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Toropeczk and six from Louzck。
As to the third estate； it was represented by seventy…five
men； all belonging to the Moscovite trading class。 The reason of
this must be sought in the contemporary organisation of the
Russian bourgeoisie。 During the second part of the sixteenth
century we find in Moscow two different classes of tradesmen： one
known under the name of 〃hosts〃 （gosti）； the other under that of
〃merchants〃 （koupzi）。 Both classes contained in their ranks not
only Moscovite tradesmen； but also tradesmen from other cities。
The wealthy and influential merchants of the whole empire were
inscribed in the list of the 〃hosts；〃 the rest composed that of
the 〃merchants。〃 This latter class was sub…divided into Moscovite
and Smolensk merchants； the latter being those； whose commerce
was chiefly confined to the western provinces of Russia and its
natural head Smolensk。 In the sixteenth century these same
sub…divisions re…appear under somewhat different names； the one
being called the hundred of 〃hosts〃 （gostinnaia sotnia） and the
other the hundred of 〃drapers〃 （soukonnaia sotnia）。 The divisions
I have mentioned were the work of the central government； which
regarded the wealthier merchants as its direct helpers in the
difficult task of collecting customs and excise duties。
No person belonging to the Guild of 〃hosts〃 could refuse to
perform these heavy and responsible duties。 The man； on whom the
choice of his companions fell； was obliged to remove to the city
whose taxes he had to collect。 So that the exercise of such
functions might be entrusted to persons of great local influence；
the election fell； as a rule； on a merchant possessing estates or
large stocks of merchandise in the city which he was called to
administer。 Like the guild of hosts； the guilds of Moscovite and
Smolensk merchants were called upon to assist the Government in
the exercise of its financial authority and accordingly elected
among themselves the officers of the excise and customs
administration of the smaller urban districts。
It is easy to understand that before engaging in a new war；
which would necessarily cause new and heavy expenses； the Czar
would desire to obtain information as to the pecuniary resources
of the country from those persons whose duty it would be to
collect the taxes。 He； therefore； summoned to the Sobor the
tradesmen of the Guild of hosts and also the Moscovite and
Smolensk merchants； or； in other words； all those who had the
charge of collecting the revenues of indirect taxation； not only
in the metropolis； but throughout the empire。 Composed as it was
of the high officials； the members of the council； the
archbishops； bishops； archimandrites； abbots； and the local heads
of the military and financial administration； the Sobor of 1566
was not so much the representative of the people as of the
governing class。 It is； therefore； difficult to speak of its
analogy with the representative assemblies of Western Europe；
though some of the elements of which it was composed； are to be
found both in the Swedish and the German parliaments。 In Sweden
the army was called upon to send its generals； colonels； and even
its majors to the sittings； at least from 1598 to 1778。（4*） In
the German Landestande； as well as in the Swedish States…General；
the cities were regularly represented by their officers； the
Rathmanner； members of the city council； or Ratta borgare； as
they were called in Sweden； just as the French cities and
boroughs were usually represented in the Etats Generaux； not by
elected deputies； but by their maires； echevins and consuls。（5*）
Now that we are acquainted with the manner in which the first
Sobor； this real assembly of notables； was composed； let us take
a look at its proceedings。 The question on which the Czar wanted
advice was whether he should engage in a new war with Poland； or
whether it would be better for him to restore to Kasimir the
cities which he had conquered in Lithuania。 Each estate had to
give a separate answer。 The clergy declared itself in favour of
war。 They maintained that Livonia had always belonged to Russia；
a preposterous claim which was plainly contradicted by history。
Whilst insisting on the impossibility of concluding peace on the
terms proposed by Kasimir； they declared themselves incapable of
judging what means the Government ought to take for the safety of
its new conquests。 〃The Czar alone must decide the matter。 It is
not our business to advise him on such questions； but to pray God
for the success of his undertakings。〃 This plainly meant that
they feared a new imposition of subsidies； and had no desire to
take on themselves the initiative of this taxation。
The boyars gave a similar answer。 〃It is impossible；〃 said
they； 〃to leave in the hands of the Polish king the newly
conquered German cities； for in that case the important Russian
fortress of Polozk situated on the Dvina； would remain surrounded
by the lands of the enemy。〃 They also declared themselves ready
to serve the Czar whatever might be his decision。 〃God alone and
the Czar；〃 such was their conclusion； 〃ought to have the last
word in this matter。〃 Some dissentient members of the Douma
presented their own opinion in writing。 The noblemen of the first
and second class or statii； also expressed their opinions in two
different papers and were unanimous in their desire to retain the
Livonian cities。 Those of Toropeczk and Louczk； who were more
directly concerned in the matter； declared that they would
sacrifice their lives for a single 〃dessiatine〃 of the cities
surrounding Polozk which were claimed by the Polish king。 The
hosts and merchants of Moscow and Smolensk were not less
patriotic in their sentiments； the latter particularly insisting
on the impossibility of leaving Polozk without a territorial
district attached to it。 〃A village cannot exist without its own
district and still less a fortress；〃 said they。 〃If the king of
Poland gets the territory of Polozk that city will be of no use
to the Russians； and nothing will prevent the king building a new
fortress just opposite the Russian fortress。〃
The general result of the conference was that the Czar
decided on war。
We find no other General Assembly in the reign of Ivan the
Terrible； but we must not infer from that fact that the Czar
altogether forbore to apply to the people。 On two different
occasions we find him addressing the mob of Moscow； once in 1564；
in order to get their approval of the prosecution of the boyars
for their supposed treason against the State and open plundering
of the people； and a second time to ascertain their feelings on
the occasion of a fresh discomfiture of the Russian troops by the
Poles and the loss； not only of Livonia； but of Polozk and
Smolensk。 This last convention was in the year 1597 and was the
occasion of a long and patriotic speech delivered； in the name of
the Czar； by his secretary Schelkalov。 This speech； which
announced the loss of thousands of Russian soldiers； produced a
great impression； chiefly on the women； who； fearing their
husbands were dead； went crying through the streets and asking
for new ones。 Where