CONTENTS ART. I. JOURNEY from Riga to the Crimea, by way of Kiev, with some account of the Colonization, and the Manners and Customs of the Colonists of New Russia. To which are added notes relating to the Crim Tatars, by Mary Holderness. III. The Crackling Goose. IV. The Cracked Poet. V. Gout; an Ecstacy, by P. O'Dagrah, Esq. VI. Hints on Cachexies, with observations on the Epi- 1. On the comparative Chronology of the Hebrew, and Lowland Scottish Dialects, proving, from genuine documents, that the latter was in use before, and the other not till after the Fall. 2. On the superiority of the English Dialect as spoken at Inverness, to any English spoken in England. VIII. Tithes and Potatoes, by Boys White, esq. of Mul- IX. Abuse of the Clergy, a Novel, by Jeffrey Brougham X. Mum for't, a parting address, by J. Pallet, AND CRITICAL REVOLVING LIGHT. JANUARY, 1824. Journey from Riga to the Crimea, by way of Kiev, with some account of the Colonization, and the Manners and Customs of the Colonists of New Russia. To which are added Notes, relating to the Crim Tatars. By Mary Holderness. TH HIS is a very praiseable work-a plain straightforward narrative, making the reader familiarly acquainted with the scenes and persons described; we recommend it strongly to the public. It is written by a Lady, and is, throughout, distinguished by proper and lady-like feelings.-Mrs. H. does not think proper to mention her motives for a residence in the Crimea, and, of course, we have no business with thembut we think it right to say, that as she accompanied her husband, and took her very young children with her, on a journey of such extreme fatigue and danger, the general princi ples into which we resolve her conduct, are, love and dutyafter which, we need say but little to interest the public in the writer, as well as in the book. Of the latter we can safely say, that it is a lesson and model for travel writersconcise, clear, and unassuming, both in style and exterior, a plain octavo of 316 pages, with a few prints of costume, &c.; and so reasonable in price, that we advise every one to buy it, that can afford it-our extracts therefore shall be few and short. Mrs. H. left Riga on Nov. 18th, and her route (of about 1500 English miles, we suppose) was through Polotsk, Moghiloff, Kiev, Odessa, and so on to Perekop, and finally Karagoss, a village in the Crimea, which she reached on the 3d of Feb. As our object is to be moral, as well as amusing, we shall avail ourselves of the description of Russian travelling, as affording an excellent lesson on contentment at home. Heaven forbid that our dear and delicate friends, the lovely ladies of North Devon, should ever be tempted from the airy comforts of an open carriage, and Mr. Thomas King's New Patent Elastic Reed Seats *, to have their tender limbs bumped in a * In consequence of this ingenious invention, Mr. King has been appointed Purveyor of horses and carriages to the Cave, britchka, or cramped in a kibitka. The following extract shews us most convincingly by contrast, the value we ought to set upon the easy elegance of a summer picnic, to Pickwell sands (Powers! what a name for a Picnic!) or-the ne plus ultra of the sort-to the Cave. "If our thoughts had not been occupied by a crowd of more serious ideas, at the outset of this our long and adventurous journey, the sight of these novel carriages, (i. e. the Polish britchka, and three kibitkas) and our own appearances, huddled up in different sorts of fur shubes, so heavy, and so cumbrous, that we could scarcely walk beneath their weight, would all have affording subject for laughter, and burlesque ; though it was only the preparation for the outset, and the packing into the carriages, that excited risibility; for the moment they began to move over the rough-paved streets of Riga, the jolting was so intolerable, that it threatened to dislocate our joints; and for the first half hour of our drive, made me look forward with dread, and almost despair, to its termination.' We dare say our readers, like ourselves, never look into a book about Russia, without feeling all their teeth loose for a day or two afterwards. We should like, for once, to hear half a dozen real Russian women talking their words must go off like a feu de joie, and very probably, they have Patent Secret Percussion Locks in their windpipes, with copper caps and all to fit, for certainly organs of flesh and blood never could stand it; they really do contrive the most abominable, saw setting, crack tooth combinations of consonants—we can no more pronounce, than we could venture to swallow, the horrible liquor, they drink in Russia. Only think-spirit of Dr. Pangloss!-only think of K V * & A double S! we cannot deny our North Devon readers the receipt, for tastes may differ, and what we would not allow to land at Lundy, may be reckoned goodly drink, at some distance. The common drink of the Russian is KVASS, which is not so good as our small beer (!!!) it is sometimes made with flour and water, flavored by herbs, sometimes with different sorts of fruits, and this latter kind is a much pleasanter drink, though it is all sour; the method of making it is very simple ; a large barrel is filled with fruit, sometimes plumbs, sometimes apples, wine-sours, or, in fact, any fruit of which you have a sufficient abundance to make it from; there is then put into the cask, as much water as it will hold, and in fifteen days it * How different from the euphony of our CA-VE. is fit to drink. (Credat Judæus.) After a few gallons are drawn off, it is filled up again with water, to make it last until the time of year when it can be made again. This sort of KVASS is, however, only made in South Russia, where fruit is abundant and cleap." What then do they drink in the North? Let us see. In an account of Russia by Giles Fletcher, who was there with an Embassy in 1588 (if he was not actually Ambassador himself) this horrible hog's-wash is spelt Quasse, rather more possible to pronounce, but if any thing, still less palatable for potation. 1979 1 Their common drink is mead-the poorer sort use water, and a thin drink called Quasse, which is nothing else (as we say) but water turned out of its wits, with a little bran meashed with it.' Now the Russians are not a changeable people, and, no doubt, they stick to their liquor still-much good may it do them. We remember being highly amused (but we had the toothache for a week) with Bony's journey to Moscow; “When the fields were so green, and the sky was so blue---" this journey had nearly the same effect; for at Kiev, an unlucky accident (for us) introduced them to a Colonel Beshkakoff, (if we have not dropped a ) who took them to see the monastery of Pestcherskey-then came our fit again. But, to shew the Russian rage for consonants, when they ar rived at Human, a place really so called, (N.B. the only place of the sort in all Russia) they found an Englishman, of such a name, as never was heard of before;→ whence he came, or what he was originally called, we are not informed: there is a very good family in Yorkshire, of the name of Wyvill, but if he belonged to it, they had done all they could to disguise it, in Russia, by bracing, binding, and curling it up into Wigfull. We consider it a great omission, that Mrs. H., who travelled the same route going and coming, and lived four years in the Crimea, should omit to mention how many teeth the English party lost in that time. At all times the ceremony of marriage, if not the thing itself, is interesting, and at the present moment more especíally; for, beyond all former example, binary compounds are the rage in Barum and we shall extract a few pages as a good specimen of Mrs. H's style, and also, as affording us an opportunity of diversifying our own work, and furnishing our readers with the means of comparing the customs of Crim Tatars of the present day, with those of Russians of the 16th century, as described by Mr. Fletcher, to whom we have already alluded. At the period fixed for the wedding, a Tatar Murza sends to all the neighbouring villages an invitation to come and partake of his festivity and good cheer. Two, three, or more villages in a day are thus feasted, and this lasts a week, ten days, or a fortnight, according to the wealth of the bridegroom. Each guest takes with him some present, which is as handsome as his means will allow : a horse, a sheep, a lamb, various articles of dress, nay, even money, are presented on this occasion. Much ceremony takes place in preparing the intended bride, on the evening before the wedding, of which I have been a witness. The poor girl either was, or appeared to be, a most unwilling victim. She was lying on cushions when I first entered, covered so as not to be seen, and surrounded by the girls who were her particular friends, the rest of the women attending less closely. The girls at intervals, loudly lamented the loss of their companion, and she joined in the voice of woe. At length the women told her, that it was time to commence the preparations. In an instant the girls all seized her, and uttering loud cries, attempted to withhold her from the women, who, struggling against them, endeavoured to force her away. This scene lasted till the bride was near suffering seriously from their folly, for she fainted, from continued exertion, and the heat of the crowd; but this may be said to have ended the contest, for they were obliged to give room and air for her to revive, and some little time after she had recovered, the women took formal possession of their new associate. They then began to dye her fingers, her toe nails, and afterwards her hair, which being tied up, she at last was left to repose. During the whole time I was there, she would not show her face and in general I have observed, that if one tells a Tatar girl that it is said she is about to be married, she runs immediately out of the room and will never speak to a stranger on that subject. ; The party, when on the road, forms a gay and lively concourse, in which he, who in England would be called THE HAPPY MAN, is the only person who has not the appearance of being cheerful. Apparelled in his worst suit of clothes, with unshaven face, and perhaps badly mounted, he rides where he is least conspicuous, while a friend has the charge of leading another horse for him, which is always richly caparisoned. When the party attending the bride is arrived at the place of meeting, the mother, or some duenna who has the superintendance of the business, first makes a present of value to the person who leads the horse, which, if it be a shawl, as is generally the case, is tied round the neck of the animal. Afterwards, many small handkerchiefs coarsely embroidered, and little pieces of linen, or of coarse printed cotton are distributed, for which the guests contend in horse races. 6 This occupies much time, and during the whole of it the carriage which contains the bride, waits at the distance of nearly half a mile. It is never brought nearer to the party; but the lady's father, or one of her brothers, attends it, in order to see the charge safely executed, of delivering her, UNSEEN, into the house of her husband. The better to effect this, the carriage is hung round with curtains inside, and if the party arrive somewhat early at the village, the vehicle is detained at the entrance of it, till near the close of the day, and till it is supposed that all are occupied in eating. When she reaches the door of her new prison, sherbet is brought her to |