Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-05-26
TIE TOME OF NICmoLAs.

The st. Petersburg correspondent Of the
Boston Transcript gives the following par
ticulars Of the burial place Of the Czars Of
Russia:
The most interesting church in ST. Peters
burg is that dedicated to Sts. Peter and
Paul. otherwise called the Fortress Church"
as it stands within the citadel Of the city.
Its slender spire, precisely resembling that
of the Admiralty, rises far above all others,
TO the height Of 80 feet and its gilded sur
face shines dazzlngly in the sun. 1t is said
that 10000 duets have already been expended
in the gliding Of this spire. But within tho
Fortress Church rest the remains Of all the
Cars since Peter the Great. No European
monarchs rest so unostentatiously, and no
others are buried within the walls Of for
tress. To each Emperor there is erected
merely n sarcophagus, with frequently his
initial letters engraved uponit. Each Of these
sarcophagi is covered with pail of cloth Of
gold, embroidered with the Gouble-headed
eagle. Upon the Grand Duke Constautine's
tomb lie the keys OF some Polish fortresses,
while AleXander's bears Il small military
medal with his portrait Each tomb is sur
rounded by neat iron railing and the part
Of the nave devoted to the combs is again
separated from the body of the church. As
visited the church during Lent, the cloth,
of gold was concealed in every case by a
faded black covering. beginning with Peter
the Great passed by all the Cars in chrou-
illogical order. Here lay the great Catha-
rlne, and sleeping quietly by her side, her
husband, Peter III, TO whom she IN her
lifetime refused this place.
Around one Of the sarcophagi ! saw q
dense crowd, and approaching it found it that
OF Nicholas. The cloth was new, and no
dust had settled upon the ermiue border
Ills initial letter was embroidered to ANA
ranth, and candle burns day aud night upon
the tomb. The little relic that was placed
upon his breast while he lay in the Palace
lies upon the middle OF the sarcophaCus. II
ls surrounded by wreath of immortas
Every one who approached the spot seemed
touched with real sorrow, and all spoke in
whispers around the grave Of the great man.
AS l stood there watching the crowd, the
gates were suddenly thrown open. and an old
General in full uniform entered and APP
preached the tomb. Taking or his helmet
he held it before his face, aud, kneeiug,
seemed for Il few moments TO he engaged in
earnest prayer. This leimet shock in his
hand as with emotion. Finally rising, be
kissed the relic that had laih upon MS mas
ters breast, and then crossing the aislv kissed
-A'SAaH"'l Non'o Az A"' Sauie way. tiS nuu
served under both Emperors, and this, his
daily tribute to their memories, was most
touching. He is the commander of the for
tress of 81. Petersburg and one Of the last
acts in the public life of Nicholas, was 10
thank him for his public services. The Car
sent him the imperial portrait enriched with
diamonds.
Upon the walls and around the pillars Of
the Fortress Church hang trophies taken
from the Turks Persians and French In
this way the Russians have decorated all
The English ] believe, are the onlyexcepti0n,
but who can tell how long they may continue
so? Above three hundred Persian suns and
Turkish crescenis here bow before the cross
CT the Christians.