Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-11-18

was put to death by Boris GundonOH. The
lid of this ccf1iin is open, and on the inner side
is portrait of the boy, in frame of massive
gold, studded with jewels The body is wrap
ped in cloth of gold, and cushion covers
! the face. The attendant priest was about to
| remove this cushion, when our guides whispered
to me, "You are expected to kiss the forehead" :"
and | turned away These relics are ranked
among the holiest in Moscow, and are most
devoutly worshiped although it is by no means
certain that they belong to the true Deme-
trius
Close at hand is the House of the Holy
Synod, and as we are accompanied by our
obliging Consul, Col. ClaXton, to whom all
doors are open,w are admitted into the Sanct-
uary where are preserved the robes worn by
Russian PatriarchS during the last six hundred
years, as we'll as the silver jars containing the
sacred oil, used for solemn sacraments through
ont the whole Empire The robes are of the
heaviest silk, interviewer with gold and silver
thread, and SO sOwn with jewels that they
would stand stiff upright with their own rich
ness. The Patriarchs seem to have had an
especial fondneSS for pearls of which, is some
instances, the embroidered fgnres are entirely
composed. In strong contrast to these daz-
mantle of the Patriarch Nichon. The holy
oil is preserved in thir:y-three jars, which, as
well as the larger vessels used in preparing it,
are of massive silver. About two allons
year are necessary to supply Russia. The
council Hall Of the Holy Synod is in the same
building 1t is evidently the ancient place of
assembly, long low room, with sacred fre-
Scoes on golden ground, and raised seats
along the wall for the principal personages.
Let US now turn from the sacred to the secu-
lar sights of the kremln, although some of the
latter are not less sacred to Russian eyes. The
palace doors open to the special permit pre-
sented 10y Col Claxton, and we ascend the
broad, noble staircase. The plain exterior of
the building gives no hint of the splendors
within. | have seen all the palaces of Europe
with the exception of the Escurial.) but |
cannot now recall one in which the highest
possible magnfcence is so subservent to good
taste as here Inlaid foors of such beautiful
design and such precious wood, that you tread
upon them with regret 4; capitals corniceS and
ceiling ofits of gold walls overlaid with fut-
ed silk giant candelbra of silver and mala-
chite, and the soft CLEAN of many-tnted mar
bes, combine to make this truly Imperial
residence The grand hall of St. George, all
IN white and gold, is literally incrusted with
ornamental carved-work that Of St Alexand-
er Nevsky is sumptuons in blue and gold
while in that of St. Elizabeth, the walls are
not only overlaid with gold, and the furniture
of massive silver, but in the center of every
door is Maltese cross, formed of the largest
diamonds ! The eye does not tire of this un-
wonted splendor, nor does it seem difficult to
i in, ball In
story is the banquetiug- hall, hung with crimson
velvet, studded with golden eagles Here the
Emperor feaSts with his mobiles on the day of
coronation--the only occasion on which it is
used
The dwelling rooms are fitted up with equal
magnifcence, except those occupied by the
Emperor himself, in which the furniture is
very plain and Servcable In some of these
rooms we found everything tOpSy-turvy. Ohic-
erS were busy in taking an inventory of the
furniture, even to the smallest article in order
that stop may be put to the wholesale, plund-
er which has been carried on in the imperial
household since the death of Peter the Great
The dishonesty of Russian officials is a matter
of universal notroriety, and Alexander III. is
doing his part to check and punish it. He
has not been the slightest sufferer During the
coronation, 40,000 lamps were brought for the
Illumination of the kremlin, and now not one
is to be fonnd Thousan DIS of yards of Grim
son cloth, furnished on the same occosion, have
disappeared, and enormous charges appear in
the bills, for articles which were never bought
at ALL A Moscow is now laughing over one
of these discoveries, which is to amusing not
to tell, although may offend strict ideas of
prOpriety in relating it. In the suite of the
Empress were fifty chosen Ladies of Honor,
who of course We're lodged and entertained at
the imperial expense. When the bills came
to be settled it was found that, in furnishing
the bed-chambers of these fifty ladies, $500
utensils of a useful character had been purchaS-
ed, or no less than ninety apiece.
A part of the ancient Palace Of the Cars
all that was left by fire and Frenchmcn-
forms the rear wing of the building 1t is
very much in style of the Cathedral of St
Basil irregular, fantastic, and covered with
painted tangle of scrolls, vines, flowers and
birds The apartments of the Czarna and
children, the private chapel audience-room,
and terema or incloscd balcony are still quite
perfect. From the latter it is said, Napoleon
watched the progress of the fire, the night
after his arrival in Moscow. On the ancient
tables stand the treasure chests of Gar Alexis
five large boxes of massive gold, covered
with inscriptions in the Slavonian character
If such were the chests, what must have been
the treasure But really, before one gets
through with the Kremn, gold and jewels be-
come drugs. You still delight in their blaze
and beauty, but you cease to be impressed by
their value
This warns me that the words too, in which
| have been endeavoring to describe these
things, may at last lose their color and force
from sheer repetition. shall therefore barely
mention the last and perhaps the most interes-
ting sights of all-the Treasury. know no
historical museum in Europe of such magn-
fcence, although there may be others more
Technically comnlete Here crowns and thrones