The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-23 00:00:00

5
SEPt El I

down on tho columas aaCendimi front below i brit,
instead of doing tio§ the general permitted nine or
ten battalions and a battery of artillery to crown
the heights before be assailed them wish all his
force, and then they *Crto tab stiong to be dis-
lodged. However this may be, it is certain that
the Russians regard Prince Menschikoff as the most
accomplished general they possess, so far as re-
gards the theory of war. He is extremely well
read in many branches of learning, and is said to
be as various and versatile as our own Achitophel
—chemist, doctor, naturalist, geologist, lawyer,
diplomatist, soldier, sailor, kc. His manlier is im-
perious and harsh, albeit he is given to theory and
reverie rather than action, and he never " receives"
at his house or studies the arts of popularity.
Todtleben is also in the hall, but I cannot see him,
lost as he is in the crowd of generals and states-
men. There, too, is the second Gortschakoff, who
is as celebrated as his great relative, and the bluff,
soldierly, and intelligent-looking Aide-de-Camp
General Luders, whose arrival with fabulous rein-
forcements was our constant bugbear in the Crimea.
Towering by a head at least over all this assem-
blage, and conspicuous for his fine bearing and face,
notwithstanding those horrid spectacles, Major or
Colonel Stalipine is readily conspicuous, and, al
though not many Englishmen or Frenchmen may
have heard of him, he is known throughout Russia
for his bravery and devotion on the day of the
Tohernaya. He served on the staff of Gen. Read,
and when that officer fell he was seen under a tre-
mendous fire coolly walking through the field look-
ing for his body ; not succeeding in that object, he
came, ho Never, upon the place where General
Mayern was lying badly wounded, and taking him
upon his gigantic shoulders, he bore him out of the
fight and escaped, in spite of all the efforts of the
French to shoot him down as he strode off with
his burden. Amid these warriors and statesmen
ladies in full court dress are pressing towards the
inner apartments of the palace, radiant with dia-
monds, for the display of which the Muscovite
head dress now in vogue is peculiarly adapted. This
consists of a high circlet or coronet of satin velvet
or cloth, which encompasses the top of the head,
and is studded with precious stones. Persians, in
high black sheepskin caps, and rich loose dresses
of the finest silk, and gossamer shawls—flat-faced
Tartar deputies, wild delegates from the further
shores of the Caspian, Georgians, Circassians, Abas-
ses, Tcherkesses, Mingrelians, Uralians Mongols,
Gourians, Daghestanees, Koords,Lapps;Kalmucks,
Cossacks—mingling with Russians, French, English,
Spaniards, Romans, Greeks, Austrians, Prussians,
Saxons, Danes—here was an epitome of the Asiatic
and European races, all in their finest bravery,
mingling together in the narrow compass of two
grand halls. From the Hall of St. Andrew the
doors on one side lead to the fine promenade which
is formed on the top of the first stofey of the façade
of the Imperial palace. As we stepped out on this
esplanade a sight such as can neither be described
nor forgotten met the eye. It was yet early—
about half-past 6 o'clock ; the sun shining from
the left lighted up the gilt domes and vanes of the
Kremlin and those of the churches on the right of
the picture with a rich orange flame, that seemed
to die away or gather fresh vividness as the
pours of the morning rolled up more densely from
the river, or thinned away before the feeble breeze.
The view is bounded by the Kremlin on the left,
and on the right by the buildings of the palace, at
the end of the facade. Below the spectator there
is the carriage way, outside the palace, already
thronged with spectators of the lower classes and
masses of soldiery. This way is on the verge of
the plateau on which the Kremlin stands, over the
course of the Moskwa. Nearer to the river there
is another broad path, close to the outer wall which
surrounds the ancient fortress and overlooks the
stream, and already the artillerymen are standing
by the guns mounted on one of the old gothic forts
which break the lines of the crenelated wall. The
people are here also—their faces turned up to the
white walls of the palace. At the other side of the
river, which is about 200 yards across, there is an-
other walk lined with houses—a veritable quay,
on which men and women and children are stand-
ing in groups, looking towards the Kremlin. Be-
hind this line of houses opens out the city like some
great sea ; the houses are almost hidden by the
thick haze of Russian autumn, but above it for
many miles, in every possible shape, cupola, tur-
ret, dome, spire, cross, minaret, rise to greet the
eun, and reflect this rays from their gilded surfaces.
It is impossible to imagine this scene. It is in
vain, indeed, that the eye which gazes on it seeks,
as it were, to seize the details of the world of
clocktowers, palaces, churches, and public build-
ings, which seem to extend as far as the horizon
itself, springing up amid, and separated by,
boulevards, meadows, gardens, and small plan-
tations. All the architectures, as all the nations
of the globe, are represented here. Here a
strange-looiring dome reminds you of Calcutta or
some Indian city ; beside it is the mural tower and
Gothic battlement of tee Crusade ; the sentries on
the fire-towers seem gigantic in the haze, and just
as you begin to fancy they are warders on the don-
jon keep you make out that the tower is not
Norman, but very modern Byzantine, and that the
man wears the long coat and flap cap of active ser-
vice. There you see Chinese willow-pattern edi-
fices besides gothic churches, next to a green dome
fantastically carved like a prodigious pine-apple.
The fog, half smoke half vapour, is tinged with
many colours as it rolls amid this forest of glitter-
ing spires and domes and the vast mosaic of varie-
gated clouds, roofs, and housetops. As one gazed
upon this scene he could not help being startled if
he remembered that 44 years ago Napoleon looked
do vn on a similar scene from the walls of the old
Kremlin. Next Sunday, indeed, one week hence,
will be the anniversary of that fatal entry into Mos-
cow which France has scarce avenged at Sebastopol.
It was on the anniversary of this day that England
and France for the last day poured that desolating
stream of fire and iron on the devoted city which
heralded the grand assault, and on this very day
just two years ago the allied squadrons sailed from
Varna to their rendezvous at Baltshik to prepare for
the descent on the Crimea. As Moscow has risen
from its ashes so will Sebastopol arise from its
ruins. But hark ! There once again is the old
familiar voice of the Russian cannon !—a flash of
fire spurts from an abrasure below, and the thick
white smoke rushes into the air. The bells of the
church of the Assumption ring out merrily, and at
the signal the thousand bells of Moscow take up
the chorus. It is 7 o'clock. The echoes of the
cannon shake the old Kremlin 21 times in rapid
succession. This is the signal for the various
persons engaged in the ceremonial to repair to
the places indicated in the prograunne and ordre
die jour. There is a perceptible movement among
the uniforms, and, turning to the left, we come
out upon the end of the perron rouge, or
Krasnoi Kriltzo, at which there is placed the ca-
nopy beneath which the Emperor and Empress will
march to the church of the Assumption. It is of
orange coloured cloth of gold, embroidered with
Imperial eagles, and is held up by 16 wands of
silver gilt, ornamented with yellow, black, and
white ribands. On the hangings are embroidered
the Emperor's cipher, surmounted by a crown, sur-
rounded by the order of St. Andrew. It is sur-
mounted with 16 aigrettes of tricoloured ostrich
feathers, and is embroidered with the arms of the
empire, as well as those of Kazan, Astracan, Po-
land, Siberia, of Tauris, Kieff, Vladimir, Novgorod,
Finland, and other devices. All these and many
more details do I quote on the authority of the
great work by the master of the ceremonies, for
indeed to me all is gold that glitters, and in the
general impression produced by the sight of such
things one ransacks the memory in vain for the
component parts which pleased him.
What a scene there is in that court below !—an
assemblage of parasols, bonnets, helmets, coats,
shawls, all of the gayest hues. At the foot of the
staircase there is one large raised stand full of
people—there is also a gallery on the right hand
side from the palace to the church, full of people—
before us all the church belfries are full of people,
and the court is thronged also. There are two
streams of people, in uniforms and court dresses,
pouring up and down from the palace to th , court.
By the dais there is for the present only an escort
of the Grenadiers it Cheval, under the command of
Lieutenant-Colonel Fanshawe, a nephew of our
stout Admiral who commanded the sailing squa-
dron at the great naval review at Spithead some
years ago. At present the silver batons are upheld
by private soldiers only, and they evidently regard
it as a most solemn and sacred affair. Every one
who passes to and fro uncovers his head. Passing
through the crowd along the upper landing, over
a rich scarlet cloth we come again to the door by
which we first entered the palace. The old Grena-
diers are still standing as rigid and steady as before.
Let us go in again and turn to the right, passing
between a wall of soldiers. Let us enter the ban-
queting hall. Surely here are the riches of the
world ! Such a glare of gold plate, such a wild
profusion of goblets, vases, cups, salvers, heaped
on tables, massed on sideboards or carved stands
along the walls of this glittering room ! This is
the Grauovitaya Palataa the Hall of the Ancient
Tsars (fors° the Russians spell the word in French).
Can it be described ? Assuredly not by the pen,
nor by the pencil of any artist but one who can dip
his brush in the hues of the rainbow. The low
many-arched roof of the hall is sustained by a huge
square pillar in the centre, round which is placed
a platform with receding ledges to the height
of nine or ten feet, each ledge groaning with
ancient vases and dishes in gold and silver. Some
of these are of the quaintest form and curious work-
manship—models of old castles and palaces, strange
animals, battle-pieces, birds— craftily worked, in
, past centuries by forgotten descendants of Tubal

clain4 and each a museum in itself. G> t
of the hall on entering, there is a bullet
which seems crushed henertth thu masses of gold
vessels upon it, each a study, but enriched, above
all, by Pio 'grand cup from Thnvenuto's own hand,
fur which Russia paid the sum of 10,0001. sterling.
On the left there is an estractil for the orchestra
and for the singers, among whom arc Lablach©,
Dumeric, Bosie, Calzelari, and Tagliafico, It
is covered with cramoisied purple velvet, with
gold fringes and borders. The Imperial throne
is placed° at the end of the room opposite the
buffet on the right hand side. Three steps, co-
vered with gold embroidered purple velvet, iced
to the platform on which the throne is placed.
Above there is a canopy, with an l*periale of
cloth of gold covered with imperial eagles, with a
crown in the centre on a cushion of velvet and
cloth of gold, with fringes and acorns of gold, shot
with yellow, black, and white. The edge of the
top of the canopy is carved and gilt, and in the
centre is a 'shield with the imperial cipher, with
the imperial crown above, encompassed by the
collar of the order of Saint Andrew. At each
side are smaller shields, with the collar of Saint
Andrew around them, richly emblazoned, and all
three are draped with Imperial standards. At the
ends of the top of the canopy there are aigrettes of
ostrich plumes, dyed yellow, white, and black.
Beneath, at the back of the throne, is displayed the
imperial mantle of ermine, with the arms of the
empire in a golden border in the centre, and the
imperial cipher profusely emblazoned on it. The
edges of the steps of the platform are ornamented
with large salvers and goblets of gold, on pedestals
of malachite and gold ; the three ancient thrones
of the. Czars are placed beneath the canopy, and on
the left there is a table for the crown, sceptre, and
globe, covered with crimson velvet embroidered
with gold, and a cloth of gold beneath it. There is
a table at the steps to the platform, which is to be
Lorne up to the throne when the banquet com-
mences by three of the High Chamberlains of the
Empire. On the left of the pillar are placed two
tables extending the whole length of the room, for
the guests. These are weighed down likewise with
gold and silver plates, goblets, plateaux, 'epergnes,
and salvers. The chairs, of white and gold,. with
crimson velvet seats, are placed at the left sides of
the tables only, so that all the guests will have their
faces turned towards their Majesties. Such are the
glories of the banquet-room of the Czar.