The Express.
London, England, 1856-08-27 00:00:00

THE xxPRE2B, WEDNESDAY WINING, AUGUST 27, 186&

THE CORONATION OF THE
EMPFAtOR OF RUSSIA.

those who did act understand a ward of the language.
At the soneinsion of tie sermon the Metropolitan
came forward and solemnly blessed the people, the
apples, sad finally himself, and a hymn of abed
unearthly solemnity terminated the ceremonial. I
should mention that the Russian choral singing is
very peculiar, having on one side the treble, on
the other the beans, the latter of peculiar depth and
force, being selected from the whole population of the
empire, without any coedderation of expense. The
boys, who have beautiful Tolosa, sing, for instance,
"the Lord have mercy on as," and hardly has the
lute-like sweeties of their tones fixed the ear, when,
from the other side, the tremendous basses thunder
forth the same butt= in reply. This music, which
is without Instrumental aocompaniment, sounds
strangely at first, but soon bogie to attract by its
strange end unearthly solemnity. It must also be
observed that almost every person, whether priest or
chorister, employed in the service of the Greek
eharob, is of tall stature sad commanding presence,
so that nothing is wanting to give effect to the
general coupgraik But the religious element seems
to pervade everything that is done in this singular
country. Bentley let was appointed by the Empe-
ror for the double pupae of receiving the cordon of
the Legion of Honour, and of having the officers of
the St. Jean d'Acre presented. As a preliminary to
both proceedings, which took pies at Peterhof?, his
Imperial Majesty attended divine service in the
, church attached to the palace, and which is exclu-
sively devoted to the Emperor and court. I was
, fortunate in getting a very near view of the Imperial
family, and therefore took very little notice of the
bewildering variety of uniforms that filled the ves-
tibule. Alexander the Second is a slight well made
man above the middle one, but nothing approaching
, the Jon-like proportions of the late Emperor. His
, fan is quite German, with a mild, almost saddened
extension, but full of thoughtfulness and intelli-
, genes. His Majesty's aloe application to business,
which is well known.may affect his looks, but certainly I
, be has by no means the appearance of robust health.
He drove op to the palace in an open carriap with-
, out the slightest parade, and received into his own
hand the petitions of a number of poor women who
were permitted thus to approach the fountain.head
of authority. This custom, which puts one in mind
of the Arabian Nights, is only followed in certain
esese, as it must be obvious that, if general, it would
occupy the entire time of the Emperor. As his Ma-
jesty received them there was not the slightest ap-
pearance of hauteur on his part, nos of undue ser-
vility on that of his fair petitioners, who simply
, curtseyed in a besiege-like offhand way, and
, retired much more composedly than I have
sea municipal dignitaries do in England when they
, were permitted to approach the throne. I mention
this little incident to show that, however
despotic the government of this country may
bo in theory, it is much ameliorated in
practice by the personal deportment of people
in authority, from the Emperor on his
throne, the fountain of hexane, favour, and for-
tune, down to the humble " bootielna "—generally
pronounced bootjack by early students in &teeth,—
the Russian policeman, who tells you about fifteen
times a day that it is not permitted to smoke in the
street, and politely points out the announcement to

(FROM OUR 8111CIAL

SX. PETERSBURG. Loony 19.
At about ton o'clock this notening the second and
lost division at the Bridal ocaboserortraordinsry

left their hotel for Moscow, Lord Granville having
departed the day before. On the whole, I do not
think they have had any ream to be dissatisfied
with their sojourn in St. Petersburg, where they have
received every suitable attention, although certainly
their presence has not mused as much stir and excite-
meat es that of their Fre allies, who hays been
seen everywhere in their egisadid equipages, and
doing the thing in mama glib at their magnificent
hotel. The English redlines here, however, camels
themselves with the rdeellen that it is the French
smart to make a spinal haat at first, either in war
em wade, nil arm* seldenly to subside after
dm most Miele own delightful champagne. The
DAM inirney, it is tlMaght,will come out strongest
at Menew, whither a the plate and state carriages
have hem sent, end when a saloon has actually been
built, as I understand, in order that our ambassador
may have ample snips and verge to do justice to our
proverbial lasekebespitality. The rivalry between
the special sedienilm will, I believe, be considerable,
and a rather bemseens indication of it has already
got into circulation. It is said that Prince Ester-
huy's agent at Moscow, from having been early in
the field, was able to obtain a suitable house for his
serene highness at the moderate charge of 17,000
tooth's, the month, but that the Prince subsequently
hearing that the British and French Ambas-
sadors were respectively paying 40,000, be in-
dignantly assailed his contract, and insisted
oa having a house at the ems prim. The
earns ambition was easily gratified. A new cost el
paint, a sew name, and a new rate of rental, seen
brought the original house up to the Princes meths
of what was suitable for the representative of the
Emperor. As I am now about to start for Moscow
in the wake of greater people, I think I cannot do
better than collect in this my lest Petersburg letter
all the minor incidents of the past week connected
with the approaching pageant, and the proceedings
of our special embassy, the members of which of
course, like other people, immediately after their arri-
val. mattered themselves about to enjoy the sights
with which this magnificent city abounds. Lord
Ward, whose long residence in Italy has, I believe,
made him an admirer of religious ceremonial, took
the opportunity of being present at the Smoleasko
file, an annual festival to which the mujiks
repair to weep, and subsequently feast actually over
the graves of their deemed relative,. While his
learhip was gazing on this interesting scene, one of
the best absorbed of the mourners contrived to
dans' his watch and chain, in a manner that would
have done honour to a Loadon professional, to the
great surprise of the aristocratic observer of Russian
national customs. A greater wonder, however, yet
remains to be told, which is, that his lordship is
likely to get it back again through the agony of the
Moglish rourresire, the thief having by an odd wind-
iness brought it to one of the workmen, employed in
that establishment, for sale. Should he do so it will
he looked upon as rather a novelty in St. Peters-
burgh, as the Rusaisn police are almost as subject to
legal doubts u the late Lord Eldon, when called
open to decide on the restoration of stolen property.
Lady Peel drives about in her fascinating " wide-
awake" hat, much to the astonishment and admire-
ties of the Russian fashionable, and Lord and Lady
Stalmd pay frequent visits to their graceful little
rat, now lying at anchor in the Neve. The
imosese his intimated his intentkn of inspecting this
veasi hire she leaves, although, from the incom-
plete state in which she was hurried away from
Wand, she can hardly be said to be in suitable
him for an Imperial visit. Lord Stafford intimated
se meek to his Imperial Majesty, but the latter would
tele amdeaial, and the visit will, I believe, certainly
some at Fortunately for the visitors, the week has
WO signalise d by two important religious solem.
nide', to which the Russian people attach the greatest
interest and importance. I allude to the blueing re-
sp:ctively of the water and the apples, which is per-
formed with all the pomp and ceremony of the
Greek church. The first was solemnised at Peter►
he!, in the presence of the Emperor, on a small
piece of ornamental water, consecrated for the par-
pee. The Greek prelates and priesb walked in pro-
Gordon, dressed in their most gorgeous vet.
meets, followed by the Imperial family, also
walking, and when they came to the water.
side, the Cross was plunged in, the choristers singing a
solemn absent es the officiating prelate performed
the rite. The distance from town prevented the:pre-
emies of many strangers, but I reerpised some Eng-
le Imes amongst the crowd. The mend, " The
*gig of the apples," a ceremony which forms an
ledipeashis preliminary to the mastication d that
fraselblai ink, took pine yesterday in imp:barn
lissegiat Bt. Petersburg, but with peculiar pomp in
the Ham Cathedral, by the metropolitan and Armen
alfkiaThe costumes were most gorgeous,
end the who was robed in the middle of
the einei, wee en Hens of gold and jewels. The
meeemminoritish seemed exceedingly complex, con-
dela ei nemines genuflexion, and symbolic group.
ins on the pert of the priests, who termed them-
selves Into squares, triangles, and other fgaree
typical of the Trinity, the Tabernacle, and the
nations doctrinal data of Eastern Christianity.
The coogniation, amongst which there was
demileatise, sad who stood the whole
time ei wok% wee of the moat varied appearance
and eitermelee. Ressiaa minas, and generals emend
with inceatipe. prayed aide by side with the poor
mak k, sad hat seemed equally impressed with the
solemnity el • the osettlen I while the Russian
countess, In lie most fashionable Parisian toilette, did
not fest bras dignity ruined by the vicinity of the poor
Unarm ere Finland WOMISO, wham quaint national
amine gave wonderful variety to the ,cone. In
the ebeeriee here there are no carefully stuffed
pile et separation of raske—all pray together,
and print their genefiezions, which are exceed-
triply easserees, in the some earnest and profoundly
devout meaner. lased, I have had frequent occa-
sion to remark. since nay arrival, an affability on the
part of &NOM people of disdaetion to mu the
humblest of their countrymen'which might be
imitated with advantage by the Battik arietomisy,
even in cams where the line of social demareatien ht
by no means so broad. But this by way of pew
thesis. After the service awe a sermon, the ideal
ehereeter of which I took the trouble of memlaileg
for the anisettes of year more melon readers. The
preacher, Bydeowski, is a man of great sigmas' end
talent, and, in coosequenee, of so much lams*
amongst the masses as to be almost a power in the
state. He her, I am informed, Mind pereentin
iota his more conservative breams fee hie advanced
"Wien I bat however that may be, he is sow one
of the most popular premiers in the espitaL His
text was, "The Lord is my strength and my Weld,"
and hie disemes, which he deztrovely applied a
throve', not only to the text, bat to the oseasin, yes,
judging train the apt attention and anisional masa
of the people, meet elegant. That It wee delivered
with both inn sad fano wee ',penal ens to

that effect in the French language, which is hung up
io hie little guard-hoses. I have now read it so
often that it is completely imprinted on my memory,
but I always lied that a few civil nada and winke—
tuyond that, as Albert Smith Nye, the conversation
is apt to flag—and in extreme oases a cigar or five
copecks, gets me out of the difficulty, and appeases
the outraged dignity of the law. In the late Empe-
ror's time the prohibition was rigidly enforced, but
the present Czar smokes himself, and has walked
through the streets with a cigar, and hie loyal
subjects have not been slow in following
his example. At present, on fume pretty
generally in the northern capital. The Empress, I
who followed her august spouse into the church, is a
tall, lady-like woman, but beyond that nothing re-
markable.
Her toilette was in excellent taste, very I
similar to that of the Empress Eugenie, whose figure
is not unlike that of the Czarina. The young arch-
dukes aro all fine hearty little fellows, give the salute
with true military precision, and look quite smart in
their tiny uniforms, sash being of coarse colonel of a
regiment. The Czar himself wore the dress of the
Gerdes i Chaval, one of the plainest in the service.
After church came the court, the presentations, and
the decoration, and all the while the grand fountains
played, and the people on the terrace could divide
their attention between the glittering crowds
that filled the windows of the palace, the
grim gigantic Cossack footmen, in full national
costume, the splendidly dressed negroes, the relies of
more barbaric times and courts, and the murmuring
cascades on the other side, through whose long vista
of diamond spray, they could see the gulf of Finland,
fit terminus to the perspective, as seen from
Peterhoff palace. The taste of them fountains, which
cost millions of roubles, is by no means severe. The
water falls over terraces of blue and gold, and the jets
are sent forth by Samson., dryads, frogs, and dol-
phins, of the brightest gilding and colours. The
effect Is excellent, and as every one seems to like
them, we most suppose them to be well designed,
whatever the high art dictators may say to the con-
trary. I should add that Peterhoff, which during the
pest week has been a great centre of attraction, is
approached by a service of small steamers very
punctually and regularly performed and con-
stantly well filled with passengers. To give an
idea what the chased is, it will be only necessary
to state that we grounded twice going down last
Sunday, and this although the captain is supposed to
be familiar with *MI inch of the way. lam afraid
that a flotilla of hostile gunboats would be sadly
puzzled in these waters. This morning, and this is
my last bit of St. Petersburg news, the regalia were
sent off by the railway to Moscow. There was •
grand procession of Imperial canines, through the
window of ass of which the greet diamond crown
could be seen, to the station, escorted by the Cheva-
lier Garde, and the whole of the Navaho' we. crowded
with people, as the interesting cortly• drove past. St.
Petersburg will henceforth be a desert until after the
coronation, and Moscow for one month at least will
witness a revival of Its old populonsaces and
splendour.

COLONEL TURK.