Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-12-17
MOSCOW.
From, the Esser Regis,

In the edition Of Busching's invaluable
Typography, published and translated in 1862
the following is the outline then given of
Moscow. He gives it the antiquity of six
centuries, and a circuit much less than If
formerly had, of "a Englisl mics, living il,
curve formed BIZ the river from which il
takes Its name. He gives the churches at
l60o. Ofthese eleven were cathcdrals. and
27i parish Churches, the rest either belong
10 the Contents OF are private chapcls The
public ctliEces or palaces were ~. He says
more in commentators o. tho plan Of The CT
ty than of its buildings. ,nure OF the riches
1f public structures than OF the ;i:,Drove-
ments OF domestic life. The city he repre-
sents in four circles, which Law enc width,
another, The interior Circle, or fortress is
distinguished by i,s structures. and Il was
surrounded with thick walls ant! to,Y,,s
defended by Cannon and secured Ly moats.
aud ramparts The second circle in which
commences transacted, and a high " all a.
round It, with towers and baiwarks The
third circle is named from white wall
which surrounds 1t. The fourth circle was
surrounded with ramparts of earth. which
lnclcsed the other three, and contained with
in 1t about II wersts, the werst being abopt
$500 English feet, and the English nile $3.50
OF the same feet, so tl,aj it is larger til,
London, and without a Och part al the no.
puiation OF London In the eighth edition os
Buschlng, III 1857. he gives the ciicuinfer-
encc at IS wcrs.s, and describes tn. ci,v &c.
having 900 parish churches, 7GS stone and
1870 wooden buildings, and 1881 male
and 1865 female inhabitants in iT10. Ir
does not appear that any favorable change
had been made lii its Notifications. In tits
period, Mr. Coke was at Moscow, and in
troduced to the celebrated Muller, of whom
he has given AN account, and from whom he
could receive the most correct information.
Mr.. Coke says fine view Of Moscow can
be had from an egnrence n few miles from
the city. He aiIirms that there are above
1000 places ofpublic worship in the City, of
which 1919 are ofbrick.
The reader who c0HSllts Mr.. Cove will
ind more Of nc literary than military h;sto-
ry OF Moscow, rs Tie state of defence. is to
US The first subjcct Of our present enquiries.
Oliyarins infOrms us in 1900, that the cir
-enhteEemce of the city is so wersJs between
10 and II French leagues; that it has So
principal streets. and 4S2 inicrsectinr streets
pass through the great mass of 10 600 build
llss. he represents the population at
zoo, OooS but in winter at 100000 He saws
nothing Of the Notifications, but obscryex
that almost all the young men are .,esiancd
for the military service. In giving the his
tory OF their education, he refers to the the
atre IN which the comedy of NedorosI, or
the Pupil, by Wisin, had often appeared.
and not without some influence upon educa
ton. Asa picture he gives us the hero of
this piece, without any regard to his under
standing, or any instruction which could ex
alt human nature, and with this picture he
leaves us. Should we consult their ecclesi-
asticai history for their expensive but not
elegant structures. the most careful enquiry
mas been able to afard no better Information,
than that 200 years from orr own times.
IN the reign OF the father ofPeter the Great.
something like an attempt was made. to in
troduce uniform public service, by substi.
tntlng printed for the written service books.
with directory for their use. So that at
present the Church service is contained i'm
about twenty volumes in folio, with a volume
larger than She rest to direct IN the use of il.
hi'd the portions to be read is the bust
ness OF the priests, as a single response of the
people may be left for the exercise of thei,
devotion 1t does not appear from any in.
formation that Moscow can afford arv hope
to the Russians. 1t is not in condition TO
make an eiiectual resistance, and the sacri-
hce OF the city seems involved in the at
tempt. The French have not been retard-
ed as IN Spain by any forces which have re-
sisted them in the countries through which
they have passed. In Courand the French
have powerful army, and the Poles have
supplied an important part of the forces en-
ploycd against Russia. no action has been
reported as gained by the inhabitants of the
conquered country, and The march has been
assisted by the people who were abandoned
by the retreating forces uf the Russian en-
pire. The reports induce belief than most
important consequences will follow the late
battle iii the ncighbourhood Of Moscow.