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

THE COUNTESS 0'DONNELL.251

THE COUNTESS 0`DONNELL. BOY COACHMEN. THE ROAD.

GRACEFULNESS OF THE PEOPLE. DRESS OF THE WOMEN.

THE SEE-SAW. —BEAUTY OF THE FEMALE PEASANTS.—RUSSIAN

COTTAGES.CUSTOMS OF THE SERFS.DEVOUT THIEVES. —

WANT OF PRINCIPLE IN THE HIGHER CLASSES. FEMALE POLI

TICIANS.DOMESTIC HAPPINESS OF THE SERFS. — CASUISTICAL

REFLECTIONS. — CONNECTION OF THE CHURCH AND STATE.

ABOLITION OF THE PATRIARCHATE OF MOSCOW.— FUNDAMENTAL

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SECTS AND A MOTHER CHURCH.— HISTORY

OF A FOALTHE AUTHOR INJURED BY THE MORAL ATMO

SPHERE. NATIONAL MORAL RESPONSIBILITY.DREAM OF A

WAKING MAN. FIRST VIEW OF THE VOLGA. SPAIN AND

RUSSIA COMPARED. — DEWS OF THE NORTl·l.

Milan, 1st January, 1842. Three years have not yet elapsed since this chapter was written as a letter to Madame, the Countess O'Donnell, and that lady exists no longer.

Alas ! without fearing henceforward to compromise her by addressing to her my opinions of the singular country I am describing, hers is the only name that will appear among the letters that I publish.

It is the name of one of the most amiable and most intellectual women I have ever known ; a woman, the most worthy of inspiring, and the most capable of feeling a true friendship. She knew how, at the same time, vigorously tto fortify and gently to embellish the life of her friends: her intellect inspired her with the wisest counsels, her heart dictated the most lofty and energetic resolutions, while the liveliness' of her wit rendered life pleasant to the most unhappy who approached her.

An avowed enemy of all affectation, she nevertheless bore M 6