ost vivid
interest, I did not fail shortly after my arrival to seek an opportunity
of accomplishing my work, and believe that what I have now to communicate
will be of some interest to the Christian and the philosopher. I allude
to the people called Zigani or Gypsies, or, as they style themselves,
Rommany, of which there are several thousands in and about Moscow, and
who obtain a livelihood by various means. Those who have been accustomed
to consider these people as wandering barbarians, incapable of
civilisation and unable to appreciate the blessings of a quiet and
settled life, will be surprised at learning that many of those in Moscow
inhabit large and handsome houses, appear abroad in elegant equipages,
and if distinguishable from the genteel class of the Russians [are] only
so by superior personal advantages and mental accomplishments. Of this
singular phenomenon at Moscow the female Gypsies are the principal cause,
having from time immemorial cultivated their vocal powers to such an
extent that, although in the heart of a country in which the vocal art
has arrived at greater perfection than in any other part of the world,
the principal Gypsy choirs in Moscow are allowed by the general voice of
the public to be unrivalled and to bear away the palm from all
competitors. It is a fact notorious in Russia that the celebrated
Catalani was so filled with admiration for the powers of voice displayed
by one of the Gypsy songsters, who, after the former had sung before a
splendid audience at Moscow, stepped forward and with an astonishing
burst of melody ravished every ear, that she tore from her own shoulders
a shawl of immense value which had been presented to her by the Pope, and
embracing the Gypsy compelled her to accept it, saying that it had been
originally intended for the matchless singer which she now discovered was
not herself. The sums obtained by these performers are very large,
enabling them to live in luxury of every description and to maintain
their husbands in a princely way. Many of them are married to Russian
gentlemen; and every one who has resided for any length of time in Russia
cannot but be aware that the lovely, talented, and domesticated wife of
Count Alexander Tolstoi is by birth a Gypsy, and was formerly one of the
ornaments of a Rommany choir at Moscow as she is now one of the principal
ornaments of the marriage state and of illustrious life. It is not,
however, to be supposed that all the