The Sun.
London, England, 1829-07-28 00:00:00

the Empress' ball, that she might make it more
easily. The Emperor, I perceived, addressed the
boys in Russian or French, but German and
English are also taught ; the Empress speaks
the latter fluently. Close to the palace is the
rnanege or riding-school, where the Emperor
inspects the troops in winter. I took an early
opportunity of visiting the• parade, which the
Emperor attends every morning when in town.
A brilliant assemblage of superior officers were
waiting tekreceive him; he drew up in a plain
carriage, accompanied by Prince Kutusoff; the
troops consisted of a small detachment of the
Foot Guards and some dismounted Cossacks.
Amongst the many noble figures in the train of
his Imperial Majesty, I did not observe two
taller, better formed, or handsomer men than
Nicholas and his brother the Grand Duke
Michael. The Emperor appeared quite acces-
sible and familiar with all around him ; at the
palace-gate I observed a poor negro, evidently
waiting to have a personal interview with the
" Autocrat of all the Russias;" every thing was
conducted in the most unostentatious manner,
and there were no acclamations whatever, there
were but few spectators, and those were of the
lowest orders. I had the misfortune to lose my
watch, though surrounded by the police ; the
thievish character of the Russians is well known,
and their ingenuity must be appreciated by every
stranger who visits the capital. In front of the
palace is a considerable space for the exercise of
troops, bounded oti one side by a magnificent
circus, entirely occupied by officers connected
with the staff, engineer, and other military de-
partments; this range of building is much ad-
mired, and is in the style of the superior resi-
dences in the Regent's Park ; the decorations are
however richer, pilasters of the Corinthian order
extend the whole length of the building, and the
balustrades between the windows are gilt ; but
the grand archway communicating with the
Nevski forms the principal beauty of the circus.
This opening is covered with military trophies
executed in cast iron, and the top is sur-
mounted by a car of Victory, drawn by four
colossal horses of cast iron bronzed ; th©

figure in the car stands with expanded
wings, and holds a staff, at the extremity of
which is the Russian eagle ; this imperial bird
was no doubt indispensable in a national point
of view, but at a distance it has a very ridiculous
appearance, as with its extended wings it too
closely resembles the figure by Mach it is sup-
ported. The Government is now engaged in
the publication of some maps on a very extended
scale ; and, strange to say, a single copy may
actually be purchased at this office. Under the
pretence of looking at the recent publications,
we were admitted without any difficulty ; senti-
nels were stationed in the different lobbies, and

the arrangements of the interior entirely corres-
ponded with the magnificence of the exterior of
the building. In the rooms we pa§sed were
several superior officers of the staff in full uni-
form. I was much struck by the superior stvle
in which the maps were finished, and by the
general excellence of the instruments connected
with the Engineers' department. To the east-
ward of the Winter Palace is the " Million," a
spacious street, so called, I understand, from
the great wealth of the inhabitants who formerly
resided at this court end of the town. The
view from the western extremity of the "
lion" is probably unrivalled in Europe for its
magnificence ; on the left is a range of palaces
and public buildings as far as the eye can reach ;
close to the right of the spectator rises the stu-
pendous pile of the Winter Palace ; and beyond
the long line of building, which forms the Ad,
miralty, in front, are the offices connected
the staff On the west the view is ';Jounded
g
by the statue of Peter the Great, ar.t.i the church
, phot
of St. Isaac's, now building; ti:,e whole Fermin ,
as it were, the very core of the capital the s
where the principal
s.plendours of St. Petersburo
0
are concentrated.