New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-09-24

marble steps leads 10 the plain below, down which
The water peurr into an immense basin in the cen
ter Of which is . colossal figure OF Sampson tear
ing ssunder the lions jaws, from the
mouth of which Jet OF water 90 or 20 feet high
rises msjestically in the air On each side OF the
fountain Of Sampson are many smaller Jets issuing
from the mouths If storks, swans, nymphs and dol
phins, throw ing the water in every direction
From the basin TO the sea, q distance OF five hun
dred Yards runs q canal in the sides oi which are
many small fountains spouiinc from many curious
and some unsightly devices. Ststuary meets the
eve on every hand, snd at every turn embowered
retreats and shaded temples invite the lmb-weared
traveller to quiet repose. At the urthest verge OF
the grounds ia a cottage mill, the power wheel OF
which is turned by an artificial waterfall. built By
the Emperor Nicholas, partly for his own amuse-
ment and partly for the benefit of his numerous
employees In a register upon the table is writ
ten the names of all the royal visitors who have
honored the place, among which stands consplcu-
ously Nicholas the Miller.
Some 20 versts in another direction from the
city are the old palace and extensive gardens of
Czar.ko Selo which is reached by first
laid down in Russia The palace is very large and
both externally and internally was during the time
Of the Empress Catherine richly gilded. This
on the exterior has almost worn away and gives
faded tawdry appearance TO the building The
interior how ever yet dazzles with FURNISHED gold.
amber room, the walls of which are panneled
with this precious material presenting various
architectural designs among which are the arms
Of Frederick the Great, by whom the amber vas
presented to Catherine II. The effect Of the room
is lot pleasing one. IL has the appearance of
having too much of the good thing Law
ished upon il. which here, as everywhere.
spoils the whole. In another very elegant
apartment the walls are inlad with the
beautiful lapis lazul and the floor is of ebony in
laid with flowers of mother-Ofpesrl, presenting
pleasing and powerful contrast. Here ia the suite
of rooms Enthusiastically plain and simple, IN
which Alexander lived. They are still preserved
in the same condition in which they were left by
himself at his departure for 1aganrog, from which
place he returned in imperial sta.e--a corpse. His
writing table in confusion his pens black with ink:
on chair in his bedroom military cost, and by
it, side bis boots, all give to the apartment the ap-
pearance of bis just having turned his back. The
grounds connected with this palace are very beau
tful and distinguished for their great and the
neatness with which they are kept They extend
to Pauofsky distance Of versts, and the site OF
another royal palace The walks in these gardens
are sad to be about $50 versts in length yet va
ried in their disposition and so much diversity in
the grouping Of the shrubbery and trees as to rem
der their interest cOnverging throughout.
A regiment Of gardeners keep everything in trim
every Withered leaf or faded flower is carefully
picked from the polished walk or velvet lawn, and
every misplaced stone is returned to its proper
place When the sere and yellow leaves in the
Autumn time part from their parent stems andstrew
the ground in countless thousands, the old veteran
gardener must surely have enough to do, and no
doubt longs for the time when he, like the stately
oak by bis side shall ieare of and minge with his
mother EARTH
The winter palace in the city, as building SIM
ply ia the nOblest of all, being the largest and
perhaps most magnificent in the world 1t is in
the form of a simple OblOng, and finished on the
exterior in stucco which is the case with almost
all buildings In st. Petersburg. Various devices
deck the walls, while they are surmounted by
statues and different emblemstic figures. The
apartments are all large and strike the eye as be-
ing excessively plain but together they contain
riches enough TO deray the expenses OF the present
war for ten years to come. The Imperial Crown
is Ornamented with ehapet of Osk-eaves made OF
large diamonds, and the Emperors scepter contains
diamond said to be the largest in the world. 1t
was purchased by the Empress Catherine from
Greek slave for 100000 rOubles and a pension for
life. Around the room in which these are kept
are arrayed clusters of diamonds emeralds and
other precious stones, in such profuson that it is
perfectly dazzling TO look at them. Historical
paintings abound in many apartments, the Chief OF
which are naval and battle scenes from the many
wars in which Russia has been engaged with the
Turks Swedes and French. One gallery IL ueVoDed
to por traits of all the distinguished generals who
served under the Russian cOlors in the wars with
Napoleon another to those of Field-Marshals,
which are limited in number as it is rank rarely
bestowed. Among this distinguished few the proud
form of the Duke of Wellington is conspicuous;
which, under the present state OF affairs with In
gland looked to me out OF place
The palace stands upon the banks OF the broad
and glstening Neva and fronts upon an open space
in the center of which stands AleIander's Column,
the largest monoith erected in modern times. 1t
is single shaft of highly polished granite upward
of 80 feet high, surmOunted by an angel bearing In
one hand the ever browning Golden Cross, and with
the other pointing toward heaven. The ornaments
on the capital and pedestal are made OF Turkish
cannon, and upon the latter is the simple but ex-
pressive inscription: ITO Alexander the First
'Grateful Russia"
Before this reaches you the particulars of the
bombardment OF Sweaborg will have been received.
1t continued three days and nights without cessa-
ton, and then to the surprise of every one the al
lied feet weighed anchor and put to sea, leaving
but two vessels % guard the granite Notifications
into which they had been pouring their hot ire.
The Russian official report gives the number OF
killed 40, and wounded 100, during the whole Pc.
Rod Sweaborg is built upon islands of solid
granite and guarded by 200 guns, which can be
brought to bear with terrible effect upon fleet.