Johnston, Robert. Travels through Part of the Russian Empire and the Country of Poland; Along the Southern Shores of the Baltic. New York: Arno Press, 1970. (First edition: J.J. Stockdale, London 1815) 403 pages.

            Upper class British author, Robert Johnston recounts his travels through Poland and the Russian Empire, documenting details of the ruthless path of recent warfare, landscapes and climate, and the morality of the native peoples. Stating “never perhaps was there a period in which the affairs of […] particularly Russia, could be of more interest than the present” (p. viii). That year, 1814, was the same year of his journey eastward. With intent set towards complete objectivity, certain passages are slanted by the “just cause of pride and dignity” he held for Great Britain. He also claims that “He must think for himself and himself solely. Opinions and characters of man and country must be taken on the spot. […] They must not go before the moment…” (p. vii). However, there are numerous passages where his opinions towards certain groups are evident, such as his feelings for the French and for the “coarse” people living near Memel.

            He stopped to make travel arrangements in Denmark prior to leaving for the Russian Empire; a country he finds too well known to attempt to illustrate, though he does briefly overview its history. In his preface, he states that he writes not for diplomats or statesmen, but for the ordinary people; though he mentions it would be advantageous for Great Britain to trade with Denmark. Embarking on his voyage in June 1814 from Dantzick (Dantzig), he then traveled to Memel, Cronstadt, St. Petersburg, Jagelbitzi, Moscow, Smolersko, Grodno, Warsaw, and finally ending in Berlin. The each of the cities he visits are neatly outlined in the table of contents, making it easy for readers to find information on a specific city. An appendix in the back also lists the populations of each visited city, and the distance between them in wersts (seven wersts to five miles), the German and Danish mile. Now with an alliance between Great Britain and Russia, the British have become interested in finding a clear sense of their allies, and the region they inhabit. Recounting his travels will not merely serve a political purpose, but will also help to develop “principal and prominent features of that vast line of country… to point out their present state and notice those objects most worthy the attention of their rational visitor” (p. viii). Not only were marked features of the landscape noted, but also many cultural aspects of the people. He found a great interest in the arts, religious impacts, and the effects of slavery, coins, also superstitions and habits of the people, also clearly outlined.

            Part of the title being Along the Southern Shores of the Baltic, seems to imply presence of mentionable recordings of Baltic territory, but it is not the case. He mentions that Memel, the last Prussian town on the Baltic coast and former member of the Hanseatic League is old and clumsily built. He says much of the area is inhabited by Lithuanian descendants, a “coarse, clumsy, and stupid class of people; their ideas, manners, dress, and actions are of the dullest, heaviest, and most inanimate description” (p. 68). Besides this description of coarse people like the Lithuanians, there is little reference to the land or people of the Baltic. There are sporadic references to the waters of the Baltic, even saying that it may also be called a large lake. Finding any pertinent information on the Baltic would require reading this book, or at the least skimming each page, though there is much information detailing the people and landscape of the Russian Empire in 1814.

(KB 2006)