a^nd monitors. It is strange that this method is not more in use in German schools, and that the old proverb, " DocendOy discimus" has been so long a dead-letter with us.
The method of teaching drawing in this institution pleased us extremely ; the pupil is not merely exercised in a slavish imitation of the copy laid before him, but in designing, and in the execution of given subjects. One of the pupils drew on his board for us a very pretty sketch of a Cossack shooting dowTi a Turk, a subject which seems in a very lively manner to interest the fancy of the Russian child, as well as of the Russian diplomatist.
Another school peculiar to St. Petersburg, is the " Technical School," founded about seven years ago by the finance minister Count Kankrin. Its object is to furnish teachers of the mechanical trades to Russia. Two hundred and forty pu)ils are taken, who receive the necessary mathematical and other instruction, and are at the same time exercised in the construction of machines, and in other departments of mechanics. The buildings are very extensive, and every art has its, own division. On one building is ' inscribed in golden letters, " weaving ;" on another, " dyeing," " mill -building," " lock-making," and so on. The masters employed are all Germans. The institution is also made use of to furnish models of all newly-invented machines, which are afterwards sent as patterns into the interior. One of the German directors who showed us the place, was well content with the docility of the Russians. " But there is one mischievous word," said he, " which will for ever hinder them from reaching perfection in any thing, and that is ' nitshevo' (it is no matter), the use of which no Russian can be persuaded to leave off."
If a problem is to be solved, the Russian is always ready with his " Nitshevo," which acts as a constant impediment to any progress of a solid and enduring kind, which demands time and labour. On the other hand, it must be confessed, the Russian's " nitshevo" helps him through a thousand difficulties.
The schools for the female sex are scarcely less numerous in St. Petersburg than those for boys. The most important is the great Institution of Smolna in the cloister before named. The greater part of the 800 young maidens broug'ht up there are nobles. Those of plebeian birth are in a separate builoing, have another dress, other attendance, and another table. This institution, and similar ones in other cities, are for the daughters of impoverished nobility, what the corps of cadets is for their sons. If they do not know what to do with the sons, they put them into the cadet corps ; if they cannot educate their daughters at home, they send them to one of these institutions.
All wealthy Russians prefer a private education for their daughters. The directresses of all these institutions, and particularly of that in St. Petersburg, are very often women of rank, the widows of general officers, &c., for whom a provision is thus made. The greater part are welleducated and high-born Livonian ladies of German descent. These ladies are held in no small consideration ; and those who with us would be simple teachers, have here almost the rank and dignity of governors of provinces.
Tlio yearly cost of the Institute of Smolna is 700,000 rubles, or nearly 10(X) for cfK^li young lady, for which one might expect something brilliant. Jt is undeniable that all that is capable of outward polish receives it in no small degree ; but the light is a borrowed light without warmth, a light possessing, no doubt, a certain outward charm, but destitute of that fruitful and life-giving power, which is the more to be desired, because the greater part of these young ladies are destined to be governesses, to carry the seeds of mental cultivation into the bosom of their country.
The Smolna Institute is perhaps the only one of its kind in the world ; no where else perhaps is there collected under one roof so much noble blood in such fresh youthful veins. There might be a book written from the interesting stories to be gathered from the annals of this establishment. Unfortunately, the fair creatures appear but rarely in public. Their way of living resembles that of the cloister. Now and then, indeed, on high festival days, a long train of carriages and six are seen to defile^ before the gates to indulge the fair chamber-flowers with a mouthful of fresh air.