a life, rashly ventured with his horse to cross the sands, and so perished in the treacherous tide. Our association with his fate gave importance to an event, which to me was one of the most momentous of my life.

When our brave boat touched the pier at Flint the following day, among the anxious and expectant crowd of men and women standing on the beach I saw Molly Adams, her face blanched, and her eyes red and wet with bitter tears, foremost of them all. She trembled when her eye met her husband's kindly smile, and I thought she would have fallen. I saw the close clasp and the warm embrace these two honest souls gave each other, and an affection beyond words, deep as death, only to be broken by the grave, was manifested in the silence with which they met. For poor Molly, with many others, had dreaded the worst, and had now to thank God for the brave, loving life that was yet spared to her; while others wrung their hands and beat their bosoms in all the profound agony of that grief which "will not be comforted," because he that they loved so deeply too was no longer among them to love or to chide, to protect, shelter, and cherish.

TOPOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF RUSSIA.
(Continued from page 564, No. 309.)

VII. THE CENTRAL OR INTERIOR DISTRICT.

THIS district-the heart of the empire-the very foundation of Russia's greatness-the real fatherland of the Russian nation-the centre of all European Russia-the treasury of all that is dear to a people, comprises all the country lying from the middle flow of the Volga upwards to the sources of the Hopra, the Donetz, the Oka, and the Desna; consequently, it includes in its extent the governments Yaroslav, Kostroma, Nishni-Novgorod, Penza, Tambov, Voronesh, Kursk, Orlov, Kaluga, Tula, Moscov, Vladimir, and Rizan. A temperate and healthy climate; favourable soil; valuable meadows, together with excellent pasture-grounds; a great variety of the other gifts of nature; urban and agricultural industry, already long in prosperous operation; an abundance of ship-building materials and excellent rivers; convenient markets for the exchange of merchandize; an immense private capital, gained by the co-operation of the two capitals; the number and activity of the population, always ready to toil for the prospects of a safe return, make this district one of the best in the empire, especially so in a politico-economical and administrative view. But in a physical point of view, this district does not present such various aspects as the other portions which we have already described. There we shall not meet any of those terrifying scenes which have so much astounded us in the north; nor with any of those Neptunian revolutions, the traces of which are to be met with in the north and south-west; nor any of that charming scenery as in the south, with which it is impossible not to be raptured; nor with the boundless wilderness of the steppes, which we have portrayed in the south-east, if not with gratification, at least with truthful curiosity. Here we

shall behold a nearly complete uniformity in climate as well as in peculiarities of soil; an uniformity, perhaps, beneficent to the inhabitants, but certainly fatiguing to the mere reader and observer. However, even here, after a minute examination, it will be impossible to escape noticing, that a variety of climate, as well as of soil, exists; with the exception of those places where the bare rock, sands, and marshes, present a physical impossibility to the success of vegetation and improvement, there are still districts, even the most convenient for these purposes, that present a great variety. A more or less elevated position, the abundance or scarcity of water, extent of forests-these are the causes which, acting upon the state of the temperature, have such a powerful influence upon the greater or lesser productiveness of the soil; therefore here, as well as in every other portion of the country, there exists a more or less important difference between each of them, if closely examined. And now, and in order to limit these various differences to the most general terms, we purpose dividing the central territory into four different districts.

The first district, comprising the governments of Yaroslav, Kostroma, Vladimir, and Nishni-Novgorod, is divided, as if by nature, into two unequal parts,—the eastern and the western; the flow of the Volga serves as a line of demarcation between these portions; in the eastern are to be seen ramifications of the northern Ural mountains, which extend here across the country, either from the government of Vologda, or from that of Viatka; in the western continue the ramifications of an extensive flat elevation, and the same uniformity of climate, as in the Alaunsk districts, is also observable. Throughout the whole extent of this part, or we may say in the four governments that represent it, the Ural mountains, after uniting with the ramifications of the Alaunsk mountains, disappear gradually; from this reason, the eastern part is more exposed to the influence of an Uralian atmosphere, whilst the western is exposed to the action of that of Alaunsk; from these causes, the climate in the governments of Yaroslav and Vladimir, is similar to that in the governments of Tver and Moscov, and the climate in the government of Kostroma and Nishni-Novgorod beyond the Volga, is again on a par with that of the governments of Vologda and Viatka.

The properties of the soil throughout the whole district, are tolerably good; however, the country on the right bank of the Volga, along the Oka and Kliasma are the best districts, and they are also moistened by the waters of the Unja and Vetluga. Of these four governments, which we have included in the first district, that of Kostroma is the least productive, and the least populated of the four; here are found numerous mountains and lakes, immense extents of wild forests and marshes, but particularly along the line of demarcation between this government and those of Vologda and Viatka.

The second district-the governments of Penza, Tambov, and Voronesh-is under the influence of a southern steppe climate, and from this cause, it is much warmer here than it is in the first district; a few elevations belonging to the Volga chain, pass here along the flow of the Sura, Bituga, and the Don; they decline ultimately, and form the

vast plains of Tambov between Zna and the upper flow of the Moschka, and those of Voronesh between the Bituga and the Oskol. These plains have the characteristics of a steppe; however, the soil is nearly everywhere productive. The extensive meadows, in which the government of Voronesh is particularly rich, have the peculiarities of steppe meadows; the grass that grows upon them is very high, but at the same time succulent and soft; it is also impossible to avoid remarking, that in the government of Voronesh-a district now in a state of transition—a climatic change is already perceptible.

The third district-the governments of Kursk, Orlov, and Kalugacontains a tolerably elevated central plateau; this elevation is surrounded by deep ravines, jagged crags and dark caverns, out of which two very important rivers issue: the Oka, flowing towards the Volga, and the Sosna, which empties its waters into the Don. From this elevation, also, the country declines visibly towards the north and towards the south, and for this reason, the district is divided into the northern and southern halves; in the northern, which contains the government of Kaluga, and the greater portion of that of Orlov, the soil is clayey, sandy, and stony; but in some places black and generally productive, if well tilled and improved. This district is susceptible to the climatic influences of the Alaunsk mountains, but is more temperate and settled than in the governments that constitute the district of Alaunsk. In the southern half, and throughout the whole extent of the government of Kursk, the soil is black, exceedingly productive, and the climate, tempered by the mild winds of the Ukraine and MaloRossia, is warm, pleasant, and healthy. In this district, the Alaunsk and Carpathian ranges unite.

The fourth district-the governments of Moscov, Tula, and Rizan— is a continuation of the Alaunsk district, both in climate and in peculiarities of soil. Slight elevations are visible in the governments of Moscov and Tula; the best soil, as regards productiveness, is in the government of Rizan, the worst in Tula, whilst the more cultivated and best improved, is found in Moscov, although the soil in the latter is considerably harder than in Rizan, and nearly as difficult to improve as that in Tula. Throughout the whole extent of this district, the soil is sandy, clayey, and seldom purely black; the country along the flow of the Oka, and particularly along the Don, in the government of Rizan, has excellent pasturages and rich meadows; and in the northern part of the government of Tula are extensive districts, covered with a layer of yellow or red-coloured clay, which, when perfectly dry, is so very hard, that it is nearly impossible to cut it in two with an axe, but during the rainy season, it softens to such a degree, that it forms at vast field of mud, an impassable plain, unfit for any use at that particular season.

In concluding our description of the central district, we must observe, that, on the whole, it presents a vast and open plain, temperate as regards heat and frost, not equally productive, but nearly everywhere fit for improvement. Owing to the comparatively ancient date of its cultivation and numerous population, it demands, more than any other portion of this vast empire, those ameliorations and improvements,

which the necessities of the age, and of science in general, imperiously demand, for the greater welfare of the country and its inhabitants. We must not, however, lose sight of the exclusive position of the central district, which, coupled with the arbitrary system of administration, considerably retards those desirable changes.

VIII. THE URAL DISTRICT.

THIS territory, occupying the extreme east of European Russia, would be less populated and less important in the system of the political administration of the empire, if the veins of the Ural mountains and the treasures extracted from them did not stimulate the national industry, and attract a great number of the labouring classes to its confines. Extensive pasturage, convenient plains fit for agricultural purposes, lie between the mountains; and large tracts of country along the flow of the rivers, covered with fertile meadows, on which numerous herds of cattle feed; salt-springs, employing the labour of many thousand people, and roads of intercommunication more or less convenient, which connect this country with the north as far as Archangel, and with the south as low as Astrachan, and with the east to the distant confines of Siberia; all these advantages lend an unusual importance to this enormous district, in which we include the governments of Simbirsk, Kazan, Viatka, Perm, and Orenburg. This country, which presents the greater or lesser influence of an Uralian atmosphere, may be divided again into four distinct parts: the Cis-Volga, the Cis-Kama, the Trans-Kama and Volga, and Trans-Uralian provinces.

The first part of the Uralian district, comprising and including in its limits the whole of the country on this side of the Volga, is a long plain, inclosed by elevations, following the banks of the Sura river in the west, and the mountainous banks of the Volga in the east. It is moistened by numerous rivers, covered with clumps or groups of oakwoods, and possesses excellent pasturage and valuable meadows; the climate is temperate and the soil exceedingly productive. In this district is included the lesser half of the government of Kazan and the greater portion of the government of Simbirsk.

The second part-i. e. the country situated on this side of the Kamacomprises the whole extent of the government of Viatka, a considerable portion of that of Kazan, and the western part of the government of Perm. The southern district is partly sandy, and in some parts clayey, as regards quality of soil; but everywhere productive, if properly tilled and attended to. Along the flow of the Viatka and the Kama, districts of unusual productiveness are seen, rich also in wood for shipbuilding purposes; in the northern district, beginning from Orlov and Slobodsk, beyond the river Tcheptza as far as the Tcherdina, the country is very mountainous, covered with thick coniferous woods, full of swamps and marshes, and owing to these disadvantages, as well as to the generally harsh climate, little calculated to yield any beneficial results to agricultural industry.

The third part, including in its limits the country on the other side of the Kama and Volga-the most eastern limit of European Russia—

extends, from north to south, from the Tcherdina, and from the sources of the Petchora as far as Orenburg, or more correctly to the middle flow of the river Ural; and from east to west, from the Ural mountains to the mouths of the Kama and Samara; consequently it includes a great portion of the government of Perm, the remaining portion of the governments of Kazan and Simbirsk, and the larger portion of Orenburg. This territory is composed of three naturally distinct districts: the northern, the central, and the southern. The northern district, from the mouth of the Tchusova to the confluence of the Petchora, is a cold and barren country, owing to its geographical latitude, as well as through the enormous extent of its mountains. These mountains extend in all directions, either in uninterrupted chains, or in separate groups of craggy hills-presenting either barren rocks of great elevation, or thick and impassable forests crowning their heights. In many places there are deep caverns of a wonderful aspect, that seem once to have served as temples to the wandering Voguls. The valleys between these mountains are marshes that never dry up. By degrees, as the mountains fall away towards the west, the country assumes a more cheerful aspect, becomes more populated, and is much more cultivated, especially along the flow of the river Kama. However, the soil is but little adapted for cultivation, and agriculture has indifferent prospects of prosperity. The principal features of this district areunlimited forests, the mining industry, salt works, the richest in Russia, and uninterrupted communication by water, principally down the Kama. The more inconvenient voyage upon the canal, called Ekatherinovsky, is at present totally abandoned.

The central district-the country from the mouth of the Tchusova, to the confluence of the Ufa with the Belaja, or the southern end of the government of Perm, and the northern extreme of that of Orenburgcomprises a sandy and clayey extent of country, covered with deep strata of black soil, and from that cause it is productive; upon this extent of land, extensive forests of fir and pine-trees grow, which serve as an excellent food for the bees. Owing to these advantagesforestry, the rearing of bees, together with agricultural industry, constitute important branches of the employment of the inhabitants; but the paramount wealth of this district is, undoubtedly, the working of the metal and mineral mines; for important and extensive foundries, and an immense quantity of minerals, are met with all along the mountain range.

The southern district-the country from Ufa to Orenburg, and from the Ural and the Guberlinsk mountains to the mouth of the Kama and Samara-is the best portion of the Uralian district, as regards climate and quality of soil. We have, however, already observed that the climate is here comparatively colder than in the western districts lying under the same degree of latitude. The soil is unusually fertile along the course of the Kama, Samara, Soka, Tcheremschana, Ika, and Busuluka rivers. The whole extent of this country is intersected by branches of the Ural mountains. From the river Belaja towards the east, in the high branches of the Ural mountains, we meet with the most remarkable and the wealthiest mining establishments-among