[I. MILITARY SYSTEM.]
The Emperor is commander-in-chief of all the forces, by sea and land, assisted by the Staff-Office, the members of which are expert linguists, as well as scientific experienced and military officers. The army is under a Minister of War, assisted by a colleague and a military council. The office of Master of Ordnance is generally filled by a grand prince. The regular force, or army of occupation consists of about 783,000 men, which can be easily swelled to at least 1,200,000, as the whole male population are liable to serve when summoned. The army is mainly recruited by conscription, which falls on the serfs and laboring population, as the nobility, officials, clergy and merchants are exempted. The term of service is twenty years for the guards, twenty-two for the line, and twenty-five for the train and military servants. But few pensions are granted to discharged or furloughed soldiers, although veteran soldiers are frequently appointed to situations as doorkeepers, watchmen, overseers, &c., in government establishments and public institutions.
Promotion by seniority, imperial favor, and good conduct on the field. Every officer must be educated and trained to his business, and serve from the lowest to the highest rank. Non-commissioned officers, musicians, assistant veterinary surgeons, head workmen in the military workshops and factories must all be trained for their special duties. A large portion of these classes are the sons of soldiers, who have been surrendered by their parents to the government, who receive them at the age of six or twelve, by special arrangement. They are termed cantonists. Among the special military schools of a technological character are, eleven for garrison artillery; three for armories; three for powder mills; three for arsenals; one for riding masters; one for fencing; one for accountants; one for topographical drawing, &c.
[II. MILITARY SCHOOL FOR OFFICERS.]
The officers of the Russian army obtain their first commission after passing through the Military Schools or Cadet Corps, or if qualified in scientific and other instruction, ascertained by open examination, by serving as privates six months, and as sergeants or ensign two years. Applicants for the Staff Corps, must have served as officers two years, must be recommended by their superior, and have been two years in the Staff School—and there pass an honorable examination in military history and strategy. The following statistics are taken from the Kalender of the St. Petersburg Academy, for 1859.
I. Under a Commission or Board of Military Instruction, which reports directly to the Emperor, there are
| 3 Military Schools of Special Application,viz.: | ||||||
| 1 | The Nicholas Academy of the Staff, | with | 22 | teachers and | 250 | scholars. |
| 1 The Nicholas Upper EngineerSchool, | “ | 50 | “ | 126 | “ | |
| 1 The Michael Artillery School, | “ | 32 | “ | 117 | “ | |
| 1 Page Corps, or College | “ | 41 | “ | 159 | “ | |
| 1 | Ensign’s School of the Guards, | “ | 31 | “ | 206 | “ |
| 22 | Cadet Corps or Military Colleges, | “ | 723 | “ | 7440 | “ |
| 27 | 899 | “ | 8,298 | “ | ||
The Cadet Corps, or Military Schools, receive their pupils young, and impart a general as well as a scientific education, preparatory to entering the Special Schools of Application either for Engineer, or Artillery, and later in years and experience, the Staff School. These Special Military Schools are not surpassed by any of the same class in Europe.
[II.] Under the Ministry of War there are the following Scientific Establishments and Schools.