ment, the judges invariably decided in favor of the former, no matter how unjustly. Little by little they grew accustomed to look upon themselves as the representatives of the people, and as their protectors against the oppressions of the Government. It is, indeed, difficult to understand how the Russian Government can ever have hoped that men of real talent and conscience would consent to take any part in so halfhearted a concern as the new judicial system in Russia. On the one hand we have the open courts of justice with their juries and freedom of discussion, while on the other we find the notorious Third Section of the Imperial Chancellerie with its army of gendarmes, and with its power without trial to imprison, and to punish with penal servitude or exile to Siberia, at its pleasure. The newly-instituted judicial system is comparatively useless, since even when the judge and jury acquit an offender, he is liable to be immediately seized and punished by the Section for state rea

sons.

With the exception of the emancipation of the serfs, almost all of the wellintentioned reforms of Alexander the Second have been nullified by the action of this Third Section, the chief of which has often been nicknamed the "ViceEmperor." For instance, the municipal district and provincial assemblies are powerless to adopt any measure until they have obtained not only the approval of the Minister of the Interior and of the Governor of the province, but also the consent of the commandant of the gendarmerie of the place who represents the Third Section. It is deeply to be regretted that when the Czar determined to institute these municipal district and provincial assemblies, he did not go one step farther and institute a national assembly; a House of Representatives chosen by the nation is the only possible remedy in the present state of things. By his somewhat too hasty reforms in the early part of his reign, the Emperor gave his people a taste of liberty, and allowed them to acquire a taste for self-government, until then unknown in Russia. They now demand that this concession should be more fully developed. There are at the present moment many loyal and devoted

subjects of the Czar, who would be horrified at the bare idea of becoming Nihilists themselves, and who yet regard the proceedings of these destructives with a certain degree of complacency, hoping that it will force the Government to concede that which even the Mikado of Japan has granted to his people-namely, a Constitution. A parliament controlling the national expenditure, protecting individual liberty, and demanding of the Third Section an account of its actions, would not only have the effect of restoring the financial credit of Russia, but would, by admitting the people to a share of the sovereignty, rally to the side of the Government many excellent and liberal-minded men who are increasingly dissatisfied with the present state of affairs.

Nihilism deprived of the larger portion of its raison d'être-namely, stifled discontent-would quickly lose the most capable of its adherents, and would probably prove as fleeting and unstable as are most of the impulses and ideas of the Russian mind.

POSTSCRIPT.

It may be of some interest to subjoin a literal translation from the principal article in the last number of a Nihilist paper (Narodnia Volya, the Will of the People), which is published in Russian at St. Petersburg by means of secret presses.

ON WHICH SIDE IS MORALITY?

The Russian Press is bent almost double by the Imperial Government. Notwithstanding its disagreeable position, it does its utmost to curry favor of its oppressors. Whenever thefts, murders, or incendiarisms take place in Russia, the Press invariably attributes them to the Nihilists. There is an old proverb which says: "Slander, slander; some result will always be obtained." Judging from the tone of the Press, some result has been obtained. According to its statements, the Nihilists are little better than wild beasts. We do not venture to assert that there are no bad men in our ranks; but are yours entirely free from them? The number of bad persons among the Nihilists is so very small that we need hardly enumerate them.

Since 1862 over 17,000 persons have been exiled to Siberia for political offences.

You accuse us of adopting means of action which are unjustifiable in every way. But what can we do? We are reduced to silence. We only adopt questionable means of action

very rarely, and then only in self-defence; whereas you use them daily.

The money obtained from private individuals by means of theft and blackmail has not been levied by order of the "Committee," but by certain unscrupulous Nihilists acting on their own behalf. However, we are all the more ready to admit that such things have been done, when we remember that only five such cases are known to have taken place.

Do you accuse us of being murderers, because of our attempts to take the life of His Most Sacred Majesty? Why, we would most gladly accomplish his destruction, and he has only escaped until now in consequence of the many cowards in our ranks! It has been stated that Solowjew's attempt in April last has disturbed the rest and peace of mind of many harmless and respectable citizens. Some of the Liberal papers even go so far as to say that it will have the effect of producing a reaction in favor of the Government. Why, what idle and stupid talk! These good newspaper proprietors, who love their ease and their books, must have been asleep not to have perceived that the reaction began sixteen years ago, not in favor of the Government, but against it.

We are quite persuaded that if Solowjew's attempt had succeeded, everybody would talk in a very different manner; even the slaves and asses who surround the throne would have rejoiced.

It is very clear that Russia can't remain in her present state much longer. The people become daily more impoverished, and are sinking into a very abyss of proletarism, whence they will never be able to rise again. The avaricious and hard-hearted" bourgeoisie" daily increases in numbers, and begins to raise its cruel head. The standard of public morality in Russia has already sunk so low that we tremble for the future of our country. Bribery is common throughout the Government service, and has even found its way into the Senate. The National Treasury is robbed, and national property is distributed right and left to the unworthy favorites of the Government. Embezzlement is the order of the day, both in the Government banks, and in the army commissariat department, and the poor soldiers are robbed in the most shameful manner. We would remind our readers of the case of Mother Mitrofania, formerly a lady of honor of the Empress, and latterly the superior of a convent, who was convicted of wholesale forgery in 1877 (she was exiled to Siberia, and now lives in a pretty villa on the western frontier of Siberia). Also of that of Ovsianikow, who was convicted of embezzling over 2,000,000 roubles of Government money in 1876, and who now lives in ease and luxury near Irkutsk. Of Tuchenzow, a chamberlain of the Czar, who was convicted of robbing the Credit Foncier of Moscow of over 1,000,000 roubles, and who, when exiled to the Ural Mountains, travelled thither with his mistress in a carriage and four, etc.

And how many others are there who have not figured in the prisoners' dock? Such as -, who has made a fortune of over 1,000,000 roubles in the construction of fortifications; NEW SERIES.-VOL. XXXI., No. 3.

as, who, during the three years of his directorship of, at a salary of 30,000 roubles, managed to amass a fortune of 3,000,000 roubles; as Prince , who stole 600,000 roubles of public money; Count spent millions in debauchery;

I who has

I who uses

the State Bank as a kind of private gambling establishment for himself and friends.

It is well known the Ministry of Marine is constantly robbed in the most shameless manner by. Unfortunately thieves such as these will never figure in the prisoners' dock. Once a Count Bokinsky, Minister of Roads and Public Works, ventured to report to the Czar a peculiarly shamless theft. The answer, however, was not encouraging. "How dare you, varlet, mix yourself in the affairs of the Imperial family?" Thereupon Alexander dismissed him from his post of minister, and kept him under arrest for several months. This happened but three years ago.

It is very difficult to do the Imperial family more harm than they do themselves.

If we were to relate all, it would disgust and tire our readers. We repeat that such a state of things cannot exist much longer. The immorality of the Imperial family is gradually demoralizing Russian society, and is gangrening it throughout. The political persecutions and espionage of the haute police renders the life of respectable people insupportable. Sons denounce their fathers, wives their husbands, mothers their children. The ubiquity of the espionage frightens even the very gendarmes themselves; every denunciation is rewarded by the police; it has become a means of vengeance and an important factor in private quarrels.

What is the use of complaining that people are hanged for the mere expression of political opinions differing from those of the Government? What is the use of crying out for help in the streets, when we are attacked and ill-treated by the police? Nobody stirs, nobody protests. The citizens seem incapable of acting in self-defence. No; it is very wrong to call Solowjew's attempt on the Czar's life immoral; on the contrary, it was an act of the highest courage and abnegation! And, as for you moralists, why be so frightened at the sight of the blood of a few miserable gendarmes and mouchards?

Do not forget that besides being our cow. ardly enemies, who will never venture to a hand-to-hand fight with us, they are also the enemies of the people. Do you wish to use kindness and gentle persuasion with such brutes, and are you waiting for a change of government? They assume disguises, they make themselves acquainted with your private life, they obtain your friendship, and then they denounce you. These kind of people have nothing human about them, and are a standing disgrace to society. You either remain silent, or you even applaud, when these savages hang our friends, who are an honor to Russia; who love liberty, and who devote their lives to the propagation of humanitarian and fraternal ideas.

18

You blame us and get frightened when we happen to kill one of these rascals. Why, then, do you remain silent when we are kept for years in prison without trial, separated from our parents, our wives, and our children, whom we have to abandon to their fate, and often without means of subsistence? We are goaded to madness, and entombed alive in the mines of Siberia, and yet you all cry. out when you see Menzenstoff* fall dead in the

streets.

In answer to your inquiries as to who gave us the right to sit in judgment on you, we can only ask in our turn, who appointed you our judges? If you refer us to Russian history, and to the annals of your monarchy, we would

beg to remind you that the history, such as it is, is written by you and taught by you, and is consequently false as far as we are concerned.

Do not be surprised at these political assassinations-but rather be astonished that they are not more frequent. Unfortunately for our cause, the majority of Nihilists are too humanitarian, and hence are incapable of carrying out many necessary measures. Perhaps in time they will acquire the aptitude" necessary in critical moments; perhaps it will be your conduct which will effect this change in them. Then in that case the responsibility of terrorism and assassination will rest with you, and not with us.-The Nineteenth Century.

་་

A CRUISE in the Druid along the northern shores of the Bay of Chaleur, as far as Gaspé, gave me an opportunity of seeing a very interesting coast in reference to the resources of the "inshore fisheries." The settled country extends but a very short distance inlandthe skyline shows invariably an outline of low rounded hills covered entirely with forest. But along certain portions of the coast the sea was well covered with powerful boats fishing for Cod. On hailing some of these for the purpose of buying fish, it was pleasant to see the abundant" take," which often covered the bottom of the boats. The Cod were generally small-that is to say, not above three or four pounds weight and a large proportion of them not above two pounds. But they were of excellent quality. At several stations along the shore, and especially at the picturesque little village of Gaspé, there were large establishments for the curing and export of these fish. Froin the great abundance of the supply, it could not be otherwise than that the price should be low; but I heard with regret that the fishery was generally prosecuted on a system of " advances" by the curing houses-which was, in fact, the truck system on an extended scale--and that

*Menzenstoff, Chief of the Section, successor of Trepoff, was murdered last year in St. Petersburg; the assassin has never been discovered.

the final result to the fishermen was a very low rate of remuneration for an occupation very toilsome, involving great exposure, and often not devoid of danger. The north-eastern shores of the Bay of Chaleur are very open, and in easterly and north-easterly winds are exposed to the full sweep of the Atlantic.

When at Gaspé, which is a most picturesque little town with an excellent harbor, I saw one of the fast American schooners, whose operations in the mackerel fishery of this coast are much complained of by the Canadian fishermen. Their complaints reminded me much of the similar complaints on the west coast of Scotland, against what is called " trawling" for herrings. In both cases new and more efficient modes of catch have been at least coincident with a departure of the shoals from former places of resort, if not with diminished productiveness over a larger area. This is one of the allegations which will probably form the subject of inquiry between the Governments concerned on the pending question of the Fishery Treaties.

As regards another branch of the fishing industry, the provincial population have it all to themselves. I refer to the lobster fisheries. The abundance of lobsters on this part of the Canadian coast is astonishing to those who are acquainted only with this pursuit on the almost exhausted shores of Scotland. Until quite lately any number of the

finest lobsters could be caught by a noose at the end of a short rod, from boats rowing gently along the shores, with a torchlight, at night. Of late, however, the introduction of more skilled methods of capture has sensibly thinned them. And no wonder, for I was told of one man taking in a single night upward of six hundred lobsters, getting only about sixty cents, or about half a crown per hundred. The fishermen in this trade also are very much in the hands of large capitalists, who supply the gear and tackle, purchase the shellfish, boil them in great caldrons, and "tin" them for export to the United States and to Europe. It is impossible that any supply can long support the present rate of capture without being very speedily reduced. But the shores along which the lobsters are found are so extensive that, if proper regulations are made and enforced as to a close time and as to the size of fish, they may continue for many years to yield a profitable return.

The northern shores of the Bay of Chaleur, although higher than the southern, are, nevertheless, low and far from picturesque. Small farms, divided by straight lines, with wooden houses of various shapes and sizes, cover a gentle declivity, which ends in a steep bank or an insignificant precipice of red sandstone. But at one point, Cape Bonaventure, the carboniferous strata have been thrown on edge, and rise into a high and sharp-pointed cliff, which has been cut off by the action of the sea and of floating ice from the mainland. This island is perpendicular on all sides, very narrow, and about three hundred feet high, with an undulating platform at the top, inhabited by thousands of Cormorants and other sea-fowl, where they are absolutely secure from molestation. Through this great cliff the sea has worked its way in an arched cave, which pierces from one side to the other, and through which, at high water, a boat can row. It is from this peculiar feature, I presume, that the place is called Percé. When the colors of the sunset were thrown on this island, with its splintered plates of rock, its deep cracks and fissures, and its own fine local tints, it formed one of the most curious and beautiful objects I have ever seen on any coast.

A drive of ten miles up the valley of the Cascapediac, and a descent from that

point to the sea in canoes, enabled us to see another of the most lovely rivers of Canada. Smaller than the Restigouche, but with a greater extent of fine alluvial soil between its banks and the surrounding hills, fringed consequently by forests with a larger proportion of deciduous trees, its windings presented scenes of almost ideal beauty, as we floated down the river on a delicious evening in the beginning of July. Some of the Elms were particularly fine, and Maple, Ash, and Black Birch, with thickets of a feathery Willow, hung over or fringed the water with every variety of foliage, while some parklike openings in the wood, and occasional clearings and comfortable farms, gave their own interest and their own charm. We were most hospitably received at our farthest point by Mr. Woodman, a farmer who had cleared and cultivated a large extent of fine meadow land on the banks of the river. His capacious homestead, surrounded by fields of luxuriant grass, and presided over by a most kind and comfortable Scotch wife from Ayrshire, afforded us welcome rest and refreshment, after the jolting of one of the roughest of Canadian roads. But not even the attractions of my countrywoman's delicious milk and home-made bread could keep me long from the banks of that glorious river, with the crimson. Finches which were flitting among its Birches and Alders, the Striped Squirrels running under drift logs, and the great Belted Kingfisher plunging into its eddies. Although somewhat far from "kirk and market," the whole place seemed the perfection of a happy agricultural home. Viret memoria!

The

On our return home, we passed by the Intercolonial Line to St. John's, the capital of New Brunswick, and embarked there in a steamer for Boston. valley along which the line passes in approaching St. John's, called Sussex Vale, is drained by the Kenabecacis River. With its large lakelike expanses of water, its mixture of rock, and its abundance and variety of wood, it was much prettier than any description of New Brunswick had led me to expect. In St. John's itself the effects of the recent great fire are only too apparent. But rebuilding and revival had begun, and the effects of these were fortunately even more obvious to the eye.

One of the thick fogs so common on