THIS is in many respects the most curious volume which has been published for many years. Here we have a captain in the British Navy, accomplishing a "At Tukalinsk I had the misfortune to lose what was to journey of several thousand miles, alone, on foot, and me my all,-my passport, papers, and every protection in over a country considered as next to impassable. The Siberia. In vain I addressed the commissary; in vain I reader, however, is not to suppose that the whole cir-offered a guinea for their recovery; in vain I pointed out cuit of Capt. Cochrane's travels was performed on foot, the rogue who had taken them in the tin case from the seat while I was at dinner. I begged, entreated, insisted, for that, as he tells us, would have been utterly imprac-threatened, abused;-all was to no purpose; and I was ticable. So long as he could escape from the kind offers of the people, and the liberality of the government, he kept up his pedestrian character, but at length he changed it for one more agreeable, we should think, to every traveller :

"I frequently walked, and as frequently rode, and was thus enabled to go over a vast extent of country in a short time; and such is the kind disposition of the Russian cha-ther, I preferred tea. 1 next crossed over to a little village racter towards a stranger, as evinced in my case, that I feel convinced that, by studying their manners and customs, partaking of their amusements, shewing respect to their religion, and otherwise conforming to their rude notions, the Empire of Russia may be traversed by a foreigner in every direction, with much convenince, plenty of food, good lodgings, and even suitable raiment, without molestation, and this for so inconsiderable a sum, that to name it, were to challenge disbelief. I shall, therefore, only state that the expenses of my journey from Moscow to Irkutsk,

eighteen days are consumed in lodging twenty poods of earth, which is the average of each horse; and as each pood pays thirteen and a half copecks, he receives two hundred and sixty-five copecks, or about two shillings,-a sum here sufficient to maintain one person in bread and meat for thirty days, at the rate of one pound and a half of meat and three pounds of bread a-day. This calculation is on the supposition that each driver manages but one cart, when in fact they sometimes have the charge of ten and fifteen, the profits of ONE HALF of which are equal to a rouble a-day, a sum sufficient to maintain at least ten people in bread and meat,-to say nothing of their other means in the produce of two days extra work in each week. But this is not all: many of the carters, who do the work of others, receive one hundred and fifty roubles a-year for that service; no question can therefore possibly arise of the flourishing state of the government of Kolyvan."

We ought to give a specimen of his mode of travel. ling in Northern Siberia :

understand me, but he humanely gave me good lodgings until he could procure the presence of one of the military officers. to act as interpreter. This was done the next day. Meantime, I addressed a letter to the Governor General and Governor of Tobolsk, requesting an attested copy of the documents I had lost, and which I had taken the precaution to have made there. The police-master invited me to dine with him, though he confessed he could not understand either my object or character. He was, however, soon satisfied by the arrival of an express with my passports, &c. all complete. Thus was I, from a state of suspicion and surveillance, again restored to society. I should be very ungrateful, were I not to do justice here to the conduct of the commissary, who kindly went eighty miles, upon my account, to enforce the return of the papers, which being in a tin case, induced the party to suspect money was there. All that I had was, however, in my knapsack, and that did not amount to five pounds. I dined the second day with the chiefs of the district, when a committee of the merchants attended to request my acceptance of a commercial commission to the Kirgeese and Kalmuck's country, being given to understand I could speak those languages from having formerly traded with them. Here, then, was a captain of the British navy, in the heart of Siberia, converted into a Tartar trader. I humoured the joke, and demanded the per-centage. They made their offer, and my demand exceeding it by from twenty to thirty cent., I was of course not employed. In the evening, Preceived a polite invitation from Baron Klotte, the gene ral then commanding the military corps of Siberia. It is proper to observe that the worthy Baron honoured me with this compliment before I had recovered my papers, and solely with the view of benefiting and protecting a stranger. I passed in the garrison three pleasant days, conversing in the French language, which I found both ladies and gentlemen understood well. Feasts and fetes were given to me by the first individuals, all of whom vied in exemplify-ing a leathern bag from the baggage, furnished himself with ing to me the boundless hospitality of their nation."

Capt. Cochrane descended the Irtish for a considerable distance, and then shaped his course in a more northern direction to Barnaoule, famous for its mines:"Of eighty-two thousand inhabitants which the government contains, independent of thirteen thousand belonging entirely to the works, fifty-five thousand, or two-thirds, are obliged to be constantly at work, that is, during twelve hours out of the twenty-four; the first week during the night, and the second during the day, and so on. The third week is a period allotted for the working of their lands, and this they owe to the goodness and humanity of the present chief, who has in many respects ameliorated the condition of the unfortunates under him, and who, it will be recollected, are, like those at Ekatherinebourg, not criminals, but peasants belonging to the emperor.

"The wages and profits derived from this very hard work, carried on day and night, is almost too trifling to name; but a little reflection will shew that their condition is far from wretched. Their direct profits depend upon their actual labour, as he who has most horses, or carries most loads from the mines to Barnaoule, receives most money. They have also ample time to work their lands, and reap abundance of corn and vegetables. Scarcely any full grown man can be found who has not two or three horses, and as many horned cattle, employed during the season in carrying the ore, for which they receive at the rate of thirteen copecks the pood,-one penny farthing, for thirty-six pounds. Many of them prefer this employment, and are accordingly able to save considerable sums of money in it, especially those who have many horses. The plan is this:

"The journey from Zmeyeva to Barnaoule occupies nine days, and allowing the same time for rest and returning,

"We halted for the night at the foot of a mountainous peak, sheltered from the cold north wind; and as this was the first night which I was to pass in the open air, I shall describe the manner of it, in order that it may be known how far (contrary to my calculations) our situation was susceptible even of comfort.

"The first thing on my arrival was to unload the horses, loosen their saddles or pads, take the bridle out of their mouths, and tie them to a tree in such a manner that they could not eat. The Yakuti then with their axes proceeded to fell tember, while I and the Cossack with our lopatkas or wooden spades cleared away the snow which was generally a couple of feet deep. We then spread branches of the pine tree, to fortify us from the damp or cold earth beneath us: a good fire was now soon made, and each bringa seat. We then put the kittle on the fire, and soon forgot the sufferings of the day. Yet the weather was so cold that we were almost obliged to creep into the fire; and as I was much worse off than the rest of the party for warm clothing, I had recourse to every stratagem I could devise to keep my blood in circulation. It was barely possible to might be said to be roasting. Upon the whole I slept tolekeep one side of the body from freezing, while the other rably well, although I was obliged to get up five or six times during the night to take a walk or run for the benefit of my feet. While thus employed, I discovered that the Yakuti had drawn the fire from our side to theirs, a trick which I determined to counteract the next night. I should here observe, that it is the custom of the Yakuti to get to leeward of the fire, and then undressing themselves, put the whole of their clothes as a shelter for one side of their bodies, while the other side receives a thorough roasting benefit of the warmth of their own bodies. The thermofrom exposure to the fire; this plan also gives them the meter during the day had ranged from 200 to 25o of Reaumur, according to the elevation of the sun."

We are furnished with a curious description of the Tchuktchi, a people inhabiting the northern part of the Peninsula, divided from North America by Behring's Straits. From the river Kolyma, he descended to Okotsk on the sea of that name. From his description of the place, we will extract something relating to the convicts who are sent there:

"The chief of Okotsk is generally a captain of the navy of the second rank, and subject only to the orders of the Governor-general of Siberia, although the governor of Irkutsk has some power in civil cases. At present, the establishment consists of three captains and four Heute

with Nertchinsk. All the flour and provisions for the north would be thus more quickly and safely transported, and the immense traffic facilitated between Irkutsk and the several cities of Kiakhta, Petersburg, and Okotsk. The inattention of government, as well as of the opulent merchants, to this object is truly inconceivable.”

nants, with corresponding officers of all classes, and nearly cross that lake, and, entering the Selenga, reach within six hundred seamen and artificers; the allowance for main-twelve miles of Kiakhta, and even hold a communication taining and paying whom is less than two thousand pounds per annum, independent of their bread, which is about eizht thousand bushels. The people are employed in building vessels and store-houses, in rigging and sailing the former, and filling the latter with flour and stores. The receiving and sending away of flour is a serious and laborious duty, and open to much abuse and pilfering. Besides these works, there is a salt concern under the charge of an officer who commands the convicts, at present ninety in number, the maintenance of whom, including provisions, clothing, and pocket-money, is about a thousand pounds per annum. These extraordinary expenses are occasioned by the allowance of double rations, in consideration of their

Hence, he returned by the same route to St. Petersburg and Moscow,

Capt. Cochrane appears to be a person particularly fitted for the North American land expedition, and it might be desirable to employ him in it. His literary pretensions are not great, but he is a shrewd and diligent observer.

ARTISTS' BENEVOLENT FUND.

hard work. The allowance to a convict is as follows:Eighty pounds of rye flour for each man per month, one hundred and twenty pounds of the same flour for each man who has a wife, and forty pounds in addition for each child, male or female. Each man is also allowed ten pounds of oatmeal, or rice, and twenty pounds of butter per month. They are also allowed two complete suits of clothing, and about twenty shillings per annum in money. Such an alTHE following very luminous and equally polite espistle, lowance of provisions is commendable and liberal, indeed from some unaccountable delay, was not forwarded to us until last week, or it would have been acknowledged, perit is so great that the poor wretches are enabled to sell one half of the bread for the purchase of tea, sugar, and meat; haps, although it appeared. on a hasty perusal, not entitled and of the latter, there is not so much necessity, when the to notice. On a subsequent reading, however, dwelling superabundant quantity of fish is taken into consideration, upon the passage" You will comply with the wish of many which is so great, that I believe from twelve to fifteen hun-of your readers," we felt ourselves called upon to consider dred dogs are fed with it during the greater part of the the subject, and we deem it proper, in consequence, to give this document the advantage of the full extent of our publicity:

year.

"The quantity of salt made by the convicts is about two thousand five hundred poods, or one thousand six hundred bushels, which is sold alike to rich and poor, at the rate of three shillings a bushel, equal to two hundred and fifty pounds for sixteen hundred bushels; so that the salt, although a necessary, is a losing, establishment of seventyfive per cent. The liberality and consideration of the Emperor upon this head cannot, therefore, but be duly appreciated."

Capt. Cochrane from Okotsk, proceeded by water across the sea to St. Peter and St. Paul's bay in Kamchatka-and after exploring that Peninsula which he has described with much fulness, returned by way of Okotsk to Yakutsk. Irkutsk, and the Baikal lake. Of this latter a word or two:

To the Editor of the Somerset House Gazette.

66 SIR,

"Last Saturday you thought proper to give publicity to Mr. Balmanno's address read at the Anniversary Dinner of the soi disant Artists' Fund, though subsequently, I perceive, you have more properly named it the Artists' Joint Stock Fund, supported by subscriptions from members. Now, Sir, if you are not a member of this cabal, (excuse the term,) you will comply with the wish of many of your readers, by inserting in your next the address prefacing the list of subscriptions to the Artists' General Benevolent Fund, which will render observation on my part unnecessary, as the imposition attempted to be practised on the public by Mr. Balmanno will appear at the first glance of the uninterested observer, though the insinuating politeness natural to his countrymen might influence a weak mind in personal communication. What right a benefit club (for it is nothing else) have to solicit subscriptions for themselves only, excluding the meritorious artist afflicted by sickness and poverty, surrounded by his starving family, because he does not belong to their association, because be disdains their selfish principles, I have yet to learn. If you require a statement of facts in support of my opinions, I can furnish you with many; but I have no doubt enough have fallen under your own observation to prove the justice of your making the amende honorable. "I am, Sir,

"The approach to the unfathomable Baikal lake may be considered one of the grandest sights in the world. The river Angara flows in the fore ground, gradually widening as it draws nearer to the lake, til at length the source of the river forms a pretty inlet, where the vessels for transporting provisions are laid up. The sight of a number of vessels in an apparently good condition was to me a source of great pleasure, and I could only regret that the season would not permit me to embark on board one of them, instead of crossing as at present, in a sledge. The mountains every where round the Baikal are of the most elevated and romantic appearance. They are bold, rocky, "AN ADMIRER OF THE LIBERAL ARTS." and very dangerous for vessels in summer, as no anchorage is any where to be found. The winds are most violent, and This intemperate epistle would fix upon us an imputasubject to instant changes resembling hurricanes. The tion, which could only originate with the unwarrantable sea is said to run mountains high, and as the vessels are suspicions of the writer. We have not lent ourselves badly manned and worse officered, it is no wonder that openly, or covertly to either of the societies. Neither to that numerous accidents occur. July and August are consi- entitled the Artists' Benevolent Fund, nor to the Artists' dered as the worst seasons, May and June are the best; GENERAL Benevolent Fund. We sent on the anniversary of but whether in bad or good seasons, it not unfrequently the one and the other, to which we had the honour of being happens that the transports are twenty-five and thirty days bidden as guests, the same subscription to each, although in crossing a distance of fifty miles. It is here that the we could not attend either. And with these humble subpower of steam would best exhibit its incalculable advan-scriptions, our sincere good wishes for the prosperity of tages. A boat might ascend the Angara to the Baikal, institutions, founded for such wise, benevolent, and bene

We know not the origin of the differences which, we are concerned to find, subsist between some members of these respective institutions. We hold them each in respect, feeling satisfied that their tendencies must be good. Our best services are at the disposal of either; but we do think, when we look upon the names of so many gentlemen of high character and distinction, who grace the list of each,old Doctor Monsey," Leave the mighty dons saddled that the Society of the Artists' General Benevolent Fund, will feel little obliged by the officious interference of such an advocate as this" Admirer of the Liberal Arts."

Behold how they manage these matters in the Land o' Cakes!" Read the exhilarating pages of those delectable wags of the north, who club their talents at worthy, money making, hospitable Ebony's. Theirs is the Book of the Merry Philosophers, and therein may the listless learn to whet their dull wits, and con that useful lesson, How to line all the days of their lives."

Has it not been promulgated by the learned College, late of Warwick Lane, that "one merry story is more concoctive at a corporation treat, than twenty ass-loads of physic!" The M. D.s. themselves, Heaven preserve them at least a thousand years! at their convivial meetings, being acknowledged the liveliest of all who wait upon Death, even not excepting the mirth-loving fraternity of upholders and undertakers, alike of grave renown!

"More water glideth by the mill than wots the miller of,” says Shakspeare. So is there more fun in London than London knows; although "experience, O! thou disprov'st report," a righte merrye companionable guest at a feast, is as green olives to wine, or cold punch to turtle. All mankind love fun, only who will venture to be funny, when to set the table in a roar, is voted not to be exactly comformable to the wealthy, witless notions of Cockneyshire in the nineteenth century?

"A man may be born in a stable, though," quoth Friar Tuck," and yet be not a whit the more a horse." So may one come into life within hearing of Bow Bells, and not be altogether an ass. We could name to your worships, of our

2dly. The secretary having represented that the perfection of several of the preparations is so exquisitely evanescent, that the delay of one minute after their arrival at the meridian of concoction, will render them no longer And other well-known Performers, who will be found ever worthy of Men of Taste: