,*APT] #a 
,MY ,FIR/ ,ACQUA9TANCE ,) ,RUSSIAN ,PRISONS 

#ahhgahhg 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,PET] ,KROPOTK9 

,TEXT 3 

  

,PHOTO BY ,/EVE ,MAYS1,C,C ,B,Y-,N,C-,N,D ,LIC5SE ,MY FIR/ ACQUA9TANCE ) ,RUSSIAN PRISONS WAS MADE 9 ,SIB]IA4 ,IT WAS 9 #a#h#f#b4 ,I HAD !N JU/ >RIV$ AT ,IRKUTSK--A Y\NG ,LIEUT5ANT ( ,COSSACKS1 NOT FULLY TW5TY YE>S ( AGE1--& A C\PLE ( MON?S AFT] MY >RIVAL ,I WAS APPO9T$ SECRET>Y TO A COMMITTEE = ! RE=M ( PRISONS4 ,A FEW WORDS ( EXPLANATION >E NECESS>Y1 ,I SUPPOSE1 = MY ,5GLI% READ]S4 

 ,! $UCATION ,I HAD RECEIV$ WAS ONLY :AT A MILIT>Y S*OOL C\LD GIVE4 ,MU* ( \R TIME HAD BE5 DEVOT$1 ( C\RSE1 TO MA!MATICS & PHYSICAL SCI5CES2 /ILL MORE TO ! SCI5CE ( W>F>E1 TO ! >T ( DE/ROY+ M5 ON BATTLE-FIELDS4 ,BUT WE W]E LIV+1 !N1 9 ,RUSSIA AT ! TIME ( ! GREAT REVIVAL ( ?\<T :I* FOLL[$ 9 \R C\NTRY ! ,CRIMEAN DEFEAT2 & EV5 ! $UCATION 9 MILIT>Y S*OOLS FELT ! 9FLU5CE ( ?IS GREAT MOVEM5T4 ,SOME?+ SUP]IOR TO MORE MILIT>ISM P5ETRAT$ EV5 ! WALLS ( ! ,CORPS DES ,PAGES4  

 ,! ,PRESS HAD RECEIV$ SOME FRE$OM ( EXPRESSION S9CE #a#h#e#i1 & IT WAS EAG]LY DISCUSS+ ! POLITICAL & ECONOMIC RE=MS :I* HAD TO %AKE (F ! SAD RESULTS ( TW5TY-FIVE YE>S ( MILIT>Y RULE UND] ,NI*OLAS ,I4 2 & E*OES ( ! 9T5SE 9TELLECTUAL ACTIVITY :I* WAS AGITAT+ ! \T] WORLD REA*$ \R CLASS-ROOM4  ,SOME (1 US W]E READ+ A GOOD DEAL TO COMPLETE \R $UCATION4  ,WE TOOK A W>M 9T]E/ 9 ! PROPOS$ REBUILD+ ( \R 9/ITUTIONS1 & LIVELY DISCUSSIONS ON ! EMANCIPATION ( ,S]FS1 ON ! RE=MS 9 ADM9I/RATION1 W]E C>RI$ ON BETWE5 LESSONS ON TACTICS & MILIT>Y HI/ORY4  ,! V]Y NEXT DAY AFT] ! LONG EXPECT$ & (T5 DELAY$ EMANCIPATION ( ,S]FS HAD BE5 PROMULGAT$1 SEV]AL COPIES ( ! BULKY & 9COH]5TLY-WORD$ ,POLOZH5IE 7,EMANCIPATION ,ACT7 W]E BUSILY /UDI$ & BRISKLY COMM5T$ UPON 9 \R SMALL SUNNY LIBR>Y4  ,! ,ITALIAN ,OP]A WAS =GOTT5 = GUESSES AS TO ! PROBABLE RESULTS & MEAN+ ( ! EMANCIPATION4  ,\R TEA*]S1 TOO1 FELL UND] ! 9FLU5CES ( ! EPO*4  ,HI/ORY1 & ESPECIALLY ! HI/ORY ( =EIGN LIT]ATURE1 BECAME1 9 ! LECTURES ( \R PR(ESSORS1 A HI/ORY ( ! PHILOSOPHICAL1 POLITICAL1 & SOCIAL GR[? ( HUMANITY4 ,! DRY PR9CIPLES ( ,J4 ,B4 ,SAY'S 0,POLITICAL ,ECONOMY10 & ! COMM5T>IES UPON ,RUSSIAN CIVIL & MILIT>Y LAW1 :I* =M]LY W]E CONSID]$ AS A USELESS BURD5 9 ! $UCATION ( FUTURE (FIC]S1 BECAME 5D[$ ) NEW LIFE 9 \R CLASSES1 :5 APPLI$ TO ! PRES5T NE$S ( ,RUSSIA4  

 ,S]FDOM1 HAD BE5 ABOLI%$1 & A S]IES ( RE=MS :I* W]E TO CULM9ATE 9 CON/ITUTIONAL GU>ANTEES1 PREOCCUPI$ ! M9DS4  ,ALL HAD TO BE RE=M$ AT ONCE4  ,ALL HAD TO BE REVIS$ 9 \R 9/ITUTIONS1 :I* >E A /RANGE MIXTURE ( LEGACIES FROM ! OLD ,MOSC[ P]IOD1 ) ,PET] ,I4'S ATTEMPTS AT CREAT+ A MILIT>Y ,/ATE BY ORD]S FROM ,/4 ,PET]SBURG1 ) ! DEPRAVITY BEQUEA!D BY ! ,C\RTI]S ( ! ,EMPRESSES1 & ,NI*OLAS ,I4'S MILIT>Y DESPOTISM4  ,REVIEWS & NEWSPAP]S W]E FULLY DEVOT$ TO !SE SUBJECTS1 & WE EAG]LY READ !M4  

 ,IT IS TRUE ?AT ,REACTION HAD ALREADY MADE ITS APPE>ANCE ON ! HORIZON4 ,ON ! V]Y EVE ( ! LIB]ATION ( ! ,S]FS1 ,ALEX&] ,I,I4 GREW FRI<T5$ AT HIS [N WORK1 & ! ,REACTION>Y ,P>TY GA9$ SOME GR\ND 9 ! ,W9T] ,PALACE4 ,NI*OLAS ,MILUT9E--! S\L ( ! EMANCIPATION ( ! ,S]FS 9 BUREAUCRATIC CIRCLES--HAD BE5 SUDD5LY DISMISS$1 A FEW MON?S BE=E ! PROMULGATION ( ! LAW1 & ! WORK ( ! ,LIB]AL ,EMANCIPATION ,COMMITTEES - HAD BE5 GIV5 OV]1 = REVISION 9 A S5SE MORE FAVORABLE TO ! NOBILITY1 TO NEW COMMITTEES *IEFLY COMPOS$ ( ,S]F-PROPRIETORS ( ! OLD S*OOL1--! SO-CALL$ KRYEPO/NIKI4 ,! ,PRESS BEGAN TO BE MUZZL$2 FREE DISCUSSION ( ! ,EMANCIPATION ,ACT WAS PROHIBIT$2 ! PAP] ( ,AKSAK(F--HE WAS ,RADICAL !N & ADVOCAT$ ! SUMMONS ( A ,ZEMSKOYE ,SOBRANIE1 & WAS NOT OPPOS$ TO ! RECALL ( ,RUSSIAN TROOPS FROM ,POL&--WAS SUPPRESS$ NUMB] AFT] NUMB]4 ,! SMALL \TBREAK ( PEASANTS AT ,KAZAN1 & ! GREAT CONFLAGRATION AT ,/4 ,PET]SBURG 9 ,MAY1 #ahfb 7IT WAS ATTRIBUT$ TO ,POLES71 /ILL RE9=C$ ! REACTION4 ,! S]IES ( POLITICAL TRIALS :I* W]E H]EAFT] TO *>ACT]IZE ! REIGN ( ,ALEX&] ,I,I4 WAS OP5$ BY S5T5C+ \R POET & PUBLICI/1 ,MIKHAIL(F1 TO H>D-LABOR4  

 ,! WAVE ( REACTION1 H[EV]1 BAD NOT 9 #ahfb YET REA*$ ,SIB]IA4 ,MIKHAIL(F1 ON HIS WAY TO ! ,N]TCB9SK M9ES1 WAS FET$ AT A D9N] BY ! ,GOV]NOR ( ,TOBOLSK4  ,H]Z5'S ,KOLOKOL 70,! ,BELL07 WAS SMUGGL$ & READ EV]Y:]E 9 ,SIB]IA2 & AT ,IRKUTSK ,I F\ND1 9 ,SEPTEMB]1 #a#h#f#b1 A SOCIETY ANIMAT$ BY ! GREAT EXPECTATIONS :I* W]E ALREADY BEG9N+ TO FADE AT ,/4 ,PET]SBURG4  0,RE=MS0 W]E ON ALL LIPS1 & AMONG ?OSE :I* W]E MO/ (T5 ALLUD$ TO1 WAS ?AT ( A ?OR\< REORGANIZATION ( ! SY/EM ( EXILE4  

 ,I WAS NOM9AT$ AIDE-DE-CAMP TO ! ,GOV]NOR ( ,TRANSBAIKALIA1 ,G5]AL ,KUKEL1 A ,LI?UANIAN1 /RONGLY 9SPIR$ ) ! ,LIB]AL IDEAS ( ! EPO*2 & NEXT MON? WE W]E AT ,T*ITA1 A BIG VILLAGE REC5TLY MADE CAPITAL ( ,TRANSBAIKALIA4  

 ,TRANSBAIKALIA IS ! PROV9CE :]E ! WELL KN[N ,N]T*9SK M9ES >E SITUAT$4  ,ALL H>D-LABOR CONVICTS >E S5T !RE FROM ALL P>TS ( ,RUSSIA2 & !RE=E EXILE & H>DLAB\R W]E FREQU5TLY ! SUBJECT ( \R CONV]SATIONS4  ,EV]YBODY !RE KNEW ! ABOM9ABLE CONDITIONS UND] :I* ! LONG FOOTJ\RNEY FROM ! ,URALS TO ,TRANSBAIKALIA US$ TO BE MADE BY ! EXILES4  ,EV]YBODY KNEW ! ABOM9ABLE /ATE ( ! PRISONS 9 ,N]T*9SK1 AS WELL AS ?R\<\T ,RUSSIA14  ,IT WAS NO SORT ( SECRET4 ,!RE=E1 ! ,M9I/RY ( ! ,9T]IOR UND]TOOK A ?OR\< RE=M ( PRISONS 9 ,RUSSIA & ,SIB]IA1 TOGE!R ) A ?OR\< REVISION ( ! P5AL LAW & ! CONDITIONS ( EXILE4  

 0,H]E IS A CIRCUL> FROM ! ,M9I/RY10 ! ,GOV]NOR ONCE SAID TO ME4 0,!Y ASK US TO COLLECT ALL POSSIBLE 9=MATION AB\T ! /ATE ( PRISONS & TO EXPRESS \R OP9IONS AS TO ! RE=MS TO BE MADE4 ,!RE IS NO ONE H]E TO UND]TAKE ! WORK3 Y\ KN[ H[ FULLY WE >E ALL OCCUPI$4 ,WE HAVE ASK$ = 9=MATION 9 ! USUAL WAY1 BUT RECEIVE NO?+ 9 REPLY4 ,WILL Y\ TAKE UP ! WORK 8 0 ,I OBJECT$1 ( C\RSE1 ?AT ,I WAS TOO Y\NG & KNEW NO?+ AB\T IT4 ,BUT ! ANSW] WAS3 0,/UDY6 ,9 ! ,J\RNAL ( ! ,M9I/RY ( ,JU/ICE Y\ WILL F9D1 TO GUIDE Y\1 ELABORATE REPORTS ON ALL POSSIBLE SY/EMS ( PRISONS4 ,AS TO ! PRACTICAL P>T ( ! WORK1 LET US GA!R1 FIR/1 RELIABLE 9=MATION AS TO :]E WE /&4 ,!N WE ALL1 ,COLONEL ,P41 ,MR4 ,A41 & ,YA41 & ! M9+ AU?ORITIES ALSO--WILL HELP Y\4 ,WE WILL DISCUSS EV]Y?+ 9 DETAIL ) PEOPLE HAV+ PRACTICAL KN[L$GE ( ! MATT]2 BUT GA!R1 FIR/1 ! DATA--PREP>E MAT]IAL = DISCUSSION40  

 ,SO ,I BECAME SECRET>Y TO ! LOCAL COMMITTEE = ! RE=M ( PRISONS4 ,NE$LESS TO SAY H[ HAPPY ,I WAS TO ACCEPT ! TASK3 ,I SET TO WORK ) ALL ! 5]GY ( Y\?4 ,! CIRCUL> ( ! ,M9I/RY FILL$ ME ) JOY4 ,IT WAS C\*$ 9 ! MO/ ELEGANT /YLE1 & ! ,M9I/RY 9CISIVELY PO9T$ \T ! *IEF DEFECTS ( ,RUSSIAN PRISONS4 ,! ,GOV]NM5T WAS READY TO UND]TAKE ! MO/ ?OR\< RE=M ( ! :OLE SY/EM 9 A MO/ HUMANE SPIRIT4 ,! CIRCUL> W5T ON TO M5TION ! P5IT5TI>Y SY/EMS 9 USE 9 ,WE/]N ,EUROPE2 BUT NONE ( !M SATISFI$ ! ,M9I/RY1 & IT ADVOCAT$ A RETURN 0TO ! GREAT PR9CIPLES LAID D[N BY ! ILLU/RI\S GR&MO!R & GR&FA!R ( ! N[ HAPPILY REIGN+ ,EMP]OR40 ,= A ,RUSSIAN M9D ?IS ALLUSION TO ! FAM\S 9/RUCTIONS ( ,CA!R9E ,I,I41 WRITT5 UND] ! 9FLU5CE ( ! ,5CYCLOP$I/S1 & TO ! HUMANIT>IAN T5D5CIES PR(ESS$ DUR+ ! E>LI] YE>S ( ,ALEX&] ,I4'S REIGN1 CONVEY$ A :OLE PROGRAM4 ,MY 5?USIASM WAS SIMPLY D\BL$ BY ! READ+ ( ! CIRCUL>4  

 ,?+S DID NOT GO1 H[EV]1 SO SMOO?LY4 ,! M9+ AU?ORITIES UND] :OM ! EXILES >E WORK+ 9 ! ,N]T*9SK M9ES DID NOT C>E SO MU* AB\T ! GREAT PR9CIPLES ( ,CA!R9E ,I,I4 & W]E1 ,I AM AFRAID1 ( ! OP9ION ?AT ! LESS ?+S W]E RE=M$1 ! BETT]4 ,! REPEAT$ DEM&S = 9=MATION ISSU$ BY ! ,GOV]NOR LEFT !M QUITE UNMOV$--!Y DEP5D DIRECTLY UPON ! ,CAB9ET ( ! ,EMP]OR AT ,/4 ,PET]SBURG1 NOT UPON ! ,GOV]NOR4 ,OB/9ATE SIL5CE1 WAS !IR ANSW] UNTIL !Y F9ALLY S5T 9 A PILE ( PAP]S1 COV]$ ) FIGURES1 FROM :I* NO?+ C\LD BE OBTA9$1 NOT EV5 ! CO/ ( MA9T5ANCE ( CONVICTS1 NOR ! VALUE ( !IR LABOR4  

 ,/ILL1 AT ,T*ITA !RE W]E PL5TY ( M5 ?OR\<LY ACQUA9T$ ) ! H>D-LABOR PRISONS1 & SOME 9=MATION WAS GLADLY SUPPLI$ BY SEV]AL M9+ (FIC]S4  ,IT APPE>$ ?AT NONE ( ! SILV]-M9ES :]E EXILES W]E KEPT C\LD BE WORK$ ) ANY SEMBLANCE ( PR(IT4  ,SO ALSO ) MANY GOLD-M9ES4  ,! ,M9+ AU?ORITIES W]E ANXI\S TO AB&ON MO/ ( !M4 ,! >BITR>Y DESPOTISM ( ! DIRECTORS ( PRISONS HAD NO LIMITS1 & ! DREADFUL TALES :I* CIRCULAT$ 9 ,TRANSBAIKALIA AB\T ONE ( !M--,RAZ<ILDEEFF--W]E FULLY CONFIRM$4  ,T]RIBLE EPIDEMICS ( SCURVY SWEPT AWAY ! PRISON]S BY HUNDR$S EA* YE>1 ?AT A MORE ACTIVE EXTRACTION ( GOLD WAS ORD]$ FROM ,/4 ,PET]SBURG1 & ! UND]F$ CONVICTS W]E COMPELL$ TO OV]WORK4  ,AS TO ! BUILD+S & !IR ROTT5 CONDITION1 ! OV]CR[D+ !RE91 & ! FIL? ACCUMULAT$ BY G5]ATIONS ( OV]CR[D$ PRISON]S1 ! REPORTS W]E REALLY HE>TBREAK+4  ,NO REPAIRS W\LD DO1 ! :OLE HAD TO UND]GO A ?OR\< RE=M4  ,I VISIT$ A FEW PRISONS1 & C\LD BUT CONFIRM ! REPORTS4  ,! ,TRANSBAIKALIAN AU?ORITIES 9SI/$1 !RE=E1 ON LIMIT+ ! NUMB] ( CONVICTS S5T TO ! PROV9CE2 !Y PO9T$ \T ! MAT]IAL IMPOSSIBILITY ( PROVID+ !M NOT ONLY ) WORK1 BUT EV5 ) %ELT]4  

 ,?+S W]E NO BETT] ) REG>D TO ! TRANSPORT ( EXILES4 ,?IS S]VICE WAS 9 ! MO/ DEPLORABLE CONDITION4 ,AN 5G9E]1 A HONE/ Y\NG MAN1 WAS S5T TO VISIT ALL ETAPES--! PRISONS :]E ! CONVICTS /OP TO RE/ DUR+ ! J\RNEY--& REPORT$ ?AT ALL \<T TO BE REBUILT2 MANY W]E ROTT5 TO ! F\NDATION2 NONE C\LD AF=D %ELT] = ! MASS ( CONVICTS SOMETIMES GA!R$ !RE4 ,I VISIT$ SEV]AL ( !M1 SAW ! P>TIES ( CONVICTS ON !IR J\RNEYS1 & C\LD BUT W>MLY ADVOCATE ! COMPLETE SUPPRESSION ( ?IS T]RIFIC PUNI%M5T 9FLICT$ ON ?\S&S ( M51 WOM51 & *ILDR54  

 ,AS TO ! LOCAL PRISONS1 DE/9AT$ TO BE LOCK-UPS1 OR H\SES ( DET5TION = ! LOCAL PRISON]S1 WE F\ND !M OV]CR[D$ TO ! LA/ EXT5T 9 ORD9>Y TIMES1 & /ILL MORE SO :5 P>TIES ( CONVICTS W]E /OPP$ ON ! J\RNEY BY 9UNDATIONS OR FRO/S--,SIB]IAN FRO/S4  ,!Y ALL ANSW]$ LIT]ALLY TO ! WELL-KN[N DESCRIPTION ( ,DO/OIEVSKY 9 HIS 0,BURI$ ,ALIVE40  

 ,A SMALL COMMITTEE1 COMPOS$ ( WELL-9T5TION$ M5 :OM ! ,GOV]NOR CONVOK$ FROM TIME TO TIME AT HIS H\SE1 BUSILY DISCUSS$ :AT C\LD BE DONE TO IMPROVE AFFAIRS )\T IMPOS+ A NEW & HEAVY BURD5 ON ! BUDGET ( ! ,/ATE & ! PROV9CE4  ,! CONCLUSIONS UNANIM\SLY >RIV$ AT W]E3 ?AT EXILE1 AS IT IS1 IS A DISGRACE TO HUMANITY2 ?AT IT IS A QUITE NE$LESS BURD5 = ,SIB]IA2 & ?AT ,RUSSIA H]SELF MU/ TAKE C>E ( H] [N PRISON]S1 9/EAD ( S5D+ !M ?I!R4  ,= ?AT PURPOSE NOT ONLY ! P5AL CODE & ! JUDICIAL PROC$URE \<T TO BE REVIS$ AT ONCE1 AS PROMIS$ 9 ! ,M9I/]IAL CIRCUL>S1 BUT ALSO )9 ,RUSSIA H]SELF SOME NEW SY/EM ( P5AL ORGANIZATION \<T TO BE 9TRODUC$4  

 ,! COMMITTEE SKET*$ SU* A SY/EM :]E CELLUL> IMPRISONM5T WAS UTT]LY CONDEMN$1 & ! SUBDIVISION ( ! PRISON]S 9TO GR\PS ( FROM T5 TO TW5TY 9 EA* ROOM1 %ORT S5T5CES1 & PRODUCTIVE & WELL-PAID WORK 9 COMMON W]E ADVOCAT$4  ,AN APPEAL WAS TO BE MADE TO ! BE/ 5]GIES ( ,RUSSIA 9 ORD] TO TRANS=M H] PRISONS 9TO RE=MATORIES4  ,TRANSBAIKALIA WAS DECL>$ READY TO TRANS=M H] [N PRISONS ON !SE L9ES )\T IMPOS+ ANY FRE% EXP5SES UPON ! BUDGET ( ! ,EMPIRE4  ,! K9DS ( WORK :I* C\LD BE DONE BY PRISON]S W]E 9DICAT$1 & ! CONCLUSION WAS ?AT PRISONS \<T TO1 & MI<T1 SUPPORT !MSELVES IF PROP]LY ORGANIZ$4  ,AS TO ! NEW M5 & WOM5 NECESS>Y = SU* A REORGANIZATION ( P5AL 9/ITUTIONS ON NEW PR9CIPLES1 ! ,COMMITTEE WAS SURE ( F9D+ !M2 & :ILE AN HONE/ JAIL] UND] ! PRES5T SY/EM IS V]Y R>E1 !RE WAS NO D\BT ?AT A NEW DEP>TURE 9 ! P5AL SY/EM W\LD F9D NO LACK ( NEW HONE/ M54  

 ,I MU/ CONFESS ?AT AT ?AT TIME ,I /ILL BELIEV$ ?AT PRISONS C\LD BE RE=MATORIES1 & ?AT ! PRIVATION ( LIB]TY IS COMPATIBLE ) MORAL AMELIORATION444 BUT ,I WAS ONLY TW5TY YE>S OLD4  

 ,ALL ?IS WORK TOOK SEV]AL MON?S4 ,& BY ?IS TIME ,REACTION BECAME MORE & MORE 9 FAVOR AT ! ,W9T] ,PALACE4 ,! ,POLI% 9SURRECTION GAVE TO ,REACTION>IES ! LONG-EXPECT$ OPPORTUNITY = ?R[+ (F !IR MASKS & = OP5LY ADVOCAT+ A RETURN TO ! OLD PR9CIPLES ( ! TIME ( ,S]FDOM4 ,! GOOD 9T5TIONS ( #a#h#e#i-#f#b W]E =GOTT5 AT ! ,C\RT2 NEW M5 CAME 9TO FAVOR ) ,ALEX&] ,I,I4 & W]E ADMIRABLY SUCCESSFUL 9 WORK+ UPON HIS FEEBLE *>ACT] & HIS FE>S4 ,NEW CIRCUL>S W]E S5T \T BY ! ,M9I/RIES2 BUT !SE CIRCUL>S--C\*$ 9 A F> LESS ELEGANT & F> MORE BUREAUCRATIC /YLE--M5TION$ NO MORE RE=MS1 & 9SI/$1 9/EAD1 ON ! NECESSITY ( /RONG RULE & DISCIPL9E4  

 ,ONE DAY ! ,GOV]NOR ( ,TRANSBAIKALIA RECEIV$ AN ORD] TO LEAVE HIS PO/ AT ONCE & RETURN TO ,IRKUTSK1 :]E HE WAS LEFT 5 DISPONIBILITE4  ,HE HAD BE5 D5\NC$3 HE HAD TREAT$ ! EXIL$ ,MIKHAIL(F TOO WELL2 HE HAD P]MITT$ HIM TO /AY ON A PRIVATE M9E 9 ! DI/RICT ( ,N]T*9SK2 HE SYMPA?IZ$ TOO MU* ) ! ,POLES4  ,A NEW ,GOV]NOR CAME TO ,TRANSBAIKALIA1 & \R REPORT ON PRISONS HAD TO BE REVIS$ AGA94  ,! NEW ,GOV]NOR W\LD NOT SIGN IT4  ,WE F\<T AS MU* AS WE C\LD TO MA9TA9 ITS CONCLUSIONS4  ,WE MADE CONCESSIONS AS TO ! /YLE1 BUT WE 9SI/$ ON ! G5]AL CONCLUSIONS ( ! REPORT1 & WE DID ?IS SO FIRMLY ?AT F9ALLY ! ,GOV]NOR SIGN$ IT & S5T IT TO ,/4 ,PET]SBURG4  

 ,:AT HAS BECOME ( IT S9CE8 ,SURELY IT IS /ILL LY+ 9 SOME PORTFOLIOS AT ! ,M9I/RY4  ,= ! NEXT T5 YE>S ! RE=M ( PRISONS WAS COMPLETELY =GOTT54  ,9 #a#h#g#b1 H[EV]1 NEW COMMITTEES W]E NOM9AT$ = ! SAME PURPOSE AT ,/4 ,PET]SBURG1 & AGA9 9 #a#h#g#g-#g#h1 & ON SEV]AL SUCCE$+ OCCASIONS4  ,NEW M5 ELABORAT$ NEW S*EMES2 NEW REPORTS W]E WRITT5 CRITICIZ+ AGA9 & AGA9 ! OLD SY/EM4  ,BUT ! OLD SY/EM REMA9S UNT\*$4  ,NAY1 ! ATTEMPTS AT MAK+ A NEW DEP>TURE HAVE BE51 BY SOME FATALITY1 M]E RETURNS TO ! OLD-FA%ION$ TYPE ( A ,RUSSIAN O/ROG4  

 ,TRUE1 SEV]AL C5TRAL PRISONS HAVE S9CE BE5 ]ECT$ 9 ,RUSSIA1 & H>D-LABOR CONVICTS >E KEPT !RE BE=E BE+ S5T TO ,SIB]IA1 = T]MS V>Y+1 FROM F\R TO SIX YE>S4 ,TO :AT PURPOSE8 ,PROBABLY TO R$UCE !IR NUMB]S BY ! AWFUL MORTALITY 9 !SE PLACES4 ,SEV5 SU* PRISONS HAVE BE5 ]ECT$ ( LATE--AT ,WILNO1 ,SIMBIRSK1 ,PSKOV1 ,TOBOLSK1 ,P]M1 & TWO 9 ! PROV9CE ( ,KH>K(F4 ,BUT--(FICIAL REPORTS SAY SO--!Y HAVE BE5 MODEL$ ON ! V]Y SAME TYPE AS ! PRISONS ( OLD4 0,! SAME FIL?1 ! SAME IDL5ESS ( ! PRISON]S1 ! SAME CONTEMPT = ! MO/ PRIM>Y NOTIONS ( HYGI5E10 SAYS A SEMI(FICIAL REPORT4 ,ALL TOGE!R !Y CONTA9$ AN AGGREGATE ( #bdfd M5 9 #a#h#h--TOO MU* = !IR CAPACITY1 TOO LITTLE TO NOTICEABLY DIM9I% ! NUMB]S ( H>D-LABOR CONVICTS TRANSPORT$ TO ,SIB]IA4 ,A NEW & T]RIBLE PUNI%M5T 9FLICT$ ON ! CONVICTS TO NO PURPOSE1--?AT IS ALL ?AT !Y HAVE ACCOMPLI%$ AFT] HAV+ SWALL[$ MILLIONS FROM ! BUDGET4  

 ,EXILE1 9 ! MEANTIME1 REMA9S V]Y MU* :AT IT WAS 9 #a#h#f#b4  ,ONLY ONE IMPORTANT MODIFICATION HAS BE5 9TRODUC$4  ,IT PROV$ *EAP] TO TRANSPORT ! NE>LY #b1 PEOPLE YE>LY S5T TO ,SIB]IA 7TWO-?IRDS ( !M )\T TRIAL7 ON HORSES BETWE5 ,P]M & ,TUM5#a --?AT IS FROM ! ,KAMA TO ! BAS9 ( ! ,OBI--& !NCE ON B>GES T[$ BY /EAM]S TO ,TOMSK1 9/EAD ( S5D+ !M ON FOOT4  ,& SO !Y >E TRANSPORT$ N[4 ,BESIDES1 ! EXTRACTION ( SILV] FROM ! ,N]T*9SK M9ES HAV+ BE5 NE>LY AB&ON$1 NO EXILES >E  S5T TO !SE MO/ UNHEAL?Y M9ES1 SOME ( :I*1 LIKE ,AKATUI1 W]E 9 ! WOR/ REPUTE4  ,BUT A S*EME IS N[ AFLOAT = REOP5+ !SE M9ES2 & 9 ! MEANTIME A NEW HELL1 WORSE ?AN ,AKATUI1 HAS BE5 DEVIS$4  ,H>DLAB\R CONVICTS >E S5T N[ TO DIE ON ! ,SAKHAL9 ISL&4  

 ,F9ALLY1 ,I MU/ M5TION ?AT NEW ETAPES HAVE BE5 BUILT ON ! R\TE1 #b MILES LONG1 BETWE5 ,TOMSK & ,SRYET5SK1 ON ! ,%ILKA1--?IS SPACE BE+ /ILL TRAV]S$ ON FOOT BY ! EXILES4 ,! OLD ETAPES W]E FALL+ TO PIECES2 IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPAIR !SE HEAPS ( ROTT5 LOGS1 & NEW ETAPES HAVE BE5 ]ECT$4 ,!Y >E WID] ?AN ! OLD ONES1 BUT ! P>TIES ( CONVICTS BE+ ALSO MORE NUM]\S1 ! OV]CR[D+ & ! FIL? 9 !SE ETAPES >E ! SAME AS ( OLD4  

,:AT FUR!R 0IMPROVEM5TS0 CAN ,I M5TION 9 GLANC+ OV] !SE FIVE-&-TW5TY YE>S8 ,I WAS NE>LY GO+ TO =GET ! ,H\SE ( ,DET5TION AT ,/4 ,PET]SBURG1 ! %[PRISON = =EIGN]S1 ) #cag CELLS & SEV]AL ROOMS = KEEP+ AN AGGREGATE ( #f M5 & #a WOM5 AWAIT+ TRIAL4 ,BUT ?AT IS ALL4 ,! SAME OLD1 D>K & DAMP1 & FIL?Y LOCKUPS--! O/ROGS--MAY BE SE5 AT ! 5TRANCE ( EA* PROV9CIAL T[N 9 ,RUSSIA2 & ALL HAS REMA9$ 9 !SE O/ROGS AS IT WAS TW5TY-FIVE YE>S AGO4 ,SOME NEW PRISONS HAVE BE5 ]ECT$ H]E & !RE1 SOME OLD ONES HAVE BE5 REPAIR$2 BUT ! SY/EM1 & ! TREATM5T ( PRISON]S1 HAVE REMA9$ UNALT]$2 ! OLD SPIRIT HAS BE5 TRANSPORT$ 9 FULL 9 ! NEW BUILD+S2 & TO SEE A NEW DEP>TURE 9 ! ,RUSSIAN P5AL 9/ITUTIONS WE MU/ WAIT = SOME NEW DEP>TURE 9 ,RUSSIAN LIFE AS A :OLE4 ,AT PRES5T1 IF !RE IS SOME *ANGE1 IT IS NOT = ! BE/4 ,:ATEV] ! DEFECTS ( ! OLD PRISONS1 !RE WAS /ILL A BREA? ( HUMANIT>IANISM 9 #a#h#f#b1 :I* P5ETRAT$ 9 A ?\S& WAYS1 EV5 9TO ! JAILS4 ,BUT N[1 ! OP5LY-AV[$ IDEAL ( ,ALEX&] ,I,I,I4 BE+ HIS GR&FA!R ,NI*OLAS1 ! ,ADM9I/RATION1 TOO1 SEEK !IR IDEALS 9 ! OLD DRUNK5 SOLDI]S PATRONIZ$ BY ! 0,G5D>ME ( ,EUROPE40 0,KEEP ,RUSSIA 9 UR*9-GLOVES60 !Y SAY AT ! ,GAT*9A ,PALACE2 0,KEEP !M 9 UR*9-GLOVES60 !Y REPEAT 9 ! PRISONS4 

,NOTES 

#a ,! ,SIB]IAN RAILWAY BE+ N[ OP5$ ALONG ! :OLE ( ?IS DI/ANCE1 !Y WILL BE TRANSPORT$ BY RAIL4 

7,S\RCE3 ,9 ,RUSSIAN & ,FR5* ,PRISONS1 ,LONDON3 ,W>D & ,D[NEY2 #a#h#h#g47 

,FROM 3 ,AN>*Y ,>*IVES4 

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