The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-05-14

ST. PETERsBuRG, April is, 1855
The most interesting church in 81 Petersburg that
dedicated to St. Peter and Paul o,hsrwse called the
"Forres Church, ~ 1t stands within the citadel of
the city Its slender spre precey resembling that OF
the Admiralty rises far all Others TO the height
Of $40 feet, and its gded surface shines dazzingly
expended in the gliding of this spire But within the
Fortress Church rest the remains OF all the Cars
Peter the Great No European monarch rssts unos-
tenticusy, and others buried within the walls of
fortress. To each Emperor there is erected merely
sarcophagus with frequently his initial letters engraved
upo1 it. Each OF these sarcopbagi is covered with
pail OF cloth gold, embroidered With the dou be head
eagle Upon the Grand Duke Constauyins,s tomb lie
the keys of Polish forussses, while Aexanders
bears a small military medal, with his portrait
Each tomb is surrounded by neat iron railing, aud
the part OF the nave devoted to the is again
rated from the body OF the church. AZ visited the
church during Lent the cloth OF gold nceaed
every case by faded black covering Beginning with
Peter the Great passed by all the Cars in chronology
cal order. Here lay the great Caths rine and seepng
quietly by her 81 !e her hussans, Peter ILL.,, to whom
she in her lifetime this place Around one Of the
sarcopbaei saw dense crowd. and, approaching it,
founa it that OF Nicholas. The CLOTH new and no
dust had settled upon the ermpe border His initial
day and night upon ths 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 /. is
surrounded by wreath OF immortals Every one who
approached the spot seemed touched with zeal sor.
row, and all spoke In whispers around the grave
of the great man. AS l stood there chiag
the crowd, the gates were suddenly thrown open
and an old general in full uniform entered and
approached the tomb. Taking off his helmet held it
before his face, and kpeeling, seemed Tor few mo.
ments to be engaged in earnest prayer. The helmet
shook in hls hand as with emotion Finally rising, he
kissed the relic that had lain upon his masters breast
and then crossing the aisle kissed Aexan er tom, 10
the same way. Ha had served under both Emperors,
and this his daily tribute to their morss, most
touching He is the commander of the fortress of st.
Petersburg, and of the last Ia tue public life OF
Nicholas to thank him for his public services The
Car sent HIM the imperial portrait enriched with dis
mends.
Upon the walls around the pillars of the Fortress
Church hang trophies taken from the Turks Persians
and French In this way the Russians have decorated
all their churches and aroly nation bnt is represent
ed in ST. Petersburg Moscow. The Ed ssh Dsiieve
the only pon; but who tell no long they
may continue SO? Above three hundred Persian suns
aud Turkish crescents here bow before the the
Ctristisns.
From the church We want to the house OF Peter the
Great ut without the wall, OF the fortress and upon
tne same island. This the nucleus of the present
city could Peter from HIS grave see the work
OF his successors ms ambition would than sat
ished. This cottage Ia divided into three apartments
The inner his sleeping room; the ad Join n.y.
his chapel in which are sill preserved pictures he
wofsbipped. The third room his reception room,
and It IL file With rich offerings which in
show ranged round the room. It Consequent
Size OF the house is shown the boat made by eters
own handr, ALTO the sails prepared by himself The
whole cottage was rapidly gong to decay. but Alex
ander caused IL 10 be covered by casing OF brick
that it is no longer exposed to the weather Am
St. rdaM evidently Peters model OF commercial
city, and his fret care 10 commencing his capital
to ntrsect its proposed site by canals His successors
many OF these canals to be filled aud gardens be
planted in their stead. The Basilus Island therefore,
has many delightful gardens instead OF closely rel
masses OF brick walls.