TERRITORY. [RUSSIA.] GOVERNMENT. $1,740,000,000, or about half of our national debt at the close of the war. THE widely spread Empire of Russia embraces over one half the area of the European Continent, while its Asiatic posses- The entire expense of the government sions are three times the extent of those in for 1878 was 600,398,425 rubles (80 cts. Europe; and its territory in Finland and at par), and the income the same. More the Caucasus is nearly double the area of than 163 millions were appropriated to the our Middle States. The whole of this vast army, and over 24 millions to the navy. region covers an area of 8,000,724 square The emperor's household expends nearmiles, being more than double all our states ly nine millions, being double the amount and territories, including Alaska, and con- spent by the household of the Emperor tains a population of 98,356,100. [These Napoleon III. during the last year of his statistics are taken from the "Annuaire reign. According to the budget of 1878, Statistique de la Russie," published in 1882 over 133 million rubles were expended in the Russian language, and by author- in paying the interest of the national ity of the government.] These vast pos- debt. sessions form almost a continuous region The regular army of Russia, on a peace over nearly two thirds of the earth's cir- footing, is composed of 33,049 officers and cumference, and are naturally divided into 732,830 men, in all 765,879. On a war three parts. The southern portion, called footing, 44,894 officers and 1,626, 780 men, the steppe or prairie land, is every where in all 1,671,674. The irregular army is the same-burned up with heat in summer, composed of 70,568 men. There are also, a vast expanse of snow in winter, but dur- in case of war, 1,234,460 mobilized troops ing the spring months glowing with verd- in readiness to be called out. ure and luxuriant pasturage. The middle The navy of the Russian Empire is comportion is composed of forest, morass, and posed of 261 vessels, 1585 guns. The Balarable land, embracing a most fertile corn- tic fleet comprises twenty-seven iron-clads growing region. The northern portion is of different species, and one hundred and beyond the growth of trees, and contains thirty-five other vessels. There are thirbut ice-covered plains that border the Arc- ty-two vessels in the Black Sea; thirtytic Ocean, buried three quarters of the year one in the Caspian; and thirty-nine in under ice and snow. the Siberian fleet. The whole tonnage is The empire is divided into ninety-six 210,000. governments or territories: fifty in Europe The imports of the empire in 1876 (in Russia proper), containing 74,493,809 amounted to 477,581,000 rubles, and the inhabitants; ten in Poland, containing exports to 400,700,000 rubles — nearly 7,104,760 inhabitants; eight in Finland, 77,000,000 rubles against the empire. with 2,060,782 inhabitants; twelve in The natural wealth of Russia is very the Caucasus, containing 5,546,554; eight considerable, both in the mineral and vegein Siberia, containing 3,911,200; and table kingdoms; iron, lead, gold, copper, eight in Central Asia, containing 5,036,000. In Russia proper, which extends over all the eastern portion of the Continent of Europe, over fifty-three millions profess the Russo-Greek religion; there are nearly a million Dissenters (Raskolniques) from the Established Church; 2,882,991 Roman Catholics; 2,234,112 Protestants; 2,358,766 Mohammedans; 1,829,100 Jews; 255,503 idolaters; and 37,136 Armenians. The total national debt of Russia in 1880 was 2,039,873,725 rubles, equal at par to sulphur, arsenic, and salt are found in many parts of the empire. Coal, however, is very scarce, if we except the valley of the Donetz (the principal tributary of the Don). This want, however, is somewhat compensated for by the immense forests which exist in most parts of the country; in fact, it is estimated that they cover fully two thirds of the empire. The Scotch fir is one of the most serviceable of its trees; in addition to its use as fuel, the peasantry construct with it their cottages, boats, and fences. The Russian potash is obtained |