The manufactures of Russia commenced, as n other countries, with the beginning of its ?olitical importance, but have been chiefly ndebted for their encouragement and progress o the efforts of the government. The czars Evan I. and II., who in the 15th and 16th :enturies had restored Russia to independence, nvited artisans and workmen from Germany, he Netherlands, and Italy, and established at Moscow, Yaroslaw, Smolensk, and Kiev menu acti•es of woollen cloth, linen, arms, &c. But he civil wars before the accession of the louse of Romanoff, and the interference of lweden and Poland, which led to the deso ation of the country, checked the infant nanufactures, so that in fact nothing was done ill the reign of Peter the Great, who in this, a in many other respects, was the founder of he prosperity of Russia.
During the reign of the present Emperor he manufactures of Russia have increased o a remarkable extent. Smelting works, ngineering works, cotton factories, woollen actories, tallow-melting works, tanneries, soap actories—all have increased most rapidly. Che central part of the empire is the chief heatre of manufacturing industry. Moscow ,as become the focus of it ; in the lesser towns 'f the government of which it is the capital, he number of manufactories continues to in rease. Next to Moscow, in industry, are the ;ovemments of Vladimir, Nischnei-Novgorod, iaratov, and St. Petersburg. .
The inland trade is carried on in a very great measure by means of annual fairs, the most remarkable of which is that of Nischnei Novgorod. [Ems.] The number of these great commercial fairs is somewhat over twenty; but there is a still larger number of minor fairs and markets. The inland trade, as before remarked, is greatly promoted by the extensive system of inland navigation. The vessels which have arrived from the interior at the ports of,Archangel, St. Petersburg, and Riga, have frequently amounted in the year from 2,500 to 3,500 harks. Goods destined for Odessa from the interior are carried down the Dniester or the Dnieper, and from the mouths of those rivers to Odessa by coasting vessels. Kherson, Astrakhan, Taganrog, Nak bitschevan, and Bestow, are the other chief ports.
The ships which enter and clear at the various Russian ports annually have an average tonnage of about 2,000,000 tons; of which those to and from Great Britain amount generally to nearly one half. The British trade at Russian ports in 1848 involved the use of —Inwards, 2,562 vessels ; outwards, 1,010 vessels ; together 969,572 tonnage, 41,613 men.
The declared value of the British and Irish pro duce and manufactures transmitted to Russia in 1847 was 1,844,543/.; the following were the chief items :—Coals, 108,378 tons ; woven cottons, 1,541,112 yards ; cotton twist and yarn, 12,853,754 lbs.; earthenware, 345,421 pieces ; hardware and cutlery, 7,676 cwts.; iron and steel goods, 15,732 tons; lead and shot, 1,764 tons ; machinery and mill•work, 220,636/4 salt, 2,818,584 bushels ; tin, 6,268 ewts. ; woollens and worsteds, 57,720/.; ditto yarn, 1,727,850 lbs., —189,014l. The value in 1849 was somewhat lower. The nature of the trade between Russia and Great Britain is indicated by the chief exports from the former to the latter in 1847, namely—Bristles, 1,278,570 lbs.; corn, 2,000,000 quarters ; flax and low, 681,107 cwts.; hemp, 542,857 cwts.; linseed, 353,900 quarters ; tallow, 939,940 cwts ; tar, 0,656 casks ; timber, 220,000 loads ; wool, 2,919,776 lbs.
The St. Petersburgh and Moscow Railway exhibits some remarkable commercial features. It was at first intended to order all the locomotives and machinery from England, as being the cheapest in the end; but an enter prizing American firm made such offers as induced the Emperor to enter into a contract with them. They were to have the use of certain machine works at Alexandroffsky, which were to be adapted for their purposes ; they were to employ their own hands, on their own terms ; but they were also to employ 500 serfs belonging to the Alexandroffsky Estate, whose services were to bo paid for at a certain stipulated rate : they were to construct, at those works, 200 locomotives, 5,800 trucks, 70 passenger carriages, and other rolling stock, for which they were to be paid at stipulated prices; they had the privilege of importing coal and iron duty free; and they were to bo paid once a month till all the works were finished. The whole was finished long be fore the railway itself was finished; and the Emperor expressed his satisfaction by a dis tribution of some of those orders and medals which form such a remarkable feature in the imperial proceedings. The Alexandroffsky works covered 100 acres, and at some periods employed nearly 3,00Q persons—nearly all of whom were semi-serfs, who worked well if well directed. At the same establishment steam engines have been made for the Siberian mines.
It is fitting that Russia should chew, at the World's Exhibition, to what point her pro ducing and manufacturing skill has now attained.