The Sun.
London, England, 1829-07-31 00:00:00

THE MARBLE PALACE.

After quitting the Hermitage we continued
our walk to the Marble Palace, so named be-
cause the walls are incrusted with a variety of
beautiful marbles, whilst the pillars and architec-
tural ornaments are composed of the same ma-
terial. The style is Corinthian, but is altogether
heavy ; this may probably arise from the sombre
character of the colouring, when compared with
the light and more gaudy buildings in the vi-
cinity. We had not an opportunity of viewing
the interior, which corresponds no doubt with
the general splendour of the imperial residences,
but were attracted to the spot by the museum of
Mr. Orlofski, who has a suite of apartments ad-
joining the palace, and holds some employment
about the Court. After winding through several
dark passages, and ascending still darker stair-
cases, we reached a sort of garret ; the door was
opened by a man of Herculean stature and pro-
portions, dressed in the summer garb of a
" mongique " or peasant ; he wore a tunic or
frock of a light and figured calico, confined
round the waist by a leathern belt, the cravat was
cashiered, and not a vestige of shirt was visible ;
the bare neck set off to good advantage a most
formidable black beard ; the head was covered
with a sheepskin cap, each tuft of wool standing
on end in such a way as to make the wearer re-
semble one of the furies conjured up by the pen-
cil of Mr. Fuseli. This extraordinary looking
being was no less a personage than the great vir-
tuoso himself,. who ushered us into his " atelier,"
where he was occupied on a picture descriptive
of Russian scenery and manners; we soon found
that Mr. Orlofski was an original, but at the
same time a good humoured and accomplished
man ; he was a great lingiiist, and spoke English
private collection in St. Yetersourgn, anti is wen
worth the traveller's attention. There are but few
pictures ; in short, Air. 0. has judiciously ab.-
stained from attempting to rival the Hermitage
in any of its leading characters, and has princi-
pally directed his attention to the collection of
those miscellaneous objects of taste and vertu
in which the imperial museum is deficient. The
armoury is exceedingly rich, particularly in
Georgian, Circassian, Tartar, and Turkish arms
of the middle ages, so difficult to preserve in any
country but Russia ; amongst these the sword
of Sigismund was pointed out to us ; the scab-
bard was of mother-of-pearl, enriched with pre,
cious stories. There were likewise some ,I?_mat-1
arms, and an iron shield in a firm state of pre-
servation, on which the sack of Troy was ad'
mirably executed in high relief, Another de-
partment contains embossed plate, and some
splendid articles of furniture of the age of Francis
the First. But it is impossible to enter into the
detail of a collection which has cost Mr. Orlof.a.
26 years' labour, and a considerable c,osiime.
There were two objects to which the; possessor
attached great value. The casts br masks taken
from the faces of Peter the Great and Charley
the Twelfth, lam no I;nysiognomist, but was
much struck with the contrast exhibited in the
features of these, two great men ; tho countenance
of Peter was composed and 4nified, as if still
meditating on his country's welfare, The face
of Charles clearly indicated the fiery character at
this restless warriof, and was so animate that I
could not have imagined that the cast, had been
taken after death, were it not for t,',Je fatal wound
in the forehead, the marks of which are risible,
The features of Charles are small, those of
Peter's unusually large,

DOCK COMPANY.-9t a general rnee-iing
held cm yesterday week, it was unanimously resolved, that
in future all Hull ships shall he allowed go from and
return to the port, and all other ships to enter into and
&prat from the port, on payment of dock dues once only,
either on the entry inward or clearance outward. This
resolution will put at rest a queFtion which has long been
the source of unpleasant Pz-eVng between the ship-owners
and the Dock Compat-Hull Packet.

A most 1,1-fario,us practice has recently been
adopted on the landing of the passengers arriving at this
port by steam-boats; several persons have ',leen pilfered
of the portable part of their property dto;ing the bustler
consequent upon disembarkation. A gentleman a short
time ago lost his umbrella on board the steam-packet from
London while landing; and on S.4uklay evening last another
umbrella removed, under preci.sclq similar circumstances,
from the Victory, in, the iguzediate presence of the owner,
Other instances lAavc. come to the knowledge of our police,
and we are glad to learn that vigilant measures arQ adopted
to diAect the depredators.—Hum paoct.

A y oung girl, aged eViteen, and an old n,:an
aged sixty-three, were. convicted at the Court of Assize ;
Rouen, of committing various acts of arson. For several
years paq, ugtnerous Ares tool: place at Havre and its vici-
nity at length an active search was made, and the young
girl, named ITMTV}IECORNE, confessed she was the author
of the last die, and that she had been incited to it by one
' LErmr, who gave her three &axles for it. LEPETIT was
accordingly arrested ; he is described as a strange animal
" living like a savage by himself, and commonly clothed in
a skin." On thoir trial the girl repeated her story and
persisted it it.. teerm de.,niecl it, but acted in such an
extravagant manner, that the audience were absolutely
merry. It was proved that when the fires were raging,
he obssrved that " France w4a too, rich, and that there
should be more equality." He admitted on his trial that
he thought France needed purgation of its crimes, and that
it would rise lime a Phoenix from the flames. Both the
culprits were ordered for execution ; whereupon LErnir
danced with delight, exclaiming, " j aui. fouud guilty!
mu found guilty !"