See PETERSBURGH• While Archangel continued to be the emporium of Russia, its inhabitants acquired a wonderful degree of superiority over the rest of their countrymen. The merchants of the interior were, in general, unable to read or write, and therefore kept no books of account ; while, being ignorant of figures, they employed, in their calculations, an abacus, or machine with several rows of wires and beads, by means of which they contrived to add, subtract, multiply, and divide, with considerable exactness. The people of Archangel, however, from their intercourse with the English and other nations, soon perceived the advantages of letters and arithmetic, and, imitating what was done by the foreigners, became gradually intelligent in business, skilful and expert, (Coxe's Travels in Russia, ii. p. 158.) The great fair of Archangel was held in the month of August. To this fair, which lasted about six weeks, the traders ar rived from the remote provinces, deposited their goods in the palace or town-house, received the merchants of other nations, and, exchanging, selling, or purchasing various commodities, returned before the approach of winter to the interior of the empire. While the fair continued, the number of English, Dutch, French, Swe dish, and Danish ships, in the harbour of Archangel, has often exceeded 300. The commerce which took place in the city was of three kinds : that of barter, which was most general; that which consisted, partly in the exchange of goods, and partly in money-payment, and which was by far the most profitable ; and that which was carried on wholly by money, either paid down by the foreign traders in return for the native commodi ties, or at a year's credit, by the Muscovite dealers, to the traders of other nations. This last, however, was attended with many disadvantages, and is now very rarely in use. The goods imported to Archangel were
chiefly broad cloths and linens of all kinds, colonial pro duce, silk and woollen stuffs, paper, lace, toys and in- struments used in the arts and manufactures : the ex ports were potash, caviar or sturgeon's eggs, tar, wax, tallow, hides, feathers, yarn, rhubarb, silk from China or Persia, cork, furs, bristles: and to these were added by Elizabeth, A. D. 1572, corn, lintseed, iron, flax, train-oil, sail-cloth, masts, and cordage. At present too the Dwina limns the chief communication between the northern and western parts of Siberia, from u hich iron and various kinds of furs are procured. Stock-fish like wise, taken in the White Sea and the Frozen Ocean, are exported in considerable quantities.
From the year 1691 to 1701, the exports from Arch angel amounted to 112,2511. sterling annually ; while the imports from England did not exceed 58,8841. At this period the revenue of the crown, from the trade of the White Sea, was equal to 100,000 rubles a year. Accord ing to Mr Tooke, the imports of Archangel were esti mated, in 1775, at 281,747 rub. 63 kop.; its exports at 1,367,926 rub. 384 kop.; and its duties at 144,961 rub. 84,1 kop. At present the revenue is not much above 20,000 rub. from which Peuchet concludes, that the sum of the exports and imports is not more than 400,000 rubles. Population, in the flourishing state of Archan gel, 3J,000: in its present state, from 5 to 7000. East Long. 38° 59' 30". North Lat. 64° 33' 36". Sec Peuchet, Diction. Univers. de la Geographic Comnieryante, torn. ii. art. Archangel. Hackluyt's Voyag. vol. i. pp. 253, 298, 306, and 462. Coxe's Travels in Russia, vol. ii. pp. 158, 197, et seq. Home's iii. vol. v. p. 487. (h)