That civilization will not raise the Russian boor to a more respectable rank in the scale of human existence, who can doubt? It is the want of light, and not the incapacity to receive it, which makes him what he is. The progress of civilization must, however, be slow in this vast empire, even though every incitement be given byhim who is universally believed to have the best interests of his subjects at heart. The increased facility afforded to commerce, the encouragement given to foreign settlers, the ready attention shown to strangers, the aid granted to public works, and the increase of manufactures, all speak an awakened, and an anxious attention to the public good. Knowledge, though she slowly dawn in the Russian horizon, will yet spread increasing brightness over their hemisphere. The bigot bonds ofthe priesthood will be broken, the interest of the nobles united with that of the people, and industry will supply the increasing wants, which freedom must produce. May we not with sanguine expectationlook for such a result, whenwe see Christianity assisting, by her pure and energetic light, todispel the gloom of ignorance, and find the cause supported, not only by the monarch himself, but also by the most powerful princes of the realm, and the dignitaries of the church, who with a most honourable zeal have given their sanction, and lent their aid, to those who, knowing and estimating the important truths of religion, desire to spread wide the blessings, and dispense its gifts around a dark and sinful world*.
* Amongst many of the uncivilized hordes subjected to Russia, missionaries are now residing, and schools are establishing. The northern, the southern, and the eastern extremities of this vast empire, are now visited by these messengers ofpeace ; to those who were in darkness, a light hath sprung up, and the rose will yet bloom in the desert. Since I left South Russia, the establishment of two missionaries in the Crimea has taken place ; and the Missionary Register of January 1823, states the return of the Sultan Katte Ghery to the peninsula, who in company with Mr* Lewis Way, and a Polish Rabbi, visited it during my residence there : the school now proposed was then talked of. That the Tatars will be won to confidence by the mild and gentle demeanour of Christian ministers, I feel little doubt ; and this confidence once perfected, and schools established with any success, a more abundant harvest may be hoped for from the Crimean Tatars than from any other of the Mahommedan subjects of Russia. The residence of the Sultan (the acknowledged descendant of their Khans), may be expected to have great weight and influence in favour of the cause he has engaged in ; and I am induced to think, no missionaries will have fewer hardships and privations, or fewer impediments to contend against, than those of Crim Tatary. Should the one great difficulty of exciting the Tatar mind to active enquiry, be accomplished, we shall perhaps soon have cause to rejoice in the fruit of their labours. Since it hath pleased the Lord of the harvest to send forth these his labourers, may he bless their ministry with increase, and satisfy the poor with bread.
I subjoin from Baron de Tott's Memoirs, an explanation of the rank of Sultan.
" The word Sultan is a title given to the Ottoman princes born while their fathers were in possession of the throne, and to those of the Giuzuisian family. It is pronounced Sooltan, and no doubt is the same with Soudan, which in Egypt may signify king ; but in Turkey or Tartary conveys no idea of sovereign authority. The title ofCham (or Khan) is assumed by the sovereign of the Tartars, and is equivalent to that of Shah, which signifies king among the Persians." " The epithet Sultan, therefore, is bestowed on him who enjoys the right of succession ; and this, by the Turkish law, belongs to the eldest of the family." K