In 1710, the Courfe of Exchange was three Rubles ten Copeeks to the Pound Sterling, Exchange. whereas the intrinfick Value is only about four Rubles and a half; for the Exportations exceeding the Importations near two thoufand Rubles Yearly, the national Credit of their Money is kept up, which would fall almoft to the real Worth, if any confiderable Sum above the Ballance of the Trade was to be remitted beyond Sea.

The Czar's Revenues may be about seven Millions of Rubles Yearly, arifing chiefly;

From the Custom of Goods in Archangel, and the Duties on them when bought or fold by Retail in the Country.

How arifing.

From Monopolies in the Czar's Hands; Pot-afh Yearly to the Value of forty thousand Dollars; Wood-afh one hundred and twenty-five thoufand Dollars; Caviar, thirty thousand Pieces of Eight, befides what is confumed in the Country; Rhubarb, about twenty thousand Dollars; all which Commodities are never fold but for Specie Dollars; Tar, in 1706, forty thoufand Dollars, and another for ten thousand Rubles; very little fold fince.

From Inland Monopolies; Salt, five hundred thoufand Rubles; Tobacco, Boards and Bricks, which are only fold by the Czar's Officers, the Sums uncertain; Furs from Siberia in the Treasury; Brandy

and Beer, which in the Town of Mofco alone bring in fix hundred thousand Rubles per Ann.

From the Mint by Re-coinage of Dollars, at one hundred and twenty per cent. Profit.

Of OLD MONEY at thirty per cent.

Of BRASS MONEY at fixty-five per cent.

From the Chinese Trade, which, if well managed, would bring in about two or three hundred thousand Rubles Profit Yearly; the Cargoes thither are feveral Sorts of European Merchandize, but chiefly Furs, as Sables, Ermines, Black Foxes, and Grey Squirrels, from Siberia; The Returns are made in Damafks, Callicoes, blue Linen, Gold, Tapestry, China Ware, and Drugs: A great Part of these used to be fold in Lithuania and Poland, which Trade is now almost sunk.

From the Perfian Trade, whence Raw-filk, Carpets, Brocades, Sattins, Jewels, and Perfia Leather are imported, chiefly by the Armenians, who only pay two per cent. Cuftom, for whatever they tranfport through the Czar's Dominions without breaking Bulk, according to an old Privilege.

From new Impofitions on ftampt Paper; on all Law-fuits, which pay ten per cent. of the Value contested; Oven, or Chimney Money; all hackney Horfes and Carriages; all Bath-ftoves, of which every Village has one in Public, and every fashionable

House

House one in particular, are taxed at a Ruble a Piece Yearly.

From the Abbey Lands, which are very confiderable, but have been taken into the Czar's Hands, and are managed by a fecular Commiffion, a Competency being allowed each Cloifter in Proportion to the Number of Monks.

From the Land Tax, and Royal Demaines.

All the Czar's Expences are paid within the Year, which makes the prefent War fall very heavy on him; for, though he does not owe above two hundred thousand Rubles on all Accounts, his Treafury by ill Management cannot find Credit for ten thousand Rubles; nor will the Merchants give any Bills of Exchange, till they have received the Money before hand.

Mines there are,

Of Iron, several in Ruffia indifferent; in Siberia very good,

Of Copper, at Olonitz.

Of Brimftone, at Cafan, and in the Mountains which bound Siberia,

Hot Baths and Mineral Waters are found about Terki on the Caspian-Sea.

Salt

Salt-petre comes from Chioff and Rebena in the Ukraine, as good as any in the World.

In 1709, an Engineer, fent down into the Deserts between Afoph and Chioff, found three Mines of different Ore, on the River Kundruczi which falls into the Don, above the Town of Circafky: On other little Rivers, which fall into the Donec, he found old melting Ovens, the Openings of feveral Mines which had been worked on, all thought to be the Remains of the Genoese Colonies. He fupposes some of them to have Vitriol, and Quick-filver, or good Tin.

The Czar's Forces, which are regimented, cloathed and disciplined, after the Foreign Man

Czar's Forces.

ner, including the separate Bodies in Poland, Lithuania, Livonia, and Ingria, with the feveral Garrisons along the Frontiers from Chioff to Wyburgh, confift of fifty-one Regiments of Foot, viz.

S?

The first of Guards,

51 Five more 1800 each,

Forty-five more 1200 each,

Fifty-one Companies of Grenadiers,

One Company of Bombardiers,

Men.

2400

9000

54000

5100

150

} 36000

3000

Total, 109,650.

The

Thirty-fix Regiments of Dragoons, at 1000

each,

Three Regiments of Horse Grenadiers,

ment.

The first Regiment of Foot-Guards has twentyfour Companies, the other five eighteen Their Eftablish- Companies, and the ordinary Regiments twelve; the Regiments of Dragoons have ten Companies each. The Foot receive equal Pay and Portion with the Dragoons, Hay and Oats excepted.

STAFF OFFICER S.

78

Three Serjeants, at 15 Rubles 60 Co

peeks each,

Six Corporals, at 13 Rubles each,
Clerk of the Company,

Two Drummers, 11 Rubles each,

13

22

Eighty