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    ment of it , we see things in a great degree unlike one another , and therefore ought not to wonder at such unlikeness between things visible and invisible . " To the first of these we reply , that although , men do admit that there are innumerable things beyond their natural comprehension , they do not admit of dogmatism on those things . The second is another sample of the reasoning which will suit the ELoran quite as strictly as the Bible . He does not see that , as witness this reply to an objection he raises : — " « But is it not self-evident that internal improbabilities of all kinds weaken external probable proof ? ' Doubtless . But to what practical purpose can this be alleged here , token it 7 ias been proved before that real internal improbabilities , which rise even to moral certainty , are overcome by the most ordinary testimony ; and when it now has been made appear that we scarce know what are improbabilities as to the matter we are here considering ; as it will further appear from what

    follows . " What can we do with a reasoner who having proved that many things which are improbable are true , brings forward that proof as an ergo that these particular improbabilities are true ? It is the old fallacy of the hippogrif . ] SText week we shall enter with Butler into a more detailed examination of the claims of Christianity .

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    REVELATIONS OF SIBERIA . Revelations of Siberia . ' By a , Banished Lady . Edited by Colonel lack Szyrma . In Two vols . Colburn and Co . Eve Pelinska , the sister of one of Poland ' s admired poets , and herself a woman of some cultivation , having incurred the displeasure of the Czar , was politely conducted to the agreeable regions of Siberia to give her patriotism an airing ; and the results of her experience during these years of captivity , 1839—41 , are told without ostentation in the volumes before us ; which , however interesting , must be read with the recollection that they were written on her return , and under the eye of the police , so that , as far as " revelations" go , they are not satisfactory . thwith which

    The interest of these volumes , apart from that sympay we always follow biographical experience , arises from the novelty of the scenes and manners it describes , the glimpses it gives us of those remote regions . Politics there is none ; scene-painting little , and not of the best ; dramatic incidents are sparing , yet by means of a quiet womanly glance at things , and a simple straightforward style , Madame Felinska becomes a very agreeable companion . The reader must make up his mind to a temporary dislocation of the jaw , after being called upon to pronounce the names so liberally strewed over the surface of the narrative . We should be glad to see in Walker's Pronouncing Dictionary plain directions for the delivery of names like Krzyzanowski , Pietraszkiewiez , Kzonczewska , Iasyczenko , and some others . Swallowing a rasp is a bagatelle in comparison . Let us , however , dip into these volumes for some sketches of Siberian life .

    A HUSBAND AND A FATHEE ! " At one of the post-stations between Kazan and Perm , a chief of a village , actuated , as I suspected , less by politeness than curiosity , arrived to pay his respects to us . He was no longer young but looked robust . He was dressed in a broad kaftan , with a turban on his head , and led his wife by the hand , whom he presented to me . A long veil was thrown over her head , concealing the whole of her waist , and her other dress . Her face , however , was uncovered ; but it was horrible to look at , so thickly was it overlaid with rouge , white and crimson ; and her

    eyebrows were painted jet-black . It bore not the least appearance of a human face , but more that of a hideous mask , or a doll made of parchment . Her bedizened visage , and her fantastic costume , made me t hink that we , at that moment , were at a masquerade , and had one of its most perfect patterns before us . " It was not , however , long before I repressed my foolish wonder at her figure and resumed an earnest countenance . Having formerly had frequent opportunities of seeing the Tartars , and not being at all a stranger to their manners , 1 entered into conversation with this strange couple . •" How many wives have you got ? ' I asked the Mussulman .

    "' Four / replied ho . * ' « Why did you not bring them all here V "' All the others are old and ugly ; I never take thorn with mo . This ono is but thirty-two years , and I am proud of her , ' answered he , casting it doating glance on his better half . * " How many children have you ?' "' Only four sons and nine daughters , ' replied he , with a mournful shake of the head , as if desirous we should pity him . " To give his sorrow on that account si ludicrouH turn , 1 continued : "' They arc handsome , lusty maidens , nurely , and you will get a good round . sum of money for them . ' * " Hut has it not cost me much to rear them ? 1 much doubt that I . shall got buck my money , ' replied ho . " Such wan thin worthy and calculating pater fam ' dias of the Steppe . "

    Their Ursl ; experience of JJorezov , the plu . ee <> i their <; uj > f , ivily , wjih not encouraging : — " 1 asked our landlord if he could procure uh Home articles of food from the market , when ho replied that there was none in the town . " * No market ! Then where do . you get your food ? ' I inquired . ' Kvorybody gets Inn food when ; lie can , ' was his reply . " L never supposed , nor could smy huoIi idea have ever entered in ( o my imagination , that a . town could exist without , n market . Yet . mich wax therms here . ; and we waw that wo could not do otherwise than accommodate ourwlves to the "I inquired of the Cossack whether he could not supply uh with something out of bin own pantry ; but hi * reply wan , that ho had nothing , and nil Le could give uh at that moment was sour ducks , which perhaps would not be to our taste .

    "The hungry me never over dainty . Thinking , therefore , that , the duckH of which he HjK » k « ho disparagingly , might not be ho bi . « l im « l tlmfc hunger might easily reconcile our palates to a worse di « b , 1 requested that they should he served . ThiN being done , we found to our great mortification that ' sour' whs but u euphonious torm for moat absolutely putrid .

    " We could not touch even a morsel of such disgusting stuff , and there remained no alternative but to betake ourselves to bed , without appeasing the cravings of hunger . " There was no night , but the perfect light of day prevailed the whole time This difference we could not observe before , while we were on board the vessel " through the narrow window of our cabin , for , though it might have been clear on the deck , the light even of noon could but scantily penetrate into our dormitory But here the case was different ; it was continual daylight , without any distinction between day and night ; and this the more visible from the houses in Siberia having an excessive number of windows . I can hardly account for the introduction of such an absuid taste in architecture , and one so particularl y unsuited to a northern climate .

    " What with the glare of light streaming upon us , the keenness of hunger , and the novelty of our position , neither Josephine nor myself could for a single moment close our eyes , and we passed the whole night in restless attempts to compose ourselves . " The suddenness of Spring , or rather , of the leap from "Winter to Summer , must be an enchanting surprise : — " After a day or two , it suddenly became very hot . It seemed as though we had made an abrupt leap from winter to summer . One day we were obliged to have a fire in the stove , and on the next the heat was intolerable . The whole face of the earth was then brown , and the trees naked ; but now we saw grass springing up , plants sprouting , trees bursting into leaves ; and the hollyhock appearing in bloom . The change was as sudden as it was marvellous .

    " We could scarcely believe that within the short interval of eight hours , Nature had effected such a great change . What had become of spring ? what of that spring in which our senses are filled with such , rapturous delight , and which divides the frost of winter from the sultriness of summer ? Here the leap is instantaneous . Yesterday the warmest clothing hardly sufficed to keep me warm ; to-day again , the heat is so intense that we are obliged to cool the water we wish to drink with ice . " The day was everlasting , and whether we closed our eyes or awoke from sleep , day-light was constantly streaming in at the windows , and circling over the horizon No dew was to be met with here ; and the earth had none the whole

    summer . " Oh , lovely spring of my country ! how I shall ever remember , and ever long for thee * I " You have a tolerably vivid idea of a Cossack , name of terror ! therefore read this : — " Throughout Siberia the custom of the so-called siesta , in the afternoon , is as universal as sleep at night in European countries . In all houses the window-shutters are closed , and the people go regularly to bed for several hours . During this interval no visits are made , nor any business transacted . " At Tobolsk , at these siesta hours , the shops are shut throughout the town . Business and amusements are , as a consequence , protracted far into the night . Playing at cards is a favourite amusement , ^ and commonly all leisure hours in Siberia are spent in gambling .

    " I had to thank Madame X for a few acquaintances . In my round of calls with her I found more beauties among the women than I anticipated ; and what surprised me most , was , that among them were many brunettes , with jet black eyes . Fair hair and light blue eyes lire admitted to be the exceptional typo of the itussian race ; and I am thus led to conclude that the dark complexion , both in men and women , denotes descent from the Cossacks of the Black Sea , who accompanying Yermak , their chief , on his excursion into Siberia , settled m the country , and remained a distinct race . " My conjecture seemed to tally with the account the Cossacks gave of themselves . One portion of them maintained that they sprang from the companions ot Yermak , who , after his conquest of Siberia , bad left them hero as settlers . I hey principally consisted of volunteers from the Dnieper and the Don , and from conditionand others

    Lithuania ; some actuated by the hope of improving their , » y the lovo of adventure . Another portion of them asserted that they were , at a later period , added as auxiliaries to the former , by the celebrated merchants Strogonollh , from their villages beyond the Ural , in order to keep the conquered country m «! i > - jeetion . The latter , as to their external appearance , evidently bear more afnn . ty w the common Kussian type , and iji many characteristics much differ from the otnei . " The generality of the modern Cossacks of this place lire a degenerated raw , preserving none of tho spirit , courage , and boldness of their valorous ancestors The constant peace and security which they enjoy , has contributed to oxtinn ¦ among this people all warlike and even manly qualities . Becoming * 1 "RK 1 ™» ' . J have merely turned merchants and barterers . They languish after thoir U .. itn . beds , and are ready to ^ sacrifice everything for comfort . I saw young ¦ ^ twenty years cry like babies , when they happened not to get their tea at ,

    hour , " .. i _ Cannot Leech give us a sketch of a young Cowmk blubbering lor n tea ? i M « In their character of citizens , the Cossacks of Here / . ov might in i . mny ro « l _ be closed with the . lews of my own country . They are traffickers , l . u >> M ^ duccrs ; their occupation is merely trading . Sometimes they go lining ,. l > ' ¦ ^ engage in woodcraft or hunting The usual articles of commerce »«« ' «¦»• ,,,,, „ necessaries of lite , with fish and game , can only he obtained- from th ^ >*<¦¦ ^ , common daily household business is likewise done by people lured 1 'o . n that tribe . "

    Those OnliakH arc n very primitive rare : — h " Tho Ostinks are as yet unacquainted with the use of money- Skins of ^ ^ and fur are the customary circulating media , and all agreo . nents ... > " £ ^ ^ trade an , voter ml to that standard . A while squirrel nkin ( bwtka ) u ) n ^ . . Hllk vnluo of twenty nssignat ko ^ k . s ; an ermine , forty kopek «; a » km . ^ ^ bialy ( literally , white dog ) , three assignat rubles ; and a like " ^ J ' ™^ , ' c ( mM no « liprecious sables down to tho oonm . oneHt sorts of fur . In cIiHiifcinfc . ^^ ties for ItuHflinn article , the ( Mink never makes his agreeiiumUoi hii ¦ ^ ^ Mini of money , but for so many of the above-named kinds oi iur , - •> which has its fixed price . " r ™ " fJhriHla co ,. «« qucn < , « of this ignorance of tlio " « tf « nfc < f ™^ ' tian iiiorcdmntH mulco oa . sy fortune * out of tho poor O » lmk » . ^ ^ " Tho principal aourco of wealth of the JJomsoviaiw is derived Iro . u

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    H 18 * THE lEAPP . [ Saturday ,

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 20, 1852, page 1118, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1961/page/18/