16 SEPTEMBER 1955, Page 15

The Opettator

September 18, 1830 BOOK REVIEW—Captain Alexander's re- port of Russia and Russians is favourable— more so than any other report we have read, whether French or English : it may have been that he was always in good humour, and they liked him, or that the Russians of all ranks are rapidly improving, and have greatly im- proved in the last six or seven years. It is almost a matter of course that the first thing spoken of in a Russian book of travels is the police. A great deal is said of its vigilance and adroitness. . . . Espionnage is also car- ried to a very vexatious pitch : the Captain thinks that a regular and complete system of espionnage is necessary to the existence of the Government. . . .