View Of The Russian Empire

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1801. Excerpt: ... were obliged to leave all things to proceed upon the old system, he would not be able to effect any good; but the alteration of a privilege is frequently a real benesit, as, among other examples, the following will shew. According to the privilege granted to the miners by Peter the great, the private owners were obliged, as has been already mentioned, to pay certain tributes or tithes to the crown: but the Jate empress Catharine II. relinquished these claims; and instead of that burden granted them an encouragement. This was an alteration of the greatest advantage--The kozaks of Little Russia were obliged by their privileged constitution, not only to surnish troops, but to maintain them at their own expence, by arbitrary and heavy contri? butions, partially levied by their chiefs. This was altered by her late majesty: the stated number of troops now receive their regular maintenance from the crown, agreeably to the army establishment; and those who stay at home pay, to their great adr vantage, a very moderate annual rate.--/The entails on estates in Livonia and Esthonia were found to give rife to many grievances; they were accordingly cut off, to the great joy of both dukedoms, by the late empress, though they were founded on privileges..--In Uke manner the new mode of governing by viceroys the provinces was a real benesit, even to those that were most proud of their chartered rights choice whether they would adopt a regular mode of life, pr leave the empire.--The new political regulation was not forced upon the cities of Riga and Reval: it was left to the choice of the buighers; they found it more benesicial. 'To omit for the present a great many very important advantages, we shall here only mention, that formerly in Livonia, and Esthonia feveral civil o...