“Book to bring him to juftice * ? By the new code, this enormous
<— power o f the lords is reduced by reftrictions more confonant
to the humane principles which diftinguilh all the regulation
s o f the prefent emprefs ; and the right o f inflicting pu-
nifhment is lodged, where it ever ought to be, in the hands o f
the publick magiftrate. Abuies, however, ftill fubfift; but mtift,
in time, yield to the influence o f fuch falutary inftitutions.
I am far from afierting, that inhumanity is the general
cliaraCteriftick of'the Ruffian nobility; or that there are not
many perfons who treat their vaflals With the utmoft benevolence
and juftice. I am alfo well aware, that feveral peafants
are in fuch a flouriihing condition as to have formed very
conliderable capitals without dread o f exaCtion; and that fome
even poffefs landed eftates under their matters’ name. But i f
we confider the unhappy pleafure which too many feel in
tyrannizing over their inferiors, we have every reafon to con-
elude, that the generality o f boors muft ftill be cruelly op-
preffed. It has been ably obferved, by a very judicious writer*
that “ as much as fubjeilion to a petty prince, whofe domini-
“ ons extend not beyond a iiogle city, is more grievous than
. “ obedience to a great monarch, fo much is domeftick *
“ flavery more cruel and oppreffive than any civil fubjeCtion
“ whatfoever.” The fame author alfo adds the following
remark, which will equally apply in the prefent cafe : “ Nor
“ can a more probable reafon be imagined for the fevere, I
“ might fay barbarous, manners o f antient times, than the
“ practice o f domeftick flavery; by which every man o f
“ rank was rendered a petty tyrant, and educated amongft the
■“ flattery, fubmiffion, and low debafement o f his llaves t .”
* H ow often rmift fuch tyrannies efcape “ qua te to his c r im e , n am ely , that o f o r .
th e . co gnizance o f th e c o u r t, and remain “ de riu g feveral o f his pea fants to i>e w h ip l
unpunifhed. Sometimes, indeed, a n ob le “ ped in fo c ru el a manner, th a t th e y died
is h ro u gh t to ju ft ic e . O n e inflance, th o u gh “ T h is circtlmftance w ill fhow the power
related in a form e r p u b lica tion , I b eg leave “ which the lords have over th eir p ea ftnts •
to introduce in this pla c e. . “ and w ill at the fame t im ep ro v e , that fuch
“ In the prifon o f Mofcow there is a g en - “ crimes, when difcovered, do n o t always
** tleman confined, and he alone is denied “ remain unpuniilied.” Account o f Prifons'
“ the p r iv ileg e o fe v e r coming from his cell,- & c . p . t a i ’
‘ t a puiyfitment w h ich is b y no means a d e , f H um e’s E ffa y s , V o l. I . p . 402.
fill!
How then can a country be faid to be civilized, in which do- chap.
' V meftick flavery ftill exifts ? . ~ .
The vaflals who work for their matters, generally receiving
their maintenance or being accommodated with a fmaU
portion o f land for their own ufe, always enjoy in fufneient
abundance the common necefliiries o f life, which are fo
few as to be eafily obtained ; and ufually fpend any little
money they are able to acquire in clothes or fpirituous liquors.
Thofe who, in contradiiftion to this general rule,
fave the profits which they may have earned by their
labour, or by trade, conceal as much as poffible any acqui-
fition o f fortune; they feldom change their mode of living,
and frequently bury their money in the ground. \ This
cuftom is one reafon, among feveral others, o f the fcarcity
o f filver currency ; that being the fpecie which is chiefly ‘
amafled. The practice o f hiding money is common in all
countries o f the Eaft, where property is not well fecured ;
and where the people are in fuch a ftate o f flavery, that,
through dread o f repeated exacftions, they cannot even venture
to ufe the riches which they have acquired: neverthelefs,
they are remarkably greedy o f gain ; and perhaps there are
no tradefmen who demand fo much for their goods, and
will take fo little, as the Ruffians;— a fure proof o f continual
oppreffions..
The peafants are not to be pitied for the want o f any little-
indulgences, which are efteemed in other nations the common
neceflaries o f life; ufe reconciles them to fuch deficiencies;
but they deferve corppaflion for their fubjecftion to
their maflers. The former only makes them hardy, patient,
and eafily contented; but the latter renders them humble,’
cringing, obftinate, carelefs, and in a manner inieniible,’ '