SMOLENSK. a government of European Russia, is situated between 53° 12' and 56° 30'N. lat., 30° 20' and 35° 20' E. long., and is bounded N. by the governments of Pskov and Twer; E. by those of Moscow, Keine, and Orel ; S. by Czeruigov ; and W. by Mohilev and Witepak. The area is 21,572 square miles, and the population in 1846 amounted to 1.170,600.
The country is a high undulating plain, broken only by low hills. The soil is clay, mixed with sand aud black mould. Some parts are very fertile, and all well repay the expense of cultivation. The prin cipal rivers are—the DNIFPER, which rises in this government, but is not navigable in all this part of its course ; the Obscha, the Mischa, the Kaspla, which ran in a westerly direction to the Diina ; the Ugra, which flows eastward to the Oka; the °jet and the Wasuga, both of which run into the Volga. There are, it is said, 150 lakes, but none of considerable extent; and many morasses. As the country lies high, the climate is colder than that of other provinces in the same latitude. The frost in winter is very severe, and the ice does not break up till April ; on the other hand, the heat of the summer months is very great, vegetation luxuriant, the weather not changeable, and tho air salubrious.
The government produces vast quantities of rye and other grain, hemp, flax, tobacco and hops, culinary vegetables, and some fruit ; but the wealth of the country consists chiefly in its immense forests, which supply timber for the use of the province itself, and also for the navy, particularly fine masts, which are sent to Riga. The forests abound in game of all kinds; elks, deer, wild boars, wolves, hears, and lynxes are found in them, and prodigious quantities of wild birds. Much attention is paid to the breed of horses, which arc of a good Lithuanian stock. Oxen are used in agriculture as well as horses, and great numbers are fattened for exportation. Swine are very numerous, but sheep do not appear to thrive. The country people have great numbers of bets. The minerals are copper, salt, and bog-iron. The rural population manufacture linen and woollen cloths for domestic use. The Smolensk carpets are in great repute. There are numerous saw mills, brandy-diatilleries, tanneries, soap and candle manufactories, and some glass-works.
The exports are—agricultural produce of the different kinds above named ; hemp-seed, linseed, horsehair, hides, hogs'-bristles, wool, honey, wax, masts to Riga, timber and firewood to the Dnieper, boats made for the navigation of the Oka, the Volga, and the Mina; horses, oxen, swine, salt-pork, tallow, and lard. Most of the articles are con veyed by land to Riga, Willie, and Moscow ; a great part of the cattle are driven to Poland, and thence to Germany ; and the timber is floated down the rivers which fall into the Deus, the Oka, and the Volga. The imports are—colonial produce, wines, manufactured good% and various other articles. The principal commercial towns are Wiliam and Gahatsk. Smolensk, situated on the main road to Moscow, likewise takes an active share in the foreign commerce, but is chiefly engaged with inland and retail trade.
The great majority of the inhabitants belong to the Greek Church, under the bishop of Smolensk, whose diocese is co-extensive with the government, and has 608 parishes. There are a few Poles, Jews, and
Germans. Smolensk la within the limits of the university of Moscow. Elementary education is extending among the population, but is still in a backward state. The government is divided Into 12 circles.
Smolensk, the chief town of the government, is in 54° 50' N. let., 32' E. long., on the right bank of the Dnieper, which is here navig and crossed by a wooden bridge. It is surrounded with a wall 30 feet high and 15 feet thick, nearly two mile, in circuit, but in many parts out of repair, and has a strong citadel. Smolensk is one of the most ancient towns in Russia. Its name occurs in the Russian annals as far back as A.D. 879. The Lithuauians obtained possession of it in 1413. In the next two hundred and fifty years it was repeatedly taken and retaken by the Poles and Russians, till it was finally taken by the latter in 1654. In 1812 the first serious conflict between the French and the Russians took place (August 16 and 17) under the walls of Smolensk, when it was bombarded and set on fire. The French on their retreat in November following blew up part of the works. Though not a handsome city, Smolensk is now much superior to what it was before 1812, when it was almost entirely built of wood. The part rebuilt since that time is more regular; the houses are generally of stone, and many of them handsome. The public buildings are numerous : there are sixteen Greek churches, three convents, one Roman Catholic) and one Lutheran chapel, numerous charitable insti tutions, a gymnasium, a seminary for priests, a military school, &c. In a military point of view Smolensk is considered a place of great importance, as it commands the road to Moscow, the heart of the Russian empire. The manufactures are linen, leather, silks, hats,- and soap; there is also a brisk trade in the natural productions of tho country. The population at the lowest estimate is 12,000; some late writers state it at 20,000.
!Minna, shout 110 miles from Smolensk, on the road to Moscow, is a considerable town, with 12,000 inhabitants. It is situated on a river of the same name, and is built on a bill, and surrounded with a wall. There being large vacant spaces, it covers a great extent of ground, so that viewed at a distance it looks much more considerable than it really is, an illusion which is aided by the steeples and domes of nearly thirty churches.
Porestschje, on the Kaspla, which is here navigable, is a town with 6000 inhabitants, 50 miles N.N.W. from Smolensk. It has a consider able transit trade between Smolensk and Riga.
Among the other towns are—Dorogolessch, on the Dnieper, a pretty and well-built town, 50 miles E. by N. from Smolensk, with 4000 inhabitants, who have some manufactures and considerable trade ; Gshatsk, or Gjat, which is situated on the river Gjat, on the road to Moscow, in the east of the province, and has 3000 inhabitants, who have a considerable transit trade in corn, hemp, iron, and river-barge., for the construction of which the neighbouring forests afford excellent materials; and Roslarl, 70 miles S.S.E. from Smolensk, which has large coru-stores, several mills, and about 4000 inhabitant..