Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-03-06
From the .Mationa, htelligencsr.
OF THE NORTH OF EuRopE.

Interesting extract from letter addressed
by gentleman on board OF the United
States frigate Guerrero, then in the
North of Europe, to his friend, member
ofCongress.
United States frigate Gurraere,
QFCape Trafalgar, NoO. s, 1885
NY two last letters containedsome gene
raj remarks on Petersburg-in this. will
speak of some of its monuments and edih-
ces. The equestrian statue of Peter the
Great, is already familiar to you, since no
traveller has omitted description of it.
But, their accounts have bordered on hy-
perbole, insomuch that its majesty fell far
short of my expectations. The next objects
in order of magnl6cence, may be mention
ed the palaces OF the Imperial family, OF
which, there are seven OF eight in the city
and enyirons. Excepting the one built by
Peter the Great, when be commenced the
foundation of Petersburg, and which con-
tains very few rooms, the number OF apart
ments in each averages between two and
three hundred. Three or four of the pala-
ces are much more splendid than any saw
in Italy. In the hermitage a sort of appen-
dage to the winter or court Palace, to
which the Imperial family retreat from
court, hustle and parade, lscounted between
twen,y and thirty apartments of paintings
by the first artists of Europe. Besides these,
there are statues, meteorological cabinets,
antiques, sc. &c. together with nearly all
the presents in jewellery and trinkets from
the different European and Asiatic sover-
eigns to the different Russian monarohs for
more than century, A description OF
III, m would I'LL large volume. One, how
ever, think worthy of notice, not more
from its ridiculous extravaganza, than for
its striking display of the genius of the
donor. It's gold Peacock, Fowl, Frog
and Grasshopper, as large as life, and so
connected with machinery as 10 exhibit the
gestures of those animals on ordinary oc-
casions.
The churches next in splendor, and first
10 one who views the city from a distance,
are about forty-6ve in number. Their
towering domes and lofty spires overlook
ing all other edi6ces, are covered with
p'stes of copper OVERLAND with ducat gold.
their interior is equally rich and splendid.
In the church of St. Alexander Newsky,
the protecting saint of the empire, are de-
posted his reGcts; over which has been e.
rected shrine containing 5000 lbs. weight
of silver. And the Casan church, built by
the present emperor. and intended as RI
val of St. Peters, of Rome, is furnished still
more extensively. In these two are the
remains of Suwarroff and Kutnsof, over
which lighted tapers are perpetually burl-
ing. From the walls of the churches are
suspended the standards taken from France
Turkey and Persia, by the Russian army,
and the keys OF man. fortresses and cities.
The hospitals, custom house, admiralty
and arsenal, are well worth particular
description, as are also the museum, thea
tres, cademies of arts and sciences, collie
ges SC. for their magnihcence corresponds
with that of the other objects | have men
toned. But have only room here for
short description OF the emperor's library.
Catherine commenced this in '95. Her
armies in Poland captured the city of Yer
soyious, in which was library belonging
70 the Republic, of 282,64O volumes, and
94,57S maps and stamps or prints, The
empress ordered them to be transported to
Petersburgb, and they are now deposited
in an immense building erected for the pur-
nose by Alexander. The books are classed
according as they relate-1st, to the arts;
sdly to science, and 3dly philology or bellies
letters, and each class is subdivided into
orders, &c. by which, there is no need of
referring to the general catalogue when "a
nv particular book is wanted. In 1905 the
,ibr,ry of Mr.. Daubroussky was added,
which fer manuscripts ancient and rare, is
perhaps unparalleled in Europe. Many oil
them are twelve or thirteen centuries old
and among modern ones, are some Original
letters of Phillip and Isabella OF SPAIN
upon the discovery of America. do not
despair of obtaining copies ofthese for some
Of our historical societies. They were
found in the Bastile in France, with the let
tiers Of great many other monarchs to the