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

A TRAVELLING PRISON.79

nion the uses of so singular an equipage, when my question was answered by a ghastly face, which appeared at one of the air holes, and at once informed me that this carriage served to transport prisoners to the place of their destination.

" It is the travelling cell of the Russians," said my companion; "elsewhere, no doubt, they have similar odious objects ; but then they seek to hide them as much as they can from the public; here they make as much display of them as possible. What a government!"

" Think," I replied, " of the difficulties it has to encounter!"

" Ah ! you are still the dupe of their gilded words. I see the Russian authorities impose upon you whatever they please."

" I endeavour to place myself as much as possible in their situation; nothing requires more candid consideration than the position of those who govern, for it is not they who have created the existing state of things; their business is to defend it even while prudently reforming it. If the iron rod which governs this debased people were to be removed but for one moment, society would be overturned."

" They tell you that; but, trust me, they delight in this pretended necessity. Those who most complain of the severities they are obliged, as they say, to put in force, would renounce them with regret. In the bottom of their hearts they love a government without check or counterpoise; such a government works more easily than any other. No man willingly gives up that which makes his task more easy. Could E 4