There are many wealthy merchants in Kharkoff, and they have by no means all risen from the condition of serfs ; many free families have devoted themselves to commerce for a long series of years ; and in all times there have been w^ealthy merchants in Russia, who ha^e rendered their country essential service with their riches. Minin, the citizen of Novgorod, is spoken of as the saviour of his countr', with the patriotic Prince Posharski, and he is not a solitary example. Yet, on the whole, the merchants, as a class, have advanced far less than the nobles, and by no means partake in alike measure of western civilization.
At the time of my arrival in Kharkoff the whole Ukraine nobility were assembled to deliberate on their affairs and choose new officers. Such assembhes of nobles Vuihors (committees) take place in every government; and as little Is known about them, I will here relate what I saw of them in Kharkoff, particidarly as the Vuihors of the Ukraine nobility, which retain some traces of independence from the old Cossack times, have a peculiar interest of their own.
In every Russian government there is a Dvoryanstava sobranie (house of assembly for nobles), containing a large hall and some smaller rooms. The hall is used for the meetings of the deputies of the nobles, and for the balls, dinners, and so forth given on the occasion of their assembling. There are galleries for spectators, and in the centre of one of the shorter sides of the parallelogram, a tribune for the president's table. Along the sides of the hall, taken lengthwise, stand eleven green-covered tables with chairs, for the deputies of the eleven circles of the Ukraine. Over the table against the wall, the arms of the circle are suspended ; the circle of Valki, to signify the abundance of finiit which it produces, bears plums and pears in its escutcheon ; the circle of Sumi (sack) two sacks in remembrance of the origin of the name of the place, which served formerly as a depot for the Cossacks to store up their booty. At every table the marshal of the nobles for the circle presides, and over the whole assembly presides the marshal of the government, who represents the nobles of his own province on all occasions.
The assembly of the Ukraine nobles consisted of several hundred individuals, and, during their sittings, the square in front of the building was thronged with more equipages than the space in front of any West European parhament-house. Indeed, in all outward appearances the assembly was extremely brilliant. All the deputies were in green uniforms, with gold "laced red collars, and silver-hiked swords. Nor was there any lack of animation or of speeches, and several members were pointed out to me as men distinguished for their eloquence. When a paper of any kind was to be read, a government notification, or any other kind of document, a sabre was struck against the floor or upon the table, in the ancient Cossack fashion, and immediate silence followed. The reader then went in succession to each corner of the room and read his paper. Considerable excitement was frequently manifested, and several of the speakers were loudly applauded. This was particidarly the case when the marshal of the nobles, a Kovalevski, in resigning the dignity which he had held for three years, was moved to tears as he thanked his brethren for the kindness they had shown him. The whole assembly rose from their seats and came thronging around the marshal ; the old man was urged to allow himself to be proposed once more as a candidate, but he steadfastly dechned the proffered distinction.
Hereupon the several candidates for the office presented themselves, made their salutations, and were more or less applauded, for wliich they expressed their thanks, by laying their hands on their hearts, and making short speeches. One, whom his own vanity, rather than the confidence of the public, had probably called forward, was received with loud cries of " Uvolnaim I uvolnaim r (He may go about his business !) The election, by baUot, was then proceeded with, and the choice of those present fell on General Rakhmanoff, who had about 150 out of 200 votes. This announcement was received with tremendous applause, though the general himself was not present.
I mention these little matters to show that the deputies at these Russian assemblies of nobles are by no means so cold and indifferent in their proceedings as we are apt to imagine. Their votes, it is true, must all be confirmed by the government before they are valid, but in the assembly itself no government officer has a seat, and sometimes the assembly has endeavoured to maintain its decisions, even in opposition to the government. On one occasion the opposition of the Ukraine nobles went so far, that it excited the anger of the authorities at St. Petersburg, and there was some question of striking the Ukraine out of the list of governments.