A Journey in Russia in 1858 by Robert Heywood

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A JOURNEY IN RUSSIA IN 1858

_Sherratt and Hughes, Printers, 34 Cross Street, Manchester_

A Journey in Russia in 1858

ROBERT HEYWOOD

Of The Pike, Bolton

_PRIVATELY PRINTED_

EXPLANATION.

This account of a journey to Russia was read by Mr. Heywood at a meeting of the Bolton Mechanics' Institute, and the following is a copy of a resolution passed on the occasion, with the signatures attached.

WE, the undersigned members of the Committee of the Bolton Mechanics' Institution, having listened with much pleasure to Mr. Heywood's lecture on his recent visit to St. Petersburg and Moscow, and being desirous that the valuable information it supplies should be made available to our families, fellow workmen and others, who are greatly interested in the subject from the large commercial intercourse between this town and the capitals of Russia, beg leave most respectfully to request Mr. Heywood to publish the substance of his valuable paper for the gratification and information of the public. And we request the President of the Institution to wait upon Mr. Heywood with this requisition, and to use his best efforts to induce that gentleman to accede to our request.

GILBERT J. FRENCH. THOS. HOLDEN. JOHN WRIGLEY. ALFRED RIDINGS. JAMES FOGG. ALEX. LAWSON. EDWARD BLAND. JOHN LOMAX. WM. JACKSON. THOMAS WATERHOUSE. JOSH. PEAT. J. J. BRADSHAW. THOMAS BROMLEY. JOSEPH KIRKHAM. ISAAC BARROW. ADAM FERGUSON. WILLIAM A. FERGUSON. W. H. HORROCKS.

The request, however, was not put into execution.

M. H., 1918.

A JOURNEY IN RUSSIA IN 1858.

At the urgent request of our worthy and most active President, I have been induced to follow the example of several other friends of this Institution, and bring before you some account of a short visit to St. Petersburg and Moscow.

I may premise that about fourteen years ago, on our return from Egypt, via Constantinople, I and my companion, Mr. Charles Darbishire, were placed in quarantine at a station overlooking the Black Sea. Along with us we had a Russian nobleman[1] and his tutor, who were returning from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

During the fifteen days' confinement, whilst occupying separate apartments, we frequently interchanged visits, and on such occasions the manners and condition of our respective countries became the frequent subject of conversation.

Such discussions did not terminate without receiving urgent invitations to visit Russia, offering, at the same time, to procure for us every facility for seeing the cities to advantage; and also an order from the gentleman's father,[2] who was at the head of the postal department, which would command for us horses and conveyances through every part of Russia.

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