the same kind of animals which I used to feed upon when I had escaped from the band of robbers in the Grotto of Postoyna. I was immediately struck with the flattering idea that this river must issue into some of the seas washing the shores of the land that I sought. From that mo- ment I formed the plan of embarking on that river on a raft formed of the trunks of old trees THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 131 which came now and then floating down it; I consequently secured two small pieces of timber, and fastened them with some ropes which I had taken with me for precaution's sake, in order to let myself down the precipices. Having remained five days in thus preparing myself for the new aquatic excursion, I at last shoved off with a firm hope of success, having always my trust in God. The river flowed gently on, and after six days and nights running nearly in the same direction, I came to another opening which looked like a lake, and which had two issues, into which the waters discharged themselves. I was then quite puzzled which course to steer, but the stronger current soon carried me away, and I saw myself again engulphed on the dark subterranean waters ; but my means of subsistence had nearly all vanished. I now had recourse to those curious amphibious animals which I had fed upon before. The twenty- first day of my new excursion I came into an- other kind of lake, apparently of a very large extent, and observed that the water lost itself in various outlets or holes, but the size of my raft saved me from passing through these places, and to my great surprise I saw also more above me, but which I could not possibly reach, situ- ated as I was. Having thus turned about, I happened to see an opening through which the water flowed, not above one foot in depth, and k2 132 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. that I could conveniently creep through it where I thought I saw a light, and I imagined that I could always come back in case of need. I had scarcely proceeded five yards, when two otters brushed by me, which I touched, but which I did not think advisable to catch, and they has- tened towards the place where I had seen the light. I tried to overtake the animals, and was suddenly cast into an immense lake, into which the setting moon was dipping its last farewell rays, but there was yet light enough to distin- guish land on both sides of the water, the nearest of which must have been about a quarter of a mile, but which I was confident of reaching, being a good swimmer. The anxiety of saving myself made me forget to offer up my usual prayers to God whenever I was placed in such difficulties, and being almost sure of reaching the land now so near me, I postponed the prayers until I should come on terra firma; but too often when man thinks himself safest, he is then in the greatest danger. When I was about twelve yards from the shore,, and heard the waves striking gently against the beach, suddenly I saw two flashes of guns which were fired at me, and which both hit me in the shoulders, on the head, and about my eyes. Here the poor Orphan of Novogorod felt so overpowered by his feelings, and overcome by his dreadful wounds, that with one deep sigh he THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 133 ceased to exist. It is 'much to be regretted that he did not live longer, as he would have most likely been able to disclose many secrets, and extremely interesting occurrences that he must have seen during his stay in New Jerusalem, 134 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. NINTH NARRATION. We left Egypt in September, 1807, and arriving in October of the same year at Messina,, sailed almost immediately with the great expedition under Lieut.-Gen. Sir John Moore for Lisbon ; but on our arrival at Gibraltar we learnt that the French had already taken possession of it; we therefore shortly afterwards sailed direct for Eng- land, and arrived at Spithead about the end of December. Our voyage to Messina was pleasant enough, but that from Messina to Gibraltar was far other- wise ; as it turned out one of the most tedious expeditions, and attended with many dangers. We continually had contrary winds, and were obliged to tack day and night; many of our transports, about seventy-five in number, ran the risk of being run down during the awfully dark and stormy nights between Sardinia and Gibral- tar; and those who have not witnessed such scenes, have no idea of the dangers to which a large fleet with troops must be exposed, as they are obliged to keep together in time of war. It was the last time that I served with Sir John Moore, who had taken with him a most excellent THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 135 commissariat establishment, fit to serve effectively any active army of thirty thousand men. The whole of the commissariat staff had seen a great deal of active service in the Mediterranean, and had been trained by one of the ablest and most active commissariat officers the British will ever have, — the late Com.-Gen. Sir George Burgmann ; but, alas ! the chief commissariat officers that ac- companied Sir John Moore were foreigners ! viz. Dep.-Com.-Gen. Granet, Assist.-Com.-Gen. Ha- geman, Assist.-Com.-Gen. Schmidchen, Mr. Pec- co, Echauzier, Donatti, with a good number of established clerks, but who had just been sent out by the Treasury, and not any of them had seen any service. How far better would it have been had Sir John Moore insisted upon having his Si- cilian commissariat establishment to accompany him to Spain. It may be recorded, to the great credit of the late Sir George Burgmann, that no British commander-in-chief ever had the least reason to complain of the commissariat establish- ments that accompanied the various expeditions to Italy, Spain, and Egypt; and all the general officers then commanding spoke very highly of the manner in which all the duties of the com- missariat department were executed during the most urgent and trying occasions ; and who were the principal active commissaries composing the commissariat at that time ?— Com.-Gen. Burg- mann, Dep.-Com.-Gen. Granet, Dep.-Com.-Gen. 136 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. Daniel, Dep.-Com.-Gen. Fernandes, Dep.-Com.- Gen. Schmidchen, Dep.-Com.-Gen. Verbeke, As- sistant Com.-Gen. Vidau, Acting Dep. -Assist. - Com. -Gen. Donatti, Assist. - Com. - Gen. Pecco, &c. &c. The returns from Her Majesty's Trea- sury will prove, that from 1805 to 1814, the most active duties were generally performed by fo- reigners, whose names have just been mentioned. From the observations made by me in the com- missariat establishment, I am induced to think that under the present circumstances the Treasury runs the risk of having but an ineffective field- commissariat establishment, and inferior to many European nations; which might be obviated by the following regulations : — 1. To establish an academy for commissariat cadets, into which no one should be admitted without good certificates of having completed the first and regular course of classical education. 2. To understand geography and natural his- tory perfectly well, and also to be good arith- meticians. 3. To be versed in statistics. 4. To be attached, at least for six months, to regiments serving in England, and to accompany them on their marches, &c. as assistant quarter- masters, before they can be eligible as commis- sariat clerks. 5. To be well acquainted with the English, THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 137 German, French, Spanish, Italian, and Illyrian or Russian, and Greek languages. 6. Not to be allowed to marry until they attain the rank of Assistant Commissaries-General. 7. The clerks to hold the rank of Lieut.-Dep.- Assist. -Com. -General, that of Capt. -Assist. -Com, - General, that of Maj.-Dep. -Com. -General, that of Col. -Com. -General, that of Major-General ; being thus entitled to all the military honours and allowances, and to sit in committees or courts- martial, according to the date of their commis- missions and appointments ; being thus also sub- ject to all the rules and regulations of the Articles of War and military etiquette, by which means any disagreeable feelings with the officers of the army would be at once obviated, and the service carried on with more zeal, accuracy, and inte- grity. Thus, as I have already said, the Mediterranean commissariat establishment found its way back to Sicily, where I rejoined Com. -Gen. Sir George Burgmann. The occupation of Sicily by the British troops will be an era which will never be forgotten either by the Sicilians or the British ; the best harmony prevailed between them. The Sicilians have displayed much devotion to the British, a circumstance which should not be for- gotten by any individual then composing the Bri- tish army. On the day of the landing of the French between Mille and Scaletta, the English 138 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. troops leaving Messina to meet the French, were cheered by the Sicilians, and treated by them with refreshments. The peasants also displayed great attachment and fidelity to our troops, and by watching the movements of the French, who had landed, were fortunate enough to see where they had buried their colours, and assisted Lieut. Planta, of the De Roll's riflemen, to get posses- sion of them, which he consigned shortly after- wards to Lieut. -Col. A'Court, then aide-de-camp to the Adjutant- General, the late Major-Gen. Campbell, which colours had been deposited in the cathedral at Messina. Save this occurrence, and the occasional shots fired from the Scilla Point against our troops in the vicinity of the Faro di Messina, we had a most happy time of it, until the expedition to Spain. During our stay there, we witnessed two eruptions of Mount Etna. Messina is certainly the finest harbour in the whole island ; it carries on a great trade with Trieste in dry fruits, lemons, oranges, and olive oil. Sicily supplies Malta with all the neces- saries of life, and it may be said that these two islands owe their mutual prosperity on that head to Capt. Sir Alexander Ball, R. N., the late go- vernor of that island, who succeeded in establish- ing at Malta one of the best and most plentifully supplied markets in the world. The Marsalla and the white wines of Sicily are fiery, and have much sulphur in them. The red wines bear THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 139 great improvement; the best of them are the Roccamadaro, of Mille, and Faro wines ; but in the plains between Taormina, Jacca, Villa Franca, Radazzo, is a far better wine, generally called Vino di Caletabiana. Catanea is perhaps the finest and cleanest town in Sicily, and where many of the rich nobility now reside. It might become a very important place, if the inhabitants would go to some expense in building a good harbour. In this city is one of the finest museums of antiquities ever seen, belonging to Prince Biscari, who is very attentive to all those who express a wish to visit his collec- tion. The Dominican convent, a remarkably fine one, contains about four hundred men ; its stairs are magnificent, being of a pure white marble, and the building altogether is in good taste, and shows grandeur and magnificence. The houses of Catanea in general have a noble aspect. Between Catanea and Syracuse are the famous marshes, where many of our officers found great sport in water-fowl ; but I am very sorry to say that several of the most promising of them found their death there, occasioned by the malaria fever. Augusta is an insignificant small fortified place, where there are oyster beds established. The town is full of rats, so much so, that the British commissariat found a great deficiency in corn, &c. occasioned by their ravages. Syracuse, so well known in the classical world,, 140 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. deserves to be seen on account of its position, and for some antiquities; the places most de- serving of notice are the amphitheatre, Dionysius' Ear, and the Catacombs, which latter would amply repay a company of enterprising men, who should purchase that whole tract of ground, and proceed to explore those immense subterranean vaults, which would most likely lead to the dis- covery of great treasures, for in reading the an- cient history and origin of those catacombs we have ample field for such speculations : " Chi vuol il nociuolo rompa la noce, Chi non risica, non morsica." The coast from Syracuse to Cape Passaro is a most dreary one, and so also on the other side of the Cape. The resident English at Malta should not neglect Cape Passaro, as it might turn out to them a place of great resort both in winter and summer, from its being so very near, with the aid of steam-boats, and there is generally a smooth sea. It might become a great resource for people of all classes residing at Malta, during the Sundays, and also during the hot months of June, July, and August; and still more so for convalescents and persons of delicate health. The Maltese, as they have all their supplies of the necessaries of life from that point, even from gratitude should do something for the Cape, and they would greatly profit in a commercial point THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 141 of view, and would certainly make it a much more important place : " Una mano lava 1' altra, e tutte due la faccia." Trapani and its environs are famous for the produce of wine, corn, and cattle ; and Girgente, also a rich country, is well known to the classical world. Palermo is only renowned for its being the re- sidence of the court, and from being the largest town in Sicily. It has a miserable harbour. The Favorita and the Marina di Palermo is certainly worth while seeing ; but as Palermo has scarcely any commerce, and as its position is very unfa- vourable during the hot months on account of the sirocco, I am induced to think that Messina will ultimately carry the prize as the capital of Sicily. It is greatly to be regretted that the public roads have been so long neglected in Sicily. What a prosperous island Sicily would become if her government would undertake to build rail- roads and public roads from Palermo to Catanea and Messina, and thence all round the island. The beautiful lands, the rich soil round Mount Etna, now lie buried in oblivion, and its worth unknown. The hardy peasants round Mount Etna would thus receive an impulse to be active and industrious, and the whole island would be regenerated, nay, it would become one of the wealthiest states in the Mediterranean. O Naples ! 142 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. Naples! why dost thou so cruelly neglect the fairest and most promising of thy daughters : " Non odi consiglio, Soccorso non vuoi, E' guisto se poi, Non trovi pieta." The British troops in Sicily may well say, that during their stay there, they lived in clover, and were fed with milk and honey, without having much danger to encounter, except through a mi- serable conspiracy of a few Carbonari, who I am afraid had been encouraged by some abominable individuals, haunted by a bad spirit, and which ended in a gasconade of hanging. The poor mis- guided captain of the port of Messina was led to the gallows under sure promises that his pardon would come just when the rope was going to be secured round his neck, and whilst in that ex- pectation he was launched into eternity; thus the least guilty was sacrificed to the real con- spirators, who remained unknown. Whoever knew the Sicilians well at that time, must have been pretty sure that the French were utterly detested by the whole nation, and that had fifty thousand of them landed, they would have dwindled away in less than a twelvemonth : " Melius est timuisse modo, quam fcdere valde, Cauto et timido nulla procella nocet." Since the British army has been in Sicily, I THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 143 must say the Sicilian nation has made very rapid strides towards civilisation, and are now almost the most liberal, civilised, and industrious people among the Italians. In 1809 we sailed on an expedition under Sir John Stuart to the coast of Naples, which I have already mentioned. We took possession of the delightful islands of Ischia and Procita, and frightened King Murat out of his wits, living there again in clover for nearly six weeks ; after that we again returned very peaceably to Sicily. In 1812 an expedition sailed from Palermo for Spain ; our rendezvous was at Port Mahon in Minorca, which little island is extremely healthy, and it is recorded by the health-officers there, that if ever any ships with unclean bills of health arrive there, that the contagion generally ceases three days afterwards. In the quail and woodcock seasons this island affords capital sport. The town of Port Mahon is a very pretty one, and the dress of the women in general very genteel and perfectly simple. They walk with particular grace, and without any affectation. There is not a single beggar to be seen in the streets. This island produces plenty of wine and corn for the population, and very fine honey. Majorca is close to Minorca, but of a much greater magnitude ; its soil is richer, and its in- habitants come already nearer to the Spaniards. 144 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. There are very fine mules here, and both Minorca and Majorca are becoming every day more im- portant, chiefly owing to the French settlement at Algiers. Algiers and the whole northern coast of Africa is very interesting to a speculative mind ; for under the hands of a wise and active government it might become very flourishing, and bring back the prosperity and importance of ancient times. Spain, France, and Italy should go hand in hand, in order to obtain that object, which England ought to do on the south-west of Africa, and ac- celerate its civilisation,, and introduce and esta- blish the Christian religion in the very heart of that part of the world so long neglected ; for such noble efforts England, Spain, France, and Italy, nay, the whole of Europe, would soon be richly rewarded, and feel the most powerful and bene- ficial effects. The overgrown population of Eu- rope would find on the northern coasts of Africa a sweet and delightful territory, and God would surely bless such a work. To return to our expedition from Palermo to the coast of Spain. After having remained six weeks at Port Mahon, we sailed from Minorca, and were a few days afterwards off Palamos, when we displayed a manouvre at landing ; the troops all got into their boats and shoved off, but as soon as it got dark they returned and re-em- barked, and the fleet again got under weigh and THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOIIOD. 145 steered more to* the southward ; and beating about, to the great discomfort of many of us who had been lately living so well, for we were now re- duced to salt pork and hard biscuit. The weather also began to be rather rough, which added a great deal to the misery of a crowded troop-ship. I hap- pened to be in the company with five staff officers, some of whom began to look very faint for want of some warm food, and as I counted myself also as one of those who did not feel quite comfortable with such a reduced diet, I thought of making us some einbrennsuppe, which certainly cheered us- up for the day. Its preparation is very simple. You first take some salt butter and make it hot, then add flour to it and keep it on the fire until it gets nicely brown, and having boiling water ready, pour it into the butter and flour, stirring it all the time. After this get a soup tureen, and put into it as much dry biscuit as you may think is sufficient, and pour the hot soup very quickly over it, cover- ing it up close afterwards ; let it remain so for eight or ten minutes, when the einbrennsuppe will be ready to be served out. Fortunately for us we got in sight of Alicant and landed in a few r hours afterwards, when we found the British Con- sul General P. C. Tupper, Esq. and the Spanish Divisions of Generals Whittingham and Roche, who all did their utmost to see us comfortably quarteredin Alicant. The exertions of Mr. Tupper, the British Consul General of Valencia, had gained L 146 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. for us in Spain many friends, and inspired the Spaniards with great confidence in the British arms, which they invariably continued to prove till the very last day of our stay. Many English who have been in Spain have misconceived the worth of that nation, by not living on an intimate footing with them, and also from not being con- versant with the Spanish language ; and there are few Englishmen who knowing the language well will not agree with me that the Spaniards are an upright, honorable, persevering, and trustworthy nation. " Viva la Espaiia e vivan los Espafioles!" and that they deserve a better fate ; all that the Spaniards want, is to be left alone. " Viele Arzte sind des Kranken Tod." Mr. Tupper's proclamation to the Valencians, soon after the fall of Valencia, issued at Alicant, after touching upon the glorious enthusiasm dis- played by the Valencians at the period of the per- fidious seizure of their king at Bayonne, and the heroic resistance subsequently opposed to the enemy, calls upon them not to yield to the pres- sure of present calamities, but to follow the ex- ample of Catalonia, Arragon, and the other pro- vinces, and to rise in arms against their oppressors. " New authorities," says Mr. Tupper, "worthy of " your confidence, are about to arise. They will " give an energetic and brilliant impulse to your " valour and patriotism. Your resources are great? " the national spirit one. You will equal or excel THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 147 ' the Galliciahs or Catellans in disinterestedness, f enthusiasm, and virtue. They disdained to dis- ' honor themselves with the slavish name of ' Frenchmen, and will you, Valencians ! conduct ' yourselves with less dignity and with less spirit ' than they ? No ; from the present misfortunes ' will spring up a sacred flame which will con- ' sume your oppressors. In all parts there are ' Spaniards ; and do not doubt that the happy ' day of restoration of Valencia will yet arrive. ' In Catalonia a formidable army is organizing ; ' and General Lacy is besieging Tarragona. ' Nearly all the interior of Spain is free from ' enemies ; and the divisions of Mina, Duran, 6 Empecinado, Amor, Alentijo, and others, appear ' with a formidable aspect, and increase consider- ' ably. In Alicant the army rejoins , and the ■ English General Roche, in the service of Spain, ( has undertaken to pay, clothe, and arm the gar- ' rison, and every soldier that presents himself to ' him ; who may soon be in a condition to combat the enemy, now proud of his conquest. In * Majorca formidable forces are organizing which ' will soon triumph in the Peninsula. In Car- ' thagena a new army is forming. In La Mancha ■ is a numerous division in a respectable condi- i tion ; and the fortress of Las Pefias de San Pedro ( is the bulwark of its liberty. General Ballas- 1 teros continues victorious, his division increases ( every day. Before Tariffa 3000 enemies have l2 148 THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. " been routed by Genearl Copons, and the Eng- " lish ; and the French have been obliged to raise " the siege of that fortress, losing all their artillery, " after a practicable breach had been opened, from " whence sallied the English Colonel Skerrett " with 2000 men. In Cadiz an army of more than " 30,000 men is rapidly organizing ; and the be- " sieging army confess with dismay that Cadiz is " impregnable. In Estramadura all the country " is free, (the enemy only possessing the spot on " which he stands) ; and its resources and troops " are put in action. Gallicia respires equally free, " and contains a numerous and warlike army. " Asturias, invaded for the fourth time by the " enemy, has obliged them to abandon that ancient " asylum of the liberty of Spain. In Castile is a " disciplined army under the command of General " Mendizabel ; and finally, the allied army under Ci the illustrious Wellington menaces the enemy " in various points, and occupies the greatest part " of his forces. Such is the state of the efforts of " the nation to secure its independence aud purge " its territory of a cruel, devastating and perfi- "clious enemy. And shall Valencia remain out " of the list of the valiant provinces, which do " honor to the nation ? Will she consent to be " blotted out of the map of Europe, and to see " herself attached to the great and usurped yoke " of Napoleon ? Valencians ! you have still an " opportunity, it is still in your power to choose THE ORPHAN OF NOVOGOROD. 149 " between the ignominy of becoming Frenchmen, " and the glory of calling yourselves Spaniards. " We cannot waver as to your noble reply, Spa- " niards we are, resounded on all sides, Catalonia, " Arragon, Loria, all Spain in fine give us an ex- " ample, and teach our duties. Re-unite then in u parties truly patriotic, according to the disposi- u tion of the Supreme Government, intercept the " enemy's convoys, and prevent the forced impo- " sitions of contributions, of devastation and plun- (C der. Whatever you seize from the enemy shall " be the patrimony of your valour, and the reward