“The picture of Russian manners varies little with reference to the prince or the peasant. The first nobleman in the empire, when dismissed by his sovereign from attendance upon his person, or withdrawing to his estate in consequence of dissipation and debt, betakes himself to a mode of life little superior to that of brutes. … Continue reading ‘Ignorant, superstitious, cunning, brutal, barbarous, dirty, mean’ – Dr. Clarke’s description of Russians 200 years ago