Aggressive Progress In Russia

Within a period of 64 years, the total acquisitions of Russia have equaled her whole European empire before that time. The acquisitions from Sweden equaled the now kingdom of Sweden; from Poland, a territory equal to the Austrian Empire; from European Turkey, a country equal to Prussia. exclusive of the Rhenish Provinces; from Asiatic Turkey, a territory equal to the German small States, Rhenish Prussia, Holland and Belgium; from Persia an extent of country equal to England; and from Tartary, a country equal to European Turkey, Greece, Italy, and the whole of Spain. The Russian frontier has been advanced by these acquisitions about 700 miles towards Berlin, Dresden, Munich, Vienna and Paris; 500 miles to Constantinople; 630 miles to Stockholm, and about 1000 miles to Tehran. The estimated population of Russia in 1689, at the accession of Peter I, was 15,000,000 at the accession of Catherine II, in 1762 it was 25,000,000; and at her death in 1796 it was 36,000,000; whilst at the death of Alexander, in 1825 it was 58,000,000.