er hesitated, but resolved to take up arms. A the Morawa, he intrenched himself there be few details respecting the career of this remarkable man, will no doubt be interesting to our readers. hind ramparts, drawing the Turks into an opposite plain. A curious kind of warfare was i then carried on. "Now, whilst the Albanese went out on skirmishing expeditions and men-hunting, the others, concealed in clefts of the mountains, and sometimes monks with the armed servants of the cloisters, followed them by stealth, and lay in wait for them in favourable places. It sometimes happened that the pursued, in their terror, together with their pursuers, dashed into the river, where they were ingulfed by the rapid waters, which carried away women, children, and Albanians, until some fisherman found the bodies and made them a grave on the shore. Whosoever showed himself with a buruntie of the Pasha, who offered pardon, was killed without mercy, whether Turk or Servian. "Milosh may be numbered amongst the original leaders whose power emanated from themselves. From the very beginning, he, together with his half-brother, Milan, had been powerful; his descent was as follows:- His mother, Wishnia, had been first married in Brusnitza to Obren, to whom she bore Milan. She married secondly Tesho, in Dobrinie, in the district of Ushitze; and here she had several other children, and, about the year 1780, Milosh. But neither of her families were remarkably wealthy; and her sons were obliged to seek service with strangers. Milan was the first who became independent in Brusnitza, and by degrees grew prosperous. Milosh, who at first, as herdsman, had driven the cattle of others to the Dalmatian markets, now entered his brother's service. They were so closely united, that Milosh was also called after Milan's father, to deceive the enemy, they put garments upon Obrenowitch, although his own had given him pikes on the ramparts. One of the ramparts another name. Their affairs prospered. In the year 1804, when the insurrection broke out, having been carried, they awaited momentarthey might be looked upon as men of considera- ily, and full of alarm, the last attack. One tion. Just at the beginning, the dahi rose; and evening, when they were in the greatest anxieMilan, through his own energy, became the ty, a female slave came from the Turkish camp, chiet of Rudnik, Poshega, and Ushitze. In the and told them that there was an unusual bustle, inean time, as he preferred the habits of peace, but whether the enemy were preparing for atMilosh conducted the warfare for him. The Servians fought well in their intrenchments, but their loss of men was so great, that, The flight of the other chiefs, in 1813, tack or retreat, she could not tell. caused the consideration in which he was held The Ser vians prayed to God that the latter might be throughout the country to increase greatly. All the case, and made ready for battle. The next the nation fixed their eyes on him. The Turks morning they perceived the Turks in full rewere obliged to shun, and yet to pay him more treat, carrying away their booty. This the deference than they wished. So long as their Servians would not suffer, but pursued the power was tolerable he supported them; again Turks, and routed them completely, taking when it became intolerable and menaced him- all their artillery and baggage, besides a great bim number of prisoners. These Milosh order self, he resolved to rise in arms. He had promised his adoptive brother, Musselim Aschim Bey, to warn him in times of danger."-pp. 188, 189. Milosh fixed on Palm Sunday, 1816, for the outbreak of the insurrection in the district of Rudnik, of which he was the knes. Early in the morning he showed himself to the people in the church of Takowo, with glittering arms, and holding in his hand a Woivode's flag. "Here am I," said he; "you now have war with the Turks." The enthusiasm was great; even old men, usually timid, animating the others to revolt; but the danger, also, was greater than ever before, owing to the overwhelming superiority of the Turkish troops. The first bands of insurgents being easily dispersed by 10,000 of the enemy, the general distress seemed so great, that some deliberated whether they should not kill their wives and children, and retire as heyduks to the mountains. Milosh alone remained unmoved by fear; and having taken a station on the mountain Liubiz, on the left bank of ed to be treated with extreme kindness, which caused the women to say, that they were treated like mothers and sisters, and that the religion which commanded this must be a true one. It was indeed a great victory won by Milosh, and the whole country might be considered as free from the Turks, with the exception of the districts commanded by the fortresses of Karanowatz and Poszarewatz. Both these soon fell into the hands of Milosh; though not until after the greatest efforts on his part. He overcame difficulties from the conviction that in each battle everything on his part was at stake, as may be seen from his message to the Turkish commander: "Wala!" said Milosh, "I know not whether thou hast not another way than this to oppose me; but I am sure that I have no other than to fight with thee to death." After this he told his officers, that such as chose might return home, for such as would stay should march at the head of their bands, and should one attempt to fly, he would kill him on the spot. quered people, remained in vigour. The Porte, therefore, would not sanction the agreement by which the Servians were With such energy did he fight for five long that justice should be administered in comdays before he could drive the Turks out of mon by the two nations. The question for the above-named places. Even then the war the last time was, whether the Porte would was not yet ended, the Pasha of Bosnia, sanction this agreement between the pasha Kurshid, having advanced into the country and the Servians. It would not, and perwith a considerable force. Milosh boldly haps could not, so long as the old Mahomwent to meet him, and defeated him entirely medan law, which dooms to servitude a conat Dublie, and took him prisoner, though he subsequently dismissed him, after offering him some valuable presents. Thus used Milosh to complete his victories by acts of magnanim- placed on an equality with the Turks, for ity, for which he was amply rewarded. The such a concession would have implied further pasha, in return for his kindness, advised him a radical reform in the constitution of the not to mix with any foreign power, that so he empire. The Servians on their part would might become prince and lord of the country. yield nothing, and boldly reminded the Porte It was fortunate that the jealousy of the Pasha of the treaty of Bucharest, and even raised Maraschti Ali, who advanced from another their demands. The country thus assumed a quarter, deterred this latter from combining singular aspect, the ancient possessors of powwith Kurshid; their disunion saved Milosh, er being confined to the fortresses, and their and they both separately proposed to him a former slaves being now masters and owners treaty of peace. Milosh first visited the lat- of the land. Both parties were armed, and ter in his camp, but could not come to any agreement with him, the surrender of arms being insisted on. Kurshid felt himself strongly tempted to deliver Milosh prisoner, and thus to put an end at once to all difficulties, and would have done so, but that a venerable Turk, Ali Aga Serttchesma-the same into whose hands Milosh surrendered arms in 1813-having promised him on his honour a safe retreat, opposed Kurshid, and said to Milosh, "Fear nothing so long as thou seest me and my thousand delias. For the future, ever ready to fall upon one another, and this state of things continued for twelve years. To Milosh, besides the great merit of having been the liberator of his country, belongs that also of having preserved Servia during that period in peace and independence. He was virtually the monarch of the land by the sole force of his personal merit and character, until the year 1827, when, on the 27th of January, his countrymen formally acknowledged him as such. About a thousand individuals of rank and influence signed on that they prayed Milosh to become their prince, promising that this dignity should continue for ever in his family. When, on the following morning, they presented to him the two documents, Milosh touched them with his forehead, in token of respect, and then expressed his thanks by kissing those who stood near him, whilst the others were satisfied to kiss the border of his dress. however, trust not any one, not even me. We day a petition at Kraguiewatz, in the name have been friends, and we part now forever." of the absent people, by which they prayed The other pasha showed himself more the sultan to give them a native metropolitan tractable, and consented that the Servians and an hereditary prince in the person of should remain in possession of their arms, and Milosh Obrenowitch. In another document, a message to this purpose was sent to Constantinople. The firman sent in answer, at the request, it is said, of Russia, who demanded the execution of the treaty of Bucharest, made use of this formula: - As God has intrusted to the sultan his subjects, so does the sultan intrust them to the pasha. By a magnanimous conduct the latter will fulfil his duty. On receiving it, the pasha proceeded at once to Belgrad, where he received Milosh and his followers, in the midst of fifty bimbashas, agas, and begs, all sitting silent on the floor and smoking. The pasha rose and said, 'Are you Servians, subjects of the sultan?' Milosh replied, We are.' And the question and answer was asked and given three times, after which the Servians were admitted to the honour of tobacco and coffee. Upon these two documents we may remark in general that they merely offered an opportunity to the Porte to grant with a good grace, that which Servia had long since possessed in reality. The independence of the latter may be said to have existed since the first shot was fired by the Servians; and all the subsequent wars should be viewed as so many unsuccessful attempts made by the Turks to destroy it. The assertion of their independence by the Servians with arms in their hands, was only a simple manifestation It was then agreed that the Turks should keep the fortresses, and the Servians the open country, themselves having the entire direc- of the intense national vitality alluded to betion of all affairs, except that it was decided fore; it was like the eruption of a volcano, and the flames were not quenched for full fortune of several million piastres, independthirty years, owing solely to the narrow poli- ently of the sums laid out for the purchase cy and the prejudices of the Porte. Even of his large estates in Wallachia. Patriotic at the time we speak of, she was loth to re- men, amongst others Wuk Stefanowitch, the cognize the rights of the Servians, though same who published the songs, were banishshe tacitly acknowledged their independence, ed for remonstrating with him on his arbitrasince on the outbreak of hostilities with Rus-ry and tyrannical measures. No hope resia, in 1827, she demanded of Milosh per- mained of a change for the better, except by mission for her troops to pass through Servia imposing on the absolute will of the prince to the Danube, offering to pay double the the check of a constitution; and this he him. usual price for all that her soldiers might re, self granted in 1839, being no longer able to quire; but the request was not granted. On withstand the general demand of the nation. the other hand, Milosh showed much political The re-organized senate according to the new sagacity by resisting the clamours of a party constitution immediately called on Milosh to in Servia, who urged him to join Russia in account for certain sums of the public money, the war against Turkey. After that war had of which he had privately disposed; but he, terminated successfully for Russia, the latter accustomed for so many years to meet with made at Akjerman and Adrianople some fa- servile obedience, and encouraged to persevourable stipulations in behalf of the rights vere in his line of conduct by the diplomatic of the Servians, though it was their con- agents of some foreign states, bade defiance to sciousness that the best guarantee of these the senate, and retired to Semlin, situated in rights lay in their swords, which had hitherto the Austrian territory. On this occasion, the preserved them, and which ultimately in- Servian people showed much good political duced the Porte to make concessions. By a sense, for having perceived the factious spirit firman in 1831, Milosh was recognised as of opposition which prevailed in the senate, hereditary Prince of Servia, but it was not they at once sent a deputation to invite Miuntil the close of the year 1833, that in vir- losh back to Belgrad. He returned, but only tue of a hatti sheriff, the country was ceded to accelerate the catastrophe. Following to her native inhabitants. The tenour of the the advice of foreign consuls, he appealed, said hatti sheriff amounts virtually to a declaration of the sovereignty of the Servian nation within her own boundaries, whilst it forbids the Turks to buy land or build houses out of Belgrad, and orders all Turkish landholders to sell their property and to leave the but without success, to the soldiery, for support against his opponents. Only the commander of the prince's band, a German by birth, succeeded in raising 800 mutinous men, with whom he marched on Belgrad. This ruined the cause of Milosh with the people. country within five years from the date! He was forced to order the rebels to lay down thereof. The Servians are only to pay an their arms, and amongst these was his brother annual tribute of 2,300,000 piastres, and to Prince Jovan. From that moment Milosh, suffer the residence of a pasha, with 150 impressed with the fear of a judicial inquiry Turks at Belgrad, as a sign of their acknow- which might lead to disagreeable results, ledgment of the sultan's supreme authority seems to have thought only of saving both over the land. his person and his treasure. He took an af The Servians now required to be led on fectionate leave of his wife and son, and went by an intelligent government, that they might to live in Wallachia as an exile, much re gretted by the nation who owed him so much, but who had also paid him well. Last summer, Milosh, at the request of the emperor, made his appearance at the court of Vienna, where, by the magnificence of his costume, he eclipsed even Prince Esterhazy. After the retreat of Milosh, his eldest son, reap the fruits of their victory, and that the wounds inflicted by war might be healed up through advances of all the arts of peace and of moral improvement, which should develope and further consolidate the work of national independence. Unhappily, Milosh was not the man to secure to them the advantages of such a government. The saying of the sage Milan, though in a dying state, was recogof antiquity, that no man should be called nised as prince, so highly were the advantages happy before his death, applies particularly of a regular succession appreciated by the to Milosh. He whose career had till then nation. After Milan's decease, his brother been that of a true hero, was incapable of re- Michael occupied the vacant throne, and du`sisting the passion of vulgar minds, and he ring his minority a regency was established took to accumulating riches in order thereby consisting of his uncle Efraim Obrenowitch, to ensure his power. By his attempts to Wuksicz Pereksicz, and Abraham Petronocreate monopolies, and to sell the common witch. Some of these, however, as well as right of industry, he is said to have made a the principal ministers of state who had op 1 posed Milosh, availed themselves of their in- our present ambassador at Constantinople,fluence to curtail the power of the prince and a point of controversy which we trust will accumulate wealth, resorting also to foreign be immediately determined by energetic ininfluence, in order to secure these objects to structions on the part of our government. themselves. The better portion of the Ser- England will thus become enabled to coerce vians, disgusted at such proceedings, went in Russia both by Prussia and Servia, on the June of the year before last, in large num- Black Sea as well as the Baltic. bers, and armed, to Belgrad, demanding of the young prince, either to throw off the yoke which lay heavy upon them all, or to recall his father, as one tyrant was better than ART. II. - Die Deutsch-Russischen Ostsee six. They requested him to banish all the regents except his uncle, and to transfer the seat of government from Belgrad, which remained under foreign influence, to Kraguje watz. Provinzen. (The German Baltic Provinces of Russia.) Von J. G. KOHL. 2 vols. Dresden and Leipzig. 1841. The prince after some deliberation Russia has her capital on the Baltic, and complied with both requests, and the two re- possesses provinces there sufficient to gents remained at Belgrad under the protec- form a very respectable kingdom, even tion of the pasha. An appeal was next made should all the rest of her empire be disby both parties to the Porte, who to her hon- severed from the rule of the czars, either our, and well advised for the first time du- by a natural or a political convulsion. ring the whole Servian affair, approved of The Roman empire was once by its own everything done by the national party. The weight broken into two unequal parts; prince was besides recognised as independent perhaps the same fate may be reserved for of all guardians. Under his pacific reign, Russia, when all the genuine Russian nawhich promises to be long, we may reason- tionality may rally around the kremlin at ably hope that Servia, by following the ca- Moscow, while St. Petersburg may bereer of industry and progressive social im. come the capital of a new German or Finprovement, will become the centre of civili- nish state; for the country around St. sation for the other Christian Slavonian pop- Petersburg, and more particularly along ulation of Turkey; and this hope is also part- the Baltic, though subject to Russia, has ly founded upon the hatti sheriff of Gulhane, hitherto held itself aloof from the other securing to the Christians their rights; though parts of the empire; and the few Russians the recall of Koshrew Pasha, the mortal ene- that have established themselves there, my of all reform, which took place last year, are still looked upon rather as colonists, is calculated to fill us with ill-boding presen- or temporary residents, than as permatiments. This fear is, however, groundless, nent denizens of the soil. Courland, Liprobably, considering that the triumph of vonia, Esthonia, and Finland, all enjoy evil is short-lived, and that good is sure of political privileges, that have long been a being ultimately victorious; and of this we subject of heart burning and envy to the have a living proof in the case of Servia. rest of the emperor's subjects. They Every friend of humanity may hope that the have their parliaments and their municipal day is not far distant when those countries, rights; and of these there are none to which celebrated in the days of the Romans for their they attach more value than the right of culture and their wealth, will again flourish excluding all native Russians from their in civilisation more than they ever did be- cities. Little colonies of Russians have fore. England has it especially in her power indeed been growing larger and larger in to bring about that desirable state, by taking the suburbs of many of these cities; and in exchange for her goods from the Servian in the case of Riga the Russian suburbs states the same raw materials which she now have already become powerful enough to receives from Russia, timber, iron, copper, inspire the German city with serious aptallow, hemp, flax, corn, and wood; not to prehensions; nevertheless, the old spirit mention wine, dried fruits, and silk; which of the Hansa* still inspires the descendlatter, if duly cultivated, may be obtained al- ants of the gallant burghers, who knew so most to any extent. The country offers be- well, during the middle ages, to guard sides excellent means for export, being situated on the Danube, the mouth of which, now monopolized by Russia, who checks all trade by her arbitrary imposition of heavy tolls on vessels, we have no doubt will soon become free and open through the remonstrances of their rights against the oft repeated aggressions of their noble and knightly * For a detailed account of the Hanseatic League, which played so distinguished a part in the middlet ages, see an article in No XIII., Art. 6, of the Foreign Quarterly Review. neighbours; and Riga has therefore main- | All we can now know on the subject is, tained her privileges under her Russian that this peculiar race must have found its sovereigns, with the same sturdiness and way to the banks of the Dwina at a very the same success as against the Knights of the Sword, the Palatines of Poland, and her martial Swedish sovereigns. In no part of Europe have the civil institutions of the middle ages been preserved with less of modern admixture than in the Russo-Germanic provinces on the Baltic. Successively they have become the trophies of Swedish, Polish, and Russian conquests; and under each succeeding conqueror, the inhabitants of these provinces, by their adherence to their ancient institutions, have preserved their nationality, and retained a degree of freedom often envied and admired by the other subjects of the prince to whom they happened at the time to render their allegiance. These institutions alone stand remote period. When, 800 years ago, the country was first explored and conquered by the adventurous Germans, the Lettes were found living in the same state of isolation in which they still continue. Their lands and liberties were wrested from them by the foreign invader; nevertheless, they neither adopted his manners nor his language, and even his religion had to be forced upon them by long and sanguinary persecutions. The Lette peasant and his German lord have passed together under the sovereignty of the Pole, the Swede, and the Russian; still no amalgamation has taken place. The original race, in their state of bondage, preserve, in their ballads and traditions, the memory of the independence now between the Livonian and his Rus- enjoyed by their ancestors eight centuries sian master; and the value of the bulwark ago; and time has but little softened the is too deeply felt to be hastily abandoned. hatred inspired by the first intruders who In speaking of rights and freedom, how- possessed themselves, by the sword, of ever, we must be understood to confine the dismal swamps and gloomy forests of our remarks to the burghers of the cities the Dwina. The tie even of a common and the nobles of the land; for it would creed has not sufficed to amalgamate the have been difficult for any conqueror to conquering with the conquered race; have aggravated the degraded and oppressed condition of the Livonian and Esthonian serfs; indeed, it is only since their subjection to the Russian sceptre, that the hope of better days has begun to dawn for them. connexions by marriage are almost unknown among them; slavery, in its worst form, has kept alive the feeling of hatred on the one side, and of contempt on the other; and to this mutual estrangement may, in a great measure, be attributed the obscurity into which all the early annals of the country have sunk.* Upon the early history of these pro. vinces, the researches of antiquarians have been unable to throw any light. Of At an early period of the middle ages, legends and fables there is indeed no the country along the Baltic, from the lack; but of the events that led to the Oder to the Peipus Lake, was conquered first immigration of the Lives and Lettes by various German adventurers. The into these remote regions, not even a hint original inhabitants, though surrounded can be obtained from the popular tradi- by nations that had embraced the doctions that are still preserved among the trines of the Gospel, had maintained their peasantry. That the Lettes, particularly, wild independence and their idolatrous are a race wholly distinct from those by worship, and appear to have lived under whom they are surrounded, is the only the government of a hierarchy, in which fact that can now be satisfactorily ascer- some writers have imagined that they had tained. Their language exhibits no re-detected a close resemblance to the Brahsemblance to that of the Finns, the Sla- minism of ancient India. The pagan vonians, or the Teutones. Some have Prussians and Lithuanians would, under any circumstances, have been objects of aversion to the Christians of Germany and Poland, among whom the zeal inspired by recent conversion had lost but little of its * The population of the three provinces is esti traced or imagined an affinity with the mated at 1,500,000. Of these, Mr. Kohl supposes, about 1,350,000 are of the ancient Lettish and Esthonian races; 75,000 are of German descent, including the whole of the nobility; 45,000 are Russians; 20,000 are Swedes, living upon smaller isles of the Baltic; the Jews are supposed to amount to |