The Georgetown news., 1855-06-21
From correspondence of the Boston Trans.
The Tomb of Nicholas.
ST. PETERSBURG, 18th April. 1855.

Inc most interesting church in st. Peters
burg is that dedicated to st. Peter and St.
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 $40 feet, and its gilded sur
face shines dazzlingly in the sum- 1t is said
that 10000 ducats have already been ex-
pended in the gliding of this spire. But
within the Fortress Church rest the remains
of all the Cars since Peter the Great. No
European monarchs rest so unostentatious
y, and no Others are buried within the
walls of a fortress. To each Emperor there
Is erected merely sarcophagus, with fire.
quently his initial letters engraved upon it.
Each of these sarcophagi is covered with a
pail OF cloth of gold, embroidered with the
double-headed eagle. Upon the Grand
Duke Constantine's tomb lie the keys of
some Polish tortresses, while AleXanders
bears small military medal with his por-
trait. Each tomb is surrounded by neat
iron railing, and the part of the nave de-
voted to the tombs 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 faded black
covering. Beginning with Peter the Great.
passed by all the Cars in chronological
order. Here lay the great Catharne and
sleeping quietly by her side her husband,
Peter Ill, to whom she in her lifetime re-
fused this place. Around one of the sar-
cOphagi saw dense crowd, and approach
ing it found it that of Nicholas. The cloth
was now new and no dust had settled upon
the ermine border. His initial letter was
embroidered in amaranth and a candle burns
night and day upon the tomb. The little
relic that was placed upon his breast while
he lay in state in the palace, lies upon the
middle OF the sarcophagus. 1t is surround
ed by wreath of immortals Every one
who approached the spot seemed touched
with real sorrow, and all spoke in whispers
around the grave of the great man. As |
stood there watching the crowd the gates
were suddenly thrown open and an old Gen
eral III full uniform entered and approached
the tomb. Taking off his helmet he held it
before his face, and kneeling, seemed for a
few moments to be engaged in earnest pray
er. The helmet shook in his hands as with
emotion. FINALLY rising, he kissed the relic
that had lain upon his masters breast, and
! crossing the aisle kissed Aexanders tomb
in the same way He had served under
both Emperors, and this his daily tribute to
their memories was most touching. He is
the commander of the fortress of St. Peters
burg, and one of the last acts in the public
life of Nicholas was to thak him for his pub
public services. The Gar sent him the I'M
perial 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 have the Russians decorated all
their churches. and hardly nation but is
represented in st. Petersburg or Moscow
The English, believe, are the only excep-
ton, but who can tell how long they may
continue so? Above three hundred Per
fore the cross Of the Christians.
From the church we went to the house of
Peter the Great, just without the walls of
the fortress, and upon the same island. This
was the nucleus of the present city, and
could Peter rise from his grave to see the
work of his successors, his ambition would
be more satisfied. The cottage is divided
into three apartments. The inner one was
his sleeping room; the one adjoining, his
chapel, in which are still preserved the pic
lures he worshipped. The third room was
his reception-room, and it is filled with rich
offerings which are contained in show cases
ranged round the room. 1t consequently
looks more like jewelers. shop than any
thing else. On one side Of the house is
shown the boat made by Peters own hands,
also the sails prepared by himself. The
whole cottage was rapidly going to decay
but Alexander caused it to be covered by a
casing Of brick, so that it is now no longer
exposed to the weather. Amsterdam was
evidently Peters model of commercial
city, and his first care in commencing his
capital was to ntersect its proposed site by
canals. His successors, however, not being
so Dutch in their tastes, caused many Of
these canals to be filled up and gardens to
be planted in their stead. The Basilus Is
land, therefore, has many delightful gardens
instead of osely-ranged masses of brick
walls.
A HoosIER DoDGE.-They have strin-
gent anti-liquor law in Indiana, but manage
to evade it to great degree. The follow
ing, as related by one of the country news
papers, is the latest invention of the com.
mittee on ways and means"
"On Sunday last, at the camp ground
some four miles east of this, as a couple OF