thence, or from Havre, or from London or Liverpool, from which places steamers are leaving weekly. many of the Swedish kings are buried; also Motala, where is the celebrated engine factory. From Gottenburg the steamer continues to Christiania, arriving about 5 o'clock P. M. From Christiania cross the country to Bergen and Drontheim, from which place steamers start every two weeks for the North Cape. From Stockholm to St. Petersburg by steamer, stopping the first night at Abo, the second at Helsingfors, and the third at Wyborg, arriving on the afternoon of the fourth day at St. Petersburg. Steamers leave Lubeck and Kiel twice a week for St. Petersburg, distance about 700 miles; fare, $50. You can touch at Copenhagen and Stockholm, the capitals of Denmark and Sweden. The better plan is to take a steamer to Copenhagen; from Copenhagen to Gottenburg by steamer, which leaves 11 A.M. every other day, and arrives at Gottenburg at 5 A.M. on the following day. From Gottenburg the train starts for Stockholm one hour after the arrival of the boat (or go by the Gotha Canal-about three days), passing on the way the Falls of Trollhätten (the Witch's-ience whether he goes by steamer to Stockcap Fall), and the old monastery where holm and returns by rail, or vice versâ. 556 The railroad from St. Petersburg is now opened to Moscow, Nizni, and Novgorod. The traveler can consult his conven HISTORY. [RUSSIA.] ST. PETERSBUrg. A railroad has just been opened through | founded by him, and Novgorod was made from Berlin to St. Petersburg; time, 41 the capital of his dominions; his dynasty hours; fare, first class, 36 rubles $31.50. lasted seven hundred years. Vladimir inThe 17th of March, 1861, will be a mem- troduced Christianity into the kingdom in orable day in the history of Russian civili- 980. Moscow became the capital of the zation. Twenty millions of human beings empire in 1358. who were slaves the day before then became freemen. The idea, which originated with Catharine II., was initiated by Alexander I., and would have been accomplished by Nicholas but for the ambitious projects which took sole possession of his mind toward the close of his reign, was achieved by the generous action of Alexander II. But while full freedom is granted to the serfs, the owners' rights and interests are properly cared for. They cede to the peasants the houses and grounds which will be allotted to them by law, in consideration of the payment of dues, during which time the serfs will become tributary peasants. But they are permitted to purchase their dwellings and lands; then they may become landed proprietors. In consideration of abandoning the right to the involuntary labor of the serf, the owner receives an indemnity, partly in money-for which the government has contracted an immense loan -and partly in bonds, for the redemption of which the proceeds of the gradual sale of the crown lands will be appropriated. The total population of Russia is about 80,000,000, and the extent of her territory, in round numbers, about 9,000,000 square miles; regular army (in 1861), 577,859; navy, 186 steamers, 41 sailing vessels. The modern Russians are descended from the Sclavonians, who established themselves on the River Don some four centuries before the present era. In the fifth century they overran a large portion of the present European Russia, founding the cities of Novgorod, Keif, and Ilmen. Democracy was at this time their form of government; but in the year 862 the inhabitants became divided into several political factions, which so weakened their power, that after submitting a long time to the insults and incursions of the surrounding states, they were induced by the chief magistrate of the republic to invite Rurik, a Varago-Russian prince, to come to their aid. The monarchy was consequently When Peter the Great ascended the throne, the destinies of Russia and the northern world were immediately changed. He became sole ruler in 1689, in the 17th year of his age. His ruling passion was the consolidation of his power and the extension of his empire, in both of which he succeeded to a miracle. He gave victory to the arms of Russia in the north of Europe; he also gave her a fleet; conquered large provinces in the Baltic; laid the foundations of the noble city which bears his name; introduced into his empire science, literature, and the arts, and cultivated the laws and institutions of the more civilized nations of Europe. Since his time up to the present day, when she has capped the climax of progressiveness, Russia has advanced in power and civilization. Sixteen miles west of St. Petersburg, and commanding its approach, is Cronstadt, the chief naval station of the Russian empire. It is defended by formidable batteries hewn out of the solid granite rock, and has extensive docks. In our next edition we will give a detailed description of the towns on the splendid line of railway just opened through from Paris to St. Petersburg. ST. PETERSBURG. St. Petersburg, the modern capital of Russia, contains 495,000 inhabitants. The principal hotels are De France, with a fine restaurant, and De Russie. Prices high. It was founded by Peter the Great in the year 1702, amid the marshes through which the River Neva discharges its waThe city owes much of ters into the sea. its beauty, regularity, and magnificence to the Empress Catharine II. The late and present emperors have also done much to improve and embellish it. In the number and vast size of its public edifices, the Russian capital may, indeed, compare with any other city in Europe, and even surpasses most of them. 657 Among the principal buildings which absolutely indispensable-procures yon a are situated upon the quays bordering the ticket from the director to visit all the main channel of the Neva, and on the rooms. Be particular in having United Nefskoi Perspective, the principal prome- States under your name-it has considernade during the hours of "shopping," is able effect. the Imperial Palace, or winter residence of the emperor. It is a vast and imposing pile of buildings. It was entirely destroyed by fire in 1837, and was rebuilt, within the short space of two years, in a style of unexampled magnificence. Suites of splendid halls filled with marbles, malachites, precious stones, vases, and pictures, constitute the gorgeous display of the interior. Some idea may be formed of the immensity of this palace when it is known that during the winter it is occupied by over 6000 persons belonging to the emperor's household. It is the largest and most magnificent palace in the world. In addition to the numerous paintings by various masters, there are several Murillos; also a fulllength portrait of Potemkin, the favorite of Catharine II. One of the finest apartments in the palace is the Audience Chamber, or Hall of St. George, where the emperor gives audience to foreign embassadors. The gem of the palace, however, is the Salle Blanche, where the court-fêtes are held. It is decorated in pure white and gold. The room containing the crown-jewels of Russia will be visited with the greatest curiosity. Connected with the winter palace by several galleries is the Hermitage, built by Catharine II.; but the Hermitage is any thing but what its name indicates. The empress built it for the purpose of retiring to from the palace, where she performed the business of state, and here surrounded herself with every luxury calculated to gratify the senses. Here, every evening, military heroes, politicians, philosophers, artists, and men of science met on a perfect equality, to add their quota to their mistress's intelligence. To the palace is attached the Court Theatre, which is small; the court sit in the parquette, in chairs. The Picture-Gallery challenges competition with any in the north of Europe, and, although not quite a century since the formation of the gallery commenced, it equals in extent the largest in Europe. Be particular that your valet de placethe possession of one for a week being Among other galleries purchased by the sovereigns of Russia to adorn the Hermitage, we may mention the celebrated English Houghton Gallery, the Malmaison Gallery, the gallery of the Prince Giustiniani, that of Hope of Amsterdam, Count Brühl of Dresden, Crozat of Paris, Count Baudouin of Paris, and numerous other collections made by agents appointed by Catharine at Rome, Paris, Madrid, and other cities. The principal pictures are: In Room No. 2, the Martyrs, by Murillo; Europa, by Guido. In No. 3, the Death of the First Inquisitor, by Murillo, and St. Mark, by Domenichino, with numerous others by Salvator Rosa and Caravaggio. In Room 4, the Prodigal Son, by Salvator Rosa, is the gem of the apartment. Room 5 contains a Holy Family by Guido, in addition to pieces by Guercino, Salvator Rosa, Andrea del Sarto, and Fra Bartolomeo. No. 6 contains three very valuable pictures: a Savior, by Domenichino; a Sibyl, by Leonardo da Vinci; and a Holy Family, by Raphael. This last cost over $31,000. Room 12 is all filled with valuable works by Rembrandt. The Prodigal Son is considered the finest in the room. Room 14 has also a valuable picture by Rembrandt-Abraham offering up his son Isaac. No. 21 is devoted to the great master of Bear-hunts, Snyders. It also contains also a landscape by Vandyke, and one by Wouvermans. No. 24, a Martyrdom of St. Peter, by Caravaggio. No. 28 contains some small figures carved by Peter the Great, and 29 and 30, some fine specimens by Gerard Dow, and other masters of the Flemish and Dutch school. Nos. 35, 36, and 37 contain a few remarkable pictures by Rubens and Vandyke. No. 40 contains the choice specimens of the Malmaison collection by such masters as Raphael, Paul Potter, Claude, and Andrea del Sarto. No. 41, specimens of Murillo, Ribera, and Velasquez. In a corridor devoted to portraits of the imperial family there is a splendid portrait of Catharine on horseback in male attire. There are a number of paintings which, from motives of delicacy, are not neither the cholera in Moscow, nor revolt in St. Petersburg, nor the dagger in Warsaw, but shows a bold countenance every where, has viewed these rooms several publicly exposed. They may be seen on It will require four days to examine this palace properly. The guard who conducts your party through the various apartments will expect a fee of about one ruble 80 cents. For one person half a ruble will be sufficient. To the east of the Hermitage, on the other side of the theatre, stands the Marble Palace erected by Catharine II. for Prince Gregory Orloff. Most of its walls are of massive granite, and is a dark and cheerless-looking place of abode. The Michailoff Palace is situated on the Fontanka Canal. It is built of granite, and has a gloomy appearance, looking more like a citadel than a palace. It was erected by the Emperor Paul, at a cost of eighteen millions of rubles, in an incredible short space of time. The summer palace that formerly stood here was pulled down to make room for the present edifice. The principal entrance is approached by a drawbridge, and in the court stands a monument erected by the Emperor Paul to his grandfather Peter the Great. The decorations of the interior are very magnificent. The room in which the Emperor Paul died is walled up. The Russians never enter the apartment where their parents have died. On this account it is said that the burning of the winter palace in 1837 was a very fortunate event, as all its best apartments were being rapidly closed to the light forever. Murray says, "The Russians generally do this with the room in which their parents die. They have a certain dread of it, and never enter it willingly. The Emperor Alexander never entered one of them. The present emperor" (the late emperor), "who dreaded The Taurida Palace, built by Catharine II., and presented to her favorite Potemkin, who conquered the Crimea during her reign. During the zenith of this favorite's power, the entertainments given by him to his royal mistress exceeded in splendor any thing we read in the Arabian Nights. The ballroom, which is of enormous proportions, was illuminated with 20,000 lights; the musicians were suspended in magnificent chandeliers; the air was made fragrant with orange-flowers and rose-buds; every thing that was bright, beautiful, and gay thronged the lovely rambles in this most beautiful of palaces; and all this in the depth of winter, with only walls between this paradise and the howling tempest without. The Annitchkoff Palace, which is one of the favorite residences of the emperor, is situated on the Great Prospect. It was founded by the Empress Catharine, and is handsomely built and magnificently furnished. But the most elegant palace of St. Petersburg is that erected for the Grand-duke Michael in 1820, by the Italian architect Rossi. It is surrounded on every side by spacious grounds, and all the buildings adjoining it belong to it; and the beautiful architectural proportions of the main building are carried out in its wings and numerous outbuildings. There is a beautiful riding-school connected with the palace, where riding-masters for the army are instructed. Among the other public buildings are the Admiralty, which occupies the left bank of the Russian quay. It is an immense brick building; contains storehouses, docks for the construction of menof-war, and a very extensive collection of objects connected with navigation and natural history. Its gilt tower, which was erected by the Empress Anne in 1734, is one of the most striking objects we see in approaching St. Petersburg. At the western corner of the Admiralty Square stands the well-known statue of Peter the Great. The monarch is represented in the attitude of mounting a precipice, the summit of which he has nearly attained. It is said the artist, Falconet, | skoi Prospekt, and is built on the model who executed this admirable work of art, of St. Peter's at Rome. In front of the took his design from a Russian officer-one cathedral are two exquisite statues of the of the finest riders of the age-who, mount- Prince of Smolensko and Barclay de Tolly. ed on a wild Arabian steed, rode to the top The cathedral is named after the Madonna of an artificial precipice, there halting, and which hangs in the church covered with allowing the horse to paw the air with his jewels. One of the diamonds in her crown fore feet. The head of the statue is uncov- is of fabulous value; it was brought from ered, and crowned with laurel. The right Kazan on the Volga to Moscow by Ivan hand is stretched out, as in the act of giv- Vassilievitch, and from thence to St. Peing benediction to his people, and the left tersburg by Peter the Great. As the holds the reins. The design is masterly, Greek religion does not allow images in and the attitude bold and spirited. The its places of worship, the votaries adorn horse is springing upon his hind legs, and their Madonnas and other holy pictures the tail, which is full and flowing, appears with every kind of jewelry and finery. slightly to touch a serpent, artfully con- This church more resembles an arsenal trived to assist in supporting the vast than a place of worship. On every side weight. The pedestal on which this no- are hung military trophies taken from vable statue is erected is a huge block of rious nations in Europe-Turkish standards granite weighing 1500 tons: it was found surrendered without a struggle, French at a distance of four miles from the city, colors in shreds and tatters, Marshal Daand was conveyed here with great labor voust's baton of office, keys of surrenderand expense. The block was unfortunate-ed cities, Dresden, Hamburg, Leipsic, etc. ly broken in the dressing. Immediately behind the Hermitage, in the open space, stands one of the finest monuments in the world. It was erected It Along the sides of the church are statues of St. John, St. Andrew, Vladimir, and Alexander. Nearly opposite the Isak bridge, and behind the statue of Peter the Great, in the open space, stands the magnificent Isak Church. It was built by Nicholas. Some idea may be formed of its proportions and cost when it is known that the foundation in honor of the Emperor Alexander. is a single shaft of red granite 84 feet in height and 14 in diameter, highly polished. It stands on a pedestal of the same material about 25 feet high. The column is surmounted by a capital 16 feet high,sunken piles-on which it stands cost and a small bronze dome, on which is placed the figure of an angel, emblematical of Religion: this figure is 14 feet in height; then a cross 7 feet high; in all, 150 feet. The shaft is the largest monolith in the world, and was cut from the quarries of Pyterlar, in Finland, several miles from St. Petersburg. On the pedestal are the following words: "To Alexander the First"-" Grateful Russia." over one million dollars! Its form is that of a Greek cross, with four chief entrances. Each entrance is ornamented with a porch supported by polished granite pillars sixty feet high by seven feet in diameter. Every thing about this elegant structure is of colossal proportions and costly material. Over the centre of the building rises an immense cupola, which is covered with copper overlaid with gold; over this is a smaller cupola surmounted by an immense cross. The large cupola is surrounded by four smaller ones in the same style. Some of the columns of the interior are of solid malachite. The small circular temple, or prestol, which forms the inmost shrine, On the right of the Neva, below the was presented to the emperor by Prince Isak bridge, stands the Romanzows' mon- Demidoff, owner of the malachite mines ument of variegated marble, which is fast of Russia. The cost was one million of crumbling to pieces. Among the princi- dollars. The steps are porphyry, the floor pal churches may be specified the Cathe- variegated marbles; the dome is maladral of St. Petersburg, dedicated to our chite, and the walls lapis lazuli, the whole Lady of Kazan. It is situated on the Nev-magnificently gilded. From the top of On the Champ de Mars stands a bronze monument erected in honor of Marshal Suwaroff. He wields a sword in his right hand, and bears a shield with his left, and is represented as protecting the kingdoms of the Pope, Naples, and Sardinia. |