Travels in the Steppes of the Caspian Sea, the Crimea, the Caucasus, &c.
CHAPTER XIV.
The different Conditions of Men in Russia--The Nobles--Discontent of the Old Aristocracy--The Merchant Class--Serfdom--Constitution of the Empire; Governments--Consequences of Centralisation; Dissimulation of Public Functionaries--Tribunals--The Colonel of the Gendarmerie--Corruption--Pedantry of Forms--Contempt of the Decrees of the Emperor and the Senate--Singular Anecdote; Interpretation of a Will--Radical Evils in the Judicial Organisation--History and present State of Russian Law 102