Star.
London, England, 1828-04-28 00:00:00

MOSCOW. .

From Rau Wicson's Travels in Russia, Poke, and Finland, }vat
published.
Mat Moscow, or literally Mother Moscow, as it is
familiarly designated by the natives, and. denominated
by some foreigners the Palmyraof the north, is regarded
as the most venerable of all the Russian cities. Yet
notwithstanding the high antiquity frill:Willy claimed
for them by historians, the actual identity of cities is
very prAlematical ; for excepting here and there some
particular building, the changes they undergo in the
course of centuries are so great as not to leave a single
fragment of their original structure, and the names
belong rather to their sites than to the buildings._
Thus Moscow is said to have existed from theond of
the ninth ceuture; in other words, there was then erected
a fortress or military station here, that served as a
nueleus for the fume city.' But the Kremlin, as it
stands at present, dates no farther back than 1485, when
the present ..constrUctions were. commended by Ivan
Vassilivicb 111. who employed two Italian architects,
Marco and Pietro Antonio. It was to this celebrated
edifice, or rather assemblage of edifices,' that ne first
directed our steps on commencing our peregrinations
through the city ; and although many of its structures
might be pronounced barbarous by those who can see
no beauty except in classical architecture, or that which
bas since been founded upon it, there is something very
piquant in their physiognothy ; while the contrast of the
various gmtspes,.with the variety and brilliancy of their
colours, and their towers and domes, form a 'term in
the highest degree picturesque, and worthy the attention
both of she painter and the architect. With the excep-
tion of Constantinople, and some parts of Venice, these
is no city in Europe that exhibits such striking pecu-
liarity and otiginality in the character of its sedifiter,
The styles:A architecture here met with is totally distinct
frog that termed Gothic, although, - as itl that, we find
great altitude, numerous perpendicular lines, bold con-
trasts, and variety of outline. Some of its principal
features are, the lofty slender towers; bulbous domes,
almost invariably gilt or painted, sometimes, too, fan-
tastically wreathed, and instead of rising immediately
from the roof, placed on the summit of towers, and ee•
pending somewhat like a balloon, with its lower titre.
sky cut off, their larger diameter being considerably
greater than that of the tower on which, they are placed.
Another characteristic is the number of these cupolas.
and, of course, their smallness compared with the.geneeal
mass of the building which they crown. ilhtiathe
principal decoration is confined to the summit. of the
edifices, the side walls and their apertures being: tom-
paratively plain ; in which respect this style differs
considerably from the Gothic, where spacious windows
filled with tracery, buttresses, niches, Ste. form suits
conspicuous features. This style is likewise remarkable,
not merely for its forms, but the colours Introduced;
whereas both in the Gothic and o her steles, we meet
with no other here than that of the material itself, whe-
ther stone or an imitation of it.

The Pokro►skoi Sobor, or Cathedral of the protec-
tion of the Virgin, and the tower called Ivan Veliki, ate
the two finest specimens of style. The former seems
quite a fairy erection; so gay and fantastic ; with. its
peaked domes of various heights, dimensions. and
forms, clustering round the central obtuse spire like a
bunch of flowers. Indeed, the diversity observable its
these features is fully equal to that of the Gothic style.
Those who have not visited Moscow, may form some
'general idea of the effect of rich domes from the Pavi-
lion at Brighton. The last mentioned structure, it must
be admitted, very unfavourably situated, is deficient in
point of height, and has no gilding or brilliant colours
to set it off; yet so far from Meriting the vitureration
that has been bestowed on it as being a gew-gaw edi-
fice, by those who only saw that it was neither Grecian,
Italian, nor Gothic, and, therefore, quite foreign to any
standard with which they were acquainted, it is an edifice
which, had it not been built b 7 an English architect,
or erected in our own island, would, undoubtedly, have
been as much admired as it has been censured.
The Kremlin may he described as in the form of An
irregular polygon, with towers at each angle. Its lofty
walls are sixteen feet in thickness, and were formerly
surrounded by a ditch. This vast enclosure exhibits
no regularity, either of plan or style of archirevure. A
garden has recently been laid out on the site of the
ditch, so as partly to surround the Kremlin with walks,
shrubberies, Ike. forming a promenade, and enclosed
with a cast-iron railing.
There are five gates, over one of which is an image,
with lamps burning before it, of a saint, who, it is said,
was instrumental in delivering it from an attack of the
Pules. This conducts us to a great square adjoining
`and is held in great reverence, as every- one takes of
his hat on passing through it ; and we saw many per-
sons bowing to it, and crossing themselves. with great
appearance of devotion. Ind•ed, some danger would
be incurred should a stranger omit to show due respect
to it, as he would be unpleasantly reminded of his ne-
gligence by the guards who are stationed here. Not-
withstanding, however, the maxim, that when you are
in Rome you should do as they do at Rome, we were
not disposed to " bow down or worship any image;"
but pet fectly willing to submit to the consequence,. It
is rather doubtful in what this custom originated, as it
is supposed to have prevailed before any image of the
Virgin was erected; yet it is probable that it was or-
dered, that the most profound obeisance and respect
should be paid by every one on entering the precincts
of the palace occupied by the sovereign.
On passing through the Holy Gate, we came to an
extensive area (407 feet in breadth, by 1800 in length);
where is a mass of irregular buildings huddled or jum-
bled together, just as in the Tower of London. We
were particularly struck with the Churches; their
fanciful atchitecture, gay colours, and gilded crests.
At one part is a small circular walk, paved with brick,
from which is an exceedingly fine panoramic view of a
part of.the town and river. We afterwards ascended
the octagon tower of the Kremlin, which is upwards of
800 feet in height The prospect from the summit is •
indescribably, grand; the eye rests on countless spires;
domes, and churches; on palaces, and palace-like esti,.
ficesilorty towers, and in short, on the whole city. This
beautiful coup•dceil is farther enlivened by a view of
the windings of the river, and of the great road lead-
ing to Smolensk.