Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

RUSSIAN COACHMEN AND POSTILLIONS. 297

pavement of Petersburg. The harness is strong, and at the same time lm`ht and elegant: it is made of ex-cellent leather ; in short, notwithstanding the want of taste, and the negligence of the servants, the tout ensemble of these equipages is original, and, to a certain degree, picturesque.

They only harness four horses abreast for long journeys. In Petersburg they are placed two and two; the traces by which they are attached are long beyond all proportion. The child who guides them is, like the coachman, dressed in the Persian robe called the armiac. However well it may suit the man who is seated, it is not convenient on horseback ; notwithstanding which the Russian postillion is bold and dextrous.

I do not know how to describe the gravity, the haughty silence, the address, and the imperturbable temerity of these little Slavonian monkeys. Their pertness and dexterity are my delight every time that I go in the city, and they have, which is less often seen here than elsewhere, the appearance of being happy. It is the nature of man to experience satisfaction when what he does is done well. The Russian coachmen and postillions being the most skilful in the world, are perhaps content with their lot, however hard it may be in some respects.

It must also be observed that those in the service of the nobles pique themselves on their personal appearance, and take pains with it; but those who ply on hire, excite, as do also their unfortunate horses, my sincere pity. They remain in the street from morning till evening, at the door of the person who lets them out, or on the stands assigned by the police. о 5